Does anyone else think this is worth complaining about?

[Janos]

I was in M&S coffee shop at lunchtime with a couple of friends and I bumped into an old friend who I hadn't seen for a long time - she was heavily pregnant (baby due in January).

Anyway, it was very busy - she went to sit down at a spare table, offered to her by two women who were just leaving. A member of staff made her get up and move because she hadn't yet bought any food - she was waiting for her mum, who was. I managed to get her a seat after some juggling - hadn't finished my coffee, so got her to come and sit with me.

I was so furious though - would have complained there and then if I didn't have to rush off. Is it just me or does anyone else think this is really out of order?

Totally utterly and complete out of order.

yep out of order i would say

I always park dd's 1 & 2 (in the buggy) at an empty table whilst I go and order, even when it's not busy. What's the point of ordering if you are not going to get a seat ? I would complain, especially if she was heavily pregnant, sounds like the member of staff was having a bad day or was really in the wrong job.

Relieved. I didn't think it was just me...my friends thought it was out of order too. She was also in the middle of a Braxton Hicks contraction too

I think the staff should have made an exception for a heavily pregnant woman. My guess is that they were told to enforce the "no sitting down without food" policy and just didn't think about making exceptions.

I would write to the coffee shop manager to (a) complain, and (b) to ask that staff be given better training/instructions.

On this occasion I think it is unfair of the staff to ask her to move in her condition. However I have been stuck in the situation where I have a trayful of food in my hands and there is nowhere to sit because all the seats have been "bagged" - which is also out of order.

I will definetly complain.

Was particularly peeved because this woman used to be my HV and was a really big support to me when I was suffering with PND, and went out of her way to help me.

I mean, it's out of order for anyone in that situation - I also remember how I felt when I was that size (8 months PG). It's really bl**dy uncomfortable. She's having twins so she's really big too. Grrrr!!!

Thats bad! I would of stayed seated if it was me, wouldnt have moved.
I always get a seat while dh/whoever is buying the food/coffee, especially with a buggy in tow etc.
It reminds me of when me and mum visited a cafe when I was 39 wks. The owner of the cafe said to my mum 'She better not drop that in here!'

MIstletAOU totally agree with you re:bagsied seats. It annoys me too.

I would be furious if it was me. I remember queuing for a table at a local restaurant (very good place, but don't take bookings) when I was about 7 months preg with ds, although we were next in line, the manager looked at me and without asking went and got a chair for me to sit on. Your friend should definately complain.

I used an M&S restaurant recently and, whilst waiting in the queue, realised that the staff were obviously operating a policy of not allowing people to sit at a table whilst someone else queued for food/drinks. As I was on my own, this was a great advantage to me as it ensured that there was a table free by the time I was ready for it. I'm sure that we've all been annoyed by having to stand for ages, with hot food, and wait for a table.

However, I think that a heavily pregnant lady should definitely be allowed to sit down. I'm sure that no-one else in the queue would object to it.

Ahh right it must be you guys giving me the evil eye when I park the dd's . But seriously, how would you handle a 3 yo who won't stand in a queue and a buggy when you are trying to carry a tray and manouvere through the crowds ?

snuffles, i do it too!! i park the buggy and go and get our stuff. I just cannot handle the buggy and a tray! and dealing with dd's constant chatter would make me drop something hot - I am sure .

Normally if i go this it is just dd and i and 1 never object if anyone wants to use the other half of our table (but a 2.5 year old often makes them think twice lol)

I get one of the table clearing staff to carry my tray for me to my table when I have ds with me.
But I would defo complain - you will prob get some vouchers!!

I would definitely complain. Regardless of table bagging policy, it's downright cruel to move an 8 month pg woman (with twins!!!) from a seat.

Complain now, mention its twins and you should be able to get some decent M&S vouchers for her in time for the january sales.

In this instance - yes that is definitely out of order. An eight month pregnant woman should always be given a seat.

However I agree with those who post about people taking tables. I quite often take DS and DD to cafes on my own. And it is very hard manoeuvring a buggy, a tray and two small children and not being able to get a table. Sometimes that staff will help and carry the tray to the table but then say "where are you sitting?" and I tell them I haven't got a table but am thinking "do you really think I would drag two children, a buggy and all my shopping through the queue if I had somebody saving me a table?"

Well in my defence, I don't tend to go in to places that are absolutely heaving. But what about the people that just leave their shopping bags to save the table ? Are they beelzebub?

I think it is Ok for a heavily PG lady, anyone with very young children and anyone with mobility difficulties to bagsie a table.

Agree it's very out of order.

I used to do the same as Lockets, pay then seat kids, return for tray. These days however I cannot leave Sam (can't be restrained n a high chair as too big / has AS), it would probably be different if his disability were visible, but it's not, so i just don't go to cafe's any more (have three boys, Sam at just 6 is the eldest).

I think it was wrong to throw that poor pg woman off her table, some consideration is due wrt to this rule. M&S must be getting militant with this policy. Dd and I went to one of their cafes recently. When there was just one person in front of us and we'd waited a-a-a-a-ages to be served and there were several empty tables, I sent dd to sit down with our shopping bags. A member of staff went over and chucked her off!! The woman in front of me saw what happened and showed dd another table which was hidden away from the eagle-eyed gaze of the M&S Police.

I don't bag seats in normal circumstances because it is annoying to have to wander around with a full tray, looking for a table. But I have got quite assertive about such things now and I'll commandeer a table if it's been unfairly reserved. One time, a couple of teenage kids had taken the sofas and were waiting for friends to buy drinks, so we just sat in the gaps beside them. They were a bit grumpy but when I pointed out that we already had drinks they got up and went away. It had the added bonus that dd was mortally embarrassed by my actions.

have to say i cannot stand when i am queuing for food and people come in and take tables... especially when the place is busy. really, really annoys me

however, i do agree that in this case it was a bit much asking her to actually move! the least they could have done is found her somewhere to sit