To think that children really don't need to use their scooters in the supermarket?

[Pointlessfan]

Or inside shopping centres or any other place where there really isn't enough space and the rest of us have to keep dodging them. This is seriously getting on my nerves, every time I go shopping I have to keep jumping out of the path of children zooming about on scooters. Why can't they ride them in the park? I was brought up to be considerate of others and would never have been allowed to use a scooter, bike or roller skates in shops or any where else where I would be in the way.
Feel better for getting that off my chest! So is it just me or are others equally annoyed by this?

[YouTheCat]

I don't think it's allowed but I think people are too scared to say anything because they might get a mouthful of abuse.

Management in shops and shopping centres need to step up and make a stand.

I'd love to hear what these entitled idiots argument is as to why their kids should be allowed to scoot in these places.

[Pointlessfan]

I am truly shocked and saddened by some of the posts on here about injuries caused by basically thoughtless behaviour. Every single one of those accidents was avoidable. The store management and security really do need to sort these idiots out. If it doesn't happen in other countries it should be possible to stop it here. I'm actually getting more and more angry about it! No doubt when one of the kids on a scooter gets badly hurt it'll be the fault of the supermarket or the scooter manufacturer, not the parents who allow them to ride them in such stupid places!

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Why doesn't everyone who has actually seen this happen write to/ email the supermarket or shopping centre where they saw it, outlining their concerns, asking for details of the establishment's policy, and suggesting a "no wheeled vehicles except wheelchairs and prams" policy is enforced (just as "no dogs except guide dogs" would be enforced).

No point tutting about it and complaing about the "children/ parents of today" and being doom and gloom making sweeping generalisations about "this generation" as some have - its odd behaviour, and innappropriate, but pressumably not the norm, and if tules were clear and enforced it could ne stamped out before others assume it is acceptable and more people allow or encourage it.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

I'm not sure theres any point in complaining about DCs/parents behaviour as, here it's always in ASDA.

All that would happen is they'd move on to miss behaving in 'naive' supermarkets instead.

[OnlyLovers]

Good point about complaining to the shop. If enough people did, they'd have to listen.

And if people complained in all the supermarkets and shops, eventually there wouldn't be any 'naive' ones left.

[MissBattleaxe]

MrTumbles- I complained to the cashier at the time.

The problem is that the parents are afraid of saying no to the kids and the cashier was afraid of upsetting or getting a mouthful off the parent. Result? an overly entitled society.

Eventually security had a word.

Next time I see it I will speak to the manager.

[Pointlessfan]

To be honest I hadn't realised it was such a widespread problem until I posted on here yesterday. I will be complaining in the shop from now on.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

MrsBattleax I wouldn't expect the cashier to do much - minimum wage, employed for a specific narrowly defined job, not to olice the store (though she or he could have paged a supervisor). A written complaint would do more - if its rare ( how many people have actually witnessed this, and how often?) its very dramatic to make it an enditement of modern parenting/ children/ society. Those sucking their teeth and doing nothing are surely comlicit (write an email if confronting them looks likely to end badly).

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

*complicit, and other errors...

[KingJoffreysBloodshotEye]

I don't see the point of complaining.

Best to vote with your feet before the fuckers get run over and just embrace online shopping.

Once the only customers in the shop are the kids scooting up and down shop owners might twig.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Perhaps the attitude that there is no point complaining and nobody dares say anything or thinks its their problem is why some things happen in the UK that just don't in other countries...

[nicename]

I suppose if a shop of centre 'hasn't got a policy' on wheeled things in their store, then a security guard won't be bothered to get into a fight with an entitled mummee or daddee who thinks that their child should be able to scoot around at top speed if they want (and sue if they topple over). Same parents who walk poolside with their bloody mucky shoes on (ersonal bugbear) or let their kids stand on bus/train seats (because children never ever step in dog poo, mud or gum, do they?).

[KoalaDownUnder]

Perhaps the attitude that there is no point complaining and nobody dares say anything or thinks its their problem is why some things happen in the UK that just don't in other countries...

Y'know, maybe it is!

I am really not a confrontational person, but for something that is not only irritating but really dangerous..,I wouldn't hesitate. As I said, I've never, ever seen scooters inside a supermarket in Australia, and it's not because kids don't ride them; they're everywhere, but you park them outside!

I wouldn't make it a cashier's problem, but I would absolutely ask to speak to a manager, each and every time it happened.

[Fullpleatherjacket]

I am fortunate enough never to have seen this but it doesn't surprise me in the least given the number of times I've been ridden at by small children on the pavement. I am always slightly bemused by the death stare this seems to engender as Momma Bear finally looks up from her phone.

Perhaps it's my fault for being there

[Thirdtry22]

I'm so thrilled to find this thread. Heelies/scooters have been the bane of my life for years!! My dc's are older now but I would never have allowed such rudeness and inconsideration when they were younger. It's bloody dangerous for a start....supermarkets and shops should take a stand on this before somebody gets hurt.

[TattyDevine]

I tend to agree. Probably not life's biggest problem but you have a point.

[Sirzy]

Probably life biggest problem for the people who have been left injured after being knocked over by them.

[chopinbabe]

The only way that some of us can avoid melt downs in the supermarket is to allow things that might not be ideal. Please think before you judge.

Of course, if children are not properly supervised they can run amok just on their own two feet, causing the same sort of mayhem described by others. My little one once knocked down a display without any mechanical aid whatsoever but when she goes into a shop on her little scooter she is extra careful, as she is on the pavement.


A good parent allows what is best for the child but makes very sure that scooters, heelies and even little feet are not allowed to charge about willy nilly harming other shoppers and property.

[OhBuggerandArse]

And if, by accident, she knocked over an old lady and she died as a result of her injuries you would still claim that the fault would be with those who judged?!

[Sirzy]

I can fully understand the need to avoid meltdowns. But there are still things that aren't appropriate and a scooter in a busy shop is one of them.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Yanbu.
Scooters, bikes, riding trolleys, running, cartwheels, climbing shelves -all not allowed activities in a shop for me.

[chopinbabe]

That would be awful but she could just as easily knock over an elderly person or another child if she ran about on her own feet.

In my case, I watch her carefully when she is on her scooter and so there is no fear of her knocking anyone over. I have seen some parents disregard their child when they are running and shouting and, in one case, throwing glass bottles on the ground. Thankfully, my friend managed to talk her child down and a few hugs later, all was well down but real damage could have been caused to another shopper: something of which we were horribly aware.

There are worse things than a well behaved child on a scooter.

[Sirzy]

There may be worse things, but they still shouldn't be in a supermarket. Is a simply issue for me.

Scooters for parks, gardens and closely supervised on pavements in quiet areas. Not anywhere else.

[YouTheCat]

You can't always avoid meltdowns and doing something like this to appease a child is doing them no favours.

Better to deal with it before they get older. What if someone at the supermarket says 'no scooters and no exceptions'?

[HeySoulSister]

I have asked unsupervised children to leave the shop I work at. I've also asked people who come in with dogs to leave. I'm not the sort to bail out... But rest of the staff are too timid to ask. They tell me to!

These were not assistance dogs either! People are genuinely surprised to be asked to remove dogs. Is this new?