To insist my 5 yr old ds uses toilets in Halfords, when they say 'NO' due to insurance reasons?

[DrNortherner]

In Halfords last night at 5.30pm. Dh was spending £400 on a new bike. Ds needs loo.

Spotty teenage staff say no, not insured blah blah blah.

I say OK, lets go outside. Ds says no I need a poo.

Staff say use pub next door. Ds getting more and more desperate. Poo is coming.

I say 'Let him use your toilet now or dh will not buy bike' (dh looks aghast)

I demand manager.

We get escorted to toilet, but only a one off.

What do you think?

sweeties! What did you do?

Aside from the insurance side, I don't think you can expect every shop to have a public toilet.

Agree with Franny.

Is this still going on.

Sorry DrNortherner I haven't read the whole thread but have just seene FF view and read some of yours.

FioFio's quote "As a Mother myself of course I sympathise, but I do afterall use public WCs when I am out and about with my own family, without relying on staff store toilets."

Which I do agree with FWIW and I am forever saying "have you been to the loo?' before we go anywhere.

AIBU threads are open to views, even if the are different? yes?

My main issue would be considering spending £400 on a 5 year olds bike TBH. I think Halfords should be shot for having bikes at that cost for children who will outgrown them in 6 months!

sorry haven't read since I last posted but Lazyline, JL are reknowned for their customer service!

just to offer a contrast I once saw a JL employee (well, 2 actually) hold open a plastic bag whilst a man was vomiting into it. They were very kind, poor bloke kept apologising in between retches.

I think until you have worked with 'the public' you have no real idea how horrible 'we' can be!

Wotszaname, I think the bike was for her DH...

opps, so why all go?

I worked for Sainsbury's years ago. A mother used to bring her 5 year old in- load up a trolley and get him to push it through- he was too young to be done for shoplifting (but boy you should have heard him swear when he was caught).

Northerner I am sorry to disagree but I think you were rude

I think saying "Let me do what I want NOW or I will " is a very rude way to behave.

sorry for a badly worded post - am in midst of big arguement with dh.

wotzaname, I think the bike was for dh not ds.

Wotzsaname - the bike was for my ds not ds.

well that's a whole other thread...

dh not ds.

Are we not all allowed to go shopping together?

I have worked in alot of retail shops: Walis, Debenhams, Next, ELC, DP and everyone had the rule that, no they are not public toilets, HOWEVER if it is a small child, pg lady you can make an exception, so long as you accompany the customer. I also worked in a bank and a couple were arranging a mortgage and were taking ages and their LO need the toilet and we let them use the staff ones, even though it meant walking into the secure area!

Message withdrawn

lol at peeing being dicing with death

I'm with DrNortherner, fgs, 'elf and safety/insurance is used to justify everything.

So, WWW, you will make a 40 min round trip to go home and have a poo, but you expect to be able to have a piss wherever the fancy takes you? Hmm? Hmm?

I saw a similar situation in a Sainsburys local type shop whilst on holiday earlier this month. Mum comes in looked stressed, holding a little boy aged about 3. Asks to use toilet as he is desperate and the two cashiers refused, again quoting insurance. She almost pleads witht he TBH, saying why he needs to go - and that it was more than a wee. Little boy by this time is nealy in tears saying he really needs to go. Mum tries desperately with cashiers again and asks if anyone else to talk too, same NO answer.

Poor lad. When I went outide, the poor little thing is being held out by his daddy over a couple of plastic carrier backs. They'd moved their car further up onto the pavement outsie the shop and had kind of used themselves to shield himf rom view of everyone.

Felt dreadful for them.

I haven't read all of this so apologies if I repeat anothers post

It was in the news about 6 months ago that Scabby Abbey are refusing to let minors in their staff area/offices due to a toddler falling out of a window on a visit. It was one of their employees kids IIRC.

I have, in the past, taken young children up to use the loos in every job I've had (shoe shops, clothes shops and banks)

Yea all go shopping together, but go to loo first!

Glad DH got his bike, and I now see it was for DH not DS.

Will DH be going to loo before his bike ride? Or will he be stopping at Halfords? Sorry I shuldn't have typed that, I know its not funny for your DS and when you need to go you need to go. We have been there.

I will not comment anymore on your threads as I always rub you up the wrong way. No harm was intended.

Sorry in advance.
Sorry in advance.
Sorry in advance.

lol F&Z, no, not ME, but a child I would, yes. They can't hang on 40 mins like I can

Wotzsaname - I don't understand your first comment really??? I mean, when we go out then yes of course we all nip to the loo first. But sometimes a shopping trip can last a long time, and quite likely a 5yo may need to go again. And not many 5yo can poo on demand, in advance of a trip out, surely?!

Hulababy to expalin - that's why I said why all go?

I know what my dc could be like at that age and unless I knew there was somewhere nearby to feed, water and offer loo stops and it was going to be a long time (see long time explained next para), we wouldn't all go.

It was DH bike purchase. In my own experience if my DH is choosing something it takes an age because he doesn't thing about the feed, water, loo thing! So he would have to go on his own, while we did something else.

I guess. TBH thought we also generally go out together, even for stuff like this.