in being very angry with Mamas and Papas "flagship store"?

[bellabelly]

So, for a treat, took ourselves off this afternoon to new flagship store on Regent Sreet - excited to have a look at some of the things we'll need to be buying before the twins arrive in August.

There were only TWO twin buggies to try out in the whole shop. Almost EVERYTHING v expensive - eg, cots £595 not including mattress or bedding . (We asked if we'd get a discount for buying 2 but assistant told us no...) Went to their cafe to sit down and recover with cake and a hot drink. My hot chocolate was cold - had to ask waiter to warm it up. DH's pain chocolat totally hard and stale (he was allowed to swap it for a croissant when he complained). Two drinks and two pastries cost us £12!!!

On way, DH suggested taking catalogue. We picked one up then noticed £1 charge written on front cover. Decided to forget it and put it back. Assistant asks if all ok and I mention not impressed with having to pay for catalogue. She replies "Oh but it goes to charity" as if I'M being awful scrooge not wishing to pay!!!

A I being unreasonable? Was so excited to be going there but have come away DETERMINED not to buy anything from there EVER!

[Ceolas]

Actually I have seen it in the flesh. In a sterile environment it would be lovely

[Ceolas]

Forget the moses basket MrsB. In beside you is much easier for feeding in your sleep

[bellabelly]

Guffelo - was the store you mentioned called Lilliput? If so, was there last weekend - v nice and v helpful staff and a good range of stuff.

[WelshBoris]

Lovely.

[MrsBadger]

well yeah
but the rest of the day on the floor /sofa / kicthen counter...

[franca70]

lol at the sterile environment. I think it's nice welshboris. It's weird because dc are now 4 and a half and nearly 3, but I find myself strangely interested in pushchair ...

[Ceolas]

Aha, franca! Should we expect an announcement any time soon?

[SpringisherePann]

yes, you are being unreasonable. To go shopping in outlet for rip off company, in rip off street, in rip off town in rip off country..and then complain when you are..erm...ripped off.

can think of lots of otehr things to reasonably complain about..but not right now.

[franca70]

no, I'm actually trying to ignore the broodiness, however I try to keep up to date with the pushchair debate... you never know...

[WelshBoris]

Same as me franca, am not pregnant or TTC.

But live in hope

[Blu]

£12 for two coffees and a fossililsed pain au chocolat? Ooooh, no, you're not unreasonable at all!

[SpringisherePann]

She IS being unreasonable.

rip off store etc, with the cafe prices clearly showing.....but steam ahead, and then bitch about it afterwards? C'mon??

[Kbear]

Pann, calm down, you are allowed to be unreasonable when you're pregnant!

[WelshBoris]

Yes it's one of the good points of being pregnant.

[Socci]

Message withdrawn

[SpringisherePann]

I am calm....and making perfect sense(!).

I'll go and finish sorting the washing.

[bellabelly]

OK, should maybe have checked prices in cafe before ordering but seeing as hot chocolate was in fact cold and pain chocolat was clearly well past its best, think I'm allowed to bitch about it if I want to!

Also - your earlier point about it sort of being my own fault for going to rip-off outlet in rip off city, etc - the twins are my first pregnancy so I'm still learning which ones are the rip-off outlets. Also, I live in London so can't really avoid shopping there unless I move...

[SpringisherePann]

Socci - it isn't unreasonable to complain about getting ripped off.

See a few posts down about where she was. And, the 'option' of not being ripped off, so not having to bitch about being ripped off.

right, washing.

[Kbear]

Let the girl get it off her chest, I would moan about £12 for two drinks and a rock hard pastry too, anywhere!

Maybe they sell cold hot chocolate to parents to be cos you do know that once those babies are born you won't drink another hot coffee for about four years! It will always be lukewarm and you will remember you made it an hour afterwards!

[TheBlonde]

only scanned the thread but agree M&P shop sounds dire

gruffelo mentioned an alternative shop.. might be lilliput www.lilliput.com/ not been myself but others have also recommended it to me in RL

[franca70]

welsh

[cazza6]

Mamas and Papas generally deal in overpriced rubbish designed to tempt new parents-to-be into thinking they'll need the stuff but they actually don't or can get it for half the price on ebay.
The branch on Regent Street, however, does have a fantastic cafe on the first floor. It's a great haven if you're out shopping with babies and toddlers - they treat you like royalty. Well recommended.

[Busybean]

mamas and papas....booo hisss
lot of money for load of crap

[Aloha]

Not unreasonable. I've gone in there to glance at children's clothes and reeled out in shock at the dreariness and the price tags. And if you go to a cafe where they charge a lot and then get palmed off with stale food and cold drinks, yes, that's really crap. And it is gutting when you are first pregnant and want to look at stuff as a treat and to have fun imagining your baby or babies being in that cot, or this pram etc.
My advice though is Ikea and secondhand!

[misdee]

why are you going to mamas and papas when you have a few experts here


twins you say, hmmm. now that could be fun shopping. chuck us your cc and i'll get you what you need