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Why do store employees DO THIS!!!!!!

9K views 186 replies 95 participants last post by  pokeyrin 
#1 ·
I was at Target this morning trying to get my grandma's OTC medicines straightened out and my 2 and 3 year old were bored and hungry so they were not being the quietest they have ever been. They were whining and the oldest decided she wanted to re-arrange the medicine aisle all while I was trying to talk to the pharmacist. I quietly kept telling her to be still we were leaving in a minute. The whole process took under 10 minutes and after the pharmacist left we were making our way down the aisle when I heard an employee say "Hey girls I have something sweet for ya"
Two Tootsie Pops! I politely told her they were not allowed to have them and began to leave when she asked why. I almost said "Because I am their mother and I said so!" but I didn't want my girls hearing me talking like that so I said "Because they are a choking hazard and I don't allow my children to have sweet processed sugars like that." She looked at me like I was speaking Latin. Now, my girls did not throw a fit wanting the candy but I was still very annoyed. Why do people question stuff like that? Why would they just offer THEM without asking ME first? I know, I know it was to be "nice" and "friendly" and all that garbage, but it just gets to me. Sorry for the rant.
 
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#4 ·
I'm with ya ladybug. When my boys were about 3 we were doing a lot of errands and someone offered them hard candy. I said no becuase they would hate it and/or choke. She looked at me like i was an idiot. so we took the candy home. one twin spat it out, told me he hated it for about 20 minutes and then the other twin started to choke and i did something close to a hymlick maneveur (sp?) to get it out. Mommy knows best, people!
 
#5 ·
I think the employee was just trying to be nice and help you out by making the kids happy.
I would guess that 9 times out of 10, the parents would be grateful - not saying that you should be - but that most parents wouldn't think twice about an occasional sucker. So maybe that is why the employee was surprised at your response.

I do think they should ask you first, and hand them over to you if you accepted.
 
#6 ·
Yeah, I am a little surprised too?

I've had folks offer DD lollipops and things and I've always said thank you and just pocketed it. I mean, it was a lollipop not crack you know? I guess my opinion may not be as popular because on occasion we veg out with treats like that.

I would have said "they are too young, but thank you so much for thinking of us" or something like that. I wouldn't have been offended or horrified because it's a nice gesture
 
#7 ·
Where do you live where this is a problem?

No place I've been does that here in New Mexico. Sure the bank has lollipops, but you either have to ask for them or if you go inside there is a little jar of them. I either let my kids have them, or tell them not today. No big deal.
 
#8 ·
I don't mind it much, but it can be a bit annoying if my kid decides they have to have it. I avoid junk food aisles and such when shopping with them (unless I happen to actually be planning to buy a treat of some kind), so I really don't want other people calling attention to them, let alone offering them, yk? OTOH, I appreciate that people are just trying to be nice, and to help if the kids are in a bad mood.

I guess I just wish our society, as a whole, would default to something other than sugar to try to cheer kids up.
 
#9 ·
i would have done the same thing. Honestly, I understand that the person "means well," but it sets a bad precedent for the child. "If I behave like this, I will get rewarded with a sweet treat." Also, this is candy from a STRANGER. Don't we tell our children not to take things from strangers?

I am the parent. If you want to give my child something, you need to ask me first. What if the child is allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, whatever? What if I don't happen to have my Epi-pen with me?

If I want my child to have this sweet treat, I will buy it for them.
 
#10 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by mommariffic View Post
I would have said "they are too young, but thank you so much for thinking of us" or something like that.
:

I can understand how someone could find it annoying, but I try to respond to people's intentions rather than whether their viewpoint meshes perfectly with mine. And, even though it can be annoying in certain situations, the intentions are nearly always good when someone does that, so I respond politely. I certainly would never tell the person my child would "hate it" as someone else said -- that's much ruder than offering candy, IMO.
 
#11 ·
To be perfectly honest, I think it is very rude to decline a gift given with good intentions. If a pharmacist (if we used one) gave my children candy that I felt was inappropriate, I would thank them for it, take the candy, and discard it out of her sight. I'd rather listen to my kids scream for it all the way home than offend someone who was trying to be kind.
 
#12 ·
I definitely prefer being asked about treats - and I appreciate the places that do that. I've also found a lot of places simply hand out stickers which just don't bother me the same way candy does.

I'd be a little irritated she felt like she needed to ask why and didn't just let you say you didn't want them though. Like it's any of her business. Great opportunity to make up outlandish stories about how a family member died after choking on a tootsie pop or something so you never eat them.
 
#13 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by KweenKrunch View Post
To be perfectly honest, I think it is very rude to decline a gift given with good intentions. If a pharmacist (if we used one) gave my children candy that I felt was inappropriate, I would thank them for it, take the candy, and discard it out of her sight. I'd rather listen to my kids scream for it all the way home than offend someone who was trying to be kind.
I don't know if I'd go that far. I think it's always okay to politely decline something. A big smile and a, "Oh, thank you so much, but he can't have that" is perfectly fine, IMO.

A lady in the grocery store tried to give my DS her half-eaten cookie once -- there was no way I was going to just smile and take it from her, and I don't think it was rude of me to smile and politely tell her no thank you.
 
#14 ·
It does surprise me in this day and age that an employee would offer a child a candy without asking the parent first. I have no doubt though that the employee had the best intentions.

I personally don't have a problem with the occasional candy for my DDs, but I do appreciate someone asking me if they're allowed first.

I remember working as a cashier at a local grocery store when they took away the candies and replaced them with stickers because of the negative reactions from parents.
 
#15 ·
I know she meant well and I was polite when I did explain to her WHY I didn't allow candy. I guess the part that irked me was when she said "Why" kinda like she was questioning my parenting decision KWIM? I guess I thought my answer should have been enough for her but maybe she really was curious, I don't know. No, my girls don't have allergies or anything of the sort, but still PLEASE ask the parent first before even suggesting it to the child.
 
#16 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by ~LadyBug~ View Post
I know she meant well and I was polite when I did explain to her WHY I didn't allow candy. I guess the part that irked me was when she said "Why" kinda like she was questioning my parenting decision KWIM? I guess I thought my answer should have been enough for her but maybe she really was curious, I don't know. No, my girls don't have allergies or anything of the sort, but still PLEASE ask the parent first before even suggesting it to the child.

I totally agree with you there. I didn't notice the "why" when I read the OP, but you're right that that's overstepping.
 
#17 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by KweenKrunch View Post
To be perfectly honest, I think it is very rude to decline a gift given with good intentions. If a pharmacist (if we used one) gave my children candy that I felt was inappropriate, I would thank them for it, take the candy, and discard it out of her sight. I'd rather listen to my kids scream for it all the way home than offend someone who was trying to be kind.
I've turned down offers like this many times. I'm polite about it. If someone is offended when a random stranger politely refuses an offer of candy made to their children, I think they need to rethink their view of things a little bit.
 
#18 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by limabean View Post
I don't know if I'd go that far. I think it's always okay to politely decline something. A big smile and a, "Oh, thank you so much, but he can't have that" is perfectly fine, IMO.
Exactly.

Quote:
A lady in the grocery store tried to give my DS her half-eaten cookie once -- there was no way I was going to just smile and take it from her, and I don't think it was rude of me to smile and politely tell her no thank you.
Did you post about that? I seem to remember reading that story here before.
 
#19 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm Bride View Post
Exactly.

Did you post about that? I seem to remember reading that story here before.
Probably -- I was fairly appalled when it happened. I could even see how it was wet on the edges where she'd bitten it -- blughhhhh. But I still managed to smile and murmur a, "No thanks, I'll get him one of his own."
 
#20 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by limabean View Post
Probably -- I was fairly appalled when it happened. I could even see how it was wet on the edges where she'd bitten it -- blughhhhh. But I still managed to smile and murmur a, "No thanks, I'll get him one of his own."

Yup - that was it. How...icky.
 
#21 ·
I think store employees should quietly ask you (the good ones hold it up just enough so you can see or point at it and raise their eyebrows - like "is this ok?" without the kids noticing) but her intentions were to help you. I think being offended or mad isn't really fair to the employee who is just trying to be helpful in what sounds like a challenging situation.

Honestly, whining kids who are rearranging the products isn't fair to the store employee who is going to have to fix it after you leave. I do think offering the suckers during the time you were trying to talk to the pharmacist instead of as you were leaving would have been more helpful - as I'm assuming her intent was to get the kids quiet and occupied so you could finish.

The only part of your story that would irk me is "rewarding" poor behavior with candy. During - to keep them busy - would have been ok with me except they are kind of young for something that has a choking possibility (plain M & Ms would have been better) but not after. After there is no point.
 
#22 ·
We're originally from Canada. I noticed a lot more of this kind of thing in the US. Our kids got a lot more random candy, free balloons, stickers and temporary tattoos in American stores and restaurants than Canadian ones.

Our kids don't get a lot of candy, but I am not beyond using M&Ms to buy five minutes of quiet occupation when we really need it. There have certainly been times when I was very thankful somebody offered a sucker or a juice box.

I do what others have suggested here.... appreciate that the person has no malicious intent, accept what they're offering, pocket the sucker or the candy if there's a particular reason the kids can't have it at the time, etc. I've certainly never lectured anybody on the evils of sugar or the hazards of choking.

I do appreciate it when people quietly ask me or DH before offering the candy, but I don't expect this.
 
#24 ·
See I actually love situations like this, because even though I woulda been irked by the "Why?" question too, I see these as opportunities to educate everyone on natural parenting!


You kinda said it, that you don't let your kids have processed sugars, which in this case is what I woulda said too. But I woulda gone on to say (in a very happy, lighthearted voice because I wouldn't have been upset) that as an employee in the medical health part of the store, she should think twice about offering children processed sugar candy, since it's so bad for them.

Yes, they like it, and it's a lovely gesture, but it's so bad for them!

Then I woulda thanked her for her kind intentions and been on my way... without the suckers in my possession.

And I don't worry about being seen as lecturing - in this situation, the store employee started the interaction. I would have been very nice to her because I think it's a nice concept, but I would still answered the above.
 
#25 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by TinkerBelle View Post
I agree. It is okay to politely refuse, but good golly, to actually get offended by it? I am sure that the clerk was only trying to be nice.

But then, to be asked why was a bit over the top, IMHO. I would not have liked that one bit.

I guess I can see both sides of it.
Yeah - this. Having people randomly ask me why I will or won't let my kids do/have something is kind of annoying.
 
#26 ·
Well guess what? I grabbed the "wrong kind" of fish oil tablets for my grandma (she is 92 and prefers a certain brand
) so back to Target I go either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I will keep all this mind should I run into this type of situation
 
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