To be annoyed at Boots or at least the lady who works there

[Chocoholism]

Buying some cow and gate stage 1 formula for my 6 month old and asked if I could pay with points on my advantage card, her response was no you can't as we like to promote breastfeeding.
Err how does giving points or redeeming points when buying a stage 1 formula affect a decision on whether to breast feed or not? And also I could've adhered to doh guidelines and bf to 6 months and then changed to formula.
Is this a silly rule? The amount of milk we get through, and the money I give to boots makes me feel like I am as entitled to receive points as much as anyone else for any other products.

piperose any reason that you just compared people who breastfeed to a nazi terror organisation? Do you have any idea how offensive that is? Any idea???!!!!

'breastapo' is such a vile term :( are you aware of what the gestapo did?

About as rude and ignorant as the various health professionals I witnessed bullying my friend to the point of tears over her inability to breast-feed. All that the over-promotion of breast feeding does in make those who can't do it for whatever reason feel completely inadequate, and when you're 2 hours post-partum it's terrible.

I agree it's rubbish. Some people can't breast feed or simply chose not to, you shouldn't get penalised for this. It's not exactly a reason to choose formula over breast because you would get boots points! Is that what the government think?

Yeah but piperoseplease don't compare them to the Gestapo. Someone feeling inadequate is not really akin to the slaughter of millions.

Yes I am aware completely aware of what the Gestapo did. It was a joke. Sorry if it offended, it's a well-known term in my circles, and before you say it I realise you're very relieved that you don't mix in my circles.

I didn't realise it was actually law, bit stupid of me as it makes sense that the law would not allow for discounts or promotions on formula milk to back up the doh guidelines. Never thought of it that way really. They recently put price up from £7.99 to £8.49 which is quite a big jump so I wondered why that was???
Of course bf is best but we all know that some women can't it have problems etc like myself but I understand it I just think the lady could have perhaps explained it better then

I used to work in boots and this situation came up a lot, either people wanting to pay for formula using their points or being upset that they couldn't claim points for their purchase.

It is indeed the law, as pp have said. Perhaps the sales assistant could have worded her response better though. I used to explain it that the law says we (boots) aren't allowed to promote formula feeding over breast feeding or vice versa. And then apologise if the customer was pissed off, even though there was nothing I could have done anyway.

They are allowed to sell it. They are not allowed to incentivise it.

YABU.

Try Home Bargains for infant milk. Its always been £1-2 cheaper there.

piper rose - perhaps you could spend a bit of time educating yourself about the Gestapo and then perhaps you wouldn't make such sick comments.

FFS do people hang around threads about feeding babies just so they can show off their incredible wit and use holocaust comparisons?

You shot your load a bit quick didn't you piper?

There wasn't even an anti ff post.

The comparison with fags was a factual rather than a judgmental one. Though I doubt that will stop anyone running with it.

People DO love to get outraged about feeding babies. Its like a hobby.

I hate Boots but feel the need to defend them they're only obeying the law.

She felt more than inadequate, she actually felt that she couldn't be a mother. It was a contributing factor to her PND.

Also I didn't get rude or upset with her as I'm not like that. It just made me think about it

Points aren't an entitlement, it is just a loyalty scheme, you can always choose to buy it elsewhere! I don't understand why people think they are being ripped off in some way!

Oh and piper I was reduced to a very hysterical sobbing wreck by a MW due to my failure to breastfeeding feed with my failure being partly due to poor care. I still find your post nasty and offensive.

Not a funny joke though piperose and something that you surely realise most people would find offensive whether they have any experience of breastfeeding or not.

It is law but the lady in boots did not need to make a remark about breastfeeding. ...she should have just said formula is exempt from the boots advantage card/points.

True arcadia I just meant that I felt I should get points the same as anyone else buying anything else but this was before I knew why

Well, if Boots feel that strongly about the matter they shouldn't fecking sell formula milk then, should they? Funny how their exorbitant sensibilities don't extend to refusing to stock or sell the item!

Pumpkin they don't FEEL anything - they are just observing UK law by not applying any promotion (inc Advantage card points) to formula milk.

The checkout person probably didn't understand it herself and so made it up partly so she could give a reason that seemed plausible to her.

For every woman who feels there is 'over promotion' of breast feeding piper there will be one who feels she didn't get enough support.
And those women get PND too.

But do we hear the terms bottlestapo and forumula nazis being bandied about?

Having a friend who had PND does not give you free range to sling stupid offensive terms about.
It wasn't a joke btw.

PiperRose - I'm sorry for your friend, but please don't use one atypical example to compare all breastfeeders everywhere with the Gestapo. I mean seriously wtaf.

Back to the original thread, I'm sure it's annoying but not Boots's fault. Their general over-pricedness and the fact that there's always a massive queue and the self-service tills always break down on the other hand... totally their fault.