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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell the woman at the soft-play that they are rip-off merchants?

51 replies

bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 09:45

In the local council-run leisure centre here, a soft-play has opened up. They've been pushing leaflets onto people leaving the gym, I got one last week. It states on the leaflet £4.00 per two children.

As I was looking after my mate's DS yesterday and was feeling a bit yuck, I thought I'd take them to soft play there and buy their lunch, save my house getting wrecked and me having to go and get food in to feed them (Old Mother Hubbard's cupboards here atm Grin) So went out, tenner in purse, £4 in, £6 for sandwiches/drinks. Sounds fair enough.

Got to the reception and asked if I could pay two in to soft play. The receptionist asks me whether they are siblings, I reply that they are not. "£8 then, please" she says "But it says £4 per two children on your leaflet, doesn't say anything about siblings" said I. "Sorry it's £8 per two"

Now, if I'd known it wasn't actually per any two children, I would have lied and said they were siblings got more money out/took them to the soft play that only charges £2 each. So I have to go and trek to the other end of town to the cash point, in the rain with two kids, who are tantrumming because they want to go in to soft play. I told her that £8 was ridiculous, that they were rob-dogs and that I hoped there would be a diamond-encrusted slide in there to justify the price.

AIBU?

OP posts:
worraliberty · 02/03/2011 09:47

Well £4 each is about average so no problem there but the leaflet is badly worded so yes, I would definitely complain.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 09:49

Really? I must live in a rough area because the most expensive soft play here charges £3 Blush

OP posts:
CalamityKate · 02/03/2011 09:50

Our soft play is £4.80 each for my 2 (they're 7 and 8; younger ones might be a bit less I think) but I'd definitely complain. What earthly difference does it make whether they're sibs or not??

ZillionChocolate · 02/03/2011 09:51

Give trading standards a ring and send them a copy of the leaflet.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 02/03/2011 09:52

YANBU - if the leaflet does not state siblings only, then she should have let you in. If there's nothing in the small print, I'd report it to trading standards.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 02/03/2011 09:52

Snap, Zillion!

lesley33 · 02/03/2011 09:53

I think you were BU to have a real go at her for this pricing rule. I mean calling her a rob dog! She didn't set the price rules so you really shouldn't call her names like this.

emsyj · 02/03/2011 09:53

Agree it is an utter rip-off to say '£4 for two' on the literature and then say when you arrive 'oooh no that's only if they're siblings'.

What a bizarre rule! How would they know if you just said, 'yep, they're siblings' anyway??? Most odd.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 09:53

I've lost the leaflet and strangely, there were none to hand in the leaflet rack at the centre yesterday.

Oy finks someone smelled a rat...

OP posts:
Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 09:54

I didn't call her a rob dog personally. I aimed that particular insult at the centre Wink

OP posts:
worraliberty · 02/03/2011 09:56

It's £4.75 per child here and don't even start me on the price of a jug of watery squash!!

tisallabitofafaff · 02/03/2011 09:57

It's a pleasing insult though. I'd like to steal it if I may?

PorcelinaOfTheVastOceans · 02/03/2011 09:57

i've never had to pay £4 each before. what the bloody hell difference does it make if they're siblings or not?

was it diamond encrusted? Grin

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 09:59

Tell me about it, worraliberty Grin

I suppose the reason I was a bit Hmm is that it is supposed to be council-subsidised, so you would imagine that lower-income parents who might not be able to afford £5 a go, per kid could actually take their children. I wouldn't have been surprised really at a privately-run one.

£1 though for a tiny carton of Five Alive! They're obviously confusing us mums with Alan Sugar...

OP posts:
Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 10:00

It was more snot/dribble encrusted, Porcelina Grin

OP posts:
worraliberty · 02/03/2011 10:04

Oh this one is council subsidised! No diamond encrusted slide..though I do quite like the helter skelter Blush

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 10:06

Councils can eat my shite.

OP posts:
Lee32 · 02/03/2011 10:07

If you have it in writing that the advertised price is £4 per two children and they charged you £8 then it's fair to report them to the ASA because that's a false claim. But: if it's your local leisure centre, you may not want to alienate them by taking hardline action over £4 because it will mark you and it could make things uncomfortable for any future use of their facilities.

Can you book an appointment to see someone in charge at the leisure centre and lodge an official complaint to them rather than to an outside authority? At least in the first instance. YANBU to feel ripped off (you were ripped off) but this may be a case of "choose your battles", especially if the kids want to keep going back.

BuzzLiteBeer · 02/03/2011 10:07

I went to one last week that was ?8 for my over 5, ?5 for the under 5, and they wanted ?5 for the baby as well which I told them to fuck off for which I declined as he was almost asleep in his buggy.

NestaFiesta · 02/03/2011 10:09

If it had just opened up, she should have let you in for £4 as good will. Word of mouth can get round. Also agree with Trading Standards approach too. I really hate being ripped off!

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 10:12

Oh, I'm not taking "hardline action", fgs! Grin I probably won't even complain. It'll cost me over £4 in stamps and phone calls.

OP posts:
nannyl · 02/03/2011 10:14

yanbu

£4 per 2 should be £4 for any 2 children

(that would be cheap where i go too, normally £4 per child unless you got to a toddler time session which only run during term time, and school age children arnt allowed it (which isnt an issue as they are at school anyway!)

Surprised you had to walk to a cashpoint though, our lesisure centre has a cash point and one till in the whole building that accepts debit cards

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 10:15

Ha ha at our leisure centre having a cashpoint. You can't even pay on card Grin

It's like the '70s never went away where I live...

OP posts:
veritythebrave · 02/03/2011 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 02/03/2011 10:28

There is one near me which charges £6.50 for the child and then £2.50 for 'accompanying adult'! Oh, and something like £9 if your child is over 3. Now they really are rob dogs.

I was invited the other week by some nct friends with more money than sense and when I heard the prices I refused to go. They thought I was very cruel and depriving my daughter.