My DD was almost burned by a novelty lighter at the Dollar Store today!

[Cool-Beans]

I still disagree. My child - ANY CHILD - should be able to walk into a store and touch anything without the risk of being BURNED by something that clearly looks like a toy.

But your daughter wasn't burned.

The whole thing is a non-event.

Why be all worked up about something that didn't even happen?

 

[lovemygoofy]

These kind of lighters are being banned in several states. Hell, I'm 30 years old and I still pick things up at the cash register to look over. This past Christmas I was in a dollar store, I hate those stores by the way, and picked up this Christmas tree looking thing trying to decide what it was. My mom, I guess once a mom always a mom, says "Tina, put that down. It's a lighter." I looked at her like she'd grown two heads. There was NOTHING on the box where they were displayed that stated it was a lighter. You'd think there was a notice on the display box at least.

 

[Stucas]

my take on what the OP said was she was upset they were within a child's reach and were not removed, not that she was about to go sue the store because of it. I would be upset too if I saw lighters, especially ones THAT LOOKED LIKE TOYS where a child could grab them. To all you people who said it is up to the child not to touch anything, had this been your child who made a mistake and touched something and they DID get hurt, would you seriously look at your kid and go...suck it up its your fault? I know I wouldn't sue or anything even if my child was hurt, but I would at least ask they move them to a more child safe place. I don't think its a horrible thing to ask.

No child is perfect 100% of the time. You can't expect that not one child will touch something that looks like a toy thats clearly in their reach. It just isn't realistic.

 

[CJBaby]

Why, in the first place, is it necessary for there to be a lighter that even an ADULT cannot recognize as one?

Secondly, is there ANYTHING more obnoxious than saying, "MY child would NEVER do that," about anything?

 

[Minnie_me]

But your daughter wasn't burned.

The whole thing is a non-event.

Why be all worked up about something that didn't even happen?

Because the next time it happens (and it WILL happen again to some other child), someone could really get hurt! Fortunately, DD had the lighter pointed down and away from her. I can't imagine if it had been pointed near her face.

I wouldn't want this to happen to any child. I think it's terribly irresponsible of the store to put "TOY" lighters within the reach of small children.

 

[rie'smom]

Secondly, is there ANYTHING more obnoxious than saying, "MY child would NEVER do that," about anything?

Yes, but this is the DIS where all children are 4.0 Nobel prize winners who never misbehave!

 

[famofsix]

This article shows what the lighter looks like and validates OP's cause for concern

I didn't realize it linked to a blog and copyrighted so I will just mention there is a picture of them on the USAToday website.

 

[CEDmom]

Thanks - -I was beginning to think I was insane. I'm so surprised at the number of people who claim that their children never touch anything in stores. I don't see anything wrong with children touching merchandise. It's the freaking Dollar Store - it's not a museum! Most things are in packages, and my kids have never broken anything. Ever.

I'm also shocked that people think it's fine to keep lighters that look exactly like backpack keychains at a child's eye level, and just rely on the child not to touch them.

It's not that our children never do anything they shouldn't it's that we take at least some responsibility when they do. My DD is 8 and she's been told since she was old enough to walk not to touch anything in a store unless she asked first. It doesn't matter if it's the dollar store or Tiffany's the rule is the same. Has she always lived by that rule, of course not. However when she hasn't and something got broken or she got hurt I didn't blame the store for having the item there. I blamed myself for not watching her more carefully and DD got a lesson in why the rule existed in the first place. Now with an item like the lighter I might have suggested the store rethink the placement of the item but I wouldn't blame them for having it out within the reach of my child.

 

[leanan]

Sue them. It seems frivolous but they should not have a guitar shaped lighter where a kid can pick it up. Come on they are all obsessed with Hannah Montana or some other pop star so it will attract their attention. That staff member needs to be punished. It is his responsibility to make sure his store is safe for all customers. Of course I got in trouble with the Christmas store I used to work for because I mouthed off about the lack of chair accessibility in our store.

 

[famofsix]

It's not that our children never do anything they shouldn't it's that we take at least some responsibility when they do. My DD is 8 and she's been told since she was old enough to walk not to touch anything in a store unless she asked first. It doesn't matter if it's the dollar store or Tiffany's the rule is the same. Has she always lived by that rule, of course not. However when she hasn't and something got broken or she got hurt I didn't blame the store for having the item there. I blamed myself for not watching her more carefully and DD got a lesson in why the rule existed in the first place. Now with an item like the lighter I might have suggested the store rethink the placement of the item but I wouldn't blame them for having it out within the reach of my child.

What would you do if she asked your permission to look at the cool guitar and it was not marked "novety lighter" and she burned herself

 

[heidica]

This article shows what the lighter looks like and validates OP's cause for concern

I didn't realize it linked to a blog and copyrighted so I will just mention there is a picture of them on the USAToday website.

I went and found the picture and article you are referring to. Looks like a significant problem, if you ask me. I don't think it is a big deal to ask that lighters which are not labeled as lighter and are not in some sort of packaging to be placed out of reach of children. The plain lighters I see in stores are always in some sort of packaging that doesn't allow you to even test the lighter. Lighters that look like TOYS should be properly labeled and packaged. I could see myself as an adult picking up something like this out of curiosty and being surprised by the lighter, but I would know how to react whereas a child might panic and burn themselves or something. Also, the fact that these lighters are purposely made to look like toys has me bothered - but that is a whole other discussion. Lastly, not good business to have the lighters out where everyone can play with them and WASTE the lighter fluid inside. Pretty soon the lighters will be empty and the store will have to throw the empties away. No profit there.

 

[Imzadi]

Here's a picture of one. I certainly wouldn't know it was one, unless someone pointed it out.

http://budk.com/product.asp?pn=28%20GD27866&c2p=hp&bhcd2=1202187244

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Yes, but this is the DIS where all children are 4.0 Nobel prize winners who never misbehave!

They're all gifted (well, one of mine is, with a horrible report card to boot, but that's a different thread) and they all have perfect parents with perfect home lives and nothing ever goes wrong. They all go to WDW and behave in the minimal lines and sit perfectly still at the nicest restaurants.

When I grow up I want to be just like everyone else here.

 

[leanan]

Here's a picture of one. I certainly wouldn't know it was one, unless someone pointed it out.

http://budk.com/product.asp?pn=28%20GD27866&c2p=hp&bhcd2=1202187244

That thing looks like a toy and therefor should just be made illegal.

 

[Eviie]

Thanks - -I was beginning to think I was insane. I'm so surprised at the number of people who claim that their children never touch anything in stores. I don't see anything wrong with children touching merchandise. It's the freaking Dollar Store - it's not a museum! Most things are in packages, and my kids have never broken anything. Ever.

I'm also shocked that people think it's fine to keep lighters that look exactly like backpack keychains at a child's eye level, and just rely on the child not to touch them.

I couldn't agree more. I'm 13 y/o and my mom is on the DIS. But come on' those things are foolish, in my nature i'd just pick it up cause its cute or something... i mean i've seen those at DollarTree, except i'd know what it was. It's hard for me to post on the community board without getting my head bitten off. But i agree with you, of course no touch rule is very important. But if it's something that'd look like a cute little toy and it isn't made out of glass or anything why not touch it? Your not going to have your kid at 18 - "OH MY GOSH, PUT THAT DOWN!!! DONT TOUCH" thats ridiculous... don't worry i got your back on this I'll prolly' get my head bitten for this post

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Thanks - -I was beginning to think I was insane. I'm so surprised at the number of people who claim that their children never touch anything in stores. I don't see anything wrong with children touching merchandise. It's the freaking Dollar Store - it's not a museum! Most things are in packages, and my kids have never broken anything. Ever.

I'm also shocked that people think it's fine to keep lighters that look exactly like backpack keychains at a child's eye level, and just rely on the child not to touch them.

I agree with you. And the 13 year old, who has a lot of common sense!

 

[actionvaughn]

It's not that our children never do anything they shouldn't it's that we take at least some responsibility when they do. My DD is 8 and she's been told since she was old enough to walk not to touch anything in a store unless she asked first. It doesn't matter if it's the dollar store or Tiffany's the rule is the same. Has she always lived by that rule, of course not. However when she hasn't and something got broken or she got hurt I didn't blame the store for having the item there. I blamed myself for not watching her more carefully and DD got a lesson in why the rule existed in the first place. Now with an item like the lighter I might have suggested the store rethink the placement of the item but I wouldn't blame them for having it out within the reach of my child.

Very well said, and I agree completely. I work in retail and our front counter has a lot of candy. It's really rare that kids are standing patiently with their parents, but when they do, it's pretty awesome. Things get opened without permission all the time and during my entire shift, I hear:

"_________, put that down."
"I told you no candy, ________. Put it away, please.
"What did I tell you about picking up things that aren't yours, ________?"
"No. That's not yours. It belongs to her." (Me, I'm guessing? I hear this one a lot. )
"PUT THAT DOWN!"

I have to say though, the candy is stocked under the counter for a reason- it's eye-level for kids, who in turn get their parents to buy it for them. On the other hand, I understand why the lighters are at the counter too. (Quick access for smokers when paying) A decision like moving the lighters further back on the counter, (further away from small hands) isn't as big a deal as moving an entire aisle to the other side of store, and shouldn't require corporate involvement. In my opinion, the OP should have just spoke to a manager in a non confrontational way. Something along the lines of, "It can be really easy for kids to mistake the lighters for a toy, can you arrange it so there isn't a serious accident in the future?"

I understand that you want your kids to touch whatever they want without worrying that they get hurt, but it's impossible to control any situation 100%. The way I learned I shouldn't horse around with my brother at the top of the stairs was by falling down them. I'm not saying every child should learn in this fashion, but letting kids know they shouldn't touch things that don't belong to them can go a long way.

Why do you think your coffee from McDonalds now comes with a warning that says "Caution: Contents may be hot". It's because somebody didn't have the common sense to know that she shouldn't put a hot cup of coffee between her legs and decided it was McDonald's fault - not her own.

Not related to the OP, but when I found out about this a while back, I was so infuriated.. People will do anything to pass on the blame.

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't see how it is the stores problem when your child is 7 and you should have been supervising her. I would have used it as a prefect time to say "see what happens when you touch things when you don't know what they are". If she had no intention of buying the item why touch it at all?

 

[LaraK]

Yes, but this is the DIS where all children are 4.0 Nobel prize winners who never misbehave!

Not mine! Unless my kids arenin a straight jacket and has both hands firmly bound and their mouth duck taped the kid's gonna reach out to touch things. My kids are BAD. (surprise surprise, I love them anyway...I'm the mom saying "don't touch that, hands to yourself, don't touch that, OMG! I SAID DON'T TOUCH THAT)

We don't go in dollar stores because there's way too much temptation.

BTW...for the person who said lighters don't burn...I caught my hair on fire once when I was a kid....THAT burned.

 

[tinkerbee]

Sue them. It seems frivolous but they should not have a guitar shaped lighter where a kid can pick it up. Come on they are all obsessed with Hannah Montana or some other pop star so it will attract their attention. That staff member needs to be punished. It is his responsibility to make sure his store is safe for all customers. Of course I got in trouble with the Christmas store I used to work for because I mouthed off about the lack of chair accessibility in our store.

Why should the cashier be punished? How is it his responsibility to put the lighters some where else? Stores don't choose where most items are put, they have store plans that tell you where to put almost everything in a store. Sue them, are you kidding? For what? I think I'll sue my local discount stores because they sell things that my children can reach that might hurt them. Like bleach, cleaners, air fresheners if they want to smell one and spray theirselves in the eye with it, fertilizers, those balls that are filled with gel that are loose and my little one could bite into it, heck they could pick up a pen off the counter and stab their eyes out. I'm going a little overboard with the examples but I don't get why you think she should sue the store? No wonder prices for everything go up between people stealing and sueing it's a wonder stores make any money.