To think this shop assistant was bloody rude!

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

AIBU? I was in a shop today...it is a nice shop, a large independant one that sells homewares.

It has a long aisle in one part....not terribly narrow but it was busy with prams, trolleys and people....I was walking near to one side of the display...going along at a normal pace, when I see that coming towards me from the far end is a big, tall, shop assistant...a lad of about 22 or so...he's going like the clappers and is heading right fr me as he's also hugging the sides of the aisle to avoid the trolleys etc.

[disclaimer...I don't have big fat legs in woolly tights as my username might suuggest....there's not much of me at all)

As he gets closer he does that thing people do when they stick one arm in front of them to sort of force you aside....and said "Scuse me!"

And I said "No....you excuse me." and stood my ground.

Who's he to make the customer walk into the onslaught of buggies, prams, people and trollies so HE can get past like his time is more important?

He sort of giggled as he was so surprised and then he went round me.

WIBU? Why should I go around HIM? I was taught when I worked in shops that you waited for the customer to finish what they were doing or went the long way round!

I've noticed this in loads of shops lately...assistant who rush around like the clappers and practically shove you out of the way.

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

I am busy too! I am also a paying customer....I don't see why him being busy allows him to be rude?

[minesapintofwine]

I think they are just very stressed and was he quite young? (relevant) I think yanbu it is rude but not directed against you. Young shop assistants these days...no manners! I worked in retail and busy aisles sucked but saying that I was never rude! No offence I would forget about it op and just avoid there on weekends in future!

[LadyEmmaHamilton]

I don't think YABU. I get pretty fed up with this. No sense that the customer is there to, you know, spend money so they can pay the wages.

Tesco is the absolute worst. Shelf stackers yakking to one another in the aisle, cages parked right in the way in front of the shelves and woe betide you if you want to get to something in that spot.

This is why I shop at Sainsburys

[cocolepew]

It was probably his tea break. Those kitkats don't hang around for long.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I complained the other week, at Tesco, about a shop assistant who tried to mow me down 3 times!

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

MrsW it was the almost aggressive way in which he got right close to me and thrust his arm out....he wasn't exactly in my face...but it's that "dance" people do when they both want to go the same direction...he didn't do the dance...he tried to plow through.

[fuzzywuzzy]

He said excuse me, then went around you when you wouldn't move. What's the problem?

He could have been racing off to check stock for a customer, or to get something for a customer at the tills or whatevah.

You didn't move out of the way, he did at your behest.

What would you like the outcome of this thread to be?

[numptymark1]

a good another retail staff bashing thread

[McHappyPants2012]

In work patients come first, even when Mrs Jones with her Zimmer is going at snails pace. ( only seems to happen when I am running behind my schedule)

It good customer service to allow customers to pass

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

Good Sauvignon! I didn't complain because he WAS young and as someone said, he was probably on his way to break....but maybe I made him think about trying to use his general size to move people....e did sort of tower over me and do that arm thing...most people would have moved but I'm quite assertive.

[Thumbwitch]

Less rude, more thoughtless.

If he'd slammed into you and then tutted at you being in the way, that would have been rude.

As it was, he asked you to move, you refused, he went round you. He wasn't rude to you so YABU.

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

Numpty I worked in retail for YEARS! I know what it's like.

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

Yes thumb....I suppose it was more thoughtless. I think shops need to get on top of their staff training though.. As someone else said Tesco are BAD for it.

[squishyotter]

Pick your battles tbh. Your description of events makes you sound a bit precious . :)

[BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts]

I did pick my battles...I never complained.

[notsofrownieface]

I've noticed this in loads of shops lately...assistant who rush around like the clappers and practically shove you out of the way.

This is because budgets are tighter than ever and this guy was probably doing two peoples job.

If he was rude then complain.

[numptymark1]

if he's young and working in retail he probably doesn't get a break as probably working a 4 hour shift

why is everyone assuming that because he is rushing he is going for a break -much more likely he is trying to help someone else

( and yes staff should give way to customers but if aisles are tight and they are busy then sometimes needs must)

[Machadaynu]

Perhaps he was fetching something or some information for another customer who was much more important than you, even though you are clearly very, very important?

[Thumbwitch]

Do shops actually do any staff training these days? I'm not in the UK any more, although in some retail stores, mostly the larger ones, I found it was similar to here in Australia - younger staff quite often appear to be completely put out if you ask them for any help! Not so much the older ones, but the late teens/early 20s. Not all of them though, some are very helpful!

I went into Comet in the UK once - no floor staff - wanted some help so went up to the desk and waited a good 5 minutes, while one staff member sat glued to the computer screen and the other carried on a personal call on her mobile. They could see me, they knew I was there, I even said "excuse me" - but neither of them would even look at me. I left. Now THAT was rude (them, not me!)

[Floggingmolly]

You said he was going like the clappers - was he chasing a shoplifter?

[MrFlibble]

Doesnt matter if you are rushing for your break or to fetch something for another customer you don't attempt to plough through other customers shouting "scuse me!" Yes he did use his manners (just) and it wasn't exceptionally rude but I can't imagine that sort of behaviour being in the brand image of any retail store and most managers or senior members of staff wouldnt allow it.

[TheCrackFox]

Maybe he had a sudden attack of diarrhoea and was rushing to the toilet? Or maybe he was an arrogant twat?