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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask the sales assistant to wash her hands

259 replies

careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:25

I don't think i was tbh
It was Boots. I bought a yoghurt, wrapped sandwich (thank god!)

As I went to the counter the sales assistant was sniffing then wiped her nose with the back of her hand then picked up my items saying do you want a bag....

I actually said... I would like to put those back please and change them..and really you should have washed your hands before touching them because you've just wiped your nose with the back of your hand.

She went a bit red and washed her hands with some anti bac on the counter so I wondered if someone had mentioned something earlier

But I felt very awkward like I was being difficult..but really I'm not am I?

OP posts:
Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 11:33

I can assure you it did happen. I won't be going to the manager or anything like that actually but regrettably this incident did happen. Seems to be acceptable practice too by the sounds of it.

OP posts:
MarmaladeTwatkins · 23/03/2013 11:33

*same strain

MammaMedusa · 23/03/2013 11:34

I worked in a shop as a teenager and also suffered from hayfever.

I would try to have bought tissues nearby but my boss did not like me having a bin nearby, and a large display of used tissues is not that great. So I had to shove them in my pocket - blergh.

I was not allowed to leave my post, so if I misjudged how many I would need, there was no way I could nip anywhere to buy more. Anyway, my purse had to be locked in the office for the whole shift and we were not allowed to buy things while in uniform.

The same boss was also not happy when I tried to work using a seat when I had two injured ankles. And wouldn't let me call in sick as I wasn't sick just hurt.

I valued my job because at that time it was quite well paid for teenager work (I got double time on Saturdays, for example) and my parents made me pay all my own school costs - stationary, trips, travel, etc, so I needed the money.

It is possible I wiped my nose with the back of my hand while there. If I had, I would have already been upset to have to do so, but a bit stuck because of the boss's awful rules. If a customer had me up about it, I would have been mortified.

Flobbadobs · 23/03/2013 11:35

So you have never been caught with no tissues on you? I bow to your organisation skills. She proabably caught her cold from a customer btw, the general public can be bastards to shop staff in many different ways...

MarmaladeTwatkins · 23/03/2013 11:35

LOL at regrettable incident.

Why are you hamming it up to be more than "assitant has itchy nose and uses back of hand to alleviate it"?

somedayma · 23/03/2013 11:35

you were being a bitch. hth

Dannilion · 23/03/2013 11:36

Maybe OP's hands are so hairy they're a breeding ground for bacteria and it has warped her judgement.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 11:36

Not hamming it up at all. Just not impressed by poor manners and etiquette.

OP posts:
Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 11:37

Quite concerned by descent into personal insults

OP posts:
MarmaladeTwatkins · 23/03/2013 11:38

Poor manners and etiquette?

What does DeBretts say on etiquette when buying a sandwich from Boots? Let me just check...

Theicingontop · 23/03/2013 11:39

Are you though?

WorraLiberty · 23/03/2013 11:39

Ok now I'm unconvinced.

Yep, same here...

Flobbadobs · 23/03/2013 11:39

As I said before, if thats the way you spoke to the assistant you are hardly in a position to lecture anyone about manners. And then to throw away perfectly good food, presumably still wrapped is disgusting. Far worse than a quick swipe of the nosenwith the back of your hand. Someone could have eaten it oryou could have given it to a big issue seller
You really do sound like you enjoy lording it over the lowly sales assistants..

Pandemoniaa · 23/03/2013 11:40

Quite concerned by descent into personal insults

Precious? Much.

Dannilion · 23/03/2013 11:40

Seems you're concerned about a lot OP. If I thought for 2 seconds this wasn't a wind up, I'd ask if you had your blood pressure checked recently.

Astelia · 23/03/2013 11:40

I asked my optician to wash his hands once after he had picked something up off the floor as he was going to be inserting contact lenses in my eyes. Possible eye infection versus being embarrassed- it was no contest.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 11:40

realises life is too short and goes to get on with day.

OP posts:
Pandemoniaa · 23/03/2013 11:41

Wishes OP would realise that talking about self in third person makes self sound like unconvincing and low-budget chick lit.

Flobbadobs · 23/03/2013 11:42

Astella thats different, he was going to be effectively putting his finger in your eye! The OP wasn't asking the sales assistant to actually feed her (although I wouldn't put it past her by the sounds of it).

JourneyThroughLife · 23/03/2013 11:42

YANBU. The assistant was showing very poor hygiene standards, even worse when handling food, whether wrapped or not. Of course there are always germs around, including on tills/card machines/cash but that is no excuse for adding to it. I would have felt the same. You were not being rude in asking her to wash her hands, so long as you asked politely and without swearing...
I'm always washing my hands, I also carry sanitiser around with me and use it after handling money, pushing trolleys in supermarkets, door handles in shops and public toilets etc.

everlong · 23/03/2013 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

overthebliddyhill · 23/03/2013 11:44

I wish I had been as assertive as you when our practice nurse dressed my open wound without washing/gelling her hands.

MrsKeithRichards · 23/03/2013 11:44

You were unreasonable to make an arse of the assistant like that. You seem like you won't be happy until she's lost her job over the incident.

VinegarDrinker · 23/03/2013 11:45

Yup, the more this goes on the more it definitely seems like a wind up. Kept me occupied on a dull commute home though, so cheers OP!

Branleuse · 23/03/2013 11:46

you sound delightful