Heely's hooha and the kid with a death wish

[shelly2jn]

Last night I had to get off my checkout to get sold tape for a bulky item. As I was making my way back a kid of about 5 or 6 appeared out of nowhere and barrelled into my hip, bounced off me and banged into the end of a checkout. He whacked his head off the end and started screaming. Of course, the first thing I do is pick the kid up off the floor, give him a hug and start comforting him. Next thing I know I have his father screaming at me that I should have been looking where I was going, he was going to sue blah blah blah. I'm standing there dumb struck because the kid literally appeared from nowhere and there wasn't a thing I could have done to avoid him.

The lovely woman I was in the middle of serving came over and started yelling at the father! She told him she had seen everything and that there was no way on God's green earth that I could have avoided the kid and that it was his own fault. It was then I realised that the kid was wearing heely's. A ruddy curse in my opinion. I hate them, I've seen kids flying around our store at great speed and it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt but our wuss of a manager won't ban them.

So the father still was shouting at me and our CSM came over and told him to calm down his language and reiterated that it was not my fault. Customer finally left with veiled threats to my bodily safety, but I really think he's all mouth and trousers.

So guy's what do you think, should heely's be banned?

[acidtrunks]

is it just the young uns wearin em,cuz i think it could be pretty funny to watch most teenagers thwacking their heads all the time

[The cat whisperer]

Are heelys those awful shoes/rollerskates? If they are I vote yes to a ban. At least if someone must wear them (ie a kid with no other shoes with them), walking only until they are outside. Next time a kid might bowl over another customer. Then what would your manager do?

[blas]

Now I feel better knowing that I am not the only person here who has had a child run into my hips and come crashing into me wearing those god awful heelys.

What was worse was the kid I'm referring to, it was at Walmart, over by the pharamcy and OTC meds, and the kid had been revving up and getting ready to speed up, so by the time he nearly took off my hipbones, he was up to hyper speed.

Worst idea ever. I've said it before and I'll say it again.....if you want to skate, go to the farking skating rink.

[iradney]

Thank Gord Heelies never really took off here. I rarely see them. And the malls enforce the Heely ban as well - they think about what would happen if the brat bumps into an old lady and she breaks her hip...

[thegiraffe]

Since working at an elementary school (ages 5-10, for those of you across the pond), I've learned that the wheels come out!!!!! I tell my kids that I don't care if you wear the SHOES, the wheels are to stay at home. There are a few varieties where the wheels push in, and those are fine too - as long as the wheels stay up and not down.

But yes, I hate hate HATE those things too.

[blas]

I just wish parents could hide the little wheels until the family is at a proper place for the children to wheel around without hurting others and damaging things.

Retail stores, restaurants, basically any public place where roller skates and skateboards aren't allowed....heelys shouldn't be allowed either. People should be able to wander around stores and do their shopping without having to wear padded protection.

[iradney]

Now, Heelys that come with parent controlled remotes might work...

[rvdammit]

Someone would hack that in no time abe stopping kids mid slide.

[iradney]

*snigger* I know - it would be heavenly!

[FormerCallingCardRep]

A couple of weeks ago I saw two boys in the store playing around with pushing each other to see how fast they could go. They did knock over an old lady.

[Knightmare]

Ban them! I hate those things. I see kids at my work daily with those things on. And we don't have just normal shopping carts; we have powered equipment like cherry pickers and forklifts that don't stop very well.
So far I haven't seen any major accidents, but I'm just waiting for one to happen.

[Daskinor]

Stores in the mall have been pushing to a ban for months. The owner wont do it for some reason.

We haven't had any customer injuries, but lots of close calls. Like the teen who almost went over a second floor railing.

The thing that annoys me the most, is when I see kids wearing them. And the parents pull them around like. Now kids don't have to walk or somthing!

[draftermatt]

They need to be banned. And any parent who allows their kid to use them in stores or parking lots, etc. should be promptly punched directly in the temple by me.

That's my plan if a kid ever runs into me in a store. Find the parent, and punch them. That father would have gotten it had I been around.

[Rapscallion]

Easy there, tiger! We don't condone violence here.

Calling security guards and pointing out that it's a danger to other customers is perfectly viable, as is arranging for them to leave the things in safe keeping until they are about to leave.

Rapscallion