Public bathrooms or not?

United States
November 24, 2007 2:07am CST
My grandpa went into a store the other day and he really had to go to the bathroom. Little did he know that he spent an hour or so in the store and now he really had to go. Mind you that this man is in his 80's, so when he has to go let the man go. But any how they told him no he can not, they don't have a public bathroom. They told him that the nearest one is down two block at the gas station. He was so upset, that he said fine if you don't let me go I will go right here. Let see who gets the last laugh. I don't work here so I don't have to clean up the mess you made me create here. I know you guys need to use to bathroom so do you guys make a run down a couple of blocks too. So, the man looked at grandpa like he was crazy and making a joke. Grandpa pretends and yanks his belt off and jiggle his pants. While grandpa saying hmm maybe I will poop here too, you can clean it up sonny hahaha. That was so funny, the man got scared and said okay okay follow me. LOL. Good threat and good thing the man let him go too lol. Grandpa said if he didn't let him use it he might just have had to do it on the floor because he couldn't hold it anymore.
2 people like this
7 responses
@lyndaj70 (293)
• United States
25 Nov 07
KUDOS to Grandpa! I've had little kids that had to go, and the tellers made me find another store... I have told them in uncertain terms that I would never purchase another thing from their business, and I haven't either. They have a restroom there for their workers, and while I understand some people abuse that fact by trashing them, you can look at a person and see if they really have to go or if they just want someplace to wreck!
• United States
25 Nov 07
That is exactly what I am saying. Grandpa been going to that shop for decades so they would know that he wouldn't do that. If you see a clean cut well groomed old man you know that he won't make a mess. Besides his so old. In my culture you are taught to respect your elders. Out of respect we should let him use it. I mean gosh what if he had an oopsy there on his way out and he try to hold it but couldn't. He would be so ashame. That is just not right. Thanks for your post.
@lyndaj70 (293)
• United States
25 Nov 07
I am a firm believer in the idea that if you have a shop and wish people to purchase from you that you should make their experience as pleasant as possible. That would include allowing them to use the restroom should the need arise. It is incredibly uncomfortable to need to use the restroom, and have no place to use it. If a store does not offer public restrooms and I have to go. or my children, I ask politely, and if they say they don't allow people to use theirs, I leave my cart in place and tell them I will have to find another place to shop then. I can imagine the discomfort your grandfather was feeling that day! I am just glad that the cashier relented!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
25 Nov 07
That is great! I work in a store where my boss at one point tried to make our bathroom not welcome to the public. It so backfired on her. She had people peeing out back where we have to load in groceries etc. I personally could never say no to anyone and always let them use our bathroom anyway much to her dismay. when you have to go you just have to go. it is something we can all relate to right?
• United States
26 Nov 07
Yeah, it's very hard. Now that is just gross, do you have to walk pass that spot too? I can't imagine going to work at a place that smells so bad.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I personally do not patronize businesses that do not provide free parking and/or bathrooms for their customers (even though I do not like using public restrooms). I believe is it very inhumane to expect people to patronize a business and, yet, refuse to consider very basic human needs such as restrooms and drinking fountains.
• United States
25 Nov 07
Well, it's kind of hard there is a lot of business that don't have public restrooms in the city. We have to make a quick run to the restaurants or other places that are close by that have a restroom. Sad, but true. Even my daughter had to hold it till I got to the gas station. She can hold but our grandpa is too old to. Thanks for the post.
@Estina54 (385)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I understand it is hard to trust somebody in a store to even use a bathroom. I don't work in a store, but I think somebody needs to be courageous to run a store. The employees there should be nicer, and more concerned about the customers. Who would come back and buy from their store, if they treat an old man like this?
• United States
25 Nov 07
Yeah, that is what got us real mad at first. Thanks for your post.
@EMZo03 (213)
24 Nov 07
Hahah.. I applaud what he did. I've almost done that one time too, but I didnt. Certain types of businesses NEED to have public restrooms. Some dont though.. but it's pretty lame when they dont. In my opinion anyways.
• United States
25 Nov 07
Yup, I wish they all would at least let the old or the very young go use it. As for people ages 15-55 I assume we can bite the bullet and wait till we find a restroom. Thanks for your comment.
@KevinIX (47)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I have a story similar to this, but from the other perspective. Our store is also about a block away from a public restroom, but I doubt anyone would have browsed for an hour. And of course, we'd let an elderly man use the bathroom. My family runs a small chain of shops, and we do not offer public bathrooms. It may be different from the store cartoon was in, but we have people who do stuff like that from time to time. I don't understand why anyone could sink so low as to threaten to pee on our property simply because we don't have a bathroom. Our shops are small, no where near as large as a mall's anchor stores where you might browse for an hour, so we don't have the responsibility to keep a bathroom. Anyway, we do not want to deal with having to clean and stock a public bathroom. Especially when you see how bad public bathrooms become. My friend works at a movie theater, and she always has horror stories of people pooping on the toilet seats and thus, making it her job clean it. It sounds horrible, but it is definitely true. In fact, the doors on each of our stores clearly say "No Public Bathrooms". But there are always the ones who completely ignore the sign and ask anyway. At one time we finally gave in and opened up our employee bathroom to the public, but it was pretty much disastrous. It was always disgusting, and my parents made me clean the crap up (literally). The worst part was that most of the people coming in to use the bathroom did not even bother browsing our shop! We made the bathroom private again really soon. Of course that doesn't stop people. We put an "Employee Only" sign on the door which separates the storage and bathroom from the rest of the store. Even that does not deter them one bit. Who cares about trespassing! They think they have the right to go right in! This one kind guy left us a gift. He didn't even bother using the toilet, he peed on the wall. Morons! People aren't dogs. Have some self control. (We put up a sign stating "Office" on the bathroom door. Since then, we haven't had a problem. We also paid for the construction of a public bathroom facility outside the shop at one of our locations.)
• United States
25 Nov 07
Oh no this is not the same ah. This is not a very small shop. Not a very big shop either. I myself would not spend that long in any shop unless I am shopping for a gift. I have two children so if we have mothers out here you know what I mean. No time to do nothing. But as for grandpa his old and he walks slow and he takes his time and I mean he really takes his time. I understand not letting certain groups to not use the bathroom but when it comes to 80+ years old? He really wouldn't be able to hold it and I don't think he would have made that big of a mess. And in all these years he has never asked to use the bathroom there. But as I said earlier he is 80+ so it's hard for him. I personally don't think it was a threat but maybe he was just informing them so if it didn't happen accidentally then he wouldn't be so ashamed. Who knows just going by what he tells me. Thanks for your comment.
@kwenge (2487)
• Kenya
24 Nov 07
Some store dont have public bathroom but obviously they have staff bathrooms. Other attendants are really crude and cruel to even old people while other allow aged people or someone who is too pressed like a small child to go and use the bathroom. If there is a sugestion box in that store I think you should go and air your grievances to the management, that was rude of them. YOur grandfather did what he could to get to the bathroom, what if some other old patrons have been mistreated in there?
• United States
24 Nov 07
Yeah, I feel bad for the old folks. I mean if it was me that is understandable I would just hold it. But if you ask a child/infant or an elderly to do that it's very hard. Thank you for your comment.