La Grande Récré or The Great Regret?
The more you invest yourself, the less pleasure you get in return.
“Put the toys back in place! I’m not a shelf stocker… I saw you… the exit is on the other side!”
These words were shouted at me in front of my mother and daughter by an employee at La Grande Récré, 38 Rue Linois, 75015 Paris.
After 13 years as a loyal customer, contributing to this company’s revenue and the salaries of its staff, I simply expected respect. Instead, we were accused, humiliated, and shown the door with contempt.
Yes, customers should respect stores: sometimes we put items back, sometimes not. But tidying a shop is not our obligation — it’s a gesture of goodwill. That does not mean one can behave carelessly and leave disorder behind; it simply means there are limits to what is acceptable, especially in customer service. If clients must perfectly tidy every shop before spending their money, then why keep investing in it?
This was not about a misplaced toy, but about the attitude of some staff: brusque, contemptuous, totally disrespectful. Yesterday this employee even said she didn’t care about losing a client. How many more doors will be slammed in the faces of families — tomorrow, next month, next year?
For many families, La Grande Récré has become nothing more than The Great Regret. A petition has even been launched on Change.org, showing how widespread the problem is. Perhaps it’s time to reflect on what we are really investing in. Unless management acts, its employees are already carrying out a disastrous rebranding in its name.








