Yet Another Children and Breakages Thread

[Poet]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread, but I too have problems with kids running around and trashing stock in my store, but the item I am most concerned about is my meat display counter. It's a 3' by 8' (approx) sheet of glass on the customer side and children very occasionally run the length of the shop and slam into it. Sometimes they have a toy car or some other object in their mitts. While I'm sure it's an activity of immeasurable joy for them, should one of them manage to crack/break the glass, what course of action would I take?

Not only would the glass have to be replaced but the entire contents of the chiller would likely have to be thrown away.

No parent would be pleased at the thought of having to pay hundreds of pounds to replace it, and I don't blame them. But right now I would never be able to afford a replacement myself and quite honestly would struggle to pay an increased premium were I to dismiss it and just claim on the insurance (assuming I could do so).

Any advice appreciated!

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Is it toughened safety glass? Anything below 80cm (??) i think is supposed to be. So that would be one thing to check.

 

[MH1]

It might be worth considering changing the layout of the shop to slow the kids down.

 

[Geoff T]

It might be worth considering changing the layout of the shop to slow the kids down.

cattle grids are a thought...

and cattle prods for when they do it anyway!

 

[obscure]

Posts outside that the kids can be hitched too?

 

[Mister B]

Place obstacles in the path of the counter, so effectively creating your own version of speed bumps

Mister B

 

[Poet]

While such logistical improvements are an idea, the children don't necessarily need momentum if they are carrying a heavy toy. I suppose the same advice would be needed were an adult to to break the glass with a walking stick or something.

It's an eventually I've not thought about before.

 

[Zeno]

One thing that concerns me is that should the brat suffer an injury paying for the damages will be the last thing on the parents mind - They will be to busy thinking about "Accidents Direct". Then where are you insurance premiums going to be?

 

[MikeD08]

Just out of interest, how many parents would simply pay up for the damage caused (including loss of stock), reprimand the child and NOT try and sue the shop?

I suspect I'm a minority

Back on topic; toughened glass, an amended layout and clear notice that all damages must be paid for should be sufficient.

 

[Nickdavis87]

I am confused, is it the kids just not seeing the glass and running into it? Or doing it on purpose?

 

[Poet]

One thing that concerns me is that should the brat suffer an injury paying for the damages will be the last thing on the parents mind - They will be to busy thinking about "Accidents Direct". Then where are you insurance premiums going to be?

I do occasional risk assessments and it's all documented, I'm not concerned about people causing themselves an injury through their own stupidity - it's Darwinism at work!

Back on topic; toughened glass, an amended layout and clear notice that all damages must be paid for should be sufficient.

Assuming the glass isn't already toughened, then it stays untoughened. I cannot afford to replace it with standard glass were it to break, pre-emptively replacing it with something twice the cost is out of the question. A layout change is also nearly impossible without structural changes to the building.
I am curious though, about how people react to seeing notices like "All damages must be paid for"; I tend to find them slighlty rude/insulting, but I guess like you I'm in the minority,

I am confused, is it the kids just not seeing the glass and running into it? Or doing it on purpose?

It's deliberate because they do it against the wall at the other end of the shop on the return run. :-/

 

[streetslocal]

My first thought it....
You are aware that this is a safety issue and you should make changes to rectify this.
As i believe that as you are aware of the issue then a solictor would have a field day.

Out of curiousity do you have any photos of the area.

Maybe you could place some display baskets on the run up with some special offers in order to slow people down?

 

[Poet]

My first thought it....
You are aware that this is a safety issue and you should make changes to rectify this.
As i believe that as you are aware of the issue then a solictor would have a field day.

Out of curiousity do you have any photos of the area.

Maybe you could place some display baskets on the run up with some special offers in order to slow people down?

No solicitor would have 'a field day' any more than they would with a child running into a wall to knock themselves out. Stupid is as stupid does.

Besides, it's a serve-over counter and my customers might not appreciate having me throw their purchases to them over the baskets!

The point is, if a child carrying a hefty toy manages to break said glass, what's the appropriate course of action to take?

 

[heidi]

I might be completely wrong here, but I'm sure I remember hearing during a law lesson at college that signs stating 'All breakages must be paid for' is an illegal sign. :|

 

[Poet]

I might be completely wrong here, but I'm sure I remember hearing during a law lesson at college that signs stating 'All breakages must be paid for' is an illegal sign. :|

Possibly. While signs like "No refunds" are an attempt to subvert a person's statutory rights, a "Breakages must be paid for" sign is a slightly different principle. I'd be curious to know for certain.