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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Petty alert! But what is the etiquette?

34 replies

flatbread · 30/11/2011 21:22

I went to Pret this morning to pick up breakfast for DH (there was no parking, so he was in the car)

There were two counters and I was at one and the other was empty. I ordered a coffee and while we were discussing what type, white or black etc., a female customer came up the other counter (no one was there, as the guy was making my coffee).

The server asked me if I wanted anything else, and I said a bacon and egg sandwich. Get this - the other customer leaned over and took the last bacon and egg sandwich from the counter. I was Shock and got a tomato and egg one instead.

Isn't that rude or AIBU? What is the etiquette, 'first come, first served' or 'every man to himself'?

The other woman was heavily pregnant btw, not sure if it relevant Grin

OP posts:
LadyInPink · 30/11/2011 21:28

Yes that would annoy me too. Did the server see she had done that after hearing you ask for that specific sandwich? It is rude imo and i would have probably glared at her or pointedly stared at her.

Being pg she probably thought as you said that choice of sandwich, mm that sounds yummy and took one, maybe she hadn't noticed it was the last one.

SatisfiedOtter · 30/11/2011 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ihatecbeebies · 30/11/2011 21:30

I think it was quite rude and it should be first come first served, but if she was heavily pregnant and craving a bacon and egg sandwich then by not saying anything and letting her take it you may have just prevented a riot occuring in Pret :o

SatisfiedOtter · 30/11/2011 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 30/11/2011 21:31

I would have been annoyed too, but beware the wrath of a pregnant woman.
They probably would have made you another had you asked nicely as they make them all fresh on site

Eggrules · 30/11/2011 21:31

yoink by preggo woman but I would let her have it.

Would Pret make you a fresh one?

iloverainbows · 30/11/2011 21:35

I would have said, in a very loud voice, 'eating for two eh' and winked. I would then have gone on to order a tuna salad, no mayo and a skinny late. Even though it was:

a. Breakfast time and who eats salad at breakfast and
b. I am overweight and frankly a skinny late won't fix that

But I would have been smug!

Hassled · 30/11/2011 21:35

She was heavily pregnant and she wanted a bacon and egg sandwich more than life itself. I was like that with steaks. Yes, she lacked etiquette but then she's top trumped you on account of the hormones.

Original poster
flatbread · 30/11/2011 21:41

Pret, is self-serve, so perhaps the woman was within her 'rights' to take it...but then, on the other hand, the breakfast stuff is on the till counter so a bit unnecessary to take beforehand, iyswim.

I am sure she heard me, she had a bit of a guilty, 'but I want it' look Hmm

The server and I stayed quiet, I think, because she was pregnant...too scared to mess with those hormones Grin

OP posts:
AKMD · 30/11/2011 21:42

It was rude of her if she heard you and knew it was the last one but TBH at 5 months pregnant I nearly threw a hissy fit in my work canteen when they ran out of a particular type of apple so I'd excuse her anyway.

slavetofilofax · 30/11/2011 21:43

Why didn't you pick it up if you were right there and it's self serve?

Original poster
flatbread · 30/11/2011 21:43

*Hassled Grin

well, i can see it more calmly now, but at that time I was Shock Angry

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 30/11/2011 21:47

I agree with the others - it was a bit rude, but she had the pg trump card.

I remember throwing a tantrum at a music festival once - everyone was knocking back the beers while I was heavily pg and sober, so I decided I really wanted an ice-cream. DH came back to tell me, sorry, but the ice cream stall was just closing. OMG, they probably heard me shouting on the main stage (and yes, they did re-open the stall and give the pg lady what she wanted).

Original poster
flatbread · 30/11/2011 21:50

slave, I should have, but the breakfast sandwiches are right on the payment counter, and usually the server just picks and bags them.

It was so clear. One basket labeled 'egg and bacon' with only one sandwich and the other filled to the brim with egg and tomato ones.

Ilove it was for dh, so he would have been seriously disappointed with a salad for breakfast. And he was going to share it with the dog, so it would have been double disappointment with two sad faces

OP posts:
AteAWholePacketOfBiccys · 30/11/2011 21:56

I nearly cried at M and S when they didn't have my fave vege pasta meal. If it had been in the situation you describe happening to you then I would have fought to the death for it if I had been the pregnant sandwich grabber lady.

Heleninahandcart · 30/11/2011 23:22

Pret etiquette, you pick it up from the counter tray and place it in front of you. Sometimes this means reaching across as its the morning and I've not had coffee yet as they are not always in front of all queues.

Sorry YABU as its Pret breakfast rolls. Also applies to any Christmas specials on the counter Grin

Ghoulwithadragontattoo · 30/11/2011 23:28

You see I think YABU. All the Prets I've been to you help yourself to the sandwich you want, as the pregnant lady did, rather than ask the cashier, as you did.

LineRunnerSolsticeLover · 30/11/2011 23:36

At breakfast time, a major food outlet had one bacon and egg bap?

Don't you think that's a bit crap?

Stick with Greggs, pet.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 30/11/2011 23:38

I was with you till you said he was going to waste half on the dog.

madmomma · 01/12/2011 00:18

I'm not at all proud of this, but being 36 wks pregnant, I'd have taken the bacon & egg sandwich from the tiny hungry mouth of my 1yr old son if I'd got my heart set on it. Such is my pregnancy-induced nastiness. But clearly there's nothing reasonable about that.

Original poster
flatbread · 01/12/2011 00:19

Gwen the mutt eats better than we do. We make do with toast and tea for dinner, but the dog will always get her chicken and rice.

Line, there was no Greggs around, although mutt-girl loves the sausage rolls.

No, this Pret did not offer to make us a fresh roll, so guess they were out of bacon?

Based on all your feedback, I accept that I am BU

OP posts:
empirestateofmind · 01/12/2011 00:27

You should have picked it up when you got to the counter if it is self-serve. Next time you will need to move a bit faster. A pregnant woman got there before you so you need to up your game Grin.

I have never been in a Pret but presume it is like Starbucks where you just pick sandwiches up as you queue past. They then ask if you want it heating and putting on a plate.

omaoma · 01/12/2011 00:31

in a related tale, i was once in posh cake shop, queuing patiently for the choc fridge cake i was completely addicted to and HAD TO HAVE. all the while i could hear this annoying mum yabbering away to her friend and son behind me about their lovely bloody day. by the time i get to the front of the queue there are only two of the fridge cakes left and i ask for one. as i'm being served it the mum pipes up to the server, 'oh but we were going to have those, weren't we darling, could we not have it instead, we were going to buy both not just one! is there no way we could have it instead, my son's only 8?' i was so grrrr i said 'have it bloody then' and walked out

Original poster
flatbread · 01/12/2011 00:33

mad and empire Grin

I would have picked up the sandwich if it had been placed in their regular deli shelves. But the breakfast ones are right on the cashier counter. And the croissants etc. are in a hot tray behind the counter. I just presume that the breakfast stuff is not 'self-serve'.

But now I know better Grin

OP posts:
DebbieDoesSanta · 01/12/2011 00:39

do you live in a very scummy area

where everyone dives for sandwiches left on the counter ?

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