to think this Morrisons checkout person was BVVVU?

[CaptainSinker]

Took 2.5yo DD to Morrisons to grab a couple of bits and pieces and went to the self-serve till. As the area was festooned with Peppa Pig DVDs, Chocolate Bears etc DD wasn't keen to stand quietly next to me, to say the least. I decided to move to a normal checkout.

Before I was able to do so DD ran off to the other side of the tills and bolted down the shop. I ran after her (away from the exit, towards more tills and the customer service point). The self-service operator shouted (aggressively). "What do you think you are doing?"

I didn't realise she was addressing me so continued to go after DD. "Assistant" ran after me shouting "Stop! Where are you going. You can't go there. Give me that!" etc

I told her I was going after DD (now about 20 feet away trying to get up on a bloody peppa pig ride-on car). She kept shouting at me but I had to blank her as I needed to get to DD. She stood glaring at me as I dragged DD to a checkout, which was no doubt much appreciated by everyone waiting for help in the self-service area.

Is so unreasonable to run after a child while carrying basket of shopping and heading away from the exit, so clearly not legging it? Even if it is, a little understanding/courtesy wouldn't go amiss.

And breathe....

No of course it's not. In retrospect it would have been better to have put the basket down to retrieve DD, but you acted in the moment. Clearly you weren't shoplifting, and continuing to give you evils when you have gone to pay is BVU. In fact shops are BVVU to have all that crap next to tills as well as those horrendous rides. Keep breathing!

Never had a child obviously!!!! My sympathies OP.

My mum hasn't been to Morrisons since the assistant manager approached her and told her she "fills her trolley like a shoplifter"

Put the basket down next time. You'll have both hands free to grab the escaping child and won't be hampered by the extra weight...

You should have put the basket down in retrospect.

They weren't being unreasonable, they were doing their job.

Well as we only have your side of the story.....and it's rather odd, then we can't offer much!

You are making it sound like she reacted to nothing.... Must be more to it

She might have panicked, thought you were shoplifting and just reacted. Why should she show you understanding and courtesy when you can't even contemplate that?

Yes I should have out the basket down! Don't know why I didn't... guess I was just v focussed on getting to DD before she disappeared or hurt herself. I can carry her tantrumming and a basket no problem when required! I am just moaning because of the aggressive manner and shouting, was weird and not necessary.

Sorry Joules, that's all there was. Maybe she was having a bad day.

It is not like I went and complained about her. I am just seeking approval from a bunch of strangers instead

Flowery I can contemplate that. However wouldn't explain the staring I was being served!

I've not been to Morrisons since an assistant at the self service checkout unpacked my clothing I'd put in my reusable shopping bag into a disposable Nutmeg bag. I said she didn't need to do that as I'd brought my own bag (which she took it out from) She told me it was company policy to put Nutmeg clothes in Nutmeg bags. If I hadn't really wanted the jeans for my 3-6 month old I'd have told her what I thought of that 'company policy' Maybe there's something in the training that turns them into nightmares?

Another point to bear in mind is that if your dd took off that quickly, the assistant may not have seen her and realised you had an escaping child.

I think if you'd chucked your basket down on the floor, you'd probably have had irate shoppers saying it was in their way, or someone tripping on it! As you hadn't left the store you weren't stealing were you.
I think your dd needs to go in a trolley or buggy next time though. Or reins.

Ummm, yes it would. She could have been watching to see if you looked like you had stolen anything.

Yes, never take a toddler to supermarket without some form of restraint. I must learn this lesson!

Lots of shoplifters use children as a distraction...

Another great reason to have kids. Will keep that in mind next me I want a free haggis and carton of orange juice!

Id say she'd not had experience with a child either!

Its also a sign of someone who is a bit of a jobs worth when they can't prioritise big human stuff over job rules and minor stuff... Or that the employer is so draconian they stamp the humanity out of people!

After all, I think most people would say a child's life is more important than some packets of food, however when someone been programmed to only think about their job, some people can find it hard to stop thinking as an employee and think like a person.

If you ran towards the door i would understand. But towards the tills.... she overreacted imo.

Of course you are not unreasonable to leg it after your child. Reins, wrist link strap or being strapped into the trolley seat were musts for my children, and did stop that sort of thing from happening.

Next time put her in a buggy if you go shopping or harness. My goodness I coud nt use some fr of restraint on ds just 2, he woud bolt at any opportunity

All very well to say someone is a jobsworth but in today's economy when it's so hard to find a job and there's so much competition, I'd be very, very reluctant to do anything other than stick rigidly to the training and rules I'd been given.

Yeah, I think there's a lot of staff who would rather be cautious and risk annoying a customer than be too relaxed and risk their job.

But they're happy to listen to tantrumming children when you refuse to buy them the mounts of sweets by all the checkouts which is why they put them there!