Go Outdoors changing room policy

[Looblou72]

Visited a recently opened go outdoors store this weekend and chose some items to try on and made my way to the changing rooms. Was greeted by a store assistant who pointed out the changing room policy which was on a poster on the wall and said I wasn’t allowed to take my jacket or handbag in to the changing room but he would look after them for me.

I politely declined and made my way to my husband who was browsing and explained what happened to him. He said he’d heard there’s been a lot of theft from these types of stores and that’s probably why the policy is in place.

AIBU to think I didn’t want somebody I don’t know looking after my belongings, why can’t they just count the items taken in and out like other stores do? After all the assistant would have been stood there anyway holding my belongings? I didn’t try on and won’t be going back. What do you think of this policy?

I would not have been happy either. No.hubby to.hold my stuff so it seems as if I won't be going there again.

I'd have put my wallet and phone in my pocket and then given my jacket & bag to the staff member, it wouldn't put me off.

Why didn't you just ask your husband to look after your stuff then go back nd try on??

Sounds like a poorly thought through policy. Are they taking responsibility if something is damaged or goes missing?

Jacket maybe, other shopping bags maybe, handbag no way. Mine is small with no spare space to stash anything in though so it'd be ridiculous to confiscate it.

Plenty of other shops to use. I’d boycott this one and put it in writing why.

No chance. Who would hand over their valuables to a complete stranger?

Used to be our policy when I worked in Primark when I was 16. There would just be piles of people's stuff on a Saturday and plenty of stuff got nicked as well (from us and from the people who left their stuff).

Shit policy but I understand why.

Go Outdoors do experience a lot of thefts. Even the staff have to submit to searches prior to leaving at the end of their shifts.

In your position I would have got dh to keep hold of my stuff but yeah if I was shopping alone I wouldn't be happy about handing it over either and probably wouldn't have bothered trying the stuff on.

Apart from anything else I don't see how it's supposed to prevent theft - surely the easiest way to prevent theft is by carefully checking how many things the customer takes in, and how many they bring out?

If someone really wanted to steal then they could just fit most clothes on under their normal clothes anyway - and if it was something you couldn't layer like a huge waterproof coat that would be pretty apparent whether you had your own jacket and handbag or not!

Go Outdoors havn't let you take bags or jackets into the changing rooms for years.

I visit one in a town near me and there’s nobody on the changing rooms, you just take your stuff in as and when. Think that’s why I was so surprised at this policy?

with things like this I think it’s important to remember why the policy needs to exist and be made at that rather than the shop/staff

But did Primark take responsibility for the stuff they were ‘looking after’ that was nicked? Bit of a legal minefield isn’t it

The one I go to always has.

No, I wouldn't leave my bag with a stranger. Coat perhaps but not my handbag.

I understand why they are trying it but I would just leave without buying and not even try that store in the future.

We can’t take a bag into a changing room but a trans woman can take her penis in!