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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hamleys demo lady left dd 6 in tears.

617 replies

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:16

Summer hols day out, theatre and hamleys.

Having fun trying all the toys on display and v small budget to buy a toy.

Older dd goes to lady for hand tattoo. I asked younger if she wanted one she was shy and said no. However once older has one she wants one. So she gets in position and very curtly lady says 'no. Its not a freebie for all children it's a demo. I can't do another child' no smiles, no kindness and she looked as hard as nails as dd face crumpled and starts to cry.

Not a big cry! In the past they have always dine both dc, in hamleys and harrods.
And we have actually brought the set into the past but it's the fun and part of the toy shop experience to have something done there!

Not the experience I expected from hamleys of all places. Or was she right!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:17

Wheres my aibu button!

OP posts:
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/08/2019 10:24

So how come your other DD got one done? I don't really understand the set-up. How did the woman choose which children got them and which didn't?

Fair enough though - doing hand tattoos for every child that wanted one in Hamleys during the summer holiday would be a nightmare.

MondayAlready1 · 11/08/2019 10:26

It sounds like she could have handled it better and either isn't best suited to her job or she was just having a shit day. Also, if she had sales targets and it looked like you weren't going to buy anyway then that might have been a factor. I'd let it go.

Oulidae · 11/08/2019 10:27

Yabu and acting very entitled... You wasted the demo lady's time getting her to do your older dd's hand tattoo knowing full well you would not be purchasing that product, and then you wanted the demo lady to waste even more of her time doing a tattoo for your younger dd? The lady is not offering a free hand tattoo experience, she is demonstrating the product for thise that are interested in purchasing it!

OneStepSideways · 11/08/2019 10:29

I don't think the woman did anything wrong other than being a bit curt. Your DD changed her mind about wanting one and she said no, it's just a free demo not one for every child. She was probably tired and fed up of kids demanding tattoos all day!

ScreamingValenta · 11/08/2019 10:30

It does sound as though she was rather curt, but isn't the point that you have a demo and then either buy the product, or not? It doesn't sound as though you were really playing fair, either. Six of one and half a dozen of the other is my verdict.

herculepoirot2 · 11/08/2019 10:30

I am confused. Was it a paid for service?

Gruntvsgunt · 11/08/2019 10:30

YABU - your family unit got a demo and could have got the set had you wanted more done. It’s a demo to entice sales not a freebie for all.

cheesydoesit · 11/08/2019 10:33

She might have had a bollocking for giving out freebies, you might have been the 10th parent to ask for one. I don't envy her job to be honest.

recrudescence · 11/08/2019 10:34

Half a freebie is better than no freebie at all.

motherheroic · 11/08/2019 10:34

She was doing a demo not giving out samples. YABU.

thethoughtfox · 11/08/2019 10:35

You had no intention of buying the product so you were cheeky even asking for one free demo.

PegasusReturns · 11/08/2019 10:35

Oh come on it's a glitter tattoo in hamleys not a test drive of the latest supercar Hmm

If you're going to set yourself up in a toy shop to demonstrate a toy you're going to have to demonstrate it. They're not having their time wasted.

You're only unreasonable OP in so far as you expected better from Hamleys. They've gone so far down hill as to be unrecognisable.

pictish · 11/08/2019 10:36

Well...it’s just one of those things isn’t it?
Sorry your dd was upset...I have a shy daughter and imagine it was the shock of rejection that upset her. It would take a lot for my dd to approach someone and to be treated curtly would be mortifying for her.
However, that’s not the lady in the shop’s fault.

I wouldn’t dwell on it any more.

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2019 10:37

it's the fun and part of the toy shop experience to have something done there!

It really isn't.

It's a demonstration so parents know what they're buying.

Can you imagine the queue if every parent and child used her like a free tattooist?

Original poster
Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:37

In harrods and hamleys there are little sort of stalls dotted around, some will do one nail for the child, some chalk hair in front of a mirror, some do glitter hand tattoo.

We always took it to be part of the experience. Often they will entice the child in offering to do it. We see it as part of the fun overall experience and both dd usually get nail done or glitter. They also then become walking ads for the product. Surely it's a win win.

I felt if the lady had smiled or just even said it kindly it would have been OK. But she was curt, harsh and rude. It's the last place in London I would expect anyone to talk like that to a child!

Mostly the staff are bubbly and fun and child orientated.

OP posts:
BananasAreEvil · 11/08/2019 10:37

I don't think you're being fair OP. You say you were on a low budget so perhaps you were after freebies/experiences without having to pay. That's not what the toy demonstrators are in Hamleys for; they might even be on commission!! I am sorry your DD ended up upset as a result but I think you were chancing it so I am afraid YABU.

Original poster
Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:38

Worral, it's more like little food samples at market of cheese, sausages etc.

And there were no other dc there.

OP posts:
EvilPostbox · 11/08/2019 10:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:40

Just out of interest the people commenting, have you been there and experienced it?

One dc came out with demo roller things for her shoes, man demo them and she chose them and uther dc came out with squidgy stuff.

And a promise to return to build a bear for her bday. But I'm not sure we will return there to be honest.

It's like any supermarket having little tasting stall.... For the public to try.

OP posts:
yikesanddang · 11/08/2019 10:41

YABU it's a demo. Not an entertainer at a party that has been paid for. You say there were. I otter children around. In that. Are, there is no point in her doing another demo. Demos are done do people can watch and be enticed to buy. As there were, by your own admission, no other dc around, there was no pint wasting time and product doing your second dd.

BlackCatSleeping · 11/08/2019 10:42

I’m laughing at those saying she must have been tired after doing tattoos all day. That’s her job! I think she could have been kinder.

Original poster
Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:42

With dc is it possible to give to one and not the other?
It's never been an issue before anywhere else including hamleys.

OP posts:
brownjumper · 11/08/2019 10:42

It really isn't. She is demonstrating a product you might like to buy do you can be sure you like it first. It's not a demo if you have no intention of buying it, it is you expecting something for nothing.

Waveysnail · 11/08/2019 10:43

Yes but you saw how the product worked when eldest DC had it done. The woman was right to say no