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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

cardboard fixture fell on my son while shopping

237 replies

shminkie · 08/04/2014 16:51

I visited a matalan store on 10th Feb with my almost 2 year old son and my mother. My son loves exploring his world right now and I'm happy to let him under my watchful eye. He was doing his usual 'taking things off prongs for mummy to put back' when he tried to take some socks off one of their cardboard display units. As a store planner and shop fitter, it never occurred to me that the fixture would be unsecured, especially placed so close to the children's department. I was therefore horrified when the 4 foot, front heavy fixture with eye threatening prongs fell covering my son. I settled my son who was thankfully ok, but thought that it needed reporting to duty manager. After paying for my goods I asked to speak with someone. A young lady arrived and I explained what had happened and was utterly astonished at her response. There was no concern, no apology. She just said 'well he must have pulled on it' I replied yes he had, as he explored, as he should be able to without the fixture falling onto him. She then told me 'that's why our trolleys have child seats in them, we recommend you keep them in a trolley.' I was utterly enraged with the 'well it's his fault or your fault' attitude. This attitude has been repeated by their own h and s dept and by my local council. I simply cannot believe that this is OK?! That because these are temporary fixtures and because he was not injured I should accept the vouchers they offered and shut up!? I have asked them to donate them to charity as i do not plan to revisit while my sons safety cannot be guaranteed. Please let me know your thoughts, or knowledge of other incidents/ways I can report it. Either way, watch your little ones in matalan, as ease of sock management comes before your child's safety.

OP posts:
Funnyfoot · 08/04/2014 22:54

Did that incident drive you to improving your catching skills Rafa Wink

CorrieDale · 08/04/2014 23:05

The Op's response has been deleted! And reading between the lines, it was clearly worth seeing. Now that IVU. Shame on you MNHQ.

ilovesooty · 08/04/2014 23:09

i do not plan to revisit

I bet they're heartbroken. Grin

FanFuckingTastic · 08/04/2014 23:10

Wow, now I feel slightly offended that I was only worth a marshmallow. I may have to change the plot and throw cola cubes at her instead. All those eye threatening corners and sugar to go into her eye and make it seem like she is crying with joy. She'll thank me for it afterwards of course.

IneedAwittierNickname · 08/04/2014 23:11

Gakkers I'm sorry to hear that, I burned myself with hot coffee as a child. I know the pain!
Make sure you sue the man eating it too, of Jed have eaten faster Johnny would never have suffered burns.

kali110 · 09/04/2014 01:09

Corrie, ops response was to say she wasn't coming on trollnet again and for some of us to mind our manners, clearly because people wasn't agreeing with her

MrsCakesPremonition · 09/04/2014 03:11

My 3yo DS chose to wander around Matalan with his willy hanging out. Lucky he didn't snag it on the fittings.

And I did chase him and make him put it away instead of looking all proud at his relaxed attitude to naturism.

PunkrockerGirl · 09/04/2014 06:47

All those vouchers I could have got when dc were small, silly me, I kept them in the buggy or on reins in the shops. All those lost opportunities to blame and claim Sad But hey, is it really too late? DC are 22 & 18 now. I shall take them to John Lewis today and encourage them to do all the exploring they missed out on as toddlers! I could do with some new bedding, how many display stands do you think they need to knock over to get that covered? Grin

FitzgeraldProtagonist · 09/04/2014 06:52

YABU

chocolatemademefat · 09/04/2014 09:03

How entitled are you? Keep him in the trolley - no-one else can be bothered with him. If everyone in shops let their kids 'explore' how shit would shopping be. You're lucky the shop gave you vouchers - grab them and run before they see the error of their ways!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 09/04/2014 09:23

This thread, about potentially lethal marshmallows being offered with babycinos in Costa, and the appallingly unsatisfactory response of costa, when the dangers were pointed out to them by the OP, is why I mentioned marshmallows here. I saw similarities between the situations.

I am genuinely sorry if I have re-awoken childhood traumas with my casual reference to a confectionary item.

melika · 09/04/2014 09:35

Sounds you were edging for a compo claim. Yabu.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/04/2014 09:39

He should not be running round a shop 'exploring' its not a place for a toddler, either reins or buggy. Your mad letting him explore, how do you do any shopping whist keeping an eye on him Confused

differentnameforthis · 09/04/2014 09:46

To be fair, it is you that is responsible for your child's safety, not them.

I have no idea why you would allow him to explore in this way!

murphys · 09/04/2014 09:58

This attitude has been repeated by their own h and s dept and by my local council.

I nearly missed this bit Grin.

So not living in UK, I have to assume that Matalan is a shop and not actually a fun-filled theme park. Maybe OP is new to UK and had the same misunderstanding as I did Wink.

jollyjester · 09/04/2014 10:25

You sound quite entitled and feel like you are owed something. your son should not have been allowed to 'explore' in a shop.

I'm so tired of people living in a claim culture where people think they are owed something all the time.

AllThatGlistens · 09/04/2014 10:58

Oh joyous, another outraged thread.

I have clapped my hands with glee and laughed out loud to this!

Thanks for the giggle OP Grin

Sallyingforth · 09/04/2014 10:59

The OPs response has been deleted by MNHQ.

I wonder if she will try Netmums instead?

ThePearShapedToad · 09/04/2014 11:17

Is it wrong I just googled "netmums matalan cardboard" to see if she had??!

Grin
BuzzardBird · 09/04/2014 11:19

And? Pear

Sirzy · 09/04/2014 11:22

what was her reposnse that it was deleted?

ThePearShapedToad · 09/04/2014 11:22

Nuffink

Melonade · 09/04/2014 11:26

Where in the world of shops are cardboard display boards, by their nature temporary, "fixtures"? Wouldn't that be a health and safety risk in itself?

Sallyingforth · 09/04/2014 11:30

Is it wrong I just googled "netmums matalan cardboard"

Perhaps you should have googled "My PFB and beastly people on Mumsnet"?

ThePearShapedToad · 09/04/2014 11:33

Ah, good point sally