My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

Does anyone else get ignored in shops?

106 replies

mydogmymate · 21/10/2017 15:35

This morning I took the dc for a fry up at a local cafe. Loads of people waiting to be served but just two young girls chatting behind the counter and ignoring everyone. This went on for a good 15 minutes, I was there before anyone else, then another woman came out and barked at me to join the queue. I said I’ve been here for 15 minutes and she just looked through me. I was so mad that I grabbed the dc and stormed out.
Next, the chemist. Three people working, no customers, stood there for a good 10 minutes before saying “excuse me” really loud. I was eventually served by a reluctant pharmacist.
Then, the bank. Same thing, being ignored. Two cashiers, no customers.
Is it just me? It seems to be in nearly every chemist I go in. They’re busy and customers get ignored for ages. I have a customer facing job and if I dated like this I’d be sacked 😡

OP posts:
DailyMailReadersAreThick · 21/10/2017 15:36

You stood for 10 and 15 minutes waiting to be served while staff chatted?

No, that's never happened to me. I'd be saying "Excuse me" around the 15-second mark.

disahsterdahling · 21/10/2017 15:38

Add the post office to your list. They seem to enjoy faffing around while there's a queue. I realise they have things to do, but when I had a customer-facing job you served customers first, and did other jobs when there was nobody waiting. Other organisations seem to think it's fine to keep customers waiting. In a shop, I'd walk out. In the post office, you can't.

I don't think it's usually as bad as you have portrayed though. They don't stand around chatting, they just find more interesting things to do than serving customers. If they were chatting I'd just be assertive and go up to the counter and say can someone help me please. If they give you a dismissive look it's time to walk out or complain or both.

mydogmymate · 21/10/2017 15:39

*acted.

I did say “excuse me” quite loud, in all three places. The staff looked up then carried on with what they were doing. I think I must be invisible!

OP posts:
DailyMailReadersAreThick · 21/10/2017 15:40

I did say “excuse me” quite loud, in all three places

Yes, but you waited TEN MINUTES to do it!

Mosaic123 · 21/10/2017 15:40

That does sound annoying. Maybe you are a little too polite? If there are no customers and they don't seem to be doing anything then perhaps you can say 'I'm sorry to bother you but....'. They can take this as a sarcastic question or a polite enquiry. At least you have made your presence known.

Perhaps they have been instructed to leave customers alone until they ask?

It's also annoying to be pounced upon as you walk into a shop and want to look around.

Oliversmumsarmy · 21/10/2017 15:41

Welcome to the world of invisibility.

I try not to use small shops any more where you have to be served by someone. Can't stand the looks you get if you deign to ask to be served or have a question about an item.

Mind you it can come in very handy at car showrooms that serve a wide variety of tea and coffee and fizzy drinks. 5 minutes browsing cars then a nice cup of coffee and some biscuits for free. Beats Starbucks

ShirleyPhallus · 21/10/2017 15:41

Why on earth do you just stand there like a lemon for minutes at a time instead of just talking to them Confused

I bet you looked really weird just grabbing the kids and storming off in the first place. No, this absolutely never happens to me.

mydogmymate · 21/10/2017 15:41

I did walk out of the cafe and I’ve complained to the bank and the chemist.
I must just be me then.

OP posts:
Misspollyhadadollie · 21/10/2017 15:42

I was ignored in Lidl the other day but assumed it was just the shop I was in. I clearly asked 3 times for help at the self service till because the machine wouldn't work and was ignored each time. After the 3rd time I stopped bothering to ask as it was clear I was being ignored.

abbsisspartacus · 21/10/2017 15:43

Yup I tried putting an order in at subway he chucked one together went to serve someone else I said ALSO so he did the second and ran off I stood there and said I really haven't finished so he had to come back did three and four went to go again and I said (a bit sharply) I will tell you when I've finished and ordered more then I told him that was all thankyou it wouldn't have been too bad but I had come in the shop as a large group left them at the tables so I could order the food without causing chaos and the kids were back and forth so I clearly needed more than one sandwich

The electric doors in the co-op ignore me too I'm dead to them apparently

Graphista · 21/10/2017 15:44

Customer service in U.K. Is shit n getting worse, I can't understand it given the lack of jobs.

I'm with the 15 sec poster, I don't put up with it,

'Excuse me'

If no response

'Excuse me can I get some service please' but said in an authoritative tone.

If STILL no service attract attention of supervisor/manager and complain.

Or stop shopping there altogether.

mydogmymate · 21/10/2017 15:48

I think you’re all right, I should speak up sooner. I’d be quite upset if someone said this about me when I’m at work though.

The worst culprits with me are pharmacies. I seem to have an invisibility cloak on when I go in there Confused

OP posts:
Nettletheelf · 21/10/2017 15:50

It’s car dealerships that I get ignored in. Because I’m a woman. When I go in with DH, they are falling over themselves to help us.

I walked out of a Volvo dealership once and emailed the owner explaining exactly why I wouldn’t be buying a car from them and why I’d be telling everybody else I knew to do the same. I got an apologetic call. I hope they learned something from it.

ifcatscouldtalk · 21/10/2017 15:50

Oh dear. I've had one of those mornings. Don't usually go out on a Saturday after about 11am as it's madness at the shops. Usually I get mainly polite people when out but everyone had taken their rude and ignore pills today I think. Then shopping ended with a group of kids walking out infront of my car on a retail park. I was only going slow so touched my brakes and the car behind me kept their hand firmly on the horn, because that really helped the situation. Time for a cup of tea and dvd I think Smile.

cushioncovers · 21/10/2017 15:54

Only time I’ve been ignored is in a car dealership when we walked in with two small dc. Can’t imagine waiting more than about ten seconds without saying excuse me to a member of staff.

ProperLavs · 21/10/2017 16:01

Don't just say excuse me. Asked to be served.
I was in Holland and barratt recently. I was the only person in the shop, the shop was very small The shop assistant was fiddling around with the displays. I stood for a while hoping she would notice that she had a customer. She didn't despite me talking to my daughter and she would have heard.
In the end I said something like 'excuse me' she then asked me what I wanted. I told her I wanted to buy something from the shop.
perhaps I should have come up with something more interesting.
What sort of bloody question was that?

Wonderflonium · 21/10/2017 16:03

You need to look more hungry/thirsty/in need of medicine.

If I'm just chilling and standing back, I go invisible. I have to stand closer to the counter and lean forward a bit, looking intense if it takes any longer than 10 seconds to be acknowledged.

notacooldad · 21/10/2017 16:06

I can honestly say I can't recall a time this has happened to me.
I barely get through the door and the assistants pounce!

Graphista · 21/10/2017 16:06

Proper

I'm a sarcastic bitch I'd have said something like 'some service might be good but if you're too busy to do your job I can go elsewhere' Grin

My local h&b is great, sorry yours isn't

Luncharmstrong · 21/10/2017 16:06

Op, yes me too.
I am convinced it is because I am shabby/look poor

Fekko · 21/10/2017 16:08

Phone shops are terrible for this (some of them, 3 are great).

Graphista · 21/10/2017 16:10

Fekko I think that's an extension of the car showroom crap, women can't POSSIBLY know about tech Hmm

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

RavingRoo · 21/10/2017 16:14

Two colleagues and I went into Ted Baker yesterday to buy three figures worth of gifts (small leather goods for 30 people) for a works event. We were ignored twice when we asked for help. No reason for it either - we were well dressed, well groomed. I presume it’s because We’re all brown, over 30, and sizes 12-16. I complained to their HQ on my way to Aspinall who, incidentally, couldn’t help enough. They even offered to bring the goods to our event, which wasn’t required but very much appreciated!

mapie · 21/10/2017 16:15

I often get ignored at the unmanned checkout in my small local co op.

On a good day someone queues behind me, waits 5 seconds, and then yells "Anyone serving?"

Fekko · 21/10/2017 16:16

Oh and there was a shop near us where the assistants would look at you like you had poo stuck to your forehead and dawn over tourists (who were just window shopping or there to buy a keyring). I had to go in to buy a particular item for a present and was blanked when I tried to get the thing and the only stir of activity was when a group of tourists wandered in.

Also there's a fancy tea room near us which also seems to prefer you were a tourist and not a local. We were waiting at the 'wait here' sign (had relatives down and she'd popped to the loo) and the waitress walked past us up the group of befurred tourists who walked in a while after us. I asked loudly if we were supposed to have booked and if so where was the manager so that I could arrange a table for us.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.