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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DP really embarrassed me today

117 replies

Doookie · 12/09/2010 14:45

We were in the supermarket paying for our groceries and the lad behind the checkout handed up two carrier bags. After they had ran out we still had loads of stuff to pack away but he didn't offer anymore bags. DP said quite loudly "You not giving out anymore bags then?" so the lad replied "sorry no, they were my last ones and I was told once they've gone I have to sell the bags for life instead. They're only 5p, do you want one?". I was about to say I'd have two but DP flew into a rage about how pathetic it was and that he was going to complain. The lad ignored him mostly and carried on putting the shopping through but DP carried on, accussed the lad of keeping bags under the till to which the lad offered to show DP under his till (DP actually went around behind the till to check which was mortifying) and then carried on kicking off. At one point he said "Is Adolf Hitler running this place or what?" to which I seriously contemplated walking out. I was so embarrassed. DP then went and checked behind the neighbouring till whilst complaining loudly until people were staring at us. The lad then shouted across to another young till assistant "This is all because I have no more carrier bags" and they both started laughing. Out of sheer frustration, another employee came and dumped a load of carrier bags on the belt. I apologised to the lad and walked off as DP was instructing the staff to put up a clear sign at the entrance "warning" people that there are no carrier bags etc. We must have been a laughing stock. He knows I'm angry and has been pretty quiet since. I'm not over-reacting am I? Would you have been embarrassed or am I just a wimp? I dread to think what DD would have done if she'd been with us, she'd have never shopped with us again.

OP posts:

HecateQueenOfWitches · 12/09/2010 14:50

bloody hell.

I would have walked out and left him to it!

Does he do this often?

And yes, he made himself look a fool.

mookle · 12/09/2010 14:51

Urgh I really feel for you that must have been toe-curling, however there is an element of truth in what he's saying, it IS irritating when there are no bags - do they expect you juggle the suff home?? But to act like that was pretty OTT and childish. Is he under a lot of stress at the moment - or is this his usual way? I sypathise fully, my mum acts like this and its totally mortifying, I hate it.

ramonaquimby · 12/09/2010 14:51

yikes
this is why i shop online!

altho it is completely unreasonable for staff to be told to tell customers they have to buy bags for life once the other ones have gone

Original poster

Doookie · 12/09/2010 14:53

We don't often shop together to be honest so I've not noticed it before. Only time he came close to kicking off before was when a shop tried to charge him £8 for a pair of shoes that had a ticket on for £4 but it was quickly resolved - I think the assistant noticed the vein starting to pulsate in his head that time!! I really was embarrassed though, I certainly won't make a habit of shoping with him in future after this.

OP posts:

Nancy66 · 12/09/2010 14:53

Actually it would have annoyed me.

and the fact that some bags turned up, clearly shows they DID have others.

I wouldn't have started ranting about Adolph Hilter though

perfumedlife · 12/09/2010 14:55

He was ott, but i really hate the way the shops are going about this bag war when we all know the supermarkets are one of the worst culprits for energy and paper waste.

They let customers do a shop with no warning that you have to pay for bags as the others have run out, which is not helpful. They either have a no free bags policy or they don't.

Thats why your dh was mad and i dont blame him really.

Tortington · 12/09/2010 14:55

my dh would rather die than make a scene, so i know i dont ever have to go through that, but i certainly wouldn't have stood by his side whilst he spat his dummy out like a 5 year old. if he wanted to complain, he should have done so like a mature adult. there are ways of doing these things and i and a staunch believer that if you are not recieving the service you expect then you should omplain about it, but those gobby people who kick off at 17 year old check out operators - who are only doing the job for 3.50 ph to have some beer money for weekend after college, well...those gobby people just look like twats.

Original poster

Doookie · 12/09/2010 14:55

I mean, I can kind of see why he was pissed off, they shouldn't drop it on you at least minute that you have to buy something else to take your shopping home in but surely the adult thing to do would be to complain to management? not stand there comparing the staff to bloody Hitler! god that comment almost made my cheeks burn up.

OP posts:

diddl · 12/09/2010 14:55

How embarrassing.

I would have left tbh.

"altho it is completely unreasonable for staff to be told to tell customers they have to buy bags for life once the other ones have gone"

I disagree with that tbh.

booyhoo · 12/09/2010 14:56

oh dear god, this is like something my dad would do and i have to say I would have told him there and then in a very loud voice "you are causing a scene and embarrassing everyone around you. i am leaving." and i woudl have left.

i would be soooo angry if my DP ever did anything like that. the poor boy on the till.

FranSanDisco · 12/09/2010 14:57

I would have been annoyed with the 2 bags also. I wouldn't have ranted as well as your dp but he has a point.

BudaisintheZONE · 12/09/2010 14:59

There is a reason that stores are encouraging the bags for life! It's more environmentally friendly. And I would have been livid with him - partly for shouting at the assistant for something that is not his fault and partly for being so stupid that he didn't understand why they were stopping the free carrier bags.

diddl · 12/09/2010 15:00

I would concede that if they are intending to stop free carrier bags then giving notice would be good.

But fuck me, for want of a better phrase-5p for a bag for life-what a bargain!

I´d have snapped the guy´s hands off!

booyhoo · 12/09/2010 15:00

also agree that customers should be notified before shopping that there will be a charge for bags. a sign at the entrance would have prevented any scene. having said that, your DH being an adult would also have prevented a scene.

ramonaquimby · 12/09/2010 15:01

of course it's unreasonable - they clearly have more bags and its another way to make a few bucks through the bag door.

v v different if they announced this is what their policy is upfront and were open about it instead of lying that they have no more

actually I think we should go all continental and bring our own bags for shopping

VinegarTits · 12/09/2010 15:03

are you going to reveal which supermarket it was? so we can be prepared and take our own bags

i bet he feels very foolish now

skidoodly · 12/09/2010 15:03

The till operator should have got more bags, and he certainly shouldn't have been publicly mocking a customer he had angered with poor service.

Your DP was out of order in his response, but you were both treated very badly by the store you were shopping at and I wouldn't be going back.

I say this as someone who brings my own bags shopping to save on waste. If I was spoken to in the way your DP was I would be very annoyed.

spikeycow · 12/09/2010 15:04

Well I don't have time to stand there being told nonsense about bags. Just get the bags for the customer instead of trying to charge extra on the sly.
I do have bags for life but don't always have them on me, if I decide to pop in or whatever. Wouldn't pay for a new one every time. The point is why are there no carrier bags? What kind of shop has no bags for customers?

usualsuspect · 12/09/2010 15:04

Check out staff are only given a certain amount of bags per day now ..your dp was a twat ..bet the lad pissed himself laughing after you had gone ...I would have

Original poster

Doookie · 12/09/2010 15:05

It was Asda. I wouldn't mind but we do normally shop at Morrisons! Perhaps we were being punished for lack of loyalty

OP posts:

angelberry · 12/09/2010 15:05

They should have given more bags straight away. I'd also have complained about the checkout assistant mocking a customer with his mate. Your DH should have been calmer, yes, but he didn't create the problem here, the supermarket did.

VinegarTits · 12/09/2010 15:07

i guessed it might be chavsda, they will try any sly old trick to make extra money

i do think they should have signs saying now more free bags if they are not going to give them, but i wouldnt have made a fool of myself by ranting about it, i just wouldnt go back there

usualsuspect · 12/09/2010 15:07

Complain to the management,not the check out staff he was only doing his job

diddl · 12/09/2010 15:09

Well I´ve been in Germany for more than 10yrs & in all that time carrier bags have never been free.

In fact an "ordinary" one is 5/10cts & most people have a supply of canvas ones or use something like this when doing the main shop with a car.

It´s also acceptable to take your own basket in, & put stuff straight into that-unload & reload at the till.

TBH now, I find the UK´s obsession with new carrier bags every time they shop really

perfumedlife · 12/09/2010 15:10

You know, your dh was probably boiling over at the bigger issue. Its all very well getting the masses to comply with the new regime, bags for life, smoking ban, fines for this and that, but there comes a point when you just know its not for the greater good, its all about control, petty rules and corporate bloody greed.

And he's thought, Fuck that.

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