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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a 'company policy' should not have exceptions on a whim?

20 replies

sixlostmonkeys · 31/05/2011 17:58

I just called in Morrisons for a few things (as usual) and on the way out went to buy a lottery ticket (as usual). I had my ds with me (as usual)
The assistant asked for my DS's I.D. I asked why? She said because he looks 16. I frowned and said I didn't know what he or his age had to do with anything (although from reading this board I knew what was happening) but he is actually 14. She told me I couldn't have a ticket. I told her I was buying the ticket and I am indeed old enough (by a few decades)
Company policy means she can't sell me a ticket - she then gave me an 'attitude face' and told me to "go to customer services if I wanted.

I went to see the manager who said Yes, it's company policy but on this occasion she would let me buy a ticket. I said "It's either company policy or it's not, what's so different about 'this occasion'?

So, wibu in expecting a policy to either be adhered to or not?

Just out of interest, does anyone know what the story is behind these policies? Are they just company policies or law of the land now? Does anyone work for such a company and know whether they believe such a policy actually would deter the underage from consuming alcohol or gambling, or do they simply have the policy to avoid getting into trouble by spot checkers?

Imo it is a policy that just couldn't do what it would claim to do ie protect the underage. Anyone who wishes to purchase items for the underage can do so very simply - even my ds reeled of a dozen ways around this.
It just seems a pointless and annoying policy. aibu? have I missed something?

OP posts:
Tortington · 31/05/2011 18:00

who buys lottery tickets for underage kids for fucks sake.

alcohol and fags - i can kinda see - but lottery

pjmama · 31/05/2011 18:02

I think it's pretty pointless too. If you WERE buying lottery/alcohol/cigarettes/whatever for someone underage, surely you'd just get them to wait outside out of sight. Bloody stupid policy, ineffective and serves only to piss off genuine customers IMO.

allhailtheaubergine · 31/05/2011 18:03

What? They didn't want to sell YOU a lottery ticket because you were accompanied by your 14 year old son?

PLEASE tell me that's not what they meant.

So... if I ever move back to UK I won't be able to buy booze, fags or lottery with my preschoolers in tow? Surely not.

emsyj · 31/05/2011 18:04

It is a pointless and annoying policy. However, Morrisson's regularly ID me so I love them. Especially the lovely checkout assistant who asked me how old I was when buying wine last Christmas and when I said '31', responded 'oooooh you don't look it, you're laaaaaahvely'!

Original poster
sixlostmonkeys · 31/05/2011 18:06

sorry allhail - that is what I meant. and yes, you could be refused booze, cigs and lottery if you ahve your children with you.

I actually came away feeling.... what's the word?..indignant? Since when was the grocer able to over-ride my parenting?

OP posts:
Witchofthenorth · 31/05/2011 18:07

YANBU, it's ridiculous that you can't go shopping with your kids in case the staff think that you are buying for them!

TrillianAstra · 31/05/2011 18:08

"Since when was the grocer able to over-ride my parenting?"

Well technically shops don't have to sell you anything if they don't want to.

BelleDameSansMerci · 31/05/2011 18:10

That's laughable... Does that mean that I can't buy a bottle of wine when my 3 year old is with me? For heaven's sake!

SardineQueen · 31/05/2011 18:12

That is just silly.

Original poster
sixlostmonkeys · 31/05/2011 18:13

Trillianastra - it was that reason that stopped me making an issue of it (but if I hadn't have needed the food in my bags I would have insisted they refunded me - just to make a point Grin )

But you still feel like the grocer is saying his judgement is better than mine, and (in his shop anyway) can publicly over-ride me. ... does that make sense?

OP posts:
WhoAteMySnickers · 31/05/2011 18:16

It's a pointless policy. Even if you were buying a lottery ticket for an under 16, they wouldn't be able to claim the prize money if they win. Ridiculous!

saffy85 · 31/05/2011 18:16

What the actual fuck? Tbh I should be shocked but I'm not.

I work in retail and while I've felt a total tit refusing a sale on certain grounds (liquer chocolates to someone who was probably 18+ but had no I.D for example) I do sometimes wonder what some shops were thinking when they enforce their rules.

I've bought lottery tickets, bottles of alcopop wine and even shock horror, fags, with my toddler in tow plenty of times and I'm usually I'D'd (so yoofful innit) but DD never has in all her 3 years on this planet. Confused Ofcourse no one should be drinking/smoking/gambling underage, but surely it's alot worse for a 4 year old to be chugging the Lambrini than a 14 year old?

TrillianAstra · 31/05/2011 18:17

There are huge financial penalties for selling age-restricted goods to underage people, or to those who you suspect might be supplying them to underage people, and these do get tested.

They were being unnecessarily (in your opinion, and in most of ours) overcautious, but maybe they'd rather be overcautious and piss off a few customers than run the risk of the punishment if they were caught being not-quite-cautious-enough one time.

magicmelons · 31/05/2011 18:18

YANBU

I let my dd who is 6 pick the numbers, she likes doing this, i got to the till handed it to the woman and she refused to sell it to me as my dd had filled out the ticket Hmm. I was encouraging gambling apparently.

Its ridiculous. Alcohol fair enough and cigerettes too but surely they can't collect the prize if the are under 16 anyway Confused.

Original poster
sixlostmonkeys · 31/05/2011 18:40

maybe they'd rather be overcautious and piss off a few customers than run the risk of the punishment if they were caught being not-quite-cautious-enough one time.

OP posts:
twoistwiceasfun · 31/05/2011 18:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ratspeaker · 31/05/2011 18:53

Very weird considering anyone under 16 couldn't claim the prize if they won the lottery anyway
Its not like booze or fags where you could possibly give them to an underage person to use
I'd email Morrisons HQ for clarification

toffeepud · 31/05/2011 19:18

I think if there is a law against selling something to someone under a certain age, and the staff can justify reasonably suspecting you are purchasing it for someone under age they can refuse. However in this case I don't think they can reasonably justify it and would doubt they would even try to defend their actions. Me being me total nutter a bit cross Angry I would write a stinky letter asking for the staff member to be trained on her customer service skills and a refresher on policy to go with your apology and nice £10 voucher Grin

Rant over

TrillianAstra · 31/05/2011 19:19

Mummy if I give you my pocket money would you buy me a bottle of Jack Daniels please? :o

cat64 · 31/05/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

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