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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be seriously contemplating legal action????

403 replies

WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 17:57

Shopping in Waitrose this afternoon trying desperately to get baby to sleep in the process. Can't stay in the house currently during her big sleep as have builders in, so planned to do the big weekly shop. DD normally goes off to sleep like a dream but today decided she didn''t want anything without a fight.

I've learned to tune her out, apparently others havent. In the BABY aisle of all places, 2 OAP's blocked my trolley and said I was not allowed to leave the aisle until the baby stopped crying or I left the shop . DD in a sling btw. One of the OAP's SHOUTED that if I needed to 'shove your teat in its mouth then you better do it or I will take her myself and get someone to take you out'. Obv attracted other shoppers and security.

Manager came to see what the fuss was and after me explaining asked me to leave. I abandoned half-full trolley in serious flounce mode. I honestly they were being absolutely horrendously discriminatory against my crying newborn!!!! DH is being extremely unhelpful saying I should have left to 'take the high road' Do I actually have a legal case about this?

OP posts:
traceybath · 22/01/2010 18:30

Now if you'd said tescos I may have believed you.

But waitrose - never - nothing bad ever happens in waitrose

NonnoMum · 22/01/2010 18:30

Regardless of whether or not you could have popped off to the Parent and Child room (if there is one), I think you have been treated outrageously.

Also, if the baby was in a sling, it can hardly cause any damage (unlike say, a tantruming 3 year old or running-around 8 year old).

BTW I have had a run-in with an OAP when I was disgusted at the way she spoke to me - long story but will share if you need some moral support.

There is no way you should have been asked to leave a store just because your baby was crying!!!

If not legal action, then a MN boycott of Waitrose, unless you get a full written apology.

LaurieFairyCake · 22/01/2010 18:30

Just curious - why the namechange?

I mean if you're a poster we all know then I'm sure we'd all love to support you.......

secretgardin · 22/01/2010 18:30

if you are going to make up a thread at least think of something a bit (lot) more believable

RonaldMcDonald · 22/01/2010 18:31

this is genius an OAP road block

tell us another one

moomaa · 22/01/2010 18:31

I have occasionally been in a place where I have been trying to get a baby off to sleep and the baby is crying and I know I need to wait it out but I have normally been obviously trying to help the baby sleep by rocking the pram, blanket over pram etc. Even then people have given me 'looks'. Some people think it is cruel to leave a baby to cry for any time so if you weren't obviously trying to help baby then I can believe some people would get cross with you.

NorbertDentressangle · 22/01/2010 18:32

I suspect this is either:

  • an AIBU by stealth and you're going to add something later like "oh, I forgot to mention that I screamed obscenities at the old folk and then slapped the Waitrose manager around the face with a lovely piece of salmon from their fish counter"

or

  • a wind-up
crankytwanky · 22/01/2010 18:33

Old dears, IME, are more likely to give you some unsolicited advice than corral you using trolleys next to the prosccuitto.

traceybath · 22/01/2010 18:33

Nonno - Aint no way I'm boycotting waitrose .

Seriously this is just not true - either a total fabrication or only half the story.

Original poster
WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 18:34

Am ignoring all of the unhelpful comments. Appreciate it may not be a legal case, but am feeling completely derailed. Can't honestly believe the number of people who are saying this isn't real because 'waitrose is so lovely they would never do such a thing'

The OAP's did not block me with their TROLLEYS, I never said that. They stood in front of mine and maneouvered themselves around every time I tried to move past. When I went to turn round in the aisle the one (lovely) security guard came round to ask what happened then went to get manager.

Will be writing a complaint letter. Thanks to the helpful posters.

OP posts:
misssurrey · 22/01/2010 18:34

Completely made up. The manager wouldn't have wanted to exacberate the situation, he would have wanted to make it better. He would have asked you to go to his office while things calmed down and you settled the baby.

MattSmithIsNotMyLoveSlave · 22/01/2010 18:34

A baby crying while being cuddled in a sling is not CIO. If it were then actual CIO would then by extension be... well...

daisydora · 22/01/2010 18:35

If this is true why did you leave??

I would have staged a sit-in protesting about my mis-treatment at the hands of some barmy OAPS and an oaf of a manager. Seriously I'd of had the police move me on!!

It just never happened........

misssurrey · 22/01/2010 18:36

Or even exacerbate the situation.

LittleWhiteWolf · 22/01/2010 18:37

Actually surprised at the amount of posters telling the OP off (more or less) for being out and making others suffer to hear her baby cry. far better she should stay at home alone with nothing but the sound of her inconsolable child.

OP, I dont think you have a legal case but I feel for you--the humiliation must have been awful when you were likely feeling low enough. At least I know I've felt very low when my DD has been just as distraught!

Original poster
WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 18:37

Why did I leave? Crying baby + very rude old women + equally rude manager who acted like he had never seen a baby in his life + being asked to leave = very upset me.

OP posts:
LadyBiscuit · 22/01/2010 18:38

Bollocks. if they were telling you to leave, why wouldn't they let you past? And having builders doesn't mean you can't shop online.

I think it's shitty behaviour to just ignore your screaming baby. A newborn, crying it out? Do me a favour

TulipsInTheRain · 22/01/2010 18:38

gosh, when my babies scream in supermarkets i seem to get VIP treatment.... personal assistants, checkouts opened just for me, managers packing my bags. i've had other customers offer to help too, from older people chattering to him to other mothers picking him up while i pack bags.

but that being said.... when my baby cries in a supermarket i talk to him, rock him, hum to him and make every attempt to soothe him... if all else fails i abandon the trolly outside the loos and go in there where it's quieter and feed him.

the thought of anyone walking around completely ignoring their baby screaming so hysterically in a sling that other customers comments seems

NonnoMum · 22/01/2010 18:39

How old is your baby, OP?

I believe it happened like you said. I believe you are probably still shaking from the indignity of it all.

Wedgie · 22/01/2010 18:40

OK, well before I was a mum I use to hate crying babies in supermarkets, but there is no way I would ever have said anything to the mum, it's just something that always seem to happen in a supermarket which people have to accept! I sympathise totally with you, you have as much right to be there as some grumpy old git who always seem to be getting in everyone's way and have all the time in the world to do their shopping (like it's the highlight of their week).

I would have been as mortified as you are and I think the behaviour of the staff is truly obnoxious.

Original poster
WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 18:40

She's 12 weeks, considered newborn to me. She was in a SLING FFS, she was fed, winded, dry, warm, and laying against her mother, who was trying to jiggle/sing/shush while getting some shopping done.

How on earth can you equate that with crying it out or ignoring my child???

OP posts:
Lulumama · 22/01/2010 18:40

you said they blocked your trolley in your OP

and you did ask if were being unreasonable to cosnider legal action

donnie · 22/01/2010 18:40

even if it wasn't true, I would ask head office for some compensation anyway. Waitrose can afford it!

Wedgie · 22/01/2010 18:40

OK, well before I was a mum I use to hate crying babies in supermarkets, but there is no way I would ever have said anything to the mum, it's just something that always seem to happen in a supermarket which people have to accept! I sympathise totally with you, you have as much right to be there as some grumpy old git who always seem to be getting in everyone's way and have all the time in the world to do their shopping (like it's the highlight of their week).

I would have been as mortified as you are and I think the behaviour of the staff is truly obnoxious.

Original poster
WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 18:41

They blocked my trolley - not with their trolleys. Quite a jump. Accept I am being unreasonable as far as legal action, just feel very upset and confused by the situation. As I said, thanks to helpful posters, and am not currently ringing round law offices madly.

OP posts: