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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:
Marnie76 · 11/08/2019 18:05

So you’re saying that all the other staff normally accommodate you and are lovely but because you have decided one person upset your dd will never go back. Over reaction much

notso · 11/08/2019 18:08

Do you really believe this, or are you just trying to argue? That a child reacts only to the words said, and not the language or the tone?

In the scenario the OP has described I don't think the outcome would be any different. The younger child was offered a go, coaxed by parent, refuses, changed mind then has missed the boat, child is upset.
It's a situation I've seen with my own kids, nieces, nephews, friend's kids, kids I've looked after as a nursery nurse and TA so many times and all those times they've been told no very, very nicely.

Yerroblemom1923 · 11/08/2019 18:11

Well maybe your dd will think twice about saying no to something she actually wants in future. Chalk it down as a lesson learned.

justmakeitbetter · 11/08/2019 18:13

@HeadintheiClouds I don’t see what’s wrong with that? The poor little girl had a bad experience and it might just make up for it. I doubt Hamleys would be happy if they heard this had happened.

untoldstories · 11/08/2019 18:16

People almost unanimously think OP was a cheeky F.

And a Not A CF from me too.

However there are a lot of Nasty Fuckers on here.

CarolDanvers · 11/08/2019 18:31

Well maybe your dd will think twice about saying no to something she actually wants in future. Chalk it down as a lesson learned

Yeah! you snooze you lose! I don't care if you are anxious and wary of something unknown as a small child! You'll get no encouragement from me. Cry me a river, you'll know better next time won't you.

Onesailwait · 11/08/2019 18:34

I see all the miserable bastards are out in force today. How dare your children expect to sample something that's being demoed in a toy store the entitled little shits. poor woman must have been absolutely exhausted giving children glitter tattoos all day. Really that was a shity thing to do to a little kid she could have just done the tattoo as I imagine she was being paid to do. Go to the dollar store or the UK equivalent pound store I guess buy a bunch of temporary tattoos and let your kids tattoo to each other all over.

TheFairyCaravan · 11/08/2019 18:35

People almost unanimously think OP was a cheeky F.

I don't think OP's a CF, either. Some right miserable fuckers on here though.

Dandelion1993 · 11/08/2019 18:38

It's a demo.

The idea is that they do it for free on one child then you'll buy it to do it on the other.

purplewhitegreen · 11/08/2019 18:44

People almost unanimously think OP was a cheeky F

No, not people in general. Specifically people on AIBU who just love to put the boot in.

Not a very nice side of human nature displayed on this board. Narrow minded, unkind, sticklers for rules (when it suits them) and those who love to put others down. I think of AIBU as overrun with hyenas.

I'm thinking I might block the whole topic.

limitedperiodonly · 11/08/2019 18:48

Thanks for your concern @HeadintheiClouds but I'm sure I'll be fine with the Lindt lady next time we meet in Sainsbury's.

They love me there because I am a regular customer and an all-round tip-top nice person, unlike various people on this thread

I doubt the Lindt saleswoman knew that but I guess that as a professional, she thought that might be the case and didn't want to be rude.

PS I don't know how she guessed I was a valued customer. I was wearing a grey Gap t-shirt, grey Gap trousers and grey (stinky) New Balance trainers. My hair badly needs washing and dyeing.

I guess like other posters experienced in retail have said, you get a feel for these things Smile

jennymanara · 11/08/2019 18:54

I don't think OP was a CF. I just think she does not understand that this woman was probably not being paid a wage by the store, but had paid to rent the space in the store.

limitedperiodonly · 11/08/2019 18:55

I'm thinking I might block the whole topic

Please reconsider @purplewhitegreen. The Mumsnet Anti-Cunt Counter Movement need as many as we can get

jennymanara · 11/08/2019 18:56

Hamleys is basically a store with main parts toys being sold by Hamleys, and then lots of "stall" space rented out usually to small independents trying to make a living.

Compare the Sainsbury's chocolate example and imagine someone in Sainsbury's who had paid to be there to sell their chocolate. That person would not give lots and lots of free samples away as they could not afford to.

Sugarformyhoney · 11/08/2019 18:58

Maybe if DD2 wanted one you should've bought the set and gave her one at home. That is the point, after all.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 11/08/2019 18:59

If she did one sibling she should have done the other. Equally, it's not a massive deal so hopefully your DD will move on from it relatively unscathed....

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide · 11/08/2019 19:03

Last time I was in Hamleys one of the demonstrators literally flew a drone into my face. Then asked us if we wanted to try and did the product speech. I think it was a deliberate marketing tactic Angry

namechangerreloaded87 · 11/08/2019 19:07

I think if your job is working with kids, you've got to expect them to want the same things other kids/their siblings have. Seems a bit cruel to pick and choose who gets a demo, and that set up isn't really suited to a toy shop. If you're willing to do it for one, you need to be willing to do it for all. They are kids.

Armadillostoes · 11/08/2019 19:10

I agree that there are some miserable and pretty tense people on the loose on here. There was no need for the woman to be nasty to a young child whatever the circumstances, HOW something is said makes a bit difference.

Also, some of the analogies have been just plain stupid and a lot of people commenting don't seem to understand the set up/overall approach of Hamleys.

ineedaholidaynow · 11/08/2019 19:12

The difference with the chocolate demo is that the food has to be eaten once it is open. So if they were only there for the day they might want all the opened stock eaten. Also I doubt she would have given a free pot of chocolate to each member of a family.

Also once you have seen a tattoo done on someone’s hand in your family you can see what it looks like and how it is done. You don’t need to have it done on another hand.

QualCheckBot · 11/08/2019 19:14

I think they need to get signs up then, only one demo per family /group if they can't offer to all and manage expectations better.

My parents taught me not be grabby and expect stuff. Surely it was your role as a parent to set an example of a little less grabbiness? I mean, when you go around for instance a food hall with free food samples, are you one of those people blocking everyone else because you stay for 5 minutes eating everything you can see? Or do you just take one sample and move on?

purplewhitegreen · 11/08/2019 19:14

Please reconsider @purplewhitegreen. The Mumsnet Anti-Cunt Counter Movement need as many as we can get

Grin

Well, since you put it like that, how could I possibly decline?!

fascicle · 11/08/2019 19:19

Dandelion1993
It's a demo.

The idea is that they do it for free on one child then you'll buy it to do it on the other.

A demo of a cheap product in a famous children's toy shop which publicises, and is known for, its interactive experiences, demonstrations etc as a means of attracting children and customers to its store. A reasonable/proportionate policy would have been one tattoo per child.

The demonstrator should be professional and consistent in behaviour regardless of whether a purchase is made. Poor business sense to be anything else.

Yerroblemom1923
Well maybe your dd will think twice about saying no to something she actually wants in future. Chalk it down as a lesson learned.

Bizarre expectation - for a 6 year old to be decisive and not change their mind.

jennymanara
I don't think OP was a CF. I just think she does not understand that this woman was probably not being paid a wage by the store, but had paid to rent the space in the store.

A previous poster, theFairyCaravan, has already pointed out that Hamley's directly employ demonstrators. Even if this is not one of their employees, from the public's point of view, a demonstrator represents the store and its image. The OP's incident is counterproductive and might also have put off other customers who might have been interested in the product.

Dawnofthebread · 11/08/2019 19:30

I don't really see this as a grabby or entitled thing. It sounded like the kid was nervous, got up the courage and was upset at being turned down abruptly. I was painfully shy as a kid and I think I might have been upset too, more for feeling embarrassed than not getting the demo. It was not like she had a big demanding tantrum over it.

CarolDanvers · 11/08/2019 19:34

I mean, when you go around for instance a food hall with free food samples, are you one of those people blocking everyone else because you stay for 5 minutes eating everything you can see?

I have never in my life seen anyone do this even when I ran a tapas bar and we used to get the wait staff to stand outside with tapas samples to get people in. Maybe I have just been lucky? Maybe I'd be as negative and suspicious as some of the posters on this thread if I came across as many grabby, greedy people as some on here seem to.