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Original poster

Am I justfied in being peed off or should I just be understanding?

34 replies

BankerMommy2010 · 16/12/2013 15:21

All of last week we promised our 3 year old that if he was good we would take him to see santa at our local house offraser, so yesterday we wrapped up warm and headed out to town...the grotto was advertised as being open until5pm but when we arrived at 3pm we were told it had already closed as there was a 2 hour queue (now granted, I wwouldn't have wanted to wait for that long but when you promise a 3 year old they are going to see santa, you can't go back on your word) we got a "sorry" but that didn't mean anything to our son.... is this worthy of a complaint or am I just bitter as I had to spend the rest of the afternoon explaining to my son why santa wouldn't see him...surely they should advertise that the grotto clpses earlier to allow for queues???

OP posts:
BarbaraWoodlouse · 16/12/2013 15:23

Surely you would have been more seething if they'd let you queue for 2 hours and then closed (on time) at 5pm?

Maybe suggesting they implement a booking system would be more productive?

TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 16/12/2013 15:23

There's not really much the shop could have done so I think you'd be unreasonable to complain.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 16/12/2013 15:26

Of course I'd be seething if they did that...but i thought it was bad that they were advertising it was open until 5...maybe saying it would close its q early if busy...I know its a pointless rant but there were alot of upset children!

OP posts:
TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 16/12/2013 15:37

You think they should have anticipated queues but you didn't. It's in their interests to be oversubscribed to maximise profit - their main aim as a shop. They are not doing it as a public service.

ChippyMinton · 16/12/2013 15:38

It hadn't closed early though,had it? Just closed the queue so that they could close at 5.
how about pre-booking somewhere?

Luggage16 · 16/12/2013 15:39

I guess they cant help the ques and I would be peed if I had to que for 2 hours so at least they warned you! Is there no where else local you could go instead?

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 16/12/2013 15:45

I asked that, I said it was advertised that the grotto would
Be open until 5...she said it was ordinarily but they'd closed early that day so they could leave at 5pm I guess im over reacting but it was a wasted journey. .

OP posts:
Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 16/12/2013 15:49

Not sure why I didn't anticipate queues... although arriving 2 hrs before the advertised closing time I guess I did...maybe if they'd put a warning that admission would close earlier if qs got too long... anyway, ive had a moan, I know there isn't alot they could do about the situation other than a pre warning of early closure

OP posts:
Lucylouby · 16/12/2013 23:42

It was open till 5. If they had let you queue it would have been after 5 when you got to the front presumably? So Father Christmas would have gone and the shop would be shut. So they saved you from wasting two hours of your life in a queue that would have been a waste of time? And you are cross with them and wanting to make a complaint. Really?

polythenespam · 16/12/2013 23:49

the grotto was open until 5. they did you a favour by closing the queue. understand your disappointment but not grounds for a complaint.

raisah · 17/12/2013 04:04

All of the above and at this time of the year you need to arrive near opening time to guarantee seeing Santa & to avoid queueing up for long. Or actually prebooking because heading into town to do anything is just too late & its absolutely madness out there & its there is still a week to go.

moldingsunbeams · 17/12/2013 04:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Onesleeptillwembley · 17/12/2013 05:04

What exactly is it you want to complain about? They haven't done anything wrong.even if they warned they'd close the queue early if full, you wouldn't know until you got there.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 17/12/2013 06:17

I guess its just me being unreasonable then. In previous years at this time of year we've walked straight in, so I thought it would be the same. I guess making a complaint was the wrong use of words.... no, I wouldn't have wanted to queue for 2 hours...and probably would have made an excuse to my son that we couldn't wait that long...I guess I would like to have a moan and make them rethink how they run the grotto....pre book slots and advertise that they close earlier...it was a pointless rant and a waste of a thread....ignore me!

OP posts:
ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 17/12/2013 09:23

Of course bloody complain! They offered you a service to get you into their shop, you arrived and it was closed!

There shouldn't be a fucking TWO HOURS fucking queue!

The whole thing sounds dreadfuly managed yes let them know you were not happy and maybe next year, they will work on it so no two hour quee and no early closure!

MissLurkalot · 17/12/2013 10:06

That's a shame. I hope you had a nice time somewhere else with your little one?
I would've been gutted too, I think I would be tempted to complain at first, but then I'd just probably let it go and go first thing in the morning next year xx

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 17/12/2013 10:14

Glad its not just me that thought it was a bad service....I was starting to worry that I was turning into a moaning old bag... :) ah well, hes forgotten all about it now...I think the elf rubbed me up the wrong way more than anything, just told me we've closed early so we can get off for 5!!! A 2 hour wait is ridiculous...maybe they should have an army of Santa's in different grottos to keep the queues flowing

OP posts:
lilyaldrin · 17/12/2013 10:17

If they let you join the queue at 3 and then closed at 5, you'd have queued for 2 hours for nothing Confused Surely that would have been worse?

If they close at 5 what's wrong with the employee saying they were finishing at 5?

NeverQuiteSure · 17/12/2013 10:18

I would be annoyed and probably use their complaints service to suggest they implement a booking system next year.

TreTops · 17/12/2013 10:22

Op it was probably more to do with Sunday trading laws that they had to shut at 5, rather than they wanted to get off early. I presume the shop was open 11-5.

FreyaKItty · 17/12/2013 10:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sopsmum · 17/12/2013 10:33

Why don't you go somewhere nice instead of a shop. Local Christmas fare? National trust normally do good events.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 17/12/2013 10:54

I think people are missing my point. .. I totally understand them closing the queue at 3 because the shop closed at 5pm and yes I would have been well and truly pissed off if they'd have allowed me to queue and then told me sorry santa isn't seeing anymore... what has annoyed me is tge fact it is advertised as being open until 5pm.... it isnt... its open until 3 what is the point of advertising something that isnt right??? Yes santa is there until 5 but if your not there for 3 then your not getting in...so technically the grotto is open to customers until 3.

OP posts:
Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 17/12/2013 10:56

We are taking him somewhere else this weekend, but wanted to do something with a spare sunday afternoon...

OP posts:
lilyaldrin · 17/12/2013 10:58

The grotto was open til 5 though, just the queue closed.

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