Humiliated myself at the co-op (long)

[Sundayspilot]

Had a mortifying experience at the local co-op today and it’s still preying on my mind.

I was at the dairy case and wanted two cartons of milk. They were packed so tightly that I couldn’t pull any free, so I pushed slightly on the first carton to try and wriggle it free. There was a loud shout from the back of the dairy case, followed by an angry man popping up into view.

He started yelling at me, very loudly complete with four letter words, saying I had spilled milk all over him. Shocked, I stammered out an apology, letting him know it was not intentional and was caused by too many cartons on the shelf rather than the pure malice he seemed to think it was. He continued to shout, so I firmly told him that although I apologized for the spill, it was clearly accidental and I didn’t deserve any scolding. This wasn’t apparently good enough for him, so I shut the dairy case in his face.

Now comes the humiliating part. As I was pushing my cart away, I felt a strong urge to just go home. Right now! Before I could stop myself I burst into tears. And not quiet ones either. Big ugly sobs. I’m not normally a crier. Don’t quite know where it all came from.

I ditched my cart at customer service and told them I wouldn’t be buying it. So now I have no dignity and no groceries. We’ll need to switch to the far away grocery store, won’t we?

An employee or a customer? Wtf was he doing in the dairy fridge?

I don’t know what a dairy case is and how a man could be at the back of it.

So he was lurking inside the milk fridge? Serves him right really.

I'm not really sure what this man was doing, or how he got in the fridge!
If have shut the door on his face too.
If he's an employee of be emailing a complaint about his language. Hughes a customer you should have reported him to the customer service department.

I’m thinking you might be in the US or Ireland? Just because it sounds like your coop is a bit different to British ones.

Anyway, you did nothing wrong. If I’d been there, I’d have offered you a hug and help with your shopping. This sort of thing can really sting, be kind to yourself. 💐

Don't let it worry you for another minute. It wasn't your fault and he was an ocean-going arsehole.

OP, sometimes emotions get stored up, then come out at moments when least expected.
That man was really rude to you, there wasn't a need for it. See, he had a load of anger to come out and unfortunately you happened to be there.
Give it a few days. Then back in the shop with your head held high. You did nothing wrong.

Also because you use ‘groceries’ and ‘cart’ which are less common in British English, I think.

Not that any of that matters. He sounds like an angry twat. I try to just feel sorry for people who get so enraged about small stuff. Life must be one long nightmare for them!

American terminology here, dairy case and cart.

If an employee swore at you, complain to the store.

Sounds like this is the US but I am still confused by what a dairy case is and how someone could be inside it.

Costco have walk-in fridges. It's basically a massive refrigeration room. The products are pushed to the front on roll cages. It's hard to explain but I know what you mean OP.

He sounds horrid. I'd complain. It was an accident and he was out of order talking to you in that way.

As for the crying it happens. An accumulation of upset and this upsetting situation has triggered you.

For what it's worth, I'd have stopped and asked if you were ok had I witnessed it

Ah, I didn’t realise the OP was American (although “shopping kart” should have been my clue ) because I was thinking of the UK Co-op.

I’m in western Canada. The dairy case is a huge refrigerator with doors at the front for customers to open and get at cold items on shelves inside. The back is open with a walkway for employees to stock the shelves. Angry Guy was an employee.

Things haven’t been going well at work lately and I think it all boiled over. So cringeworthy!

Due to the fact the man was an employee, you would have cause to complain. Employees can't just go around yelling abuse at customers!

Definitely complain! No employee should ever be swearing at customers!

An employee? Bloody hell. If I'd been shouted at like that, I'd have complained at customer service. What appalling behaviour by him.

What an arsehole! That's so bad he made you cry - I'd complain too - I suspect it was out of shock - big hugs from the U.K. 🥰

Angry Guy was an employee

Then he shouldn’t have been yelling at a customer. It was an accident, you apologised, it was the stores fault for packing the milk in so tightly. What a horrible day

The employee was very, very rude indeed. What happened was an accident and he should apologise, not you.

You have no reason to be embarrassed.

He is a nasty little wankstain who deserves to be sacked.

Please complain to the manager, his attitude was disgusting.

So he was an aggressive twat, and it's you who is humiliated? There is something very wrong with the world.

I can believe angry guy was an employee. You should contact management and let them know you've been upset by this.

Ach lovely, you didn't humiliate yourself. You had a wee cry because someone was an arsehole.

I lost myself for a bit in Marks and Spencer when my dog died. I had my tears and dribbly nose wiped a lovely old lady while her husband held my hand and told me that one day it would all be ok. I was sobbing and honking like a seal. They had no idea why I was broken but they cared enough to stop.

I wish you'd have had the same.

I slunk back in about a week later. It was all fine. x

And yes. Complain. x

Don’t be embarrassed. He’s horrible!
Complain! Write an email if you are not confident enough to return to the shop.