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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think shops should put the children's/babies' section on the ground floor?

75 replies

GingerPCatt · 12/02/2013 15:49

Just home from shopping in town and every shop except in the mall and specialist baby shops had the children's stuff up a level or two. Big stores like boots and M&S. You would think sections that people with pushchairs would be more accessible. I was browsing for clothes for DS, but after a couple of shops I couldn't be bothered to look for the lift. And if there's no lift, forget it! I'm not carrying DS and the pushchair upstairs.

OP posts:

nickelbabe · 12/02/2013 15:50

YANBU

my entire shop is on the ground floor though
(and it's entirely children's so there you go )

purrpurr · 12/02/2013 15:52

YANBU. And on a side note, I really detest how some supermarkets put things like Gaviscon on the bottom shelf. I'm 6 months pregnant. Getting down there is undignified for me and anyone who is unfortunate enough to be passing. If I'm not groaning and wheezing, I'm trying to breathe round my bump, or worrying that my old faithful expanda-pants are going to emit a dreadful ripping sound...

Omnishambolic · 12/02/2013 15:53

YABU (although I get how frustrating it is!). Shops run a business, not a service to the public. They have presumably decided that the best use of their retail space to maximise profit puts other stuff which appeals to more people in the key downstairs space. (To use M&S as an example - people who buy childrens clothes are likely to also wear clothes themselves, and eat food. Not everyone who wears clothes and eats food has children.)

MediumOrchid · 12/02/2013 15:54

I completely agree! And while they're at it, they should stop putting 'petite' clothes on high racks so us short people can't reach them!

funkybuddah · 12/02/2013 15:55

But then you wouldnt walk past all the other ranges and offers.

Shops are there to sell you as much as possible, wether you need it or not.
To not do this would be nice for the customer yes but they would lose money, busines not charity.

Although I do find it funny that our boots while having baby clothes/nappies etc downstairs larger stuff for bedroom/prams playmats etc upstairs whne they dont have a lift

INeedThatForkOff · 12/02/2013 15:57

I suppose places like Boots know that parents don't need to be attracted in ad they're pretty much a captive audience (the pharmacy is also upstairs in our branch). M&S have switched homeware and childrenswear, presumably because they knew the latter would still get the traffic upstairs.
Luxury goods retailers should be aware though - put books or toys upstairs and I'm shopping online.

hazleweatherfield · 12/02/2013 15:58

Our local mothercare is spread across two floors and doesn't actually have a lift at all.

That's a specialised baby shop. With no lift.

marjproops · 12/02/2013 16:14

O a bugbear of mine. I dont care what the shops are selling, if theres a baby section it should be on the ground floor.

it would stop people putting buggies on escalators too, (understandable if lifts are miles away or shop has no lift but still.....) which you're not supposed to, its dangerous.

there was a pile up in a shop once where a buggy got stuck at the top of the escalator and baby, parent, and a line of people behind all fell forward on top of each other. sounds like a charly chaplin film but it wasnt and wasnt funny.

MrsLouisTheroux · 12/02/2013 16:22

I can understand your point if there are no lifts but Boots the 'chemist' sells baby clothes/toys are not going to be it's biggest department and M+S biggest seller is still women's clothes. I think most people manage fine if there's a lift unless, as you say, the person can't be bothered.

KellyElly · 12/02/2013 16:27

I've always thought this well actually I haven't but when I was dragging a buggy around I did

Lafaminute · 12/02/2013 16:31

I don't do stairs in a shop so they lose that business. I usually have a buggy with me but I've gotten in the habit of dismissing shops that have stairs even when I don't have the buggy along.

marjproops · 12/02/2013 16:36

Yes but M&S and the like could display their womens clothes/best sellers in the windows and still have the baby stuff on ground floor.

VisualiseAHorse · 12/02/2013 16:36

It used to annoy me that the baby section in my old Boot's store was upstairs. But then...I realised, by having it upstairs it's actually a lot quieter, so you can just trundle around without feeling like you're getting in anyone's way.

Bearbehind · 12/02/2013 16:40

I was going to say just what omnishambolic said so I won't now, cos she has already!

EarnestDullard · 12/02/2013 16:41

I see your point, but children's/baby sections are never going to be the biggest seller, so it doesn't make sense from a retail point of view to have them occupying the most accessible part of the store. Also, the majority of shoppers would then have to get through the children's/baby section, past all the prams and pushchairs, to get to the other sections.

I fully agree that there should always be a lift in those situations though.

Justforlaughs · 12/02/2013 16:58

Whose bright idea was it to have escalators for getting upstairs and just plain stairs for getting back down?
As for baby clothes upstairs, most stored put the mens clothes nearest the door because they know that men won't bother going in if they have to go upstairs. I think they should all have travelators going up and down and then there would be no problem at all.

JenaiMorris · 12/02/2013 17:09

YABU. They usually have lifts so I really don't see the issue. Also, it's preferable to have children's things away from the main doors.

Oh and what Earnest said.

Plus of course wheelchair users without small children would be inconvenienced if they had to go upstairs for things they wanted.

Sirzy · 12/02/2013 17:14

If there is a lift then what's the problem? If their isn't a lift it's more of an issue but then whatever is upstairs will always been an issue for anyone with mobility issues.

ZenNudist · 12/02/2013 17:19

I don't like my new asda layout with nappies upstairs. I do my main shop then waste more time upstairs getting nappies and get suckered in to browsing clothes or shampoo. I know it works for them but side effect has been to deter me from shopping there. In not saving money getting my nappies there so feel there is no point going.

Oodsigma · 12/02/2013 17:19

And maternity stuff upstairs when the lift never works new look I'm looking at you

Startail · 12/02/2013 17:20

YANBU
Nearest large Boots was ridiculous
The ground floor is quite big enough to have baby stuff.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 12/02/2013 17:23

YABU

Womens clothes are usually the most accessible. This is the way it should be so I don't have to go out of my way, up and down escalators

Beehatch · 12/02/2013 17:30

I was informed in Clarkes that the reason they site the kids section on another floor if possible is to stop kids running out the door whilst their parents are distracted. So maybe other stores follow this line of reasoning.

Still annoys me though, especially when there is no lift.

roundtoit · 12/02/2013 17:31

years ago the mens dept was always the 1st dept in the store as their reasoning was men do not like shopping so therefore would not go looking for the department.

nailak · 12/02/2013 17:40

my nearest m and s has kids, cafe and groceries on the ground floor, womens and men on the second, lingerie and accessories on the third, if they can do it i am sure others can too

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