Doing what's right - a question about responsibility

[donsgal]

Today I visited one of my favorite haunts - the local animal shelter thrift shop. During the visit, as usual, I hand to go to the bathroom to get rid of some of the morning's coffee and I discovered, rather unhappily that the bathroom, which had been public for *at least* the past ten years that I had been a customer, was now "for employees only".

Angry because of this inconvenience (there are NO public restrooms within walking distance to the store), when I got home I contacted the manager. Who told me the policy had been changed because there had been "two young boys smoking in the restroom" and they do not have the personnel to monitor it constantly.

I was quite put out by the fact that just because two children decided to behave badly, all of the patrons of the thrift shop must suffer for it. Also the animals must suffer for it because I won't be going back to shop there as long as this policy is in effect. It is uncivilized to not offer a bathroom to people when they need it, especially if there are no other options near by.

It occurred to me that since it is against the law for minors to be in possession of a controlled substance (which tobacco IS), that they very well should have called the police when they caught the two boys "in the act". I am seriously thinking about contacting the police myself and telling them that the thrift shop neglected to report an illegal act. I am seriously considering filing a complaint against the thrift shop for doing this.

Please don't tell me I am overreacting, because I am very angry at this. I refuse to shop at any store that does not have bathroom facilities - ESPECIALLY THRIFT STORES. You cannot wash your hands if there is not bathroom, and the merchandise at thrift stores are often quite dirty, grimy and full of "who knows what" kind of germs. I intend to make certain this policy is reversed and I will do whatever it takes to do it.

Do you think the police will do anything about it?

donsgal

[DenverGirlie]

No, the police will not do anything about this, nor in my eye should they.

This is private property and since they do not serve food, no need to offer a restroom.

[sweetcountrygrl]

I personally don't think the police should be bothered with this one.

Generally if you ask politely often places that have employee only facilities will allow you to use them. I've been in such a situation once or twice and *most* people will be understanding and allow you to use their restroom.

Just my .02

[Anita in NC]

I was just curious if the restroom was locked and the employees had a key to get in because if it was open I would have used it.

I hate when you go to big stores and they don't have a restroom. I notice that the local Joann Fabrics has made their restroom for employees only. I hope that they know if I tell my 3 year old to hold it it's probably going to end up on the floor.

There should be some law that requires stores of a certain size to have public rest rooms.

[uncle Will in In.]

By golly there is a limit on how long a person hold it.

[Snowdancer]

I look at it a little differently. The question to ask yourself(general you) is
If I'm having a big yard sale, will my bathrooms be open to all customers who show up?
If the answer is an unequivicable yes, then I guess you have a right to complain and even not support that business.
If you wouldn't allow everyone access to your bathroom at your yard sale which is on private property, then why complain and deprive the shelter of the income for the animals? They're a private business, staffed by all or mostly volunteers who shouldn't have to clean up behind peope(who can be nasty) or monitor the possibly illicit/illegal activities in the bathroom.
Yes, it is inconvenient but no more so than being at a yard sale and having to leave to find a facility.

Just my opinion and our shelter thrift shop bathroom is employees only as is the actual animal shelter bathroom. The actual shelter has a separate sink available with antibac soap for hand cleaning after playing with the animals.

[FiddleKat]

donsgal the police can't do anything about it, unless they had caught the boys in the act themselves.
I think the best thing you could do is file a complaint with the manager and tell them that you won't be patrionizing thier store any longer.

[DownHome]

Perhaps a nice compromise would be a locked bathroom, so a key could be requested and withheld if necessary.

:baby04: pottiers get to potty and smokers dont get to. :baby04:

Plus I am guessing if junior is sneaking off to smoke in a bathroom at a thrift store, then his parents would probably want to know that he is. The store owner has a responsiblity to report it, if they are caught in the act, but the police are probably likely to do little more than tell their parents especially for a first offense. If I were the store owner I would want them to have to do some community service for stinking up my bathroom. That smell sticks around long after the deed is done. If you are in a large town or city, I doubt they would even show up.

Just my 2 cents

[patnewmex]

Suggest to the store that they have a key and monitor the KEY's use. The police won't care one iota about this incident since there is no proof at this point (and even if there were proof, they have better things to do with their time. The store manager would have to be the one to blow the whistle.)

Tell the manager how angry you are is about your only other recourse. But dont' be too rude or they won't want to listen to you.

You could bring some of those sanitary alcohol wipes with you to the thrift store. After all, there is no requirement that they offer a restroom to the public. Up until the smoking incident, it was a convenience. I don't blame them for closing it down to the public to be honest.

Pat

[sgl42]

the police can likely not do anything.

as for the store... unfortunately they're probably between a rock and a hard place. between insurance and lawyers, they're at a pretty big risk if they let customers use the restroom. and they're still at risk if they let some use it and not others, as they'd get sued by someone who was not allowed to go.

large stores like walmart can afford it, as they have in-house lawyers, and get insurance at discounts. the small mom&pop places are the ones that suffer, and the coffee-drinking patrons of the mom&pop stores are the ones that *really* suffer.

--sgl

[chma4]

about two months ago i was afforded the lovely honor of cleaning our "public restroom" in our deli. It was feces smeared on the walls, the toilet the sink the mirror. handfuls and handfuls of it. There is NO more public restroom in my business.

[bumpus]

Originally Posted by donsgal

Please don't tell me I am overreacting, because I am very angry at this.
Do you think the police will do anything about it?

donsgal

I believe you are making a big deal out of this because you are mad because they are not maintaining a restroom for your convenience which is not required by law.

You also do not care about the boys smoking you just want to use that for a punishment to the store for making life not so easy for you.

Just shop some where else and get over it.


bumpus
.

[Ravenlost]

Don't drink coffee before going shopping!

[willow_girl]

I think you SHOULD report it!

It will probably give the desk sergeant a good chuckle, and in that line of work, heaven knows he or she probably could use it!

[Alice In TX/MO]

I vote with Bumpus.

[Beltane]

There was actually a local case here about a year ago where a Goodwill did not let a patron use the bathroom, and she ended up 'going' right there in front of everyone at the counter. She did have a medical issue, so it wasn't on purpose. Come to find out, ALL establishments in NH have to allow patrons to use the bathroom. Who knew? Now you don't don't see those 'Employee Only' signs on the bathrooms any more!

[susieM]

Get a camper. They have built-in toilets.

(although I can understand your anger and frustration)

[DixyDoodle]

Well, did you buy the coffee at a coffee shop? You shoulda went while you were there! LOL I hear ya though, sometimes it just hits ya! I just go to a local place with open washrooms, like McDonald's or Tim Horton's.

I used to work at a small pet food store that USED to have an open washroom policy. However, since it was a small store, all the TP and kleenex, etc had to be stored in there as well. You would be surprised to see what people would steal. Even the TP roll off the roller. So it got locked.

However, if someone came in and asked, we would unlock it. People are less likely to steal if they know that you know who did it. AND you would not have a problem with two kids sharing a washroom, or smoking, or whatever. Why did they not just stick a smoke detector in there?

[DonnaKay]

Originally Posted by chma4

about two months ago i was afforded the lovely honor of cleaning our "public restroom" in our deli. It was feces smeared on the walls, the toilet the sink the mirror. handfuls and handfuls of it. There is NO more public restroom in my business.

I used to work at a family owned resturant that had mostly regular customers. We had to clean the bathrooms and let me tell you some nights it was really, really nasty. The strange thing was that we never had customers that look like they were capable of making such a mess.

If you think it's unsanitary to touch grimy second had junk think how unsanitary it is to clean up someone else's feces and urine.

As far as the police go...I think that would be petty and spiteful. First the police have better things to do than worry about kids smoking secondly you would be causing a lot of trouble for people that are doing a good thing.

Maybe you could volunteer to be bathroom monitor?

With that said I do hate it when I have to go and there is no customer bathroom.

Maybe you could let them know how much of an inconvience it was and maybe suggest having a key available for legitamate needs.

Donna

[donsgal]

I called the police department and a very nice officer told me that their hands are pretty much tied with regard to minors smoking. All they can do is take away their cigarettes and tell them to stop. He DID tell me though, that often just having a policeman arrive is a strong deterrant to future violations, and that he would be HAPPY to send a policeman around to HAVE A STERN TALK with the boys in question if it ever happens again.

In the past I worked as a sales clerk at a store and part of my duties was to clean the public restroom. Yes, sometimes they were skanky but after all, it is a natural function and one that we cannot control. It is uncivilized to not offer a bathroom to people. Personally, I have never had to clean up feces from the walls and I cannot imagine who would put THAT there, or why. Obviously it is a case of vandalism to have someone do that on purpose. And I'm sure that instances are RARE. Of all the public restrooms I have used in my 52 years, I have only seen one that had fecal decorations on the walls, and even then, I just ignored it and did my business. I must say I felt sorry for the person who had to do the cleaning though.

Nevertheless, you can't punish the whole world because of one or two cretins who are guilty of acting badly.

Anyway, it is unfortunate that they have lost a customer but there are lots of good thrift shops around my area. I won't punish the animals though, I will still donate to the shelter, but I will do it directly and make sure that the shelter manager (and the board of directors), understands why I am not shopping at the thrift shop any longer.

donsgal