A mum says she was left feeling "disgusted" after her toddler son was told that he couldn't use his well-earned pocket money to purchase a toy in the popular chain store.
Emily White recalled the moment she tried to pay for a toy set from Smyths Toys Superstores for her two-year-old son with the money he had saved up.
The 26-year-old mother was informed that she was not able to purchase the toy airplane and a tea set at the Portland Retail Park in Mansfield, Nottingham, on behalf of the tot.
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The 26-year-old says that she went to the store on November 24 and when she tried to pay with the change the boy had saved up, she was told she needed to pay by card - or with a note.
She went on to say that staff at the store told her and her mother - who was also there - that there is a limit of £10 for people trying to use coins to buy items.
This, according to Emily, was the store's policy.After the issue arose, the 26-year-old explained to staff that she had taken her son to spend money he had saved in a money tin, and wanted to treat him.
She added that she had gone through the tiring job of separating the money out beforehand "so it wasn't just small change".
Emily told Nottinghamshire Live : "I took [my son] to Smyths to pick what he wanted. We were walking round, he was fishing what he wants, we get to the till.
"My mum pulled out the bag with the money in and the worker is like 'I can't take that'. We said 'what do you mean?'
"She said it again and said she'd get someone over to explain it to us. So someone came over and said 'sorry, we can't take that but there's a cash machine at the Sainsbury's '."
Emily was left completely stunned at this statement, as she said that the supermarket was a fair distance away from the toy shop.
The mum said: "They [Smyths staff] said 'come back, pay for the toys, and then it's all sorted'. Well obviously at that point my mum was questioning what was happening.
"We were told there was a £10 limit in how much you can spend in pound coins. So I just got my card out and paid for it on my card, as you would because I didn't want my child to go without. I just think it's a bit disgusting that my child is three in February and he needs to learn the value of money and that's how they dealt with it."
Emily's stepdad Peter Kirk, 52, who also lives in Sutton-in-Ashfield, went on to comment on the incident.
He said that the money the young boy had saved consisted of mainly pound coins and 50ps, adding: "The Sainsbury's where the cash machine is in Mansfield is some trek.
"It's so far, I couldn't believe it. It's disgusting."
Smyths have been contacted for comment.
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