Kids and toy stores

[bellasaunty]

Hi. This happened today in my friends store. I apologize for the long story.

A SC, her DD and her Granddaughter come into the store. This little girl is around 2 years old and starts touching clothing, toys, etc. The two women just walked off looking at other things.

I started to take the stack of clothing the little girl had taken apart and started folding it.

As I was folding I noticed that the little girl was removing a flashlight from the shelf not seeing that another flashlight was being pushed off at the same time, which would've ended up on her foot.

I approached the little girl and told her to "be careful".

The SC comes from around the corner and tells me, "you've just lost a customer", and walks out.

As I was continuing to fold the shirts, SC comes in with the little girl in her arms.

Me = me
SC = her

SC: DON'T YOU EVER LAY YOUR HANDS ON THIS LITTLE GIRL AGAIN!!!
ME: Ma'am, I was worried for your child being that the flashlight was going to fall
on her.
(**NOTE- I did not go that close to this little girl. I have a niece and I am very phobic about people touching me or her.)
SC: THAT'S B*LLSH*T!!!
(May I remind you that she is still holding this child throughout the
conversation).
ME: Ma'am the flashlight was going to fall on her.
SC: THAT'S B*LLSH*T! YOU JUST DON'T WANT HER TO TOUCH YOUR NEAT
DISPLAYS. THIS IS A TOY STORE AND YOU SHOULD LET KIDS PLAY WITH THE
TOYS! YOU'RE FULL OF SH*T!
ME: Ma'am, I was worried that the flashlight was going to
SC (interrupts): YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE
NEVER TREATED A CUSTOMER LIKE THIS. WORRIED ABOUT HER, YOU'RE FULL
OF SH*T.
ME: Ma'am, I was worried about her welfare. She could've been injured.
SC: THAT'S SH*T. YOU'RE HERE ALL DAY LONG MAKING YOUR STORE LOOK NICE
AND YOU DON'T LET HER PLAY WITH THE TOYS. YOU'VE LOST MY BUSINESS!!!

She walks out. You know what is funny, her DD was embarrased about the way they left the first time. The second time SC came in, her DD stood outside for awhile then walked away looking down. She was the one that witnessed the whole thing yet the SC, who didn't see anything starts accusing me of touching the little girl.

IMHO, parents should watch their kids in stores, especially toy stores. I don't mind them playing with the toys a little but when they start getting rough with it then I step in. I never touch the child, I only say to "be careful". This is usually a cue for the parent to watch their child.

The SC was even more peeved being that I have a way of dealing with irate and/or irrational customers. I calm down and kill them with kindness. I spoke very calmly and in a regular tone of voice. As I was doing that, she screamed louder, all while carrying the child.

Great parenting skills lady.

[Sarah81]

And if you'd just let the little kid drop the flashlight on her foot (which would suck, because the kid's not old enough to know better, it seems), SC would have shrieked at you for not doing your job (read: baby-sitting her kid).

Can't win with some people.

But the calm, even tone throughout really, really drives them mad

[Demonoid Phenomenon]

I've done the toy store job more than once.
It can be fun...it can be utter hell on a stick.

I can say with some relief that I was never faced with an issue like this, though!
I have noticed in general that the parents who tend to leave their children to their own devices in stores (aka ignore them) become Screechy Wingnuts when something 'happens'.
It's simply an extreme response to their own insecurities and shortcomings.

Let's hope this Mother Of The Year keeps her promise and never returns!

[Blisskat]

This is a guess, but since you mentioned it was your "friend's store" that there are no cameras?

It would have been interesting to mention to her that your activities are monitored by camera, to not only protect you, but also to protect the little kiddies from psyco-monster-touchy retail clerks.

I applaud you for staying calm, and staying professional.

[Apathy]

As we all know, Toy departments are babysitters. Why should I watch my own child when I could leave them totally alone in a public place while I shop for crap. It's not like they could hurt themselves/hurt someone else/damage product/be kidnapped.

Did you say she came back in, after screaming about you losing her business?

[ArcticChicken]

If I ever own my own store I'm putting up a sign that says:
"Unattended children will be given espresso and a puppy."

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

The SC comes from around the corner and tells me, "you've just lost a customer", and walks out.

Actually, no you didn't. You lost a snooty, stuck-up, potty-mouthed, entitlement-minded, mentally imbalanced, unwatchful she-hag of a "parent".

You have to spend money at an establishment before you become their customer.,

[pssorens]

We had a boy have a seizure in the toy department and fall and hit his head. We then had to page his parents/ guardians to find them. then while he was being treated by the paramedics one of their party was more intreasted in getting information on a big screen tv

[Bramblerose]

YOU JUST DON'T WANT HER TO TOUCH YOUR NEAT
DISPLAYS.

Damn straight, we don't want this child (or any child) touching the displays!

Falling objects may hurt when they hit a skull, and just how much time does one spend setting up said display? Or trying to repair it during a busy weekend?

What ever happened to "Don't touch if it doesn't belong to you?" or "You break, you buy?" Oy.

Of course I spent part of this weekend chasing kids and parents out of my box o flat lace, I might be touchy.

And of CourseI miss the Hours folding sweaters/t-shirts/whatever on the front displays at the clothing store.

[Nyx]

We had a boy have a seizure in the toy department and fall and hit his head. We then had to page his parents/ guardians to find them. then while he was being treated by the paramedics one of their party was more intreasted in getting information on a big screen tv

WTF? Poor kid, hope they take him from his neglectful parents.


I saw a newborn baby left alone in the middle of a store once while it's mother was down an aisle looking at electronics. I think a part of me died.

Also my Boyfriend works the toy store, honestly I think you all are nuts!!

[bellasaunty]

Thank you everyone for your positive comments. This kind of thing bothers me even though I'm not at fault.

Customers seem to forget that we have feelings too.

I called my friend who owns the store and she said that it happens all the time. She's been in screaming matches with parents who complain that their children should be able to play with the merchandise and not be forced to pay for damages.

I can't believe the stories of the children being left alone. Those parents are unbelieveable.

[iradney]

I called my friend who owns the store and she said that it happens all the time. She's been in screaming matches with parents who complain that their children should be able to play with the merchandise and not be forced to pay for damages.

Does she have a sign (or multiple signs) saying "Lovely to touch, wonderful to hold, but if you break it, consider it sold (to you)"?

That way, they can't say they had no warning. If they can read SALE signs, we know (hope?) they can read those....

And, while I'm at it with the wishful thinking, I'd like Jessica Biel's butt and arms please.

[marasbaras]

I'd like Jessica Biel's butt and arms please.

If you get those, may I touch them ... please!??!!?!?

[depechemodefan]

Ugh, hate people like that. I just cringed from reading what you went through.

If I ever own my own store I'm putting up a sign that says:
"Unattended children will be given espresso and a puppy."

That would be awesome.

You should see all these kids who stay at the library after school. They're Middle Schoolars (14 years old and less) at the library I use to work at, with no parent supervision. It would be ok if they did homework (in a perfect world) but they get in their cliques, they go across the street to the laundremat to buy cokes, they skate. Then the recent time when a kid got buggered at another library....yeah, like it would never happen to your kid. Why let the kids at the library if they are just goofing off?

Ugh, one time this kid put his hand in the part of the escalator railing that goes into the machine and his parents didn't want the paramedics to take him, since they were sniffing paint thinner or whatever that they poured in empty Dasani bottles. One librarian tried to calm the poor kid by giving him a coke; the father dranked it. And the two were eating peppermints from a jar we had in our workroom. So since no damage was done to the kid, he seemed ok. But then the father tried to go into our workroom and I told him no. He said, "I was back there already" and I told him "no". Then he said he wanted bandages, and I said he should have gone with the paramedics if he wanted bandages.

[TryNotToBeThatOne]

Since clothes shopping bored me almost to tears & I could be a whiny little brat I would beg to be allowed to go to the toy &/or book section. If I was able to persuade her to let me go then I was under very firm orders: looky, no touchy. I was not allowed to play with any toys but I could look at them. I was, sort of, allowed to touch the box if I was turning it to look at something on it.

And oh, if I had made a mess *shudder*. My mom was not my best friend. She was my parent. And I knew that if I did something like that, there would be consequences, in all caps, boldface, underlined twice & italicized.

And even then, I was not a young child. I was um, at least 9.

Good job, OP, keeping your cool & doing the right thing.