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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for my money back and leave my food in Greggs

86 replies

SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 15:47

I know I'm going to be told I was unreasonable for shopping in Greggs in the first place, I'm even more quick tempered/lacking patience than normal ATM so I'm doubting myself and wondering if I was being unreasonable .

So I only work the 10 -2 and as such have no lunch break and often go without until 5, simply cos I'm not all that hungry, my line manager however does encourage me to pop out and get a sandwich around 12 ish as everyone is eating around then.

Yesterday I went out on a work errand and called in to Greggs on the way back just a sandwich, can and cake, I handed over a £10 note and the lad serving looked confused then called er I've got no £5 notes, to someone serving some one else. Now it's not an official break I don't like being out of the office that long, but he just stares at the till, so I say can you just give me the change in pound coins I need to get back to work. He nods and carries on staring at the till until the person he's called too goes yes I'll get you some £5 notes then he hands me the change in pound coins which he clearly could have done 5 minutes before. So ok I'm slightly annoyed by left with my food and change.

Anyway today I was really looking forward to lunch today it's such a rarity the same lad was serving again sandwich out of the fringe with the can I picked up myself and a bun, he placed all my items in a bag and said how much it would be and handed me the bag, I again handed over £10 note he stared at the till with it in his hand and then went er what did you buy again, confused as he'd just told me how much it was I asked what he was asking he said what's in the bag? The bag he's just packed and handed me. So I place the bag on the counter and say please give me my money back I'll go somewhere else! It was more the fact he had been similarly slow yesterday that annoyed me most and it probably was a little stroppy.

I almost felt like going back to the office without anything, ended up with a sandwich I didn't really like, just wonder if I allowed my stress levels to raise unnecessarily!

OP posts:
starsandunicorns · 01/10/2014 16:22

When I was 16 I got a job in a card shop at the interview was told I wouldn't be doing the tills however 3 Saturdays later I was put on them had someone similar to you op ( had to do the old visa payment with carbon paper) she shouted at me for going slow never did the tills again and it has given me the fear of ever doing them again
Give him a chance

MsVestibule · 01/10/2014 16:23

Good grief, what's wrong with buying a sandwich from Greggs? OP, unless I haven't read the thread properly, not one person has suggested that buying lunch there is a 'chavvy' thing to do - only you've done that.

I understand your frustration, but give the poor guy a break. Your lack of patience and obvious irritation at his 'incompetence' will probably have spoiled his day.

Bambalam · 01/10/2014 16:23

You owe me the time it took to read your post. I thought it was going to get juicy. Seriously though, I hope you feel less stressed soon.

HTH Grin

whatever5 · 01/10/2014 16:24

I think that for your own sake and health, you need to try and not get so easily stressed/annoyed by minor things. It was no big deal.

VinoTime · 01/10/2014 16:25

He was probably new, OP. And speaking as somebody who works for a large supermarket chain - it can be bloody scary having to learn everything while dealing with the public. Give the poor boy a break. Weren't you ever new and a bit nervous at some point in time?

I've always been quite good at maths, but on my third day at my job I had a really shitty customer who upset me quite a lot and as a result, I gave her the wrong change because I felt so flustered. She then got even shittier with me because of this and my mind just went blank trying to work out how much change she was short. Normally, it would take me seconds and I rarely rely on the till to tell me how much change to give. But my mind literally went blank because she'd made me feel so on edge.

YABVU.

VinoTime · 01/10/2014 16:25

He was probably new, OP. And speaking as somebody who works for a large supermarket chain - it can be bloody scary having to learn everything while dealing with the public. Give the poor boy a break. Weren't you ever new and a bit nervous at some point in time?

I've always been quite good at maths, but on my third day at my job I had a really shitty customer who upset me quite a lot and as a result, I gave her the wrong change because I felt so flustered. She then got even shittier with me because of this and my mind just went blank trying to work out how much change she was short. Normally, it would take me seconds and I rarely rely on the till to tell me how much change to give. But my mind literally went blank because she'd made me feel so on edge.

YABVU.

AuntieMaggie · 01/10/2014 16:31

I don't get the chavvy attitude about greggs - it's just a bakery and I quite like their seeded loaves!

Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 16:41

Er where the PP says her teenage nephew and nieces friends refuse to apply for jobs in McDonald's Burger King Greggs etc because it's chavvy - ie they didn't want to be bothered serving chavvy people (hungry people) who by their food there! Also I've read many treads on here skating Gregfs! Like I say it's the nicest place in our town to get a fresh sandwich which is why I go there.

I'm not stressed at work, it's the only place I'm not, as I've said I'm not going to go in to why although that's at least two other threads because although it would explain it, it doesn't condone it!

Vino time I'm constantly scared and nervous, and I don't work in the public domain. It's not so much the change thing yesterday, it was the handing me the bag when he hadn't actually finished the transaction. Surely he could either have held the bag while he rang up the things in the till which is what other servers do?

Although the point has been made, and not his fault, maybe he could have done with a little more help during the lunch time rush.

OP posts:
Titsalinabumsquash · 01/10/2014 16:43

That was me who said about my DNeice and Dnephew, I personally love a Greggs Grin

waithorse · 01/10/2014 16:47

Op you sound ridiculous. I'm also amazed at a job that encourages you to pop out to buy food when you only work 4 hour's.

EllasMum16 · 01/10/2014 16:50

What's wrong with Gregg's? I love it! (My waistline does not).

Although last time I went I did buy a decaf coffee with my food to take home, I asked for a sleeve to carry it and she didn't have any, so she put a larger cup around it instead. It leaked everywhere but I was determined to get it home! But when I did, I found out she'd given me the wrong coffee :(

Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 16:51

Oh bambalam and whatever, thank you! I'm aware it's it's not a big deal, that's why I'm asking.

And titsalinabumsquash you were who I was responding too it was just taking me too long to type I couldn't remember your name!

OP posts:
kali110 · 01/10/2014 16:54

Poor lad. Everybody is new at one point.you may have made him worse.iv worked in the public domain and having arsey customers can make your day go from good to bad in a second.

HappyAgainOneDay · 01/10/2014 16:55

SugarPlump Do you not have time to make a sandwich the night before - or in the morning? That would save you (a) money and (b) stress and (c) time at work.

LadyLuck10 · 01/10/2014 17:00

Yabu. You have stress in your own life but willing to do that to someone else. You only work for 4 hours so what else can be so stressful. It's nice making assumptions? Give the guy a break.

Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 17:06

I tried that happyagain but as I can nit predict my fairly unhealthy eating routines, it was kind difficult getting to the end of the week knowing ii'd thrown away 5 lots of sandwiches because I simply hadn't been hungry until 5/6.
Which is why my line manager likes to make sure I eat, when I do feel like it. There's been times he's gone your hungry go and I haven't!

OP posts:
partialderivative · 01/10/2014 17:09

Next time you see him; give him a hug (maybe slip in a bit of tongue), and crush a fiver into his mitt.

All will be forgiven and he'll be sure to prepare your sandwiches ultra quick in the future.

partialderivative · 01/10/2014 17:10

The Greggs bloke, that is, not your manager.

Georgethesecond · 01/10/2014 17:15

Have you considered you might be grumpy because you aren't eating enough?

Maybe that's why you get sent out for food.

Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 17:17

Ladyluck as you asked facing the possibility of a major operation, being evicted, relationship troubles, parent sending emails saying he doesn't want anything to do with my moving, and being more concerned about his legal responsibilities to landlords that have failed to maintain the flat than up his daughters health, and it being the month of mine and my estranged brothers birthdays, and the month of the anniversaries of one of my closest friends death (he was early 30's the day after my 29th) and both my grandfathers. I'm not looking for sympathy as I've said it would explain why I'm so on edge and I'm prepared to accept I was wring.

No four hours work can't cause that much stress but life can I've said three times now it's not work causing the stress!

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/10/2014 17:20

Can you think of a strategy to deal with the situation if it occurs again?

For example
If I was asked what I had bought I would simply list the items e.g. cheese sandwich, sticky bun and a can of coke.

I wonder if his flustered and unpredictable behaviour i.e. not processing the transaction as you expected made it harder for you to deal with the situation. It might be worth having a working assumption that he will be a bit slow and disorganised at the moment so it doesn't come as a surprise to you when he is.

FreudiansSlipper · 01/10/2014 17:23

yay another thing to add to the mumsnet chavvy list

How can a bakery be chavvy Confused

Yes op you need to get over yourself

SauvignonBlanche · 01/10/2014 17:27

Sorry you're having a bad time OP but try not to take it out on shop assistants.

Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 17:30

partialdervative haha, I think either would be slightly wrong, I'm not sure it's actually all that hygienic to slip in a bit of tongue over the bakery counter it might put the the other customers off! And really get on with my manager but he hates hugs lol!

george well that's is kind of why I've had issues with food since I was a teenager, I'm lucky my manager would rather I eat than became unable to work!

OP posts:
Original poster
SugarPlump · 01/10/2014 17:38

chazbrilliant that probably does have a lot to do with it as I said way up thread I'm aspergers myself so unexpected behaviour phases me anyway, so with my anxiety as high as it is, of course that's not his fault and I do feel bad for taking my anger out on him.

OP posts: