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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - told off by restaurant manager

41 replies

MRex · 03/06/2019 16:12

I'm struggling to see why the manager thought I was unreasonable; this being AIBU someone must have a theory. Anyway I've sent off a complaint as it's a small chain.

The description of what happened is:
"I advised your manager that having 2 racks of high chairs blocking the accessible / baby change toilet door from opening more than 12 inches makes the toilet inaccessible for a wheelchair or a pushchair. As a regular customer, I already said this once since the makeover, because an old man with a stick struggled to get in, but they are still there. He said that is the designated spot for them and they can't go anywhere else, then walked off. A woman with a slim pushchair arrived some time later while I was eating, obviously couldn't get her pushchair in, so she restacked some high chairs and went into the toilet. The manager grabbed the chairs and put them out of the way by a table then ran over to me and very aggressively shouted at me that high chairs mustn't be stacked more than 3 high and I was creating a health and safety issue. I told him I hadn't touched them and it was nothing to do with me but was the woman who was still in the toilet with her pushchair, he said "I thought she was with you" then stamped away. She wasn't, but even if she was I shouldn't be shouted at in front of my toddler because another adult removed an obstacle that was preventing them from using the toilet."

Keeping this short, but I did add on the complaint about not going back and how I think they really need to keep the accessible toilet door actually accessible.

So, any ideas why the manager thought I was being unreasonable? Is it because I complained on two occasions about them blocking the accessible toilet door? I was polite so I'm still a bit shaken and baffled as to what else I should have done.

OP posts:
Isithometimeyet0987 · 03/06/2019 16:33

Strange I have seen high chairs stacked more than 3 high and no one has ever said anything about it it that I’ve heard. Could it just be the companies policy? Either way not very good customer service skills!

Wineandpyjamas · 03/06/2019 16:37

It’s pretty simple - they need to allocate another space for the high chairs. An accessible toilet has to be as it’s described. Needing the space because there’s nowhere else to put the high chairs just doesn’t cut it.

YANBU

fecketyfeck21 · 03/06/2019 16:37

blimey, he's in the wrong job,

Lizzie48 · 03/06/2019 16:40

No you definitely weren't U and the manager's behaviour was very poor. You're right to complain.

HolesinTheSoles · 03/06/2019 16:41

Wow that manager is incredibly rude and unprofessional. I would make a complaint and leave a bad review.

GlamGiraffe · 03/06/2019 16:45

Manager is clearly a senseless idiot lackkng any capacity for thought.ptobably some health and safety company policy implemented by a head honcho who has never visited the store in question to see it's not viable in this case and another designated spot is required.
No excuse at all for staff members to act in this way towards customers. Bl9ckage of the door could mean an incapacitated person could be trapped in the loo and in the event of a fire or the like this would not be good news.
In the circumstances I would have marched right up to the manager demanded he ask if shouting as customers was similar customer policy to the high chair stacking rule( loudly) and ask him to ask the lady who moved the lady about her opinion regarding the position of the highchsirs, or perhaps asked her yourself with him in tow to make the point. I would have then got head office on the phone in front of him to report him.
Don't know if mumsnet allows but if it does please post the restaurant name as it'clearly mum unfriendly.

Isatis · 03/06/2019 16:50

You did nothing unreasonable. I hope you've gone above his head to complain?

Gilead · 03/06/2019 16:52

Wow! You're not unreasonable at all. I would struggle with my stick too!

Relightmyfirepit · 03/06/2019 16:53

You did nothing wrong, can you go further up the chain about this and also the managers attitude

MRex · 03/06/2019 16:56

I've had a call from the company operations manager to say it was escalated to him, so that was very quick. Lots of apologies. He's going to personally find a new place for the high chairs today, he recognised that's the most important point. He wanted a description to confirm the staff member because they've got a few new hires, he said the guy is a junior manager and they will be following up with him because the situation shouldn't have ever happened, he should have moved the chairs as soon as the issue was highlighted and obviously shouldn't ever be rude to customers. They're sending me a free meal voucher. Obviously I don't want to go back in if this knob is still there, but I guess I can use it on a day when he's not there.

He hazarded that the guy was taking the requirement to keep the new restaurant layout seriously, but hadn't thought sufficiently to realise that obviously it would have to be adapted if there was an issue, like realising the chairs blocked access. People agreeing with me is all very nice, but it means I'm still none the wiser in figuring out why the guy shouted at me.

OP posts:
FrecklyArmedBoy · 03/06/2019 16:56

I would take photos (discreetly) of the situation and go over the restaurant head if it is a chain.

It is a H&S hazard if someone cannot get out of the toilet in case of a fire if people return high chairs whilst someone is using the toilet.

Or contact your local council to see who would deal with this.

StCharlotte · 03/06/2019 16:58

What happened when the lady with the pram came out of the toilet? Was she trapped?!

StCharlotte · 03/06/2019 16:59

Ignore me, I've re-ready your OP.

cstaff · 03/06/2019 17:01

I would make a point of going back to use the voucher when he WAS there and letting him know why you got it but maybe that's the evil cow coming out in me Grin

GabsAlot · 03/06/2019 17:04

Hes a jobsworth knob thats the layout so im stickng to it-Hope hes not in there next time

Relightmyfirepit · 03/06/2019 17:05

The guys a dick, that’s why he shouted at you. Don’t overthink it and maybe work on your own assertiveness so that things like this don’t leave you shaken and baffled

MustardScreams · 03/06/2019 17:05

Eurgh what a prick he is! You were absolutely in the right. Also he’s talking bollocks about high chairs being stacked more than 3 high, Ive worked in restaurants for 20 years and that has never been a rule.

XXVaginaAndAUterus · 03/06/2019 17:08

I assume he shouted at you because of reasons none of which were actually about you. He was feeling stressed and harangued by customer complaints. He was feeling powerless and like nobody respektid his authoriteh (said in best cartman voice). Perhaps he is piggy in the middle between stuff being shunted down the chain of command and shunted up. He might be an unskilled communicator. He might be in too deep in his job and secretly bricking it. He might have just split up with his wife.

The are hundreds of possible explanations for his behaviour. None of which excuse them because it just wasn't okay for him to shout at you whatever the reason.

None of which are

LynetteScavo · 03/06/2019 17:10

an old man with a stick struggled to get in, but they are still there.

Sorry, this made me chuckle!

He shouted at you because he's a stressed out dick who's crap at his job.

AdoraBell · 03/06/2019 17:10

I would respond and ask them why the manager shouted at you.

Justaboy · 03/06/2019 17:11

Yoof of today couldn't run a piss up in a brewery so it seems;!..

INeedAFlerken · 03/06/2019 17:14

Please go over his head. 'Accessible' means the toilets should be 'accessible', not prevented from use because the shop hasn't figured out a proper place for highchairs.

And shouting at customers in this manner is also completely unacceptable.

I would name and shame the branch, personally. It's all these places care about, and that will get a response and action taken. Very little else will these days it seems...

RebootYourEngine · 03/06/2019 17:14

I would definitely go back when he was there and use the voucher. He was being very unreasonable.

INeedAFlerken · 03/06/2019 17:15

X post. The perils of getting up to stir the food before coming back to continue reading without refreshing...

Glad you've had a positive response. Pleasantly surprised, actually. Hopefully it will get sorted quickly now.

LovelyJubblee · 03/06/2019 17:16

I was in pub recently waiting for food to arrive when a member of staff started washing down the high chairs with disinfectant right next to me