Store bars under-18s from shopping alone
FURIOUS parents in Glasgow have slammed a sporting goods store for preventing under 18s from shopping alone. Shoppers in the city have taken to Twitter to express their anger at a sign at the entrance of the Glasgow Braehead store and demanded an explanation from the company.
The sign reads: “No under-18s unless supervised.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Mum-of-four Vonnie Sandlan regularly shops at the store and was shocked to see the notice.
She told the Glasgow Times: “I honestly couldn’t believe it when I saw it.
“They’d gone to the effort of printing a company-branded sign so this isn’t a rogue employee – this is a demonstration of the company’s beliefs and values.
“It is disappointing to see a large retailer like Decathlon making this choice to discriminate against children and young people.
“The ‘children should be seen and not heard’ mantra ought to be a historical artefact.
“This has certainly made me reconsider whether Decathlon is a business that
I want to spend my money with.”
In a Twitter thread, the woman wrote: “Hi Decathlon UK – can you justify this, please? Not least because in Scotland you can vote, join the armed forces or get married yet aren’t welcome in your store?”
Another parent commented: “Like many others, I take my children in there to choose their own gear, on their own. Unsupervised. Not anymore. Bye.”
Another comment read: “At
16 I had moved out and was living independently at university, but yet couldn’t go to Decathlon to buy some sportswear?”
Some suggested the rule might have been put in place as a deterrent to shoplifting.
Another user tweeted: “Wonder if they’re having teenagers stealing in there?
“Even so, agree – not justified. Better ways of dealing with things if they’re having issues.”
According to Twitter accounts, it appears other stores across Scotland might be adopting the same policy.
Another parent tweeted: “Turned my daughter away at the Edinburgh store. She was going with her pal to buy rugby boots.”
Another user wrote: “This is awful and alienating. Wonder how they think this business model works?”
Decathlon UK has been contacted for comment.