AIBU? Clerks in Shops Offering Stuff to my 3YO

[SlimSchadey]

Today I went shopping at Westfield Stratford with my 3yo DD. She had been promised new Crocs after going to bed nicely for an entire week. So, she picked out a pair that she loved, and I offered her one of those Jibbet things to choose to stick in them. She chose one that she loved and was completely happy. We were getting ready to pay and the woman in the shop came over and said TO HER, "Wouldn't you like some more of those to put in your new Crocs"? And of course, she wanted more, knowing they were on offer. I didn't want to be a jerk and not buy them for her, but felt a bit annoyed.

Then, we went to Clark's because they had a big sale on. She needed new trainers. She picked out a pair in the sale rack and then the clerk came back and put them on her and said, "We didn't have the ones she wanted on her size, but these look similar." And they did, but the ones on the sale rack were a tenner, and these were 30 quid. Of course my DD loved them, and they were already on her feet. If she'd told me ahead of time, I would have said no thank you and not tried them on. After paying, I told the manager, who was lovely, and she offered to drop the price of the trainers to 20, which I thought was really nice.

I do know how to say, "No" but it is easier if the clerk doesn't put the shoes on the kid, or offer her some lovely, sparkly bits to stick on her Crocs, directly. It might be a quick sale now, but I'm not going to shop in shops that do this for much longer. I'm the money-earning grown up, and I'm the customer.

Anyone else feel like this? AIBU?

I was with you in the Crocs story but I'm with others that think the Clarks lady was probably just intending to be helpful and it was a more a misjudgment directing it at the child rather than a manipulative upselling strategy.

I find that charity shop assistant are terrible fr this! "Would you like a bear?" to my DD...I always say "no she would not." and look my DD knows that she won't be bought soft toys in charity shops!

I've never had this but DH has when out with the DC. He always ends up buying the offered stuff to avoid the arguments a 'no' would cause.

YANBU - try complaining to management or avoid the shop.

Forget everything else, I'm gobsmacked there were shoes on sale in clarks for £10! I went to 2 clarks stores last week and all the shoes were £25 and below in sale! That's not a sale, it's ripping people off.

It was underhand, but I would have said no

I agree about the sales technique being v annoying
but
This is a genuine question do you not say to your child "I'm sorry darling we don't have enough money for that". It's a mantra my DD hears most days. She's used to it as she heard it when she was 2 and 3 so she knows when I say it there's no budging ever.

Yanbu

it hard to keep to a budget and keep a three year old happy.
I am now avoiding shops which have sweets at the till especially hmv who have no reason to sell kids sweets at kid height other than to take advantage of the screaming child wanting sweets because they`ve seen them. Argh.

YANBU to be annoyed at sales techniques, even though I know the staff usually have sales targets it still annoys me.

YABVU for not being able to be a sensible adult and just say no.

Just say no to your kid and keep it moving.

I do object to salespeople targetting children like that, I think it's unfair on parents and the kids.

Of course you can say no (and I would have in your place, I think though I am a soft touch on lots of things!) but they are putting you into the position of having to say no to something and they shouldn't do that.

With the shoes, the clerk should have said "these are similar but, unfortunately, they are not on sale" before your daughter tried them on.