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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think us shop assistants can't win :(

39 replies

littlemisssunny · 21/02/2013 19:18

If you don't have a conversation with the customer you are rude, if you try and have a conversation you are being overfriendly, if you offer a bag you are being silly as how else are you meant to carry your shopping (I ask because we charge for them).

If we ask for ID we are being jobsworths!

I ask if I don't know because I don't want to be fined, lose my job and certainly don't want to go to jail!

I am just trying to do my job, and be polite and try and give good customer service.

I just feel like we are looked down on and can't win whatever we do!

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 21/02/2013 19:19

I love it when I get IDed

Do it more Grin

NopeStillNothing · 21/02/2013 19:20

Yanbu, The general public are arseholes Grin

sarahseashell · 21/02/2013 19:20

YANBU

some people are just feckin rude in shops. have these Thanks

mrsbunnylove · 21/02/2013 19:22

i've worked in a shop (shoes - ewwww! smelly feet!) and been a customer. some customers are horrible. but so are some shop assistants. its a mixed bag really. i've got to say, i don't look down on shop assistants - unless they try to look down on me! the till ladies in my local asda are pretty good but the assistants selling hats in a big shop in manchester are a bunch of moos, frankly.

OddBoots · 21/02/2013 19:22

It's the same with any job where you see the public, look at the stick teachers and doctors get too, it's not personal even if it is really disheartening.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 21/02/2013 19:24

YANBU.

BUT. The guy in Lidls today needs to get a different job. He was a thirty something stoner who really didnt want to be there. The girl before me asked him a question and he did a big dramatic sigh. Dick.

I used to be a shop girl though. So I know exactly what you are saying.

SilentMammoth · 21/02/2013 19:24

Id me, pleease, it never happens!

I once put some wine through the waitrose self scan thinking, ah ha, they'll have to id me now! They didn't. So I called over to the lady "do you want to see my driving licence?".

She said no, it was ok.
I loo ked disappointed.
She asked if if like her to ask next time, I said yes please.

Tragic, but true.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 21/02/2013 19:26

I agree with what you are saying about it works both ways as I have seen some appalling shop assistants too as a customer, I just feel we get a rough deal for doing my job! I don't love my job but appreciate I am being paid to do it and have to provide a good service :)

OP posts:
DramaLlamaFarmer · 21/02/2013 19:32

Virtually all the staff in Lidl need new jobs. They can barely raise their heads to acknowledge a customer passing by their tills. Rude feckers the lot of 'em!

germyrabbit · 21/02/2013 19:34

silentmammoth i hate that feeling though when they press the 'customer is clearly over 25 button Grin

TheWalkingDead · 21/02/2013 19:37

You and any other shop assistant who acts like you do ANBU, however, the ones that don't say hello, thank you or don't even seem to acknowledge you ABU.

I completely respect those who try to have some pride in their work, even if they may hate it, but I can't stand the contempt some shop assistants have for customers - yes some customers are rude, but rise above it and do your job, no matter how crap the response must sometimes be.

(NB I've worked as a receptionist and some customers were wankers, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of having something else to complain about.)

The worst ones though are those gits that carry on conversations with their colleagues whilst helping me. Fine, just say hello and thank you and leave it at that but don't fucking well pretend I'm not there by having a chat with your mate!

notsofrownieface · 21/02/2013 19:38

You do get some gems, I think the most recent one was being shouted and sworn at because of an issue with A DIFFERENT COMPANY, nothing to do with my shop whatsoever. This is always funny after a bad day

mrsjay · 21/02/2013 19:38

YANBU i never moan at anybody like that in shops but for every peson who doesnt 10 will, I wish people would just do their shopping and go home and leave assistants alone, DD is one and she gets grief and abused at least once a shift

ElphabaTheGreen · 21/02/2013 19:40

YANBU

Being a checkout chick was the best incentive I had to get me through my degree so I never had to be treated like that level of arse-fresh shit ever again.

I once told a customer the price for her shopping was $13.45. She handed me $15.45 (i.e. she clearly just wanted a nice, tidy $2 change), simpered patronisingly over her designer spectacles at me and said, 'I've totally confused you haven't I?'

Now I work for the NHS. No one ever treats you like a brainless minion there Grin

kinkyfuckery · 21/02/2013 19:40

YANBU, some customers are bloody rude.

Some sales staff are downright bloody rude too, though - chatting away to other staff/customers whilst serving, not saying please and thank you, etc.

kim147 · 21/02/2013 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoWhatIfImWorkingClass · 21/02/2013 19:45

YANBU at all OP.

erowid · 21/02/2013 19:46

Not to mention we are all being replaced by machines! self serve checkouts. Sad

mrsjay · 21/02/2013 19:48

self scanned still needs an assistant though DD works on self scan she has had to ask people to stop hitting the machine so is self scan security Grin

SkinnybitchWannabe · 21/02/2013 19:50

Ive been a Tesco checkout lady for 22 years and I have been called every name under the sun. Ive had money thrown at me, been treated like Im stupid and totally ignored.
I pride myself on delivering excellent service.
I treat every customer with respect but I expect respect back..dont give me it and I'll squash your bread and bananas Wink

erowid · 21/02/2013 19:51

Yes but you only need to employ 1 person to man 4 machines. That's 3 jobs out the window. Sad

zwischenzug · 21/02/2013 19:53

Some people are just sad and inadequate and have to big themselves up by looking down on checkout staff.

SquinkiesRule · 21/02/2013 19:55

ROFLOL I want to be a Tesco lady like SkinnybitchWannabe It'll be all squashed bread from me too if you're mean.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 21/02/2013 19:58

I had a customer who was in a hurry and I did the usual good morning thanks for waiting are you ok for bags and packing today, and she said oh hurry up will you I'm in a rush go a bit faster (I try to go fast enough bit not too fast ifkwim) so I scanned her items so fast she couldn't pack them quick enough, I think she got the hint but I was polite and didn't throw the shopping at her, just scanned it really quickly, and you could see the other customers smirking!

One of our managers won't stand for anyone having a go at her staff and if she sees them she tells them what she thinks (she probably shouldn't be quite as rude as she is to them but we love her for it!)

OP posts:
mrsscoob · 21/02/2013 19:58

We have a name for them "cuntstomers" Grin

Especially the ones who have a go at me because we are no longer stocking the item they want. As if it was my personal decision in our huge company to decide to no longer sell it.