Two minutes silence and refusing to serve customer

[BalugaBelle]

At work today I was on the checkout (large retail store) and the silence was announced over a tannoy.

A woman (on the phone) came up to the checkout during the silence, so I shushed her. Motioned to poppies next to till!

She then said, "I'm going to miss my train, please continue serving me!"

I refused, shook my head and sat silently for the two minutes.

At the end I put her items through, she moaned at me and called me rude and petty and then went on her merry way.

So was I being unreasonable to respect the two minutes silence, even if it meant a customer was unhappy at me doing so?

I know good customer service is needed but surely the two minutes silence takes priority? She clearly had no respect!

Quite frankly I didn't give a damn about her train, I was paying my respects as was everyone else in the shop. It was literally almost silent apart from young children (understandable) and general noise, i.e., heating making noises!

[dementedpixie]

I think you should have served her, in silence if you desired.

[EllaHen]

Yes, you should have served her.

[LavenderDoll]

You should have served her

[JonnaSilvie]

I used to work retail and refused to serve in the two minutes silence as well. I worked in Argos, nobody needed a catalogue item so badly they couldn't wait an additional two minutes IMO.

[listsandbudgets]

YANBU. I was in ikea. everything stopped - as it should.

That aside she should have left more than 2 minutes spare for catching a train

[lampshady]

I also think you should have served her. The silence isn't compulsory and isn't everyone's priority.

[McTufty]

Actually I don’t think it was unreasonable to want to observe it. She doesn’t have to, it’s a choice, but it’s important to me to spend two minutes in quiet reflection so I can see why you didn’t.

[RoganLogan]

Bet you weren't "paying your respects" though. I bet you were just thinking about the customer the whole time and whether or not you should be serving her or whatever.

[NotPennysBoat]

YANBU - you were showing respect.

[Piratesandpants]

I think you were right. The whole point of it is that we all stop and reflect. It’s about respect.

[bottlesandcans]

[Threenme]

Yanbu well done you!

[2anddone]

If your shop didn’t announce over the tannoy that they were going to observe the 2 minutes silence, maybe you should have served her (though in silence).
If the shop did announce it then no you shouldn’t have served her and continued to observe the 2 minutes silence.
My daughter is 9 and they observed it today in the middle of their tap class....people died serving for their country I believe the least we can do is give them 2 minutes once a year!!

[amistillsexy]

I'm surprised the staff in the shop hadn't been briefed in advance of the 2 mins silence about the protocol for serving customers, to be honest. What were other checkout operators doing?

[Ilovelampandchair]

I think you should have served her. In silence if necessary.

[Polarbearflavour]

I think the act of Remembrance is more important than kow-towing to a customer. I wonder if she’ll complain that you had the gall to refuse to serve her! It would be funny if she posted on here...

[Viserion]

YWNBU. If the silence had not been announced and you were doing it on your own, she would have had a point. It was made clear that this was a store wide policy. She was the one who was rude and petty.

[SD1978]

I don’t think YWBU- however the tannoy announcement should have stipulated that service would be ceased for the 2 minute period so that everyone was aware the store was following this- then you would t have been out in this position by the customer

[Floralnomad]

YWNBU , it’s not a 2 minute silence it’s a 2 minute reflection , absolutely pointless bothering to be silent if you just carry on with what you were doing .

[IvorHughJarrs]

I think you were right. The store you were working in was observing the silence and she was rude to think her lack of organisation and respect should trump the sacrifices made for all of us
I have worked in retail and we have had people complain loudly all through the silence. Ignorant arses.

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

YWNBU. Why should you have served her?! Why do her needs trump yours? Because she’s a customer spending a few quid? Pffft

[PerfumeIsAMessage]

It depends what the shop's policy is, as pps have said.

[JustPutSomeGlitterOnIt]

I'm with you. I think. Though perhaps you could have silently scanned the item and made no eye contact?

Mine is a family jeweller where all sales are seated. I once advised an engagement ring client that at 11am I was going to stop speaking during our appointment if that's ok. He was fine with it.

However I can see how the pace of my job and yours are totally different.

[HidingBehindTheWallpaper]

In a large supermarket/store there are normally signs and announcements. She should have understood.
However you could have put the sale through in silence.

[JonnaSilvie]

It's a choice, and it must be respected as a choice as to whether to participate or not. This woman clearly didn't want to.

But doesn't the assistant's desire to observe the silence trump the customer's desire not to do so? She could have gone to a different till or self-serve or something.