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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:
WorraLiberty · 11/08/2019 11:25

I still can't get my head around the 'jealousy' accusations?

Jealous of a parent who takes their kids to a shop they can't really afford to shop in, or jealous because one of her kids got a free tattoo demonstration?

There are shops like that (and parents) up and down the entire country.

viques · 11/08/2019 11:25

bornfree I don't think your anology of the taster bits in supermarkets works very well. Sounds as though you would line your family up and expect them to be fed.

As others have said, it's a demo to encourage you to buy, it's not a summer fair face painting experience. The demonstrator needs to get the demo out to as many potential customers as she can, not provide fun for the whole family, especially since she had already kindly offered the tattoo to both your children and been turned down by one of them.

Fraggling · 11/08/2019 11:25

Anyone can go to hamleys it's just a shop they don't have bouncers or anything!

Went a couple years back i didn't like it tbh.

Anyway, if you're in London you can go to hamleys and have a look round no probs. Finding some of the comments around that a bit weird tbh.

Thoughtlessinengland · 11/08/2019 11:26

It's down to the OP to explain to her kids how these things works but since the OP views this shop as an 'experience', I doubt the child will ever really understand.

Quite. The entire problem lies in the OP’s perception of a visit to a shop selling things as a venue to get an “experience” for free. There are places you can go to buy goods. And places you can go to buy experiences. The OP’s perception of visiting goods stores to get an experience of freebies means this child feels really let down and will never understand how these things work. And the OP can see this thread has not gone her way but she has concluded everyone here is being unreasonable possibly.

AndSheWas85 · 11/08/2019 11:26

*YANBU

catsbeensickagain · 11/08/2019 11:27

Anywhere else and I would understand the demonstrator, but it’s Hamleys - it’s who and what they are! I remember once (aged about 6) having those back flipping dogs demonstrates to me 10 times on the trot. My Dad did buy one but as he was doing it very covertly for a Christmas pressie the demonstrator has no way of knowing that!

BlackberryBeret · 11/08/2019 11:28

Are you also the kind that does to House of Fraser to get a full face of make up and perfume done before parties? Is that why you think those stands exist? To create a House of Fraser “experience” for you to buy a £2 eye pencil sharpener? Why do demonstrations exist you think? You cannot possibly think they exist for the “experience”?

ROFL @Thoughtlessinengland
Don't give the OP ideas!

ineedaholidaynow · 11/08/2019 11:28

The OP says they are going to the theatre so assume the DC are having a treat

limitedperiodonly · 11/08/2019 11:28

I bet OP takes her kids to a pet shop to pet the animals instead of paying for a petting zoo.

When Harrods had a pet department my parents used to take me there. Apparently they'd get you anything - a lion cub if you wanted. We never bought anything. Like Hamley's, it's a tourist destination as well as a shop.

Demonstrations are part of the experience like OP said. They pull people in. Some of them spend, some of them don't. Otherwise, we'd save ourselves the bother and buy stuff cheaper on Amazon.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 11/08/2019 11:30

@YetAnotherSpartacus it was a response to the poster who suggested that people were only saying it was unreasonable because it was Hamleys and they were jealous. The OP themselves has referred to how much better Harrods is and how they only went in Hamleys because they happened to be near to it, and also questioned whether anybody who thought that OP was bu had actually been there.

KatherineJaneway · 11/08/2019 11:30

It's also to create a fun and buzzy environment for the dc.

No its not, it is purely another sales tactic. If it didn't generate profit, they wouldn't do it.

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

You're not doing Hamley's a favour by your dc walking around with a hand tattoo. It won't generate sales.

If you work in retail long enough you develop a sixth sense about who is a buyer and who is a browser. Sales lady had you pegged although she shouldn't have been so curt to your dd.

ElizaDee · 11/08/2019 11:32

@FuriousVexation It's just a big toy shop, on regents street. It's no better than a massive toys r us or Smyth's, sells all the same stuff.

Although from when I was little, I remember it being like that toy shop in home alone.

WhyBirdStop · 11/08/2019 11:32

OP YABU for using Hamley's as free entertainment, it's a retail business. Yes I have been there so know exactly what you're talking about. The demonstrator had demonstrated the product, she had no cause to do so again on your other child. She was also addressing you not the child. You set up unrealistic expectations which is why your daughter cried. Even in your mindset that they are freebies you could've said DD1 has had this, let's go and find something else for you to try.

I also agree with PPs, food samples are not for your whole family to have a buffet lunch, especially when you have no intention of buying. They are there for you to taste to decide if you will buy them or not. (Costco may be an exception to this)

CarolDanvers · 11/08/2019 11:33

Oh please leave this thread and the snark on it and go about your day OP.

We go to Hamleys regularly as we live near by. It depends on the day and the person demonstrating whether you'd have got that glitter tattoo. You weren't entitled, you weren't grabby, you weren't a certain kind of unpleasant person to have thought it might happen, you just didn't know how it worked and the person involved could have been nicer. Don't worry about it, comfort your child and say "what a misery guts! Come on let's go and look at...". And whatever you do don't think that the snarky attacks on your character on this thread mean anything. AIBU is jam packed to the rafters with joyless, sour misery guts these days who just love shaming people for perfectly ordinary expectations, and the usual suspects are out in full force this morning. Probs got hangovers Smile

rosesandcashmere · 11/08/2019 11:33

Wow, you're being incredibly entitled and the fact it made your child cry suggests that sense of expectation has rubbed off on them. If you can't afford to buy a demonstrated product you don't get the demo. Perhaps stick to more affordable or cheaper activities rather than retail shops which only exist to make money.

paxillin · 11/08/2019 11:33

Sounds like you gave out clear "we won't buy this" signals. She is trained to aim her demonstrations at people likely to buy the product, that is what her job is about, increasing sales, not entertaining day trippers.

CallmeAngelina · 11/08/2019 11:34

Children are "in tears" all the time over all sorts of things. She was disappointed. Get over it. She'll hardly be scarred for life!

OhTheRoses · 11/08/2019 11:36

I went in my HoF once for a mascara, not necessarily a Lancome one. Lady on the counter was helpful, we chatted about how quiet it was it was NY Eve, she asked if I was going out. I was; she did my makeup. For free. I always buy mascara and lippy from that counter now. All because of someone's kindness.

BlackberryBeret · 11/08/2019 11:40

she did my makeup. For free. I always buy mascara and lippy from that counter now. All because of someone's kindness.

It's not someone's kindness. It's her job and it worked well here. It's sales. She did your makeup which she is trained to both do for customers and to offer it.

In return, Lancome got your brand loyalty.

It is 100% the point of this kind of activity. It's sales.

makingmammaries · 11/08/2019 11:41

I think whoever is curt with a young child who did nothing wrong, is unreasonable. Not the OP. The tattoo lady had the option to say no kindly.

ChocChocButtons · 11/08/2019 11:42

She wants to sell her products. So she’s offering demos but clearly knew you weren’t interested in purchasing her product so said no. Fair enough.

howwudufeel · 11/08/2019 11:42

Sometimes the special things happen for a sibling and the other has to wait their turn. It’s like having to wait for the year it’s your turn for the big present at Christmas. We had to wait three years which is an eternity for a child but we accepted it. If my dc kicked off every time their sibling got something and they didn’t we’d have pandemonia. They accept that this is life and their nice thing will happen in time too.

Excited101 · 11/08/2019 11:44

I know Hamleys and the set up very well, I would have felt like you op, especially having just seen her sister have one.

Clangus00 · 11/08/2019 11:44

Your child cried because some told them “no”.
You (and your child) need to get a grip! Life is full of “no’s” and full of someone getting something you don’t (sibling getting a FREE tattoo). Tough luck.

Yodude · 11/08/2019 11:44

Yabu. Your DD will be okay if people say no to her. It is good for children to learn they can't have everything and they can't just cry to get something.