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AIBU?

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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:
52Girls · 18/04/2011 07:59

That's not exactly offensive though Tommy. You may look like his Grandma. Wink

PigWhisperer · 18/04/2011 09:32

i would have a word with the duty manager. It was inapppropriate, but he might not have realised how inappropriate if he is a young child free nipper.

This way his manager can tell him off/ explain the error of his ways and he shouldn't do it again and will be better at his job because of it. Just to flip the situation if you don't have a word then he could do it to someone else who could complain to head office in writing and cause him real grief.

olderandwider · 18/04/2011 11:55

Make sure next time you see the same guy at the checkout you say something embarrassing - "You know your till was £200 out last time you were on it, don't you?"

PigWhisperer · 18/04/2011 13:10

or in fact just do what Older said, much funnier

Mumwithadragontattoo · 18/04/2011 14:02

I also think it is cheeky banter which has backfired. I really wouldn't complain about it if I were you. Total overreaction.

MotherMucca · 18/04/2011 14:09

iPhone and Alouise, I am going to that branch today.

I shall take a baby doll and tell it off whilst I am ordering me baccy.

Will report back.

Al0uiseG · 18/04/2011 19:20

MotherMucca how did you get on? If id seen this earlier I'd have lurked in the coffee shop and pounced when pratman started spouting.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 18/04/2011 19:23

yanbu - completely unacceptable and you should complain

MotherMucca · 18/04/2011 22:29

Oh, al, it was veh dull.

The (middle-aged, florid, male) cashier rather flirtily asked me if I was over eighteen, but that was all. The gal on lottery/baccy stand was sweet and inoffensive.

Glad you did not have a wasted journey. Where are you, anyhow (nosey).

ChaoticAngelofchocolateeggs · 18/04/2011 23:22

YANBU Complain that way if he does have sn then he'll get the help/guidance he needs. If he's just a wanker then he'll get a warning and retrained, hopefully sparing other customers from his idiocy.

iscream · 19/04/2011 08:46

I'd write a letter of complaint, but would explaining that you eventually realized it was said as a joke, but you were very embarrassed by what he was saying. That everyone heard him, and thank goodness for the other check-out woman. How you are a faithful customer, but are not sure you want to risk it happening again.

He needs to keep his mouth zipped, if he doesn't have the sense to know what is and isn't funny.

DAVIDROSS123 · 16/01/2017 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ephemeralfairy · 16/01/2017 13:45
Hmm

2011 thread mate. 2011

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/01/2017 13:49

At the first shut up I'd have given him a big grin and said I'll tell you to shut up in a minute and we would have had a bit of a giggle

Yep,me too.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/01/2017 13:49

Oh ffs

ZOMBIE THREAD

WingMirrorSpider · 16/01/2017 13:53

Okaaaaayyyy.......

CaraAspen · 16/01/2017 13:54

Not even Waitrose can get the staff, these days...

CaraAspen · 16/01/2017 13:54

Zombie?
Sigh...

ageingrunner · 16/01/2017 14:00

Or, in those days, Waitrose couldn't get the staff Confused

bloodymaria · 16/01/2017 14:06

Oh gosh, David Ross instead of writing ridiculous rambling nonsense, why not use your time to learn how to punctuate. That was painful to read.

BillSykesDog · 16/01/2017 14:08

You struggle to understand the general limitations of IT don't you? Like, a computer can't magic up £47.00 worth of kippers in a few days, so if doing something important it's probably a good idea to ring ahead and check.

And if you ressurect a 7 year old thread which is only tenuously related people are going to reply to that and not your fish ishoos.

Mollyringworm · 16/01/2017 14:10

He sounds like he is just very over-familiar with customers (is he new? If so, I'm sure this will soon be pointed out to him and he'll tone it down). I hate this too. There's a big difference between being friendly and having a little chat at the till and just totally overstepping the boundary.

Dint know whether anyone else had pointed this out but our local sainsburys employs people with mild learning difficulties and it can sometimes be situations like the above do occur. I wouldn't report it/complain though, personally.

Mollyringworm · 16/01/2017 14:11

Oh, zombie thread. Doh.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 16/01/2017 14:12

No I wouldn't report/complain either - the incident was six years ago...

Presstheresetbutton · 16/01/2017 14:14
Grin

I just read this thinking oh something like that happened to me

This is totally my thread from years ago!

DavidRoss....I have nothing to say