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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed they wouldn’t sell the false nails to me?

207 replies

RhodaCamel · 15/02/2020 14:13

Dd (12) and I have just got back from a shopping trip.
We popped into B&M, I purchased a few bits and dd had chosen some body butter and a pack of false nails for herself. She was purchasing them with some pocket money so I made my purchases first and paid up and dd popped her bits in the conveyor belt so she could pay for these bits herself.
The lady at the till looked at dd then called over the manager. I was stood next to dd and asked what the problem was. The manager said she needed proof of ID to show if dd was over 14 (no label in false nails stating this). I said ‘She is 12, is it because there is glue in the pack?’, they said yes and I said I understood, no worries I’ll buy them. The manager came back with ‘No, I can not sell them to you as your daughter is standing with you and we know they are for her’, wtf!! I then said ‘Well, that’s ridiculous but ok. I’ll sent dd back to the car and I’ll go back round, pick up a new pack of nails and pay for them myself’.....’No, we won’t sell them to you today as we know they are for your dd’!!!!!!
WTAF?? I totally understand there must be rules, regulations and policies to safeguard vulnerable people etc but is this not taking it to a completely new level, FFS!!

OP posts:
Willow2017 · 15/02/2020 21:48

Bubblemonkey*
The tills automatically flag up paracetamol and you have to press the id or no id buttons. Obviously if you think the person is 25 then you dont ask for ID so maybe the 2nd person thought you were old enough.

Have a bit of sympathy for the poor cashiers at Xmas/NY.
Gin flavoured mince pies - 'beep' stop scanning and press button (gin flavoured everything it seemed!) or Brandy or Baileys mince pies 'beep' - stop scanning and press button, brandy/Baileys butter/cream - 'beep' stop scanning and press button, Prosecco flavoured this and that 'beep' press button, it was relentless! Do you know just how much of this stuff is sold over the holidays??
My poor fingers were aching by the end of a shift! Sad

TiptopJ · 15/02/2020 22:06

Reminds me of when I got IDd for wine last. I'd forgot my licence so knew I wasnt getting my wine- annoying but I knew the assistant was just doing her job. My mum Pipes up- it's okay shes in her 30s- look she has a baby! Yeah it doesnt work like that mum

Bowerbird5 · 16/02/2020 00:39

goatinthegarden yep or they have just taken it ...because no one is up🤭

Stargazers0 · 16/02/2020 00:46

It’s the law that needs changing not the individual staff.
How ridiculous that a parent could be shopping with a teenager and buy a bottle of wine in the weekly shop. Yet be refused incase it is for the teenager. That is ridiculous!
The law should penalise adults who provide minors with substances, not staff selling items who believe in good faith are not going to harm a minor.
if a shop could reasonably believe that the substances purchased were not intended for a child, Like an adult with teenager buying alcohol with their weekly shop, or in this instance where a child was going to be supervised with the glue, they should be allowed to go ahead and sell.
Where is the line drawn. I could buy alcohol or glue and give it to my toddler... but the responsibility should lie with me. Not the shop that sold the goods.

InTheSummerhouse · 16/02/2020 10:26

Does anyone else not wonder why a 12 year old child would need false nails? They aren't great for her nails or the environment.

Re glue (etc); how else would you stop the practice of selling glue (etc) to minors? The law is unwieldy to implement but unless all kids are prevented from using /misusing alcohol, solvents, cigarettes, drugs, medication, knives etc it is a first step in the process.

InTheSummerhouse · 16/02/2020 10:28

Stargazers - agree responsibiity should lie with the adults and they should be prosecuted if misuse occurs - but that would be very difficult to police

gamerwidow · 16/02/2020 10:35

They were correct to refuse to serve you. Imagine it was alcohol and they knew you were going to give it to your DD. Just walking out the shop and walking back in again wouldn't mean they would sell it to you. It's annoying but they were following the law.
Does anyone else not wonder why a 12 year old child would need false nails?
Why does anyone need anything, no make up or nail varnish is good for the environment. Don't be that person.

Rtruth · 16/02/2020 17:29

They get in trouble if they sell.

You are being unreasonable putting them in that position.

Poohpooh · 16/02/2020 17:47

Whilst it’s mildly annoying, I don’t understand why you didn’t just shrug it off? You can get them another day, they’re hardly an essential.

Flusteredcustard · 16/02/2020 18:10

8 understood why but did once buy some spray deodorant in waitrose which was age restricted be ause of the alcohol. Content. It was reduced and even at reduced price it was rather dear, I very much doubt that any teen would buy it to drink, especially as per u it of Al ohol it was probably dearer than the finest blnapoleoj brancldy or the fi est champagne. I do sometimes wonder how a young person aged 16 married with a baby is supposed to get all the age restricted things, if they've fallen out with their family. How would you cut your fingernails even or cut up your vegeta les for tea. I guess in the past I've bought things for my children by proxy, scissors, medication, knives when they went off to uni etc....
Nowt against nlnot getting booze or lottery tickets for underage but just things that younger people might legitimately need for everyday life

Nurgleturtle · 16/02/2020 18:12

i work for a tesco store and it is true if you cannot provide ID or someone else cannot provide it and we refuse sale nobody else can buy it for you its a proxy sale and we are not allowed to display on the packaging

Closetbeanmuncher · 16/02/2020 18:18

There are false nail ranges that are sold for toddlers

WTAF... Is that a thing now??

A 12 year old is one thing but why on earth would anyone stick false nails or makeup on a primary age child.

Bonkers and pretty sick.

Vynalbob · 16/02/2020 18:18

I think you were being reasonable going back without your DD...have to say I would be worse state loudly you will be taking it further and saying if I am not good enough to purchase one item not willing to buy any. Cause them hassle refunding each item from the whole shop.

lynney88 · 16/02/2020 18:23

It's not policy it's law.

Your daughter's false nails which have glue in them have to be ID'd for. Proxy sales are a horrendous situation to be in as a cashier as the adult is full of rage and deems themselves more important than the law.

There are laws in place to protect YOUR child. If someone sold her alcohol underage how would you feel? And it's not a different situation, I'm fed up hearing that old adage.

Law is law. Just accept it. It's nothing to do with staff common sense believe me we know how you feel but out jobs, freedom and lack of fines come before your daughter's nails.

Countless hidden operatives work through local authorities and the stores themselves to ensure challenge 25 is implemented.

All you had to do was shop elsewhere and not make a big deal.

lynney88 · 16/02/2020 18:25

@Vynalbob so you would take your petty attitude out on the cashier and waiting customers just because you couldnt get your own way?

How childish.

Vynalbob · 16/02/2020 18:28

Absolutely it is the only way to change their petty childish jobsworth behaviour.
I would do it politely with a smile in the hope they think twice another time.

Kayagh · 16/02/2020 18:35

It’s on the label of nail crystals unsuitable for children under the age of 14 due to small parts and potential choking issues. Either way if your daughter wants false nails take her to a nail bar where the glue and prep would be far less damaging. My kids have bought false nails from boots etc numerous times 14 and 13. I have all the kit for them to do them properly b and m ones would have been a total waste of money anyone cheap crap.

Crumpetsforthequeen · 16/02/2020 18:35

They can be fined up to £25000 if they got caught breaking the law, to them you just aren't worth the risk sorry.

speedyhedgehog · 16/02/2020 18:35

Wow! Markers were on the list quoted above? I have defintely taken my daughters to choose markers and openly bought for them because I didn't know I couldn't. Maybe not all markers? I am talking fineliners etc. I have also bought false nails for my now 17 year old and she's also bought them for herself. Never been questioned and never knew it was a thing. Would not argue about it - if its the law its the law.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 16/02/2020 18:45

@Vynalbob if you behaved like that in our store we would politely ask you to take your custom elsewhere. The store doesn't make the policy so acting like an arse isnt going to get you anywhere. You would be banned and them we would all have a good laugh about what an idiot you were.

lyralalala · 16/02/2020 18:46

@Vynalbob Absolutely it is the only way to change their petty childish jobsworth behaviour.
I would do it politely with a smile in the hope they think twice another time.

Take it up with the government and companies rather than the person who only wants to keep their job and avoid a personal fine.

The only petty one in that exchange would be you

Willow2017 · 16/02/2020 18:59

I think you were being reasonable going back without your DD...have to say I would be worse state loudly you will be taking it further and saying if I am not good enough to purchase one item not willing to buy any. Cause them hassle refunding each item from the whole shop.

Good luck with that...where exactly would you 'take it'?
The store/police would tell you where to stick it trying to circumvent
the law.
I am sure the store would be gutted to lose such a delightful customer Hmm

Absolutely it is the only way to change their petty childish jobsworth behaviour.

How many times do we have to spell it out? Its not the cashiers decision its THE LAW. ffs!

I would do it politely with a smile in the hope they think twice another time.
You can smile till your face aches, did anyone mention ITS THE LAW?

Rachel1874 · 16/02/2020 19:19

I think what you have to realise is they could lose their jobs over selling you it.. yes to you as the mum it seems unreasonable but when it comes to someone's job I think that's more important.

dublindee · 16/02/2020 19:23

Whether you have agree with it or not is immaterial. The sales assistant can be fined, lose their job AND get prosecuted. Your inconvenience is not more important than her job and financial stability.

PinkiOcelot · 16/02/2020 19:25

The rules are pathetic.

Not the same, but I asked my dd to get me some Lenor when she was out. They wouldn’t sell it to her. She was 15 or 16 at the time. Do people drink Lenor or something?!