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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be utterly embarrassed by this Waitrose staff member

220 replies

iPhoneDrone · 14/04/2011 17:43

I welcome all comments because I genuinely don't know if I am being oversensitive or not.

I visited our local waitrose last week with my 3 children and their friend so 4 under 5. They were all very well behaved (after being threatened warned in the car they wouldn't be getting sweets if they didn't), just a normal shop, no incidents and we went home.

I went back today with just the baby (13 mths). And this is the conversation I had with the man on the checkout.

Waitrose Man: You were in here the other day with loads more children weren't you?

Me: Yes, they're with there grandparents today

Waitrose man: (grinning) yes I remember you, I was on the lottery they were being quite naughty

Me: Hmm er no they weren't

Waitrose man: Yes they were, you said to the baby 'and you can shut up too'

Me: Shock um no I didn't, I wouldn't tell my baby to shut up.

Waitrose man: Yes you did I was on the lottery over there and heard you

Me: (now bloody embarrassed) I can assure you I haven't and wouldn't tell a baby to shut up.

At this point the other checkout woman turns around and says "are you winding someone up again and he laughs and says 'yes, why not'"

He then says to me "are you sure it wasn't you"

Me: Yes I'm sure

Him: Why, would you be in trouble if you did?

I just ignored him at this point and packed my shopping.

Now would you be embarrassed by this? I can't believe he thought it an appropriate conversation in front of a queue of people.

There is no way I told the baby to shut up Angry He actually had me doubting myself for a while, but I know I didn't.

I feel bloody angry now to be accused of crappy parenting in front of a queue of people.

OP posts:
ChristinedePizan · 14/04/2011 18:56

shiney - their staff training is excellent. So I would imagine that any of their staff who are 'inappropriate' may have some form of SN.

StewieGriffinsMom · 14/04/2011 19:00

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/04/2011 19:01

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AlpinePony · 14/04/2011 19:02

I think it just depends whether you're the sort of person who likes to get people in menial jobs fired or not.

How do you treat staff in restaurants? Do you make eye contact? Or do you feel these people are beneath you?

Do you honestly 100% feel that your 30 seconds "discomfort", and really, mountain/molehill spring to mind, is MORE IMPORTANT than this man's job? Hmm

B4Beatrice · 14/04/2011 19:03

County begin with E?!

RumourOfAHurricane · 14/04/2011 19:05

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AlpinePony · 14/04/2011 19:07

Well when I spent 5 fucking years in Tesco it certainly felt like it to me! Grin

RumourOfAHurricane · 14/04/2011 19:10

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PixieOnaLeaf · 14/04/2011 19:13

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G1nger · 14/04/2011 19:13

He's a dick. I'd complain. Yes, to get him fired. So what?

whatsallthehullaballoo · 14/04/2011 19:14

YANBU and YES you should complain. Who cares if he loses his job when he obviously makes a habit of making people uncomfortable. There are plenty of people willing to have his job AND be polite.

He sounds incredibly threatening when asking "will it get you into trouble?". I am a childminder and that man saying things like that about me could well get me into a lot of trouble. How dare he - he made a joke and then pushed and pushed it further. What an arse. (Put in your complaint that you are willing to put it behind you if this man has SN).

Firawla · 14/04/2011 19:15

I would complain. If he did lose his job for it then it would probably be due to previous examples of similar behaviour too and would be his own fault not yours.

hocuspontas · 14/04/2011 19:19

Blimey, it's a bit of banter. No one died.

seeksnewnamewithgsoh · 14/04/2011 19:19

Surely a complaint doesn't mean he'd get fired though? That'd be pretty shite management if it was.

And if he was fired, it wouldn't be on the back of one complaint - there'd have to be a catalogue of grievances, in which case it would probably be justified.

No one should have ignore their discomfort, after somebody else had called him on his behaviour and he still got another little dig in. If it happened at work, you'd take it up with your boss if you felt that uncomfortable. At home, you'd take it up with your family.

Bit0fFunnyBunny · 14/04/2011 19:29

I have known people in the past with attitudes like G1nger's, who happened to be absolutely massive twats.

G1nger · 14/04/2011 19:30

Oooof! How mean.

Original poster
iPhoneDrone · 14/04/2011 19:31

Yes county starts with E

Opposite a big DIY store?

OP posts:
Bit0fFunnyBunny · 14/04/2011 19:31

There isn't necessarily any connection, it is merely a possibility.

G1nger · 14/04/2011 19:34

Can't get someone fired on the basis of one complaint letter anyway. But his behaviour was out of order and the management should be told.

usualsuspect · 14/04/2011 19:34

I think its awful that people want him to lose his job

oh ,but hes only a supermarket worker so thats ok then

B4Beatrice · 14/04/2011 19:35

No! So close! Town begins with B. Waitrose is in high street.

Fun game though Grin!

G1nger · 14/04/2011 19:37

He won't lose his job over this. He just won't. They have procedures in place too that they have to follow before someone's fired. He'll be warned about the way he speaks to customers, as he should be.

Bit0fFunnyBunny · 14/04/2011 19:41

Not that you give a shit though, right?

G1nger · 14/04/2011 19:44

He was being offensive towards the OP. He was deliberately making her feel uncomfortable. And clearly it's not the first time he's done this kind of thing to a customer. Maybe he's in the wrong profession... No, I don't care. It's not like he'd be being fired - if, indeed, he would be (which he wouldn't on this one basis) - because of something he couldn't control. It's ultimately his choice if he treats customers like that, against company policy.

hairfullofsnakes · 14/04/2011 19:44

I would def complain - waitrose are shit hot on how their staff behave and he will be warned. He should not be doing that and sounds like he does a lot of it.

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