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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:
Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 10:29

Most soft plays I know, charge full-fare per one child, then a £1 for each child after that. Except another one that is run by NAZI CAPITALIST BASTARDS who charge £3.50 per child then a pound per adult. FFS, I HAVE to go in, it's not like I have a choice!

£1 for the priviledge of sitting on wobbly metal chairs/tables, all sticky with ketchup and paying over the odds for tea made from a thrice-used tea bag.

I swear one day I am going to open a soft play that is nice and not a rip-off.

OP posts:
veritythebrave · 02/03/2011 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 11:13

verity at the £1 in one, I insist on accompanying DS and his friend on the big slide. I even get the go-faster sacks, load them up with kids, sit at the back and see how fast me and 5 kids can get down the slide. I am always very popular with the children (and parents as their kids hassle me instead of them Wink but I am unpopular with the owners, it is a matter of time before we get banned.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/03/2011 11:19

Write and complain to the council rather than getting arsey to the poor woman who is just doing her job and couldn't exactly reduce the price for you

HappyAsIAm · 02/03/2011 11:22

YANBU.

But my local soft play (not Council subsidised) is £8.45 for DS (as it is for all children over 3, we went there on DS' 3rd birthday, so had to pay the full price) plus £2.50 per adult. Shocking. Its a nice soft play centre, but still the same snot on the slide! We live in Beckenham.

Oblomov · 02/03/2011 11:39

Ring them. Now. Bet you can get free next time, out of them.
Terrible wording.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 02/03/2011 12:49

I don't think I'll complain. I can't muster the effort. I just want to know if IWBU for moaning about it.

Honestly, I felt like Micheal Douglas in Falling Down yesterday...

OP posts:
Edinburghlass · 02/03/2011 16:43

Leaflet was misleading so agree you were right to point that out but think it was unfair to be hostile to the member of staff - she didn't make the rules, she was just following them.

caughtinanet · 02/03/2011 16:48

YABU not to have asked for the manager there and then and complained on the spot.

Did you go in and pay the £8 ?

Ooid · 02/03/2011 16:52

I think you're all mad if you pay to go in as an adult. That's taking the piss big time stylee. I just wouldn't. Even if it was the only soft play in a fifty-mile radius. (Mind you I never liked any soft play when my kids were that young, bloody 'orrible places!)

MrsH75 · 02/03/2011 16:56

My two year old wants to go on the big slide with her big sister but can't get there without my help so I have to go up with them. Oh-dear-what-a-shame-how-sad Wink

lazylula · 02/03/2011 17:03

Our local soft play area does a 'meal deal' which used to involve an offer of 2 children to play and eat for £7 and 3 for £9. I used to get together with a friend of mine who had 1 dd and do the 3 for £9, they never queried it at all. They advertised it wrong, so should have honoured the price.

elc1000 · 03/03/2011 01:24

I'd like to add my soft play story too. We turned up at 4.15 with my 3 year old, thinking as it closed at 5pm, we'd have a good 3/4 hr, plenty. They then said that although they did close at 5pm, they closed for admission at 4pm (not on website or their front door). Obviously, I should have been able to pick this up by mind-reading.

Cue meltdown of DS- he could see other children playing, it was obviously still open and he couldn't understand why we couldn't go in- he thought he'd done something wrong and spent the 1/2 hr journey home saying- but mummy, I was a good boy.

The staff were rude and very cruel to upset a 3 year old unnecessarily, and I'm still pissed off a year later (I know, I know- get over it). Funnily enough, we've never gone back.

Anyway, enough hijack- YANBU, false advertising is not on.

lovenamechange100 · 03/03/2011 01:44

Oh where do you all live it under £5 including little meal (usual stuff but still) at certain times of day.

Its newish and located in a busy retail park.

(Its the reward for doing mammys turn in shops)

lovenamechange100 · 03/03/2011 01:46

elc thats awful, I would be still upset too Angry bastards!

Boohooyou · 03/03/2011 08:33

Ours are all £2 here, there is one that charges £3 to get in and is known as the expensive one !
Never paid for an adult, that's ridiculous.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 03/03/2011 09:36

"Did you go in and pay the £8 ?"

Yes.Blush

I am full of a stinking cold atm and did not have the capacity to deal with not one, but two, force-10 tantrums!

OP posts:
MaryBS · 03/03/2011 09:47

I would phone and ask to speak to someone in charge, whether at the soft play, or the council. I would also mention you are considering taking it to trading standards, as their advert has misled you. Depending on your response, then take it to T.S.

It was a little bit unfair having a go at the receptionist who is only doing what she was told, but given the situation, its understandable.

devonsmummy · 03/03/2011 09:53

thats really cheap - ours is £7 for over 3's £6 for 1-2yrs and £1 per adult
so for me and my 4 year old and 1 year old its £14
and in the school hols thats just for 90mins!!!!!!

Liz79 · 03/03/2011 09:57

Our best one is £3 for 1st child & £1 for each additional sibling. Non-siblings are £3. They have some sort of family centered grant. It is shut in school hols because of the family thing ie you should be altogether with older children.

KnittedBreast · 03/03/2011 10:00

if they did not mention on the advert that the special price only applies to siblings then they should have let you in with the children. disclaimers are everything

Dont go back, ring them and tell them you have complained about them to all your friends, your childrens school and this website

iskra · 03/03/2011 10:07

Ours is £2.75 in London.

The one near my mum is £4.75, but it does have an organic cafe attached Hmm

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 03/03/2011 10:08

To be fair to myself, I didn't really "have a go" at the receptionist. She was laughing about diamond-encrusted slide and I think she knew I had a point. I work in a customer-facing job myself so am not pre-disposed to having a pop at customer services folk, unless they are management. Then I really get the claws out Grin

OP posts:
fanjolamps · 03/03/2011 16:58

Best one I went to was one that advertised half price kids entry, then when we got there they said "oh but only if they are wearing odd socks" so I promptly got all the kids to swap a sock each and said "see odd socks" the woman had such a cats bum mouth!

elc1000 · 03/03/2011 23:09

Thanks love