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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this check out guy was out of order?

31 replies

Pawprint · 10/08/2013 15:13

Okay, so the background - I have a medical condition that means I take pills that would harm a baby during pregnancy. Therefore, if my monthly cycle is late, I take a pregnancy test.

This happened quite recently and I nipped to the supermarket to buy the test. As I was walking away, the young man on the till shouted out "Good luck - ha ha!".

I know he was just being silly and I'm not going to make a complaint or anything, but I was just mortified :(

The test was negative, by the way Grin

OP posts:
MrsBertMacklin · 10/08/2013 15:17

YANBU and if it's a supermarket you regularly use and feel up to it, I'd drop an email to them to let them know about this, written as a concern, rather than a complaint. I worry that he'll make the same 'joke' again to someone who he'll really upset.

NotYoMomma · 10/08/2013 15:24

but it was 'good luck'

not - good luck on being a positive
or - good luck on being negative

its just a general good luck as in hope it says what you want - isn't it?

it wouldnt bother me.

I would be pissed if he said 'hope its positive or some such'

Fancies40Winks · 10/08/2013 15:26

Pregnancy tests are expensive. You should buy a bulk load of internet cheapies, saving yourself both money and interactions with checkout staff.

Original poster
Pawprint · 10/08/2013 15:27

Thanks MrsB and NotYo - I think it the tone of voice the guy used and the fact that he shouted it out loudly and sounded like he was taking the piss.

Having said, he was just a teenager and I suppose teenage boys are not known for their tact!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pawprint · 10/08/2013 15:28

Good idea Fancy - they are such a rip off, considering they're just a little bit of paper that you wee on.

OP posts:
lljkk · 10/08/2013 15:36

I wouldn't take it so seriously.

WitchOfEndor · 10/08/2013 15:39

YANBU , they do all seem to make conversation these days, probably because someone at Head Office has decided that's what the customer wants, but they should be trained to avoid anything personal especially things like pregnancy tests. I would have to hope he wouldn't comment on purchases of condoms, tampons etc so why is it ok to comment on pregnancy tests? At his age he probably doesn't understand how fraught buying these can be, which is why some training is needed.

CongoBongoIsland · 10/08/2013 15:39

He was silly, but yabu to even be thinking about it more than 10 seconds after the event.

Original poster
Pawprint · 10/08/2013 16:02

I think I am taking it a bit seriously! I think the problem is that someone his age couldn't really understand how fraught pregnancy testing can be etc. I think supermarket staff should be trained not to comment on people's purchases. It's like this character from The Fast Show:

OP posts:
Gruntfuttock · 10/08/2013 16:24

How funny that you should link to that video, Pawprint, because I thought of that as soon as I read your first post, but then I was a big Fast Show fan.

Which was nice Wink

Seriously, though, I agree that checkout operators shouldn't comment on people's purchases.

Chottie · 10/08/2013 16:26

I think he was out of order, he should not have commented on your pregnancy test.

sonlypuppyfat · 10/08/2013 16:30

Just shop at Aldi they only say hello and thats it. I do think that check out work is a little boring and they talk to you for something to do

Thepowerof3 · 10/08/2013 16:31

You can get pregnancy tests at the pound shop

idiot55 · 10/08/2013 16:32

Not a nice experience but unlikely to happen again, I'd move on from it x

Gruntfuttock · 10/08/2013 16:39

sonlypuppyfat "Just shop at Aldi they only say hello and thats it. I do think that check out work is a little boring and they talk to you for something to do"

The thing is, at Aldi and Lidl they are not instructed to make conversation with every customer (just be super-quick), whereas in all the other big supermarkets they are and in fact are disciplined if a mystery shopper or a manager ever notices them not making eye contact and conversation with every customer. I prefer the Aldi/Lidl approach.

MissMuesli · 10/08/2013 16:40

YUNBU, I guess he just didn't think about it, and thought he was being witty. Check staff should not comment on "personal items" really.

garlicagain · 10/08/2013 16:43

Some supermarkets train their staff to comment on customers' purchases! When you're buying a pg test, the recommended inanities such as "I was thinking of having one of those for my tea!" and "Ooh, that looks interesting, how do you cook it?" wouldn't really work Grin

I love Aldi. "Hello, all right?" Scan scan scan scan at lightning speed, "Cash or card?" Bliss!

LaGuardia · 10/08/2013 16:50

I think you should consider contraception in the very near future, OP.

garlicagain · 10/08/2013 16:51

xposts, Grunt. Did you remember a thread here, pre-Xmas, from a checkout worker who'd been put on warning for not making conversation with the customers?

She was asking in the wrong place, really, Mumsnet to a woman told her we do NOT feel more loyal to supermarkets whose staff ask us what a persimmon is and how to eat them!

Thepowerof3 · 10/08/2013 16:53

I bought a pregnancy test from boots once with my two kids in tow and the checkout lady said 'Oh Dear, hope its not positive Ill be thinking of you'

garlicagain · 10/08/2013 17:28
Shock
Original poster
Pawprint · 10/08/2013 17:32

OMG power! What a cheek that lady had!

OP posts:
everlong · 10/08/2013 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sameoldIggi · 10/08/2013 17:46

Why did he wait till you were walking away to say it?

Thepowerof3 · 10/08/2013 18:08

I let it go but would never get one from there again, it was negative BTW! And I agree that you need a more reliable contraceptive OP