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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

not to want shop assistants to upset DD1 with their thoughtless remarks

30 replies

MrsSchadenfreude · 02/10/2011 21:46

DD1 is 13. She is a shy and sensitive soul, unlike her mother. The other week, we were in John Lewis and she was being measured for a bra. The woman who was fitting her noticed that DD1 has stretch marks on her boobs (sudden boob inflation over a matter of weeks) and said to her "You know why you've got these marks all over your breasts? It's because you've been wearing the wrong sized bra. And they won't go, you know. You'll have them forever." DD1's bottom lip wobbled a bit, and I told the woman not to be so ridiculous - stretchmarks are caused by quick growth/weight gain, not a bra that might be a bit small.

Fast forward a few weeks, shoe shop in Oxford St, buying DD1 a pair of flowery DMs for her birthday. Man in shop refused to believe she was a size 8, brought her a size 6, despite both of us saying they wouldn't fit. Finally got the right size, was paying for them, and he said to her "You know, you really shouldn't have feet that size. It will be virtually impossible for you to get shoes to fit you. We have hardly any styles in a size 8. You'll need to wear trainers or men's shoes all the time."

I expect rude shop assistants and piss poor service in France, but this was in the UK. And if I hadn't been in the process of buying the shoes, I would have walked straight out. Instead, I asked the man if he was always this rude to customers, but he was old and deaf, and I don't think he heard.

OP posts:
Flowerista · 02/10/2011 22:17

I had large feet as a child, shoe shopping was always a hideous experience.

Please tell your DD that I have wardrobes full of beautiful size 8 shoes.

But I'll tell you this: red mist descends even now when I ask for an 8 and the assistant comes back and says "we only have those in a 5". WTAF is the point of saying that?

WTFlike · 02/10/2011 22:19

What's France got to do with it?

MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 02/10/2011 22:19

They are pretty rude in France...sorry! I went to EuroDisney of all places and the staff were rude.

OP, I think you should definitely complain. 13 is an age where these comments really stick with you. I was very tall as a child and comments that were made by adults that should have known better have stuck with me and made me very concious of my height. I'm actually 5'9 1/2 so I don't really get the big deal...it's not my fault everybody else is so damn short!

Anyway, back to my point. It's only recently that I've realised that comments made to me in childhood have really shaped how I feel about my height even now as a 30-something year old. I've only now started wearing heels and realised that my height is part of me and adds to me being pretty damn gorgeous!

I know you're talking about shoe size and stretch marks, but I just wanted to illustrate how comments at that age can have a far-reaching impact. I would do whatever you could to ensure that what these idiots have said don't affect how she feels about herself.

fit2drop · 02/10/2011 22:28

ermmm yes YANBU about customer service but YABU generalising about France and the service there.
I have been to France, and everyone without exception was very helpful, courteous , polite and welcoming.
Never been do Disney wotsit though so cannot comment on that Grin

MrsSchadenfreude · 02/10/2011 22:38

Thanks for your comments - I did complain in the shoe shop, and may write to JL and complain.

Why comments about France? Because I live there! So not really random (but I probably should have explained).

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