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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Prams and lifts in Peter Jones

63 replies

Binkybix · 13/10/2013 09:52

Interested to get views.

I was in Peter Jones yesterday with 4mo in buggy. I was on the first floor and needed to get down and was asked not to put pram on escalator but to get the lift. Fine.

I waited for the lift and every single one was full of people standing. I waited for about ten minutes then resolved myself to ask the next lot if a couple of people would mind using the escalator (approx 10 seconds away) instead. The next lift was full. Doors opened and opened for some time - long enough to explain situation in full, and that staff had stopped us using escalator.

I was amazed that not one person offered to get out and use escalator. The majority ignored me, one woman just shrugged. To be honest, I would have offered without being asked if I'd been in an earlier lift, so I was really surprised.

I also know in a few cases people would not have been able to have used escalators - but a whole lift full? Unlikely surely.

I know that I didn't have any more right than them to use the lift, but surely common courtesy would imply people would be willing to help, even if not obliged to.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Morgause · 13/10/2013 09:57

When that happened to me I used to get in the lift on the way back up and stay until it was going down again.

I think I'd have been a bit stunned if I'd been in the lift and the doors opened and you started to explain what was going on.

I may have got out for you but it would have needed 3 people to, wouldn't it?

minibmw2010 · 13/10/2013 09:58

YANBU. Have never understood why able-bodied people use a lift when there's an escalator or stairs option. Even taking into account any people with disabilities, old people who don't feel comfortable on escalators etc., you aren't telling me that no-one from that lift was able to walk upstairs/escalator. I'd be horrified to take up space that a pram needed.

heartisaspade · 13/10/2013 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:01

Yes, a few people would have needed to get out.

The lifts going up were all full too! I was surprised because why would you choose slow lift over escalator if you had that choice?

I guess people may have been surprised, but the lifts were on a go-slow (member of staff mentioned this after we'd been waiting a while) so they had longer than normal to digest info.

OP posts:
minibmw2010 · 13/10/2013 10:01

Morgause, I don't think OP would expect anyone else with a pram to get out, but it's fair enough to ask able bodies to move. I wouldn't have been 'stunned', I'd have been embarrassed (and rightly so if I was taking up space without a pram).

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:01

X post!

OP posts:
BenNJerry · 13/10/2013 10:03

YANBU. Before I had DS I never took the lift! I always used the stairs or escalators.

I always think the same thing on buses - young, able-bodied people sitting on the seats reserved for the elderly or disabled? We have double deckers around my area, again before I had DS I would always go and sit on the top deck.

GinGinGin · 13/10/2013 10:03

YABU - surely you would have known to put baby in a sling, fold up the pram & load yourself up like a donkey & use the stairs. Just wrote this in advance of all those people who were parents back in the day before all this new fangled technology like lifts.

MrsCaptainJackSparrow · 13/10/2013 10:04

This happened to us in a multi story car park last week. We stood waiting for the lift for ages but it was always full. In the end dp and I carried the pram down 3 flights of stairs.

VinegarDrinker · 13/10/2013 10:05

That does sound a long time to wait but I wouldn't have dreamed of asking someone to get out. In somewhere with time constraints eg train station, airport etc I may have considered it.

AKissIsNotAContract · 13/10/2013 10:05

I'm terrified of escalators and often think I must look like a selfish arsehole for standing in a lift, as I appear able bodied. That said, it's unlikely that all the people in the lift were escalatophobes.

Sirzy · 13/10/2013 10:06

Anyone can use the lift if they want to though and it's not for you to say who can and can't. It's frustrating having to wait but I do think asking others to get out for you was wrong.

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:07

I ended up getting special dispensation to use the escalators from the staff. Breaking the rules at Peter Jones - rock 'n roll!

OP posts:
meditrina · 13/10/2013 10:08

Well, depending on which of the two banks of lifts you were using, the actual lifts themselves are pretty small, so you'd essentially be asking everyone to get out. And those are people who have also waited ages for a lift.

YABU - if you cannot manage the stairs or escalator, then you need to use the lift. And that applies to everyone - not just those with pushchairs.

Morgause · 13/10/2013 10:12

I'd have been stunned if the lift doors had opened on anyone who started talking, is what I mean. It's an unusual thing to happen, maybe people just didn't think fast enough.

I don't think I implied that OP expected someone with a pram to get out, I certainly didn't mean to. That would be daft.

Tailtwister · 13/10/2013 10:12

We have the same problem in our local John Lewis. There's one really small lift which goes from the very bottom floor right up. There are escalators and other lifts on the other side of the shop. Now we aren't using a pram any more I simply don't use this lift, but I'm amazed at how many people do. Even when we were out together with the pram, DH used to take escalator so he wasn't taking up space.

I don't know about asking people to get out, but tbh if people were considerate then the problem shouldn't occur in the first place.

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:13

Everyone would not needed to have got out - travelled up with lots of other people.

I think the point is that it was unlikely that everyone did need to use the lift (in the one I asked people and the ones before). Possible I guess, but highly unlikely.

As witnessed by the couple who tried to push in front of me while waiting, discovered lift was full, then went to use escalator instead.

Gin Grin I actually thought I could use the escalator! or obvs I would have switched to sling!

OP posts:
ChunkyPickle · 13/10/2013 10:19

YANBU - it's one of the reasons I refuse to use a pram/buggy unless I really have to (not that anyone should have to think like that).

DP and I would have got out, even with baby and toddler if we'd been in that lift because we've been there ourselves and would sympathise. I'm actually surprised that no-one else did because in my experience people have always been very helpful (especially teenagers - who seem to get a bad reputation undeservedly) - perhaps it's the demographic of Peter Jones that's the problem.

Pigsmummy · 13/10/2013 10:19

I probably would have got a staff member to do the asking, yanbu to hope for some common decency and I would have got out to let you in.

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:21

sirzy I know anyone CAN use the lift - I said that in OP. I am always just surprised when people aren't more helpful to others even if they don't HAVE to be - in general, not just to those with babies.

I do take the point about people not having time to think and react though - as I say, doors were open longer than normal but I guess they were not expecting to see anyone speaking to them!

OP posts:
Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:23

I also wondered about the demographic in Sloane Square but didn't want to be inflammatory/cloud the issue :)

OP posts:
VinegarDrinker · 13/10/2013 10:25

What is Peter Jones? I'm assuming some kind of dept store?

Original poster
Binkybix · 13/10/2013 10:27

I think it's a John Lewis that's kept it's old name.

OP posts:
IHaveA · 13/10/2013 10:42

They were very rude!! Angry unless they ALL happened to have disabilities
I would have really asked for someone to get out or just tried to barge in anyway. If there were staff around I might have got them to help.

If it was a group of teens I would have insisted they got out. I am afraid I find the big gaggles of foriegn students to be spectacularly rude.

ILetHimKeep20Quid · 13/10/2013 10:44

Just barge in, it's the only way