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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gift Shops . AIBU?

16 replies

TreeSack · 16/12/2015 20:32

Twin dds are 5.

At the weekend I took them for a lovely day out at the zoo . It was quite a drive away and cost money in fuel and accommodation , as well as the tickets .

We had a lovely day and although money is tight , I gave them ten pounds each to spend .

Well when we got to the gift shop , I was astonished at the prices ! Shock

They wanted a rubber ball each - which I swear I have seen in home bargains for £1.99 - it was £7.50! Shock - so £15 for two balls!

It was all expensive tat and I know after the journey home it would not be looked at again.

There were various mini (and I mean tiny key ring size ) soft toys for £10! It was total extortion and out of principle I said no Blush

I explained to them that the shop was very expensive and I told them I would take them to a toy shop the following day where they could pick something better .

They seemed a little sad but accepted it and did pick a decent toy the next day, that they both liked . And that I felt happier spending money on.

But I can't help feeling like I was mean . WIBU?

OP posts:
MontyYouTerribleCunt · 16/12/2015 20:35

Nope! I don't think ywbu at all. Expensive tat is precisely what a lot of these gift shops stock. As long as you make good on your offer of trip to toy shop tomorrow I don't think you've been mean at all.

Original poster
TreeSack · 16/12/2015 20:38

I think I felt mean as I naively told them they could get something on our trip - I really didn't realise the costs !

Then they kept asking for random bits and the prices were ridiculous - knowing I'd have to buy two of it was worse .

Technically , they did get something on our trip as we went to the toy shop on the way home .

OP posts:
hesterton · 16/12/2015 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouMakeMyDreams · 16/12/2015 20:50

Yanbu the prices are extortionate. We do buy things in these places but the rule is something like a pencil, rubber or sharpener type thing as a memento unless it's their own money. We tend to be at these sort of places during a holiday so they know now that the money needs to be spread out.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 16/12/2015 21:28

I take Brownies on trips regularly and while it is over priced tat, there's usually something they can get for under a fiver. Most places I've been have a pocket money type table with cheap tat.

However, I'm well away from London, could well believe £10 doesnt stretch far there!

Bastardshittits · 16/12/2015 21:35

We have a rule that we only ever buy fridge magnets from the gift shop. It's got to be relevant to the trip and it has to have the places name on it. My kids now treat this as some kind of challenge and get quite excited about it. I get excited as it means I never part with more than £3 ThanksGrin

megletthesecond · 16/12/2015 21:39

Gift shops are always overpriced.

I'm a cruel mum and only allow them to buy educational books.

chanie44 · 16/12/2015 21:46

I often cheat by making up gift bags with sweets and small toys. I tell my children I have a surprise for them in the car and try soon forget about the gift shop.

Nataleejah · 16/12/2015 21:52

I hate gift shops too. My DC are also only allowed books or sweets, because i know that any other shite will be tossed after 5 minutes of novelty.

Mmmmcake123 · 16/12/2015 21:58

I think yanbu at all. Although they are only 5 years old you have given them an early lesson in financial management. They got a treat on the way home. Well done you for teaching them to think before buying.

ohtheholidays · 16/12/2015 21:59

No OP,I agree with you.We started noticing the same about 5-6 years ago.

One childrens farm/play area that we used to go to had items in they're gift shop that were well over £100,in all the times we went there I never once saw anyone buy any of the highest priced items in the shop and more often than not you'd see streams of people walking out of the gift shop without even stopping to look at anything.

I think it's silly really as they're missing out on a good extra income by just charging to much.

celtictoast · 16/12/2015 22:05

YABU. They need to make money to keep the zoo going and for the conservation etc.

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 16/12/2015 22:14

We have the same rule as Bastardshittits, the spawns get truly indignant when the gift shop is devoid of fridge magnets, and the middlespawn has been known to stroppily accuse bemused members of staff of bad planning.

dodobookends · 16/12/2015 23:26

Be warned - if you are going on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, take out a small mortgage before going in the gift shop there.

Buttons23 · 16/12/2015 23:36

I avoid gift shops for that very reason. I remember my son in the London Transport Museum and he wanted a wooden bus/cab/train etc. They were charging £5.99 each! Anyway left them on the principle and found very similar ones in Wilkinson's for £1 each. Much better, gift shops overcharge way too much.

Even when I took my ds to Haven for a holiday earlier in the year, I got the character teddies for him off eBay for a fraction of the price they were charging. I knew he would want them, and that's fine but I just can't pay the prices they charge when I know I can get it cheaper.

emwithme · 16/12/2015 23:56

I was generally only allowed to get a pencil/rubber/ruler or other piece of stationery from gift shops. Occasionally I could argue that a bookmark was stationery.

These days, I buy fridge magnets and ... pencils/rubbers/rulers.

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