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Original poster

To get irate over misuse of parents' parking spaces at Sainsbury's

218 replies

Sunnymama · 08/07/2008 09:26

No, not by those people without kids (although they are bad enough), but by people who use them when they have no kids with them but a car seat in the back of the car. Hello? The whole point of the spaces if for people who have their kids WITH them, not who just happen to have kids, somewhere. I saw two people do this on Saturday (while shopping with DD aged 2) and it really riled me - they should know better than anyone what a struggle it can be taking kids shopping.

OP posts:
sarah293 · 09/07/2008 17:52

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hatrick · 09/07/2008 17:55

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sosueme · 09/07/2008 17:55

it has nothing to do with life choices. it is a rational question. why should someone be told they should be shopping online because they have children? if a service is provided by a store is p&t spaces why should people not get upset if they are not able to use that service because a a person who does not meet the criteria prevents them (excluding the disabled). A service is a service it has nothing to do with being disabled or not.

hatrick · 09/07/2008 17:57

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BexieID · 09/07/2008 17:57

I couldn't give 'two hoots' how close they are to the shop. It's the extra room you get for lifting your kids into the car seats. Renault Scenic/Maxi Cosi Priori XP is not a good combo if you are short like me, so do need to have the door fully open.

youcannotbeserious · 09/07/2008 17:58

I just checked Ocado and they do accept debit cards.

They have also started a new system where you sig up for 6 months and pay a fee and then all your deliveries are free (regardless of how many you have or the times of those deliveries) - It's £30 for 3 months.

I'm sure all the other home delivery servies are extremely similar

sosueme · 09/07/2008 17:59

as for the illegal school parking, personally I think schools should have clamps and parents cars only being released on payment of a fine it would definitely boost school coffers. there is no excuse for parking illegally near a school.

jellybeans · 09/07/2008 18:02

I shop online most times but I use p & t spaces when shopping and it is annoying when someone without kids park in one but I don't get in a huff, I am too calm. I don' care how far away from the shop the spaces are as long as there is a walkway or safe pavement area to the store (there is at ASDA and TESCO near me) as this is the main issue for me. Car parks and reversing cars are very dangerous, alot of people simply don't bother looking behind them, DD was nearly run over by someone in a tank (4x4) once as the woman could not see behind her properly. Many people today, though, are generally selfish and me me me so it doesn't surprise me that they only think of themselves.

hatrick · 09/07/2008 18:04

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youcannotbeserious · 09/07/2008 18:04

sosueme I never told anyone to do anything.

It's a choice. For me, it works, for others it doesn't (totally respect Hatricks point that some people like to select the fresh produce etc)

I will never get how you can get so upset about being prevented from using a P&T space by someone who fails to meet the criteria.

Take a chill!!! Life is too short!!!

Think how lucky you are to have a wonderful child(ren), that we are lucky to live in a society which provides women with so many choices and in a country where food is readily available and largely affordable. Where we each have cars to transport ourselves and our groceries. Life is good... So why fuss about whether you ahd to walk 10 steps or 100 steps to get to the bloody supermarket!!

sorry, I appreciate some people get upset about this, but I maintain that if it's the worst thing that happens in your day then you are a very very lucky person!!

youcannotbeserious · 09/07/2008 18:06

sosueme - Great idea about the parking at schools... I wonder why it's never been considered?

ladylush · 09/07/2008 18:10

It strikes me that proportionately there are too many disabled spaces. There are always loads unused whenever I go shopping. Yet P+C ones are all taken.

2shoes · 09/07/2008 18:11

youcannotbeserious well said

MilaMae · 09/07/2008 18:11

Riven I wouldn't use your debit card online. Dp works in IT and has totally forbidden it for me. If somebody uses your ccard no online it gets re-funded not definately with debit cards and if you have your wages paid into that account it's just a risky thing to do.

I don't like using ccards, only for emergencies which is why I don't do my food shop online. I like what I have to spend on food to come directly out of our account.

I also like to sniff fruit

2shoes · 09/07/2008 18:12

ladylush so what

ladylush · 09/07/2008 18:16

2shoes - supermarkets could audit how the spaces are used and decide whether to increase/decrease types of spaces. Or is that too revolutionary

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 09/07/2008 18:17

What's happened in the last few years that have made P&T spaces so essential?

They never had them when mine were small, well maybe when I had dd, we managed.

sosueme · 09/07/2008 18:18

ycs - try reading my posts before you start give yourself a heart attack. I asked a rational question. I am not getting upset or emotional. You need to take your own advice and chill.

ladylush · 09/07/2008 18:18

I do agree Saggars that disabled spaces are essential, whereas p+t ones are not.

youcannotbeserious · 09/07/2008 18:19

I don't think there are more disabled spaces. I think that they are respected and therefore reserved for those who need them.

I think P&T spaces are seen as a bit of a free-for-all.

Oohh. and good point from Milamae - a Debit card doesn't offer the protection of a credit card.

2shoes · 09/07/2008 18:24

ladylush. for someone who is disbled the lack of a space can mean no shopping9ask misdee)
I did wonder how long it would take for this to come up.

MilaMae · 09/07/2008 18:24

Me too. I just think there needs to be plenty of disabled spaces but with P&T it should be whoever gets there first I'm afraid.Each parent has different needs which probably seem as equally important.

I used to take my dd in a sling and my 15 month old twins in a double trolley which they never got out of-believe me it was waaaaay easier and safer than what I have to endure now!!!!!!!

Other mothers in a similar situation may not find the same thing. Each to their own- so every mum for herself re the P&T spaces

ladylush · 09/07/2008 18:25

YCBS - ime there are more disabled spaces. Significantly more. I'm referring to the supermarkets close to where I live (Sainsbury, Tesco and Waitrose). I don't count them or anything (!) but they stand out because there will be a block of about 10 spaces together at any given time that are not used. I agree that people who don't qualify for the spaces are less likely to use these than P+T ones, but the point is that many of them are empty. I think the reason why I notice these each time I go shopping is because they are situated very close to the entrance to the shop (and rightly so).

ladylush · 09/07/2008 18:26

2shoes - what are you talking about? Don't try and imply that I was saying disabled spaces are a luxury.

2shoes · 09/07/2008 18:29

well whenever i go shopping(asda) all the spaces are in use,
I don't think you can compare the need for a P&t space with the need for a disabled space.