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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect a proper apology fro Mothercare for appalling service

229 replies

ChrisandChristina · 11/03/2011 19:17

I have vowed never to use Mothercare again.

A sales assistant was so rude to my wife in their Brighton shop that she was reduced to tears.

The manager was useless when I complained to her and simply waffled on about investigating the incident I.E standard meaningless management speak

When I complained in writing to Mothercare customer services they sent us a £15 gift card to 'offset our disapointment'.... what an insult.

I will never spend another penny with them.

Just wondered if this was common for them and what experiences other people had had there.

OP posts:
catchmeifyoucan · 12/03/2011 21:44

And let the record show that if I had been such a tit in a high street store then I would have considered myself very lucky to walk away with £15, gratis, as compensation for - er - being a tit!

mayorquimby · 12/03/2011 21:52

"OP you may be being slightly over the top but big respect for sticking up for your DW in the face of snotty behaviour by sales staff good on ya. My DH would throw himself in front of me if a mad bull was on the loose but he would die of emmbarrasment in this situation. It would of been just pay the extra and lets get out of here. On second thoughts he would never enter a Mothercare shop full stop. You are a example to all DHs everywhere"

Is he fuck.
If I decided to act like an absolute nighhtmare to sales staff because I decided that I was entitled to I would not expect my OH to blindly back me up. She'd rightly tell em to grow up and stop making a scene rather than just get someone who is doing their job in trouble because we were too proud to back down.
Backing someone up when they are in the wrong and enhancing their sense of entitlement doesn't make you a good partner, it just makes it more likely that they'll be unreasonable again in the future and you'll have to go to bat for their nonsense again.

carminaburana · 12/03/2011 22:03

Amen

catchmeifyoucan · 12/03/2011 22:14

And amen again!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 12/03/2011 23:34

catchmeifyoucan... I think the OP overreacted also. I think people can and did give that opinion throughout the thread. If you can't see the difference between giving an opinion about a post and insulting the poster and calling them names, well you just can't.

The only fawning I ever see here is among some of the 'pack'.

TimeToStartACHEEKYDiet · 13/03/2011 00:58

not read all thread but i dont shop in mothercare too, as its overpriced and when i was 8mths pregnant and went to purchase our DS1 cot with FIL i needed the loo, i asked a shop assistant only to be told 'They were out of order and would be for some time' Hmm

TimeToStartACHEEKYDiet · 13/03/2011 00:58

Even the nursing room/baby changing facility were out of order too.

Vallhala · 13/03/2011 01:13

Sobbing? Distressed? Because shop staff were discussing how much a top cost and whether it should have been sold for one price or another?

Please! How does the OP's wife cope in life?

YABU.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/03/2011 06:07

Oh the joys of customer service and people who throw adult tantrums to get their own way.

AngelsOnHigh · 13/03/2011 06:20

Toughen up Princess

majormayhem · 13/03/2011 08:02

Aahhhhhhhhhh, I see now. This is why mumsnet has gained a reputation for being a herd of nasty cows.

It's great that a couple of first-time parents who are clearly struggling have been told exactly how to pull their socks up and stop being a pair of pathetic, overdramatic tits.

That way they won't be shy about coming forward next time they need a bit of support.

purepurple · 13/03/2011 08:05

I will save my support for those that need it.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/03/2011 08:08

golf claps majormayhem for striking just the right nite of passive-aggressiveness and guilt-tripping there

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/03/2011 08:09

Err note Blush and didn't mean to bold that..was just in awe at major's sheer scornfulnesa

Georgimama · 13/03/2011 08:10

The point you are missing majormayhem is that being first time parents doesn't give you a free pass to behave like an arse. Yes having a new baby knocks you for six but on the scale of human events it's not exactly earth shattering. And in Western society easier in every way and more catered for than ever before.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/03/2011 08:11

Also, I am a parent who works in customer service, doesnt make my life easier when people act like arseholes and try to lose me my job because they aren't given what they want.

whoneedssleepanyway · 13/03/2011 08:29

This is absolutely hilarious....

The situation clearly got massively out of control with a hormonal new mother, hormonal and confrontational shop assistant and an overprotective husband.

I do remember (having Pnd myself with DD2) how small things could reduce me to a sobbing wreck.

Think Mothercare's goodwill gesture was ample, not sure what else the OP wants.

Have not been on AIBU for a while but these kind of dramas and debate between MNers crack me up.

ScarlettWalking · 13/03/2011 09:10

How does your wife cope when she really has something to cry about? God help her when it starts getting really hard you won't be there to shout at everyone for her.

everybodysang · 13/03/2011 10:05

So many people have said "overreaction" that I don't really need to say it again. But I will because it is such an OVERREACTION. Seriously, how wet is your wife (and I'm speaking as someone who very recently gave birth to her first baby)? People like you make me so glad that I don't have to work in any kind of customer facing position any more.
You made a pregnant shop worker cry. Well done you.

LadyOfTheManor · 13/03/2011 10:14

Urm the pregnant shop assistant made the CUSTOMER cry, and as she is paying her wages, I think she should be excused.

Yes she's a bit ridiculous, however if the pregnant shop worker woman is so emotional, perhaps she should be at home.

Georgimama · 13/03/2011 11:13

If the newly delivered mother is so emotional, she should be at home by the same token (it still hasn't been explained why she was out shopping herself when she is bound to find things a bit of a trauma - her husband knew which tops she wanted and breast pads are breast pads. He could have bought them or ordered them online).

52Girls · 13/03/2011 11:21

Yes LOTM. And licked her boots clean at the same time, eh.

Sirzy · 13/03/2011 11:28

I have only read the first and last page but very much agree with the over reacting statements!

Our local mothercare is fantastic and they always give you as much time as you need - the woman who recently helped my sister decide which pram she wanted deserves a medal for her patience!

SmethwickBelle · 13/03/2011 11:40

I think it was the other items that his wife "needed desperately" - the breast pads.

If I was standing there leaking and hormonal I'd probably be getting tearful about having to wait to have a query on the til resolved (even if it was a small query in the big scheme of things), no doubt with a huffy queue building up behind me.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 13/03/2011 11:42

So not only did you get products cheaper when they shouldnt of been in an offer but you also got a free £15 GC.

And you are bitching about it?

Post birth hormones or not I wouldnt of been crying I would of been highfiving my DH with a large grin on my face and planning how to spend the 15 quid!

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