Bengaluru Mall has a VIP toilet and not everyone is welcome

A netizen reports on Reddit that a famous mall in Bengaluru is demanding a Rs 1,000 note from customers who want to use its ‘VIP’ toilets.

What is the policy? How do people respond to it? Here is every detail.

What is the VIP toilet policy?

A Reddit user, with the account name DeskKey9633 wrote about a popular mall in Bengaluru, the Phoenix Whitefield mall, which has opened so-called ‘VIP’ toilets. Customers have to show a receipt, from which they can buy items worth $1,000 at the mall, in order to use the special toilets.

The person was denied access to the ground floor toilet because he did not have a bill.I had a frustrating experience this weekend at Phoenix Whitefield that I think deserves some attention. I had come from Church Street specifically to shop there (which is quite a distance), and before I went shopping I had to go to the toilet,” the user wrote.

The user added: “Here’s where it gets frustrating: the ground floor toilet has now been designated as a “VIP” toilet, guarded by a female security guard. She insisted that I show a store receipt (I later learnt from someone I shared this experience with that even if I have a receipt, it has to be at least ₹1000) to use this toilet. I was shocked and confused – why would I need a receipt to use a toilet?”

Discriminatory Bathroom Policy in Phoenix Whitefield – An Unacceptable Experience
byu/DeskKey9633 in Bangalore

The person also said he was diverted to restrooms on other floors, which were a mess.Those toilets were in terrible condition. Because so many people were being diverted, the toilets were poorly maintained and many flushes did not work,“, the post said.

The Redditor expressed his disbelief and anger at such a policy, particularly concerned that in an emergency, finding proper toilets could be overwhelming.Even if a VIP toilet is a thing, it does not justify neglecting other facilities. I have never come across such a policy in any other mall in Bangalore or any other city, and if this is a new trend, it is very disturbing and contributes to an unnecessary social divide.the person wrote.

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How did other Internet users react to this?

The post received multiple upvotes and comments soon after it was posted. Most netizens were in a similar situation at Phoenix Whitefield mall, where the incident took place.

“This is so true. There is a female security guard who stops people from entering and asks people to pay and get some kind of pass. Is that a golden toilet or something? To keep it hidden from ordinary poor people like us,” one user agreed.

“They used to have a mandatory voluntary donation of 20 rupees for access to the toilet. I think they removed that,” revealed another.

“Yes, that’s true – I paid the first time thinking there was no other toilet in the mall. And they make you feel a little guilty by saying, it’s just a donation – why wouldn’t you pay? I’ve never really understood their concept of mandatory, voluntary donation. If they’re going to rip people off, they might as well accept itsaid a third.

“I visited Phoenix Whitefield and was not allowed to enter the VIP toilet on the ground floor without a ₹1000 shopping bill. The other toilets were in poor condition, raising concerns about discriminatory policies and neglected facilities. This experience was unacceptable,” said a fourth.

“Legally, no hotel/mall/establishment can stop you from using a toilet. What they are doing is illegal.” said another.

“I think it is the same in all Phoenix malls. I have seen the same setup in Chennai Phoenix Mall too. But the bill value there is 500 and the toilet was on the top floor.a sixth noted.

What is your opinion on such a policy? Do shopping malls implement such marketing schemes to increase their turnover or do the social consequences outweigh the benefits? Let us know in the comments below.

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: NDTV, Times Now, Deccan Herald

This post is tagged under: Bangalore, Bengaluru, toilet, VIP, policy, reddit, post, netizens, Phoenix Whitefield mall, account

Disclaimer: We have no rights or copyright on the images used, they are from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner can kindly mail us.

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