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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Tesco make it up as they go along

233 replies

Devilishpyjamas · 22/09/2018 14:58

Son just popped out to buy some AA batteries from the Tesco down the road.

They refused to serve him saying they’re ‘not allowed to sell batteries to children’. Eh? Since when?

Ds3 is nearly 14 and has bought AA batteries from there (unaccompanied) before.

OP posts:
Heratnumber7 · 22/09/2018 15:04

DD (22) wasn't allowed to buy herself paracetamol from Sainsbury's, because she didn't look 22, and had no ID.
The instructions on the packet show the dose for children.
Then DH wasn't allowed to pay for them with her with him because they were "for her".
Bonkers.

Original poster
Devilishpyjamas · 22/09/2018 15:08

Oh my god, I can’t even get my head around that one Grin

I am particularly grumpy because now either dh or I have to go out in the rain.

OP posts:
MetalMickey22 · 22/09/2018 15:09

Yanbu, how ridiculous!

ElainaElephant · 22/09/2018 15:12

A friend of mine wasn't allowed to buy vanilla extract as she didn't have I'd with her. She was with her husband and 6 year old child.

And yes, her husband wasn't allowed to buy it for her either...

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide · 22/09/2018 15:14

I got stopped from buying round-ended paper scissors and pritt stick in WHSmiths once. I was 17 and trying to do my art homework!

madvixen · 22/09/2018 15:15

I was stopped from buying teaspoons in Tesco once.

nailak · 22/09/2018 15:16

Good excuse for not doing your homework though

JaneJeffer · 22/09/2018 15:16

Vanilla? Is that dangerous now? I hate the smell.

CloudCaptain · 22/09/2018 15:16

Ooh I remember having a good sniff of the pritt stick when I was 14 and wondering what the fuss was about. Hmm

ArtemisWeatherwax · 22/09/2018 15:17

Just trying to think what damage you could do with a teaspoon, an AA battery and some vanilla extract...

Original poster
Devilishpyjamas · 22/09/2018 15:19

I am laughing at all of these. WTAF? Grin

Was any explanation given for any of them?

OP posts:
scrambledeggbrain · 22/09/2018 15:22

I got IDd for a bottle of Chablis in Morrison's yesterday. I am 37. It's not like I'm 16 and off to drink it on some swings with my mates!

Cornettoninja · 22/09/2018 15:24

I’ve had teaspoons pop up with an age restriction warning in co op before.

Luckily my cashier was a rebel and happy enough with her judgement that I wasn’t a menace to society armed with six teaspoons.

I then used them to rob a bank.

PuppyMonkey · 22/09/2018 15:24

Well of course, it just starts with vanilla essence. Then it’s onto the hard stuff, like icing sugar. Or sprinkles.Grin

RollaCola84 · 22/09/2018 15:26

scrambledeggbrain I got ID'd for a 30 odd quid bottle of whisky a few months ago. I was in business dress having done the shop straight from work, the shop included vegetables, tin foil, spray bleach and other boring adult stuff, oh and I was 33 and it least ten years older than the assistant Hmm

Paracetamol I can sort of get though it's annoying but batteries, teaspoons and vanilla extract ??

OftenHangry · 22/09/2018 15:31

Vanilla essence has alcohol in it.
Some of these are quite funny though😂 Tea spoons😂

Bobbysausages · 22/09/2018 15:31

The trouble is it may be inconvenient to you but if they sell something to someone without ID or the correct age check then they can be prosecuted. I worked on the tills as a teenager and the pressure to always ID is huge as Tesco's (or other supermarket) gets fined (and so does the member of staff. My friend was fined almost £1000 - hard as an adult to pay but nearly impossible as an 18year old working part time.) As staff we saw it as ridiculous too but the police often send people in to check so you can't take the risk.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 22/09/2018 15:32

A friend of mine was ID'd in Tesco for a lottery ticket. She's 37!!

Original poster
Devilishpyjamas · 22/09/2018 15:32

But there isn’t any law saying you can’t sell batteries to children (I checked). Or vanilla extract or spoons for that matter Confused

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 22/09/2018 15:33

I’ve had the same issue with teaspoons at a self-service checkout in Tesco.

Lauren83 · 22/09/2018 15:33

A younger girl (22) working for me in an old job went to get some glue for me from staples and when she was looking at them a staff member went to ask if she needed help so she said what it was for and asked what glue was best (it was a fibreglass animal used for display in a shop window that had cracked) he suggested superglue so she took it over to the till and he then refused to serve her without ID which she didn't have so he took it off her and put it back

Original poster
Devilishpyjamas · 22/09/2018 15:34

Oh there is a law for vanilla? Although you would have thought they’d let the husband purchase it.

OP posts:
Jengnr · 22/09/2018 15:34

Not selling to people with incorrect id is one thing.

Not selling to people with correct ID who are accompanying that person is bullshit.

MirriVan · 22/09/2018 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Celestia26 · 22/09/2018 15:34

I got asked for ID when buying Christmas crackers. Apparently you can make an explosive device out of them. I showed her my ID and said "Thanks for the tip, I didn't know that. Helpful to know!"

She looked a bit panicked 😂