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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to say M&S is not family-friendly !!

210 replies

GLS · 28/03/2009 19:17

Hands up if you've ever had one of those moments in a supermarket where your 2 year old is throwing the world's greatest tantrum and you're caught with no milk or snacks. Today I was in M&S at Lakeside. It was packed. My toddler decided to let loose with a super-dooper tantrum so I grabbed a banana to settle him as I tried to do the shopping as fast as I could without seeming like a crazed woman! The check-out queue was a real challenge but luckily a kids mag was the perfect distraction. So I checked out, paid the bill and was leaving the store only to be stopped by a security guard who said "Do you know why I'm stopping you?" I wondered if I'd won some prize like being the 1,000th shopper or something. He persisted in asking me "Do you know why I'm stopping you?" I hadn't a clue. Did they want my feedback on my customer experience perhaps? He escorted me off to a room where I was advised that I had stolen a banana from the store without paying. I had completey forgotten about the banana! After just spending £50.57 in the store I said sorry but you're kidding right? He advised me they were calling the police! After full-on interrogation & full personal data checking, and 30 minutes of ridiculously wasted time, I was advised I was being issued with a letter barring me from ever entering another M&S store ever again, and if I did police action can be taken. I said "Do you know how much I spend at M&S every year?" (the answer is around £3,000+ pa!). I was well-dressed and presented - not your average hoodie with that 'repeat offender' type of look! So there you go. I'm sure shareholders should be worried if this is M&S' practice on mothers! What's your opinion?

OP posts:
scrooged · 28/03/2009 20:59

Stealing is stealing. Even an unpaid for grape is stealing. Someone has to pay for it, do you expect the shops to? It's us that pays for it with increased prices.

If ds needs a drink whilst we are in the supermarket I pay for it first and keep the reciept. I don't have the right to just hand him one and not pay for it. There's no excuse, be it a banana or anything else. It's still theft.

MIAonline · 28/03/2009 21:01

Oh come on, a bit of common sense is needed, What self respecting shoplifter pays for £50 worth of shopping, but steals a banana. Can just see it on a prison drama...

What you in for?

Got done for banana theft, it was a stitch up

scrooged · 28/03/2009 21:01

We all know it's a troll!!!! The principles the same though, troll or not.

RumourOfAHurricane · 28/03/2009 21:03

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JazzHands · 28/03/2009 21:05

This is having me ROFLing and in equal measure.

God help any elderly people whose memories aren't what they were who erroniously wander out of a shop with something in their hand if there are this many kind hearted people around...

I find it hard to believe that M&S actually did this the more I think about it. It's preposterous.

AitchTwoOh · 28/03/2009 21:06

seems like a bit of an over-reaction to me, tbh. i've given dd bananas before but only (and i feel this is crucial... ) from a bag so that the pack can be scanned regardless of empties. look and learn, ladies.

ScottishMummy · 28/03/2009 21:06

you reprobate i hope M&S issue photo and description of your banana stealing gis.

ChippyMinton · 28/03/2009 21:06

The OP does a runner

justaboutback · 28/03/2009 21:06

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Doodle2U · 28/03/2009 21:09

Wasn't just any banana...was and M&S banana - yo ho ho - oh, never mind.

So, about a week ago, I was in our local M&S and saw a bloke put a bottle of spirits in his rucksak. I told a cashier who very promprtly told another member of staff. Other member of staff starts shouting "Colin, Colin! Cm'ere!"

Colin came into view - all 4 foot 3 inches of him.

Colin took one look at the bottle robber and promptly fled back into the store room. Bottle-man sauntered out with ruck-sack containing several quids worth of spirits over his shoulder.

He wasn't banned.

ChippyMinton · 28/03/2009 21:09

These are not just sniffer dogs they are M&S sniffer dogs...

MIAonline · 28/03/2009 21:11

@ chippyminton

RumourOfAHurricane · 28/03/2009 21:11

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ChippyMinton · 28/03/2009 21:12

M&S's own Superhero is on the case..

ScottishMummy · 28/03/2009 21:13

LOL those dogs will be onto banana stealing mamas before GLS can squawk "but i wear Boden doncha know"

hell GLS because of folk like you country is going tits up

Mrs "it was only a banana"

RumourOfAHurricane · 28/03/2009 21:14

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justaboutback · 28/03/2009 21:14

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RumourOfAHurricane · 28/03/2009 21:18

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AitchTwoOh · 28/03/2009 21:18

i think it's perfectly plausible, really. [often fooled]

nannynick · 28/03/2009 21:30

It is nice to see us all offering our opinions and for those opinions to differ. Mumsnet would be very dull if we all agreed with each other all the time

atigercametotea · 28/03/2009 21:31

it's not just any ban, its an m&s ban

ScottishMummy · 28/03/2009 21:32

social decline all starts with "it's only a banana"

what next?

Cake for all

funkybuddah · 28/03/2009 21:33

Sorrento, police will attend for whatever the shop calls them for, I had police attend for a £5 sim card being stolen, they took statements and carted the kid off.

#I dont feed my kids stuf fthat isnt paid for, tantrum or no. Im a mean mummy ;)

nannynick · 28/03/2009 21:33

It's not just a laptop... it's an M&S Laptop which I gave my toddler who was throwing a tantrum

ScottishMummy · 28/03/2009 21:36

not just a shoplifter a well presented thief in fact

wonder if her collar and cuffs match