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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:
BlackberryBeret · 11/08/2019 16:24

You thought the aim of a toy store was to provide a ‘theatre’ experience for your children?

This thread has provided me with a marvellous theatre experience I must say.

Basketofkittens · 11/08/2019 16:24

Life is full of disappointments and brusque people. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m teaching DC resilience and how to quickly move on rather than stewing on past events.

MrsKittyFane1 · 11/08/2019 16:25

Thanks I should have looked at that myself  so the idea of a retail 'theatre' experience is what I thought was supposed to be the aim. With good staff, child interactions.

I have honestly never taken a child to a shop expecting them to be entertained.

herculepoirot2 · 11/08/2019 16:26

As for the OP being called 'cheap'for taking the children there if she couldn't afford to buy much - in the last, we took our DCs to Hamleys as well as shops like Selfridges at Christmas time purely because travel for children in London is free and you can look at the displays in the windows and in store for free.

Nothing wrong with that. You weren’t expecting free stuff.

bluebeck · 11/08/2019 16:28

Honestly you sound more and more ridiculous OP.

I think we can see where your DDs over reaction was learned....

JocastaJones · 11/08/2019 16:29

I found many of the demonstrators on Hamleys to be in less than jovial spirits last time I was there. I do not think you are BU. The store is set up like that to get people in and spending. We went and bought a small gift for our kids. We wouldn't have gone to any old shop for a treat. It wasn't about getting any particular item. We went to Hamleys because of the experience we hoped to get, which is exactly why they do the toy demonstrations.

My dd tried the tattoos and although we didn't buy a set at the time she loved it and asked for it as a birthday gift. I've also bought another set as a gift for my niece. So the sale was made eventually.

MrsKittyFane1 · 11/08/2019 16:30

The ultimate play experience, Hamleys has been delighting adults and children for years from their famous London store, one of the largest toyshops ... And with entertainment and theatre in abundance, every visit to Hamleys is a special treat for children of all ages.

From Hamley's website.
Fair enough OP. They promote themselves as a freebie funfair.
They deserve people to treat it as such.

Celebelly · 11/08/2019 16:31

Not been to Hamleys but went to FAO Schwartz in NY as a kid and that was very much about the experience. It was set up for you to spend a lot time in there, with loads of demonstrations and stuff going on for kids. Nowhere near the same as a Toys R Us or similar.

Walnutwhipster · 11/08/2019 16:32

What do you want to happen? Please tell me you didn't get her into trouble because you didn't get your second freebie.

notso · 11/08/2019 16:33

I understand going to Hamleys for the 'experience'. I can remember going as a child and feeling it was special and magical although when I took my kids a few years ago it was tacky and shabby and nothing like I remembered.
I don't understand how that experience equates to getting freebies for both your children though.
Yes the assistant could have been nicer/kinder/more smiley but still only one DD would have had the tattoo.

herculepoirot2 · 11/08/2019 16:35

*I think it's a two way street. We ply kids with demos and tats you browse and hopefully buy and come back.

The whole point of hamleys is the interactive experiences otherwise why go there and not a huge boring warehouse of a shop like Smyth toys?*

But the woman explained very clearly that you had had your free quota of ‘experience’ and now it was time to buy, or not. I don’t understand how you don’t get this.

Bluntness100 · 11/08/2019 16:36

I can see both sides here. If she was curt, and I'm not convinced she was, more you didn't like her message, then yes this is not ok.

However I think you're being a bit disingenuous by suggesting you go and get all the freebies as part of the experience.

I took my daughter when she was young. And clearly there was folks demonstrating different toys, the intent clearly to promote them. And it makes it more fun to wander round.

But I think uou know the intent is to promote and not provide you with freebies. You clearly weren't going to buy the product, and if you liked the results, as you did, then the idea is you buy the toy and your second kid can get her tattoo that way. It's not you go in for another freebie.

purplewhitegreen · 11/08/2019 16:37

YANBU! It's possible to say to a child there's no more goes to be had without being an arse about it. Anyone who can't do that shouldn't be working with kids.

But OP, so many people are on AIBU just waiting for a chance to have a go at people. Please don't take it personally. How sad their lives must be, to get pleasure out of being such arses to people.

Ooh, maybe they should apply for a job in Harrods, they'd fit right in!

purplewhitegreen · 11/08/2019 16:39

I think you know the intent is to promote and not provide you with freebies.

I work in marketing and if this employee worked for me, this would not be acceptable. What a bad impression they've given of the store to this customer, and it's ended up on social media, even worse!

There is no point in running a promotion if you're going to upset the customers! That's not to say you can't do things that are a limited offer, but you be nice about it. Otherwise you're not doing a promotion, you're dragging the company's name through the mud.

Short sighted, mean spirited and no use to anyone.

HeadintheiClouds · 11/08/2019 16:39

You got the name of the shop wrong, as well as almost everything else, purple. Are we reading the same thread?

purplewhitegreen · 11/08/2019 16:41

You got the name of the shop wrong,

Haha, OK I skim read. The OP does mention Harrods. But Hamleys it is.

I stand by everything else I said.

I've been here 11 years, I have the measure of AIBU, thank you very much.

notacooldad · 11/08/2019 16:45

fascicle

notacooldad
But she wasnt going to buy anything anyway.

Except that OP said she spent £26
OP doesnt mention that until after about 17 posts from her.

Some may call that a drip feed!

JemimaPuddlePeacock · 11/08/2019 16:46

this thread has given their reputation a hit.

Have you read the thread, OhTheRoses? Grin no reputation hit at all! People almost unanimously think OP was a cheeky F.

I laughed at ‘brought the set into the past’ once I’d figured out what OP meant, some impressive time travel skills 😂

TheFairyCaravan · 11/08/2019 16:47

The toy demonstrators are employed by hamleys.

I think it was mean to have not given both kids a tattoo. They cost practically nothing, we're not talking about diamond rings.

Twooter · 11/08/2019 16:49

Yanbu

notso · 11/08/2019 16:51

It's possible to say to a child there's no more goes to be had without being an arse about it.
Yes but the outcome is still the same to a six year old. No is still no even if you say it with a smile. What if the OP had six kids all wanting a free tattoo?

CarolDanvers · 11/08/2019 16:52

People almost unanimously think OP was a cheeky F

No they don't. It's not an even split granted but it's certainly not almost unanimous.

Marnie76 · 11/08/2019 16:53

Yabu. You clearly don’t understand how the business works. They demonstrate to entice you to buy. She knew you weren’t there to buy. They’re not a charity or to entertain your kids for the day. And the jealousy comment, ridiculous, anyone can go in there, the OP is no one special.

Figgygal · 11/08/2019 16:59

When I want a theatre experience I go to the bloody theatre and expect to to pay to get in

This thread is crackers

Ohmygoodnessreally · 11/08/2019 17:00

Dearie me