A mum has been left red-faced after buying a 'doll-sized' paddling pool from B&M.
Louise Smart headed to her local branch of the store in Basingstoke on Tuesday, 21 June, and came across the Staycation Paddling Pool With Slide on sale for just £15.
Snapping up the bargain, Louise decided to treat her four-year-old daughter Isla and her 10-year-old daughter Amelia to the fun inflatable pool to keep cool during the heatwave.
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But the tanning studio manager was in for a shock when she brought her recent purchase home and took it out of the box to find that neither of her children could fit – having forgotten to check the measurements before buying.
Louise said: "I came home and I said to Isla that Mummy had bought her a new paddling pool, she was really excited.
"Then when we got it out and we blew it up she just looked at me and said 'it's a bit small mum'.
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"I knew it wasn't going to be massive for £15,” she admitted. “But I wasn't expecting what came out – it was so small.
"I was disappointed and embarrassed that I hadn't realised it was so small. I was ready to take it back but she begged me to keep it so it's still here.”
One picture that Louise took shows a well-humoured Isla chilling in the pool with her entire body spanning longer than the length of the slide and pool put together.
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"It's more doll-sized, we've actually put little plastic ducks in it at the minute for hook-a-duck,” Louise explained, having found an alternative use for the pool.
Louise headed to the store at midday and considered buying an £8 paddling pool, but instead opted for the £15 pool as it included a slide.
It was only when she'd unfolded it at home that Louise noticed the dimensions on the box, which stated it measured 114cm x 86cm x 36cm.
"I picked up an £8 one that didn't have a slide. I remember thinking 'I'll go for the £15 one because it has a slide'. I didn't even look at the dimensions.
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"It came in a box that was relatively small thinking about it.
"I thought [Isla would] be really disappointed but she just said she loved it and that it was a bit small but she was happy. She's quite a grateful little four-year-old."
To avoid the same mistake in future, Louise said she'll definitely double-check measurements before picking up other bargains.
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Louise said: "My advice would be to Google the dimensions, that's what I probably should have done in hindsight.
"I will definitely be getting a bigger paddling pool."
A B&M spokesperson said of the mishap: "Our paddling pools are always a hit with the little ones throughout the summer months, and we love seeing kids enjoying splashing around in them.
"We additionally enjoyed Isla’s full re-enactment of Roald Dahl’s The BFG sliding in her staycation splash pool.
"Her performance gets a standing ovation from us for the accuracy and execution of the plot."
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Gabriella Ferlita