Not all Mothercare's are that bad (Mothercare)

Member Name: deb10

Product:	Mothercare
Date:	13/07/04 (2318 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helpful staff, Wide aisles, Children welcome

Disadvantages: Expensive, Expensive, Expensive

I cannot rate my local Mothercare enough. I use the one at Lombardy Retail Park in Hayes and thought the shop and staff deserved a mention on their own merits. They are friendly, helpful and always available. Nothing seems to be a hassle and the Manager never tells you off even if your child has just ruined the display of Kandoo!

There is plenty of parking as it?s a retail park and it?s just off the Uxbridge Road.

Opening times:
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The store doesn?t open till 10.00am, which enables us mums to do the school run and then poodle off down to the store. Also as most of their staff is mums anyway, it must be an advantage to work these hours. Very considerate I think, if this is the case.
Closing time is 6 pm except on Sundays when its 5.00 pm.

Mother and Baby unit:
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Yes and its located in the main ladies loo. It is separated by a shower curtain. I don?t really agree with this idea. I?ll tell you for why.
When I had my little girl I wanted to breast feed her (having boys for some reason I didn?t produce any milk). On one visit my baby wanted her grub so I went and sat in the mother and baby unit.
As she began feeding, a rather large Somali an lady came into the loo for what I can only describe as a long job. Needless to say the aroma was over powering to the point I started to heave, the curtain did nothing to stem the stench.
The lady walked out looking quite proud, I felt sick. I couldn?t stand it anymore and took my daughter out to the car and feed her in the boot of my car (I have an MPV don?t panic).
I know people have to ?go? but mother?s shouldn?t have to feed their children when its in the vicinity of a row of toilets. To add insult to it, the seat where you feed your child is close to the nappy bin, great idea. Who designed this room I ask?
There is a baby bottle warmer but this is above the sink of the main toilets. I really think this should be separated as well.
>I have never seen any nappies available on the changing unit and its not a very clean area, needs some ventilation in there.

Toys:
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Oh yes, lots of them. Mostly geared for the 5 and under?s. They stock Fisher Price, Crayola, Duplo, Vtech etc. In the summer sand bags (not for flooding!) are situated near the front door and they sell at £2.99 a bag. The sand is of good quality though very heavy to lift.
Considering the amount of children that are present in the shop, the toys are remarkably tidy. There are always young ones road testing a toy or three, but staff never moan or tell the kids to put them back.
There are some pocket money toys but not many. Most articles are over £5.

Accessories:
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There are plenty of car seats on show and booster seats. The staff will happily fit a car chair if asked. The car seats vary in price and its best to check the store out direct.
Prams, buggies and strollers are in abundance and you can road test them in the shop. They stock well known brands such as Graco and will happily demonstrate how to use your new appliance!
My mum bought my three in one pram there and the staff were brilliant. Between my mum and I we hadn?t a clue how to fold the thing down, so they gave us a demonstration and waited for me to prove I knew how to do it myself.
If you are after a buggy board though do not mention that name in store. It appears the store are against all buggy boards and refuse to stock them on the basis it damages the chassis on the pram or buggy. I was given quite a lecture on the subject, silly me.
Sshhhhh ?. Don?t tell Mothercare, but I bought one anyway.
They have a good display of cots and bedding. I find the bedding accessories very over priced. For example I had to buy a duvet for the cot bed. A normal duvet is far too big though much cheaper. The cot bed duvet cost £60 and the cover isn?t removable. You have to wash the whole thing and aim to get it dry th
e same day.
Mattresses are £90 upwards and have the sleep system built into it which means it?s safer for newborns (anti cot death).
You can get a lot of good offers in store on baby wipes, nappies etc. They usually have a BOGOF offer each week.

Maternity Clothes:
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Usually a good selection available in all sizes. I think they are well over priced though as most things start at £19. The jeans with the elasticised panel are not very comfortable. I bought two pairs and at the end of the day the crutch is almost hanging round your ankles. They cost me £30 each and I gave them to the charity shop.
I also don?t like the maternity bras, they were ill fitting. However the nursing bras are ok, room for improvement but better than the support bras.

Changing Rooms:
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Two in Hayes and always very clean and tidy.

Clarks Shoe Shop:
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Situated in the rear of the store. Its take a ticket and wait your turn service. Very overpriced for kiddies shoes but probably the best you can get for their developing feet.
I don?t pay £32 for shoes for myself on principal, but have to pay this for my two boys and £22 for my daughter.
As its located in store though, its convenient so I put up and shut up! The staff here are very good with children and patient.

Kids Clothes and Shoes Range:
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As from December 2003, you cannot buy for the 5?s and over anymore. Sad fact I know, as mothercare clothes are very good quality. They literally only supply for the tiny tots, shame. I used to get all my son?s school uniform there, cannot anymore as he?s classed as too old.
The baby clothes are very cute. The little girls clothes are trendy but once again, I feel overpriced. NEXT are cheaper in price when you compare the two. For example a tiny little gypsy top for age 12-18 months will cost you £10. There is hardly any material in it to warrant paying £1
0. My dad would think it?s a hankie its that?s small.
Three quarter linen trousers are £15 for the same size and are no bigger than a pair of Marigold?s.
They do wash well but considering the babies are only in them for five minutes, it?s way too expensive.


Kiddies Rides:
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Yes, two at the front and the staff don?t care if the kids jump all over them.

In House Photographer:
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Yes during the year on selected dates. Watch out for details at the cash in desk or posters.

In store charge card:
Oh yes and the staff always ask if you would like to apply, be warned! The interest rate on this is ridiculous so dont even be tempted. As you can pay by other credit cards, I wouldnt bother with it unless you want the 10% discount off your first purchase. After that, bin it!


To conclude, though sometimes over priced, it?s the ideal store for all mums to be and mums of under 5?s. You can get it all under roof and if you buy too much to carry out to the car, there is always someone there to help.
For example, my son wanted three bags of sand for his Quarry in the garden. I already had my baby in her buggy and two bags of shopping to contend with. The manager could tell I wouldn?t be able to cope and asked the help of the security guard.
The poor man wasn?t much bigger than me but he carried three bags out to the boot of my car. I hope he didn?t get a hernia as a result!

Summary: