To be humiliated and angry at shop owner's attitude?

[msshapelybottom]

I'm probably being over-sensitive but I've been really rattled today.

We went into town to get a couple of things and passed a shop which was selling furniture which had been repainted to give a vintage feel. They look lovely and so I went inside to see what else was for sale. The bits sitting outside the shop were really pretty and not terribly expensive (£30 for a kitchen chair, so not antique!)

I had my 3 kids with me, they are 4, 5 & nearly 7. We had no sooner crossed the threshold of the shop when a woman (I'm assuming she was the owner) said "oh kids, get them on a leash" in a tone you might use if we were covered from head to toe in shit or something....

I turned round and left and she tried to backtrack but there was no way I was going to stay and browse after that, I felt so embarrassed!

I still feel a bit off about it, am I being a bit precious? It's the first time I've experienced open prejudice and it wasn't a nice feeling.

I wouldn't have felt humiliated but I would have walked out then and there at a stranger suggesting my DC should be on leashes. Bet she's kicking herself now. It's not appropriate to joke about something like that when you want money in any way shape or form from someone.

It was a horrible thing to say, I´m not surprised you walked out.

And no, you shouldn´t go back-there must be more deserving businesses.

Sounds like either a bitchy thing to say or a totally misjudged attempt at some kind of ironic 'joke' - maybe she's prone to blundering like that. But either way, it puts you right off shopping there. Even if you weren't annoyed by it (and I would have been), you'd still end up watching the kids like a hawk and feeling awkward, hardly a relaxing shopping experience.

Pretend you thought she was a sales assistant and write a letter of complaint to the 'owner'. Keep the tone pleasant, just concentrating on how it made you feel. You never know, you might get an apology and even a discount voucher.....

Yes, I do think/hope it was her trying to be funny, and tempted though I am to go back and give her a lesson in ironic comedy, I will resist!

I hadn't thought of writing a letter - it would be cathartic, but I think I'm just going to let it go and resolve never to go back there.

yanbu, it was very stupid of her to judge your dc's behaviour before they'd had a chance to prove themselves!

we have quite a nice-looking antique shop nearby, and DP and I popped in while out on a walk and browsed - some really nice bits and bobs. then the owners started having a conversation with two other customers bemoaning immigrants 'stealing' jobs, benefits and public services. after a few minutes we so uncomfortable we left and I'm not keen to spend money there tbh. in retrospect wish I'd said so on my way out.

WW that's awful, some people can just be right tits can't they?

I should have given the shop owner a piece of my mind too, but I was so gobsmacked I wasn't sure how to react.

It's basic customer service really...the whole being nice to the customer!