shop accident. am i right to be cross?

delain

This morning in town, Squeak (nearly 2) was walking with me, and she brushes against a display and a cup fell down, which promptly smashed.

Now these were displayed as 'travel' cups with lids, which are not usually china. Had I known she was walking near something so breakable i'd have moved her. This was in a pedestrianised shopping area, she was no more than 1m away from me, maybe half that. Bear in mind that they had put this stuff OUTSIDE the shop in a flimsy cardboard display thingy on the pavement.

So a lady came out and asked me to pay for it, she was very nice about it and put a discount on the price (although she said she wasn't meant to) and gave squeak a chocolate stick. The problem I have is not with the lady, you could tell she felt bad for asking.

I did pay for it, without kicking up a fuss, but as the day has gone I've been thinking about it and it doesn't seem fair that they've put something fragile that looks like plastic in a silly place, the one that broke was about a foot from the floor, with no warning at all.

I noticed on my way back that they'd made a 'fragile' sign.

Its just annoyed me really, squeak was minding her own business walking nicely and I had to pay over £5 because the shop chose to put China cups outside.

Sorry I just wanted to get that out!

I'm not after trouble or a refund or anything I just don't think we should have been charged.

19lottie82

why did you pay then? legally you didn't have to.

sassyblue

You are nicer than me l wouldn't have paid accidents happen and it was bound to happen by the sounds of their display, l would have explained that nicely.

delain

19lottie82 wrote: »

why did you pay then? legally you didn't have to.

Shock I think mainly, and I'm too polite for my own good!

OH would have refused if it had been him

suki1001

I don't think legally if it's in a silly place, that they can make you pay. I'm not an expert though.

fresh_start

am pretty sure you pay the cost price and not the retail price if you were to pay

McKneff

I can only agree with everybody else.

Their unsafe display, their fault

Get her to go and do it again tomorrow:D

mrcow

Seriously - it's done and dusted. You've paid and no one was hurt. Don't be annoyed as it's not going to get you anywhere. It's just going to upset the rest of your day.

In future, hold onto to your 1 year old when near shop displays so they don't go brushing things off shelves. And if they do, refuse to pay if you don't feel morally obliged or if you feel that the shop was at fault.

gingin_2

Or get an old person on a motability scooter to do it and see if they get asked to pay.

I think you were had.

cottonhead

I would be annoyed at havng to part with £5 but in reality your child did cause the breakage and thats lost profit for the shop owner. If you were the shop owner and every penny counted would you not want to be reimbursed for lost stock ? The fact the lady gave your child a lolly and discounted the price - and as you say you dont feel bad at her - shows she was just following policy which is fair enough. I guess she probably would of gotten in trouble herself if she didnt. Does sound as though the display is a bit rubbish but at the end of the day it was knocked. I do agree that parents with kids often get a raw deal. I hate going into places - especially those up market gift shope - and being stared at because they assume your child is going to trash the place !

19lottie82

fresh_start wrote: »

am pretty sure you pay the cost price and not the retail price if you were to pay

you don't have to pay if you break something by accident.