to let my kids try out beds with their shoes on in Ikea?

[firsttimetwins]

We were in Ikea today because we need beds for the kids. My daughters (5) wanted to take their shoes off to try out the display beds (not just the matresses, the actual beds, so some had duvets etc. on them) but I asked them to keep them on. I wasn't sure exactly what was best, but in the end my thinking was that we would either lose the shoes or someone would trip over them, plus to be honest I couldn't be bothered with the hassle. Then, when one of my daughters was trying out a bed, an older woman came past and snapped at my daughter (not to me) "You've got your outdoor shoes on! You can't do that!" I responded to the woman myself, saying that I had told my daughter to keep them on because I felt that the store expects the exhibition furniture to get dirty. I was cross about the fact that the woman spoke angrily to my daughter, especially given that she had wanted to take her shoes off in the first place and I'm not having her feel that she got a row from a stranger because of my poor decision-making, but I don't know whether we were in fact in the wrong. So I'm looking for opinions on furniture-testing etiquette, I guess (the fact that I was raging with the woman is another thing altogether...)

ithoughtofitfirst you'd think so, wouldn't you? I am actually kind of embarrassed that people are getting so worked up about what I meant as a genuine, but pretty trivial, question. In fact I'm going to stop now, I can't believe I'm starting to doubt myself over something so ridiculous!

Normally I would have said YABU, but this was IKEA...kids are always climbing over stuff their with their shoes on.

No one is actually going to sleep in the bed, but your DC seemed more comfortable taking off their shoes, so I would have have gone with the flow and just stuffed the shoes into one of the yellow bags I was carrying. (probably 2 if I had two five year old's with me )

My DC would then have ran off in socks, slipped and given themself a nose bleed all over a nice duvet cover on another bed.

Lynette but what about when someone put a nice new blanket they were going to buy in the yellow bag when you put it back and it got all covered in shoe mud? There's a dilemma to be had in every situation! Bring on that etiquette manual! (That's meant to be lighthearted!)

(Please note: there was no mud on the shoes!! The shoe mud thing was a joke!)

I guess I've just always had a sense respecting displays in any shop and the work that people put into them..

firsttimetwins you are not very good at this are you! (rolls eyes)

You place the shoes carefully up-side down on the nice new blanket to avoid cross contamination between shoes and blanket.

For everybody else who might not understand I'm being "tongue in cheek".

Unlike other stores, Ikea displays are meant to be interactive. As long as their shoes weren't wet or muddy I wouldn't think twice about letting my kids lie on the beds. In fact I think I've done so too. Not quite sure what all the outrage is about!

Interactive doesn't mean they deserve to have shoes all over them. It's not soft play. But even if it was, you'd take your shoes off..

Well, didn't notice anyone, adult or child, with their shoes off when we were bed shopping at the weekend. But guess we were all wrong and MN is right. The staff didn't seem bothered either....

There is a difference between "displays" and "please test" items.

You wouldn't start trying on clothes off a mannequin in a shop window, but you might smear a tester lipstick on the back of your hand.

Ikea is full of "tester" items. Department stores, not so much.

I would let my DC do a running jump onto a bed in Ikea, but not Harrods or Dreams

But then I wouldn't have a shag on a mattress in IKEA to test the firmness.

Yes, an etiquette book for such matters is indeed requited, it seems.

Lynette, exactly, wish I could have expressed it like that!!

The beds in IKEA in the children's department are hardly "displays". 50 kids will have already jumped over them that day.

And if your kid does jump on the bed, IKEA will probably see it as a product endorsement, as other shoppers will see it doesn't break and will be more likely to buy a piece of their furniture.

Running jump? I reserve that kind of stuff for soft play, but horses for courses, I guess. Nothing to do with me. Maybe times have changed since I left Ikea and the staff now enjoys changing the sheets all the time..

If you say so, Lynette. The endurance tests are conducted already at the factory, so actual jumping on furniture to test it (or "interact" with it) is not required or particularly liked by the staff.

A requote: "The store has lots of fully furnished showrooms. You can sit on the chairs, lie on the beds and try out everything."
That sounds to me like they want it to be "interactive"...

Of course I wouldnt take my kids shoes off to get on a bed in a store, neither would i tell them to put their pj's on to lie on it.

It's a frigging furniture store.

Yes, I know that. Doesn't mention shoes. I would have thought it to be common sense to remove them in beds without protective covers. But, hey, maybe it isn't. Clearly been working and shopping at the wrong Ikea branches as have literally almost never seen this.

What, no pyjamas, Tinks?! head ->desk

But that's why I feel an etiquette manual would genuinely be helpful! I am happy to have my kids take their shoes off if that is what is required, but consensus there is not! And I don't want them walking around in their stocking soles when no one else has their shoes off.

And I need to know in advance if they need to bring their PJs with them!

YANBU....

I'm going to start a petition for Ikea to provide disposable plastic shoe covers like at swimming pools.

Good grief, I have way too much time on my hands.

ToysRLuv The staff? IKEA have staff?

Bloody bet their called crew