Running a hobby shop usually means dealing with the fun side of life—helping excited kids pick out their first RC cars, drones, or planes, and seeing the pure joy when a customer finds the perfect toy. But every once in a while, a situation comes along that makes you feel less like a shop owner and more like a referee in a battle of common sense versus entitlement. Recently, I found myself in one of those moments, and it has left me wondering if I was too harsh or simply protecting myself and others. A woman walked into my store with her 8-year-old son, and what started as a harmless shopping trip quickly escalated into a heated standoff.
When a Simple Shopping Trip Turns Into a High-Stakes Showdown at My RC Hobby Shop
Speed, Altitude, and Danger – Why This Wasn’t Just a Purchase, But a Potential Disaster
Standing My Ground – Refusing to Sell a Flying Weapon to an Unprepared Family
Liability, Insurance, and the Fear of a Catastrophe – Protecting Myself From a Future Courtroom Nightmare
Curious to hear the verdict from Reddit on this one.
I walked away from the situation, questioning whether my actions were justified or if I had been selfish, as the woman accused me of being. On paper, I know I made the responsible choice—an 8-year-old with no experience could have easily turned that massive jet into a dangerous projectile, and I couldn’t stomach the idea of being liable for an accident waiting to happen. Still, the confrontation left me unsettled. Should a business owner always prioritize profit and customer satisfaction, even at the expense of safety and common sense? Or was I right to trust my instincts and protect not just myself but also the people who might unknowingly be put in harm’s way? The woman’s threats, the son’s disappointment, and my refusal to cave in have all been replaying in my head ever since. So here I am, laying it out to strangers—AITA for refusing to sell a child something dangerous, even if part of my reasoning was to shield myself from the fallout?
