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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

OooErMissus · 11/08/2019 10:55

@Bornfreebutinbiscuits - why did you even start this thread?

You seem utterly unwilling to consider that you might be being unreasonable, with all your 'but, but, but - it's all part of the experience' replies...

Original poster

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:56

Worral have you been?
Because usually they work hard to suck the dc into their stall. The demo people more mobile do as well.

OP posts:

LonelyGir1 · 11/08/2019 10:56

I've never been, but the way you have described it sounds like you are (unintentionally) being unreasonable. Did you offer to pay for your youngest to have it done too?

limitedperiodonly · 11/08/2019 10:56

It's like something from League of Gentlemen

FuriousVexation · 11/08/2019 10:56

Wait. Hamleys is like Harrods for kids, right? Ridiculously aspirational?

I can't use my phone right now so apols if I've got that wrong

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2019 10:57

Worral have you been?

Yes, many many times.

It's less than an hour on the train.

ChicCroissant · 11/08/2019 10:57

The food tasting at Costco works wonders on us, we came back with two pots of seasoning that we tasted there this week! It can be a 17 course lunch as well, of course ....

Original poster

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:57

There are load of them dotted around the shop. There is no way of paying but once its done obviously your dc then becomes walking ad for the product.

OP posts:

Nicknacky · 11/08/2019 10:58

foof has Hamleys gone from Jenner’s?

OooErMissus · 11/08/2019 10:58

We've been to Hamleys several times.

I would take pity on some poor sod having to do interminable hand tattoos on kids, knowing most of them had zero intention of actually buying.

Could she have been nicer? Sure.

But you're being a bit ridiculous.

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2019 10:58

And again, demonstrating how a kit is used is in no way comparable to tasting food.

ALemonyPea · 11/08/2019 10:58

Was your sole purpose to visit Hamleys and just use the freebie stuff and not buy anything? That's a little odd.

ChicCroissant · 11/08/2019 10:58

Hamleys is not what is was IMO, full of shouty toy pushers now - DD is quiet and doesn't like it, we ended up walking down the stairs to get out after she couldn't cope with a shouty toy pusher. We don't go in at all tbh, the M&M store and the Lego store are her choice!

herculepoirot2 · 11/08/2019 10:59

There is no way of paying but once its done obviously your dc then becomes walking ad for the product.

Oh stop it. Your older child got a free tattoo. That’s the end of it. She’s not a “walking ad” so much as happy to have received a freebie. Get over yourself.

WalkofShame · 11/08/2019 10:59

I have to be honest, your follow up posts aren’t making you sound any less entitled than your first one.

Original poster

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 11/08/2019 10:59

So you or your dc have been in demo, it's impossible to walk around without dc going up too, being sucked in by the demos?

They have fake snow, glitter tattooes, demo of flying stuff, skates, pens... It's impossible to walk around and at some point not be dragged into one. It's very much part of the experience.

OP posts:

OooErMissus · 11/08/2019 11:00

but once its done obviously your dc then becomes walking ad for the product.

So you're doing Hamley's a massive favour?

BlackberryBeret · 11/08/2019 11:00

Hercule they do put free things on for dc all the time.

I've never been in Hamleys and see pure free entertainment for children ever.

It is always involving products that are for sale being demonstrated - whether that's bubble machines, magic trick sets, hair chalk and so on.

There is a big difference between food tasting too - which is it takes no time at all - the food is just offered. A demo takes the time of the demonstrater which is limited. Hamleys is always busy and there are always more kids that want these things than can be fitted in.

It's fairer to offer the demo to different families than it is to do 2/3/4/5/6 kids in the same family.

For all you know, the demo lady may have been expressly told to avoid if possible doing more than one child in the same family in order to maximise selling potential. It's not unreasonable for those running a business to adopt that perspective.

I bet if your Child 2 had asked at the time, she probably would have done it for you - but going back afterwards is definitely trawling for a freebie. Actually, if Child 2 liked it that much, you should have bought one - that's the point of it all.

Repeat - it's a business.

OooErMissus · 11/08/2019 11:01

Again- why have you started this thread?

You don't think you're in any way unreasonable.

notso · 11/08/2019 11:01

Next you'll all be telling me you don't go to Costco and eat all the samples with no intention of buying the products.

In Costco they don't give samples to the whole family though. They'll give our family of 6 one or two between us.

OP I think YABU to expect a freebie just because you have two children. Maybe next time your younger child will be more bold in what she wants. However the demo woman could have apologised a bit more but maybe she was sick of pushy parents and whiny Kidd or something. I'd hate that job tbf.

herculepoirot2 · 11/08/2019 11:02

You could actually look at it another way: you made your child cry. You let your older child have the demo, then when your younger child wanted one you refused to buy one. Why didn’t you just buy it, if she wanted it that much?

Nicknacky · 11/08/2019 11:02

“Walking advert”....She’s not a Kardashian!

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2019 11:02

Yes and your older child was 'dragged in' to the demo.

That's the job done.

If they'd both sat down at the same time, the woman would probably have done them both.

But it's quite possible she could tell from your attitude that you were just there with no intention at all of buying.

phoenixrosehere · 11/08/2019 11:02

Yabu, it is a demo and is likely one per family. I usually see them demo on themselves vs children unless you ask them to demo it on you.

Yanbu about her attitude. She could have been nicer about it. A simple ‘ I’m sorry, but I can only do one person per family’ or ‘ I’m sorry, but I’ve reached my quota for the hour so I won’t be able to do one for you.’

That’s how I was taught to handle potential customers when I worked in retail especially when it comes to children.

OooErMissus · 11/08/2019 11:03

I think we've all got a pretty clear picture of the OP's type in our minds' eye...

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