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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Boots shouldn't charge me.

251 replies

Lagoonablue · 13/07/2015 22:20

Shopping after school and my 5 yr old falls heavily on his knees. He is crying and knees are bleeding and dirty. We are 15 min walk from home. I am next to Boots. I go in with my hysterical 5 yr old and ask if they can help. A pharmacist hands me a pack of antiseptic wipes and some wound dressing. I clean him up and then she says £4.99 please.

I pay for the wipes but not the dressing as I haven't used it. Left feeling a bit miffed. Surely they had the odd wipe knocking about and do wouldn't use the opportunity to sell me a product! I went there as it was the nearest place and kind of made . sense. However I bet if I went in any other shop they might have helped out by using their own first aid kit or something,

It's not about the money but feel it wasn't very sympathetic

OP posts:
Original poster
Lagoonablue · 13/07/2015 22:38

It's not an adult with a sore head though is it? It's a small child with bleeding dirty knees crying his eyes out .

OP posts:
BreconBeBuggered · 13/07/2015 22:39

Yeah, okay, they're a business, but it's not as if OP picked the wipes off the shelf, is it? Hope your DS is feeling better now, OP.

TheHormonalHooker · 13/07/2015 22:40

YABU

It wouldn't have even crossed my mind that they might give me them for free.

DoJo · 13/07/2015 22:40

I, too, would just have gone in and bought a packet of wipes rather than asking staff to help - they are shop assistants, not medical staff, so wouldn't be in a position to do more than show you the products that they have that might be of use. Also - a parent out with their child without a tissue?! My granny would be spinning so fast she'd be boring a hole in the centre of the earth at the very concept! Grin

OrangeVase · 13/07/2015 22:40

Also, legally, if they "help" you by "treating" you - ie by supplying stuff and you have a reaction or it is the wrong thing - you could sue them..

If you buy wipes and your DS has a reaction or it is the wrong thing you are liable. It may sound stupid but people sue businesses all the time.

nancy75 · 13/07/2015 22:40

Op who should have paid for the stuff? The stock doesn't belong to the staff, it's not theirs to give.

Pedestriana · 13/07/2015 22:41

I have friends who work for a charity. They have a visitor centre which has information about the area. Last week a man came in with a small boy who had fallen from his bicycle onto gravel. The staff offered antiseptic wipes and bandages. They did not charge.

I don't think that the world owes everyone a living but offering an antiseptic wipe is hardly the be all and end all. What a lot of hard-faced unsympathetic people there are out there.

Original poster
Lagoonablue · 13/07/2015 22:42

I didn't ask for free medication though. I asked for help with my little boy. In fact my words were ' can you help, I have no tissues of anything and need to stop the bleeding'.

I just felt they were bring a bit mean spirited.

OP posts:
pregnantpause · 13/07/2015 22:43

"It's not an adult with a sore head etc" Then take him to a public toilet and use soap and water coupled with love to comfort him. Don't go to a shop and ask for stuff foc. If they'd given it to you it's from their wages. The company ( a very large profitable one) isn't going to care of the circumstance beyond- is it a customer? Did they purchase the product?or is stock missing and tills down?

lougle · 13/07/2015 22:43

This is such a strange concept. Where does the line stop? What if he'd needed a bandage? Steri-strips? What if everyone popped down to see if Boots could help when their child was hurt?

nancy75 · 13/07/2015 22:43

I guess the charity prow have the stuff out of the first aid kit & I would guess it was not otherwise available on that site? Boots has rows of shelves full of wipes that they are selling, it is a totally different situation.

CurbsideProphet · 13/07/2015 22:44

It's a shame they didn't actually say "so sorry we aren't allowed to offer you anything from our own first aid kit, we can only sell you something from the store", as that would have made things a bit clearer. Hope your boy's knees aren't too sore OP.

iwantgin · 13/07/2015 22:44

Well perhaps the staff couldn't give you plasters and wipes but I don't see why you couldn't have been provided with some tissue to dab off the blood.

That wouldn't have cost the company much.

nancy75 · 13/07/2015 22:44

Op, I'm going to ask again, who should have paid for it?

Bakeoffcake · 13/07/2015 22:48

You're slightly bonkers OPGrin

No, Boots can't just give a way free stuff! Sorry your little boy was hurt, but hope he's ok now.

ginghambunny · 13/07/2015 22:49

Hang on, wouldn't this have qualified for the minor ailments scheme thing that was being banded around on FB recently?

butterfly133 · 13/07/2015 22:49

I think that as you walked into a shop, they were reasonable to think you wanted to buy something. If you had wanted tissues, then you could have bought tissues.

Yellowbird01 · 13/07/2015 22:50

Yabu

44PumpLane · 13/07/2015 22:51

It could be that if the staff were to treat you with their own first aid kit that they would then be required to fill out an accident report book? I'm a first aider where I work, in an office, and if I have to give anyone even a plaster I have to record it and its a right ball ache!

SouthWestmom · 13/07/2015 22:52

Actually Op I think yanbu. Small bleeding person and you'd think most people would help out .

Toughasoldboots · 13/07/2015 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheTravellingLemon · 13/07/2015 22:56

Well Lagoonablue if you'd have come to mine with a bleeding child I am happy to tell you that would help free of charge Smile.

SaucyJack · 13/07/2015 22:56

But when you asked them to help and if they had anything, it's not surprising that they probably just assumed you wanted them to sell you something. Y'know- like every other single person that walks into a pharmacy asking for medical bits and bobs.

Boots was probably your worst bet for something free tbh.

Original poster
Lagoonablue · 13/07/2015 22:58

Ok if you think I am being u then find but I object to being called bonkers.

I think it is uncharitable of them tbh.

I have no idea who would have paid for it. And don't care frankly because I wasn't expecting off the shelf products tbh. A piece of blue roll or a paper towel would have done in the circumstances. Which is probably what I would have been given in any other shop I guess.

OP posts:
londonrach · 13/07/2015 22:58

Yabu if knew stuff off shop floor. Tbh id have popped in to buy plasters etc. Dont think first aid kit can be used for public in case of allergy. Madness but staff risk you sueing them..

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