Poundland made my 9 year old wait outside the shop..aibu to think it's out of order?

[pointlesss]

Popped into Poundland after school with my daughter.
They have 1 till on and the other side is self service.
Got to the checkout and the lady stops us and says "are you both together? "
I said yes
Then she reply's "I'm sorry but only 1 person allowed at checkout due to social distancing.
There was a queue of a few behind but nobody to our side of us.
So she said unless one of us went outside the store she was unable to serve me.
My daughter waited just outside the front door.
Aibu to think that's ridiculous?
Bare in mind no social distancing in any of the aisles,people walking all over the shop.
Yet my daughter couldn't stand next to me whilst I paid and packed my bag.

I think the rule "one person at the checkout" is quite clear.

Many people do and still treat the weekly shop as a family outing!

Which is probably what Alex meant by avoid going shopping.

Let me just wheel my 2 year old in their pram to the front and leave them their while I pay 🤣

It’s Poundland and most of the crap they sell isn’t worth even that amount. You can’t expect good customer service from them as well.

The people on the tills don't make the rules. Some of the suggested reactions here are appalling. If you have an issue with the policy, take it up with head office - don't take it out on a checkout operator.

Retail workers have been on the frontline throughout this pandemic, risking their lives so we can buy our necessities. Let's not forget that.

Child safeguarding does not come second to covid. A child under 12 should never be forcibly separated out of the easy view of a parent/guardian.

It’s an awful message to send to them. Their presence is inconvenient and ‘against the rules’

Seems a bit OTT to me, not seen any other stores doing it. Were there signs at the entrance?

Anecdotally I heard of a five year old girl being ordered to leave a supermarket in the last lockdown. Apparently the mum was just finishing her shop and about to pay when a member of security ordered the child out to wait in the car park. They wouldn't listen and eventually the mum just abandoned her full trolley and marched out with her daughter, at which point they ran after her threatening her with the police for not paying .

I suspect the story was embellished somewhat, it sounds quite unlikely to me. Surely no one would expect a young child to wait alone in a busy car park.

It seems like the return of lockdown is also the return of moany threads that were done to death the last time.

Honestly, the shop assistant doesn't make the rules, surely everyone knows by now that sometimes they get a bit muddled, sometimes the rules seem OTT, some shops have rubbish ways of dealing with covid but nothing bad happened and now you know not to go there again.

What if you're a single parent? What if your child has additional needs? What if you don't think sending a 9 year old to stand outside a shop alone after dark is safe or appropriate?

@VampireBill

Next time say no and hand her one item to pay for.

This!

I don’t believe this IS their policy though. No way is their corporate policy to make children stand outside in the dark. I think the OP should complain.

Surely a 9 year old is perfectly capable of waiting outside, or outside of the checkout area. I doubt they would ask anyone to leave a toddler outside like someone suggested! We need to be working to keep everyone as safe as possible, including our shop workers so if their risk assessment or rules say 1 per family in checkout area then either follow the simple and safe rule or shop elsewhere.

This thread is so hyperbolic it is crazy.

A NT nearly ten year old can stand by herself for a couple of minutes without it being a safeguarding issue. None of you ever nipped to the loo on your own when you’re out? With an opposite sex child maybe so they can’t come in with you?

It’s dark now it wasn’t ‘after school’ which is what OP posted.

I would have left my shopping and walked away

But there are screens up at checkouts now & they're masked as well. Minimal risk. That seems OTT & not safe re your DD being alone outside.

staff really do get a shit time from some people, no longer they are pissed off with rude and entitled customers.
common sense should have been order of the day with regards to the child being with her mum, but some people really do take the piss. a family with 5 kids aged around 10 to 17 in lidl the other day, dawdling, messing about and none of them were wearing masks. other people were complaining about them and security sent the kids out, parents left the trolley and walked out too.
before anyone has a go i've been a single parent with 6 under 10 so i know it's difficult but what with covid and stuff going on this was stupid

@Pumpertrumper

Child safeguarding does not come second to covid. A child under 12 should never be forcibly separated out of the easy view of a parent/guardian.

It’s an awful message to send to them. Their presence is inconvenient and ‘against the rules’

12? In England they start secondary school at 11.

Left my shooping or left my child...no dilema in my eyes they could have kept the shoping no problem...a cheery thanks for that can you put all this back for me please? would have been my reply.

@ilovesooty

Quite a few shops are now going to be asking people to shop alone where possible.

Should be law. Will stop the long queues as well

Your choice to stay and purchase or not
Go back the next day on the way to school pick up when your on your own
Or ask your daughter to go back into the shop away from the checkout rather than outside.

@lazylump72

Left my shooping or left my child...no dilema in my eyes they could have kept the shoping no problem...a cheery thanks for that can you put all this back for me please? would have been my reply.

wasn't essential then was it!!

wasn't essential then was it!!

Doesn't kick in until Thursday!

@LG101

Let me just wheel my 2 year old in their pram to the front and leave them their while I pay 🤣

DS would have been capable of tapping a card aged two. Leave him at the till, wait outside yourself. Much safer