Rant! Lack of Baby Changing Tables at TJMaxx.

[Witch Mountain]

Gross! How would you feel if you got a dog bed as a gift and found baby poop on it?

Did the store have fitting rooms? I'm assuming that they would, since they sell clothes. If not (not sure, never been in a TJ Maxx), then warming up the car was the way to go.

Back when my kids were young, I'd use the fitting rooms to nurse or to change diapers-but I carried a nice quilted changing pad my mom made for my kids.

 

[MichelleVW]

I still think you are making a huge deal out of nothing. I don't understand if you had a changing pad that you just couldn't do it in the bathroom. I think it's ridiculous and gross to change the babies poopy diaper in the middle of the store on a dog bed, no matter who suggested it.

No way would I leave a cart full of things for something so silly.

 

[Coconut36]

I don't care who suggested it..diaper changes should not be conducted on merchandise and if a manager told you to do this they deserve to be reported to their corporate headquarters and I can tell you now if that is their corporate policy (and I know it's not) to encourage customers to change dirty diapers on merchandise on the sales floor I will never set food in a TJ Maxx.

IMO common sense would prevail and one would say "I'm sorry but it is both unsanitary and inappropriate for me to use merchandise you plan to sell to change a feces filled diaper" and not done it. You were not forced at gun point to use it and you should have used your own brain and known how wrong it was to do that.

I don't care what you say you did, what changing pads you used, how you disposed of it or who suggested it, what you did was wrong and unsanitary and now there is a dog bed being sold that has had a diaper changed on it. Disgusting and wrong.

No a retailer does not "owe" you a changing table and I don't care if they cost $1. You are responsible for your child, you are responsible for planning for things like a diaper change when you are out. You are responsible for not taking a stroller you could have changed her in, you are responsible for not leaving the store and doing it in your car and so on. Onus is on your not the retailer for not having a changing table.

An email to the state representative? OMG seriously? That makes no sense at all and what precisely do you think they are going to do? What would you even say "I demand a law requiring changing tables because I am too lazy to go to my car, bring a stroller or use some other appropriate location?" I could see an email to TJ Maxx headquarters speaking of the benefits to customers and how it would have helped you but a state representative

 

[nmmom95]

That is disgusting! I never used changing tables because I am a germaphobe, but I also never used merchandise in a store. I would have taken the baby out to the car, which I would assume has heat. Like PP, I have had to be very creative at times. I don't understand how you think it's acceptable to change your baby's diaper in a store, on merchandise and then have some already busy, probably minimum wage worker have to clean up after you.

 

[YodaGirl]

OP, I actually agree with you. I might have done the same thing, although, I may have just gone out to the car.

As for the poor dog, well, I love animals, but I don't think it would be that big of a deal. By the time the bed gets to the consumer's house, it probably has gotten more germs on it from the back room, the floor, the shelves, etc than it did from changing a diaper.

I'm assuming that she didn't get poo on the dog bed. I've changed countless poop-filled diapers. Only a very small handful of times has it yielded poo on the changing pad, and that was usually because of a diaper blow-out.

Having worked in retail, I'd much rather a customer leave a shopping cart of stuff in the store than shove random things that they opt not to get in random places.

 

[kellyg403]

Okay people, now that evey one has yelled at me.

First I always have a changing pad in my diaper bag, because public changing tables are disgusting. I did not lay her down directly on any merchandise. Nor do I ever lay her down directly on any surfaces without her changing pad. **Also we don't use a stroller except for trips with vast amounts of walking, so that was not an option.

Second, I properly disposed of her diaper in a garbage can. Now the only garbage can available was tiny and outside of the bathroom (can't figure out why in the heck a retailers bathroom didn't have a trash can--but I digress) and next to a water foutain, but I placed it inside of a plastic bag (yes I carry those too). Not sure how/where someone got the idea that I left it behind in an inappropriate place.

Finally, as for changing my daughter on the dog bed. That was the suggestion of the manager. It came out of his mouth easily, so I am certain it is not the first time he suggested that option. Yes folks, this is the idea of customer service from a retailer I have always loved. To not provide the correct facilities, and then offer up their merchandise as the solution.

Commercial changing tables for bathrooms cost less than $100. If a retailer does not want to make a $100 investment in their smallest customer; but wants to continue to sell high margin baby/children's product I think it speaks volumes.

I can not make TJMaxx change their policy, although I did fire off an email to our state reprepentative, but I can voice my opinion with my dollars. So yes I abandon a cartfull of merchandise the week of Christmas, and yes some employee did have to return that merchandise to the floor. That is part of their job. I know, I had jobs like that for years. You should be more concerned about the lost sales tax revenue and overall impact on the economy than an extra cart of merchandise to reshop.

Ultimately here is my point. Retailers provide bathrooms as a courtsey to their customers. If they provide a bathroom, (by law) they then need to provide a wheelchair accessable bathroom. That all sounds right and fair. Why should they also not need to provide a facility for changing a diaper, if they both offer bathrooms for their customers and sell merchandise for children? There are two ways retailers could address this install changing tables or close all bathrooms to the public. As an indepedent business they would have the choice.

Ok, so I just have to ask. You really sent an email to your state rep because TJ Maxx did not have baby changing tables in their restrooms?

I understand asking/emailing the company in question but not a government official.

I could say so much, but I will stop there. Honestly, why would you do that?

Kelly

 

[goofy!]

Okay people, now that evey one has yelled at me.

First I always have a changing pad in my diaper bag, because public changing tables are disgusting. I did not lay her down directly on any merchandise. Nor do I ever lay her down directly on any surfaces without her changing pad. **Also we don't use a stroller except for trips with vast amounts of walking, so that was not an option.

Second, I properly disposed of her diaper in a garbage can. Now the only garbage can available was tiny and outside of the bathroom (can't figure out why in the heck a retailers bathroom didn't have a trash can--but I digress) and next to a water foutain, but I placed it inside of a plastic bag (yes I carry those too). Not sure how/where someone got the idea that I left it behind in an inappropriate place.

Finally, as for changing my daughter on the dog bed. That was the suggestion of the manager. It came out of his mouth easily, so I am certain it is not the first time he suggested that option. Yes folks, this is the idea of customer service from a retailer I have always loved. To not provide the correct facilities, and then offer up their merchandise as the solution.

Commercial changing tables for bathrooms cost less than $100. If a retailer does not want to make a $100 investment in their smallest customer; but wants to continue to sell high margin baby/children's product I think it speaks volumes.

I can not make TJMaxx change their policy, although I did fire off an email to our state reprepentative, but I can voice my opinion with my dollars. So yes I abandon a cartfull of merchandise the week of Christmas, and yes some employee did have to return that merchandise to the floor. That is part of their job. I know, I had jobs like that for years. You should be more concerned about the lost sales tax revenue and overall impact on the economy than an extra cart of merchandise to reshop.

Ultimately here is my point. Retailers provide bathrooms as a courtsey to their customers. If they provide a bathroom, (by law) they then need to provide a wheelchair accessable bathroom. That all sounds right and fair. Why should they also not need to provide a facility for changing a diaper, if they both offer bathrooms for their customers and sell merchandise for children? There are two ways retailers could address this install changing tables or close all bathrooms to the public. As an indepedent business they would have the choice.

Yeahhh, somehow, I do not believe this 'extra' information that was added later. If the manager suggested to use the dog bed, why was that info not provided in the original post.

Still disgusting and still a HUGE entitlement attitude. Most places it is not even law to provide bathrooms in retail establishments.

If TJMaxx provided the luxuries you seem to want, then they wouldn't be able to provide their clothing at a discount. Bare bones store so you can reap the benefits of cheaper merchandise.

You can't have it all.

 

[Coconut36]

OP, I actually agree with you. I might have done the same thing, although, I may have just gone out to the car.

As for the poor dog, well, I love animals, but I don't think it would be that big of a deal. By the time the bed gets to the consumer's house, it probably has gotten more germs on it from the back room, the floor, the shelves, etc than it did from changing a diaper.

I'm assuming that she didn't get poo on the dog bed. I've changed countless poop-filled diapers. Only a very small handful of times has it yielded poo on the changing pad, and that was usually because of a diaper blow-out.

Because nobody has a kid that climbs in the dog bed that now has some feces or urine from someone on it? Because it's great to know your dog was walking in or laying in feces or urine and then walking around your house, laying on your rugs and so on? Please. It's not OK because it was a dog bed .

 

[YodaGirl]

Ok, so I just have to ask. You really sent an email to your state rep because TJ Maxx did not have baby changing tables in their restrooms?

I understand asking/emailing the company in question but not a government official.

I could say so much, but I will stop there. Honestly, why would you do that?

Kelly

The state rep part was the only thing that struck me as odd.

I was wondering that, myself.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I am only 5' 1" by the TJMaxx carts are smaller than regular ones. No way could I do it in a Costco cart. I would fall in!

As someone pointed out it's more than just the cost of a one time purchase and installation. Someone has to clean it (hopefully) and then if it is broken, fix or replace it. Across all TJMaxx stores this could run into a hundred thousand a year or more.

I see, it's been several years since I have been in a TJ Maxx and I was trying to picture myself changing a diaper in a Publix shopping cart!

I do have the expectation that I will be able to change a baby's diaper in the bathroom of most establishments. Starbucks, no, a lawyer's office, no, 5-star restaurants, no. But department stores, malls, etc., yes I have the expectation that they will provide some sort of changing facility and I won't have to resort to putting my changing pad on the floor. I don't think it's snowflakey, I think it's being courteous to their customers.

 

[ols386]

Okay people, now that evey one has yelled at me.

First I always have a changing pad in my diaper bag, because public changing tables are disgusting. I did not lay her down directly on any merchandise. Nor do I ever lay her down directly on any surfaces without her changing pad. **Also we don't use a stroller except for trips with vast amounts of walking, so that was not an option.

Then what's the problem? If you think public changing tables are so disgusting, would you have actually used one if they had it?

And, no one yelled at you. You started a thread on the dis. Did you expect that no one would give you any feedback on the situation? If you interpret it as 'yelling', then that is exactly what it is...interpretation.

 

[Missy1961]

OP, I actually agree with you. I might have done the same thing, although, I may have just gone out to the car.

As for the poor dog, well, I love animals, but I don't think it would be that big of a deal. By the time the bed gets to the consumer's house, it probably has gotten more germs on it from the back room, the floor, the shelves, etc than it did from changing a diaper.

I'm assuming that she didn't get poo on the dog bed. I've changed countless poop-filled diapers. Only a very small handful of times has it yielded poo on the changing pad, and that was usually because of a diaper blow-out.

Having worked in retail, I'd much rather a customer leave a shopping cart of stuff in the store than shove random things that they opt not to get in random places.

But a human being has to handle that bed--the customer purchasing it, the clerk checking it out at the very least. So even if a dog doesn't care, I would.

And I'm sorry OP, but I don't imagine that the store manager suggested that. I don't know of anyone who would suggest changing a dirty diaper on the selling floor. If I were in that store, I would have walked out.

 

[pacrosby]

Honestly, I'm having a hard time with this notion that a manager told you to use a dog bed. Seriously?

And if you knew that you were so aggravated that you were going to leave the store anyway...why not just bring the child to the car to change them? Or if it was really so freezing that you couldn't fathom subjecting your child to a chilly butt, go into the family fitting room and lay the child down on the bench seat. You didn't think of that?

Sorry, no matter how you slice it, it really is hard to justify.

 

[DVC-Don]

Back in the day we had a changing pad in the diaper bag. We changed them on the pad on the floor or took them out to the minivan as changing tables in restrooms were few back then. Changing on merchandise you did not buy was low.

 

[YodaGirl]

Yeahhh, somehow, I do not believe this 'extra' information that was added later. If the manager suggested to use the dog bed, why was that info not provided in the original post.

Still disgusting and still a HUGE entitlement attitude. Most places it is not even law to provide bathrooms in retail establishments.

If TJMaxx provided the luxuries you seem to want, then they wouldn't be able to provide their clothing at a discount. Bare bones store so you can reap the benefits of cheaper merchandise.

You can't have it all.

I actually do believe that. I've known some managers who would have given the same suggestion.

Because nobody has a kid that climbs in the dog bed that now has some feces or urine from someone on it? Because it's great to know your dog was walking in or laying in feces or urine and then walking around your house, laying on your rugs and so on? Please. It's not OK because it was a dog bed .

There are clean-ish ways to change a diaper. When I change diapers, my child's butt doesn't touch the changing pad. It's not that difficult. Unless there is poo on the outside of the diaper, I don't see the problem.

It has nothing to do with it being a dog bed so it's okay. I think the bottom of people's shoes and the store floor that they walk on has more bacteria/germs than the bottom of a baby's butt.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The state rep part was the only thing that struck me as odd.

I was wondering that, myself.

"State budget? Agricultural reform? Hold the phone there interns, we've got to legislate changing tables!!!"

 

[akcire]

OP, I actually agree with you. I might have done the same thing, although, I may have just gone out to the car.

As for the poor dog, well, I love animals, but I don't think it would be that big of a deal. By the time the bed gets to the consumer's house, it probably has gotten more germs on it from the back room, the floor, the shelves, etc than it did from changing a diaper.

I'm assuming that she didn't get poo on the dog bed. I've changed countless poop-filled diapers. Only a very small handful of times has it yielded poo on the changing pad, and that was usually because of a diaper blow-out.

Having worked in retail, I'd much rather a customer leave a shopping cart of stuff in the store than shove random things that they opt not to get in random places.

You are correct. I did not leave any fecal matter behind. I didn't even know they sold dog beds until the manager suggest it (we don't have a dog). He said he had something that was just like a changing table and to use that, it was some sort of double decker or bunk bed for dogs????


Also why should parents be running to their cars to change diapers when an easy solution is available? What next I should keep a porta potty in the car for myself???

Oh yeah--and I know it's the dis (where everyone is always prepared and perfect) and I know you are all reading past posts I have made so flame away.......cause I have my big girl pants on!!!!!

 

[YodaGirl]

Then what's the problem? If you think public changing tables are so disgusting, would you have actually used one if they had it?

And, no one yelled at you. You started a thread on the dis. Did you expect that no one would give you any feedback on the situation? If you interpret it as 'yelling', then that is exactly what it is...interpretation.

I was under the impression that the changing pad went on top of the dog bed, and that the dog bed was just something to make it more comfortable for the child.

But a human being has to handle that bed--the customer purchasing it, the clerk checking it out at the very least. So even if a dog doesn't care, I would.

And I'm sorry OP, but I don't imagine that the store manager suggested that. I don't know of anyone who would suggest changing a dirty diaper on the selling floor. If I were in that store, I would have walked out.

See my previous post. It's not about what it is, it's about what it probably has already come in contact with at some point, either in the back room or on the sales floor.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Why should parents run to their car instead of exposing fecal matter to the public?

It's your fecal matter, please keep it to yourself.

 

[akcire]

The state rep part was the only thing that struck me as odd.

I was wondering that, myself.

I did send an email to my state rep. Also at the suggestion of the manager. He said, he as asked the company to provide the changing tables and as part of their remodeling they are only providing them if they are required by law.

I asked my state representative to have their staff explore legislation requiring retailers that already had a bathroom available for their cusomters and also sold children's merchandise to be required to provide a changing table. That is the only way a change will be made.

Not saying a new law will be passed or that anything will come of the email, but I figured I may as well attempt to make a change--rather than just complain on the internet.