"Mum charged £47 for two bags of pick and mix from Cardiff Winter Wonderland"

[sunnydaytoday0]

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mum-charged-47-two-bags-25576870

When I saw the headline I was shocked someone would pay that much for a couple of bags of sweets even at a place like winter wonderland, which like tourist traps and a lot of attractions are going to be very expensive.

However on reading the story the company isn't wrong in saying that the price per 100g was displayed, as well as a weighing scale being available, plus the mum let her child start eating the sweets before they had fully paid so couldn't put them back?

I don't think the stall has really done anything wrong? Apart from it being very expensive, but then that's why I don't buy stuff from these sorts of places.

PetraBP · Today 12:27
the audacity to complain about the business online

They were relating what happened on a forum - so just like us here on Mumsnet. Other people joined in to say they had had similar experiences.

Is this outrageous audacity?

It was not their fault the company received threats.

I think the company did not have to respond as they did, but they have behaved commendably imo especially in saying they will adapt their company policy to avoid problems like this in the future:
We have offered Rhiannon a full refund, and explained that we are already working to improve our service so we can avoid issues going forward: clearer signage explaining weighing and pricing to customers, retraining our staff to be able to offer better assistance to avoid similar incidents going forward, adding some pre-mixed priced bags minimise issues and lines waiting to weigh sweets. We are very sorry that Rhiannon felt she was obliged to pay and hope that she accepts our offer to refund.’

We're going to the Christmas market next week and Ive factored in a £10 each child limit for fudge stall, probably get 3 pieces but there we are.

But but but you could get LOADS of fudge by allowing your kids to take as much as they want, paying for it, then complaining online so that you get a refund. #WorkSmarterNotHarder

I don't understand why someone would send a company threats?

What are they threatening and what are they upset by?

It's a good thing the Ryanair social media team weren't doing the response as they take no prisoners.

medium.com/digital-society/ryanair-flying-up-the-ranks-of-social-media-fame-ca8a5f4b5933

Beetlewings · Today 12:55
We're going to the Christmas market next week and Ive factored in a £10 each child limit for fudge stall, probably get 3 pieces but there we are.

That’s a good idea Beetle. I think I’d just give £2 - £5 depending on age, unless they were buying a gift for someone. I wonder if that would get a piece or if they’d need to cut it?!

I hope you get them to eat it slowly, enjoying every piece, rather than just eating it in one go - and there's a £3 piece gone in a few seconds.

I would be so embarrassed to admit I’d let my kids eat that many sweets in one go. I definitely would not be advertising it in the press.

I don't think I would post it on social media either.

If one of my family or friends did that, I think they would face some ribbing.

As in - how did you not realise?

This...

HerMajestysRoyalCoven · Today 12:57

^Beetlewings · Today 12:55
We're going to the Christmas market next week and Ive factored in a £10 each child limit for fudge stall, probably get 3 pieces but there we are*

But but but you could get LOADS of fudge by allowing your kids to take as much as they want, paying for it, then complaining online so that you get a refund. #WorkSmarterNotHarder

The family could never have predicted what would happen so as to plot a refund. It needed newspapers to pick up on it - to help the newspapers make more money.

The parents may have got caught up in the moment and not been sensible, and we live in a market economy, so the fudge company should definitely be getting as much money as it can - it is up to the buyer to refuse and be wise to the system.

But the attitudes to this family here seem a bit unpleasant imho.

Things like those sugary snakes.... They are dense and heavy...

They're just total rip off places... Designed to tempt families /pester power.

I would have refused to pay for it as would many others

This lady couldn't because her DD had already eaten some so that's on her really

This lady couldn't because her DD had already eaten some so that's on her really

As she said herself.

Turns out the mum is a health care worker.
I hope she doesn't have any responsibility for anything involving maths at work.

But the attitudes to this family here seem a bit unpleasant imho

I do have my views on a family who purchase 1.6 kg of sweets for their children and then complain about the price of it on social media.

(And I am one of the Guardian reading wokerati) - but in this case, I am in total agreement with the top rated Daily Mail comment.

If the company does make more scales available to use (and it doesn't appear clear from their statement that this is one of the changes they will make?) they should use the ones like in the supermarkets that automatically convert the mass into the price. Then it will be very clear even to those with few maths skills what exactly what they would be paying, and would remove the risk of any awkwardness/surprise at the till.

I would just have weights with a cost.

A 100g weight - this is £2.49
A 500 g weight - this is £12.50
A 1000 g weight - this is £24.90

sunnydaytoday0 · Today 13:18
If the company does make more scales available to use (and it doesn't appear clear from their statement that this is one of the changes they will make?) they should use the ones like in the supermarkets that automatically convert the mass into the price. Then it will be very clear even to those with few maths skills what exactly what they would be paying, and would remove the risk of any awkwardness/surprise at the till

What a good idea, sunnyday. The problem would be solved.
As you say scales like this exist.

I wonder what impact this would have on their profits?

I took my daughter to the Hoppings, during the summer. She wanted some fudge on the way out and I helped her to choose smaller bits, so that she could have more kinds.

It still cost me 7 Quid! It was about 250 grams, I was evil and made her eke it out with a piece a day, for a couple of weeks.

I've no sympathy for the mother in this case, she must have realised that they had about 2lb weight each.

The issue though with Pick and Mix is I guess - people filling them up and then deciding it's too much.

So what do the companies do with the mixed up ones?

There is a hygiene issue - I guess you just can't resell the bag - or divide it into smaller bags.

T

Where was the Dad in all this?

He said that it's £2.49 per 100 g so don't go mad.

Then what happened? He was aware of the price.

cakeorwine · Today 13:23
I would just have weights with a cost.

A 100g weight - this is £2.49
A 500 g weight - this is £12.50
A 1000 g weight - this is £24.90

It was £2.79 per 100g I think, cake.

They’d need scales available for this though, which as sunny said, judging by their statement, they may not be considering (beyond the existing one by the till).

And if they did put out scales for pickers to use, why not have the scales that convert the weight to price while they’re at it?

Then what happened? He was aware of the price

He paid. His face had an expression of shock. They left.

What was he doing between telling them not to go mad and paying?

At the point the children were putting sweets into the bags.

Scales with the price conversion are a good idea. Easy to use.

I suggest the masses as well - so people can get an idea even before they start measuring out.

Just so they can feel what 100g, 500g and a kilogram feels like.