I sometimes shop online and sometimes go into the shop. Today was a shop day. I ended up with a relatively full trolley and headed for the tills.
My shopping didn't all fit on the belt so the assistant had started scanning it before trolley and toddler and I got to the end.
I was slightly annoyed that she hadn't packed it, but instead had filled up the packing area and tutted as I caught up with the two carrier bags she had allotted me. Usually you have to decline offers of packing help - it's a particularly friendly store.
Partway through my packing I heard her say something, and had to ask her to repeat it (I have to lipread but don't wear hearing aids). She sighed and asked if I had "one of those card thingies". The chain is new to loyalty cards but we do now have one, so I said yes and carried on.
I pay (in a slightly complicated way) including handing over my loyalty card, and she gives me a handful of golden stickers.
"Er, what are these for?"
"You said you had a card."
"Er, yes, you swiped it."
"No, not a card, one of these card thingies."
At this point she brought out a leaflet, which I discover is to collect eleventy squillion stickers and get a FREE set of knives.
"Oh right, no, I don't want those. Are you collecting them?" I said to the next shopper, who doesn't. "Sorry, I'll give you them back."
"I asked you if you wanted them."
"No you didn't. You asked if I had a card, and I do, so I said yes." (I probably did not say that very nicely)
She then avoided eye contact while she processed the payment and gave me my change. It sounds petty to say she shoved my receipts at me, but that's what it felt like.
I spoke to Customer Services to say I felt I had been served helpfully and spoken to rudely, but it upset me so much I declined their offer of a manager and just left.
I was obviously U to get upset at such a minor exchange, but was I wrong throughout? I think I am usually more conciliatory and another time might have gone down the "silly me, I thought you meant..." route before the "no, that isn't what you said" route. I think I started off less tolerant than usual because she had made my packing harder than it needed to be. I didn't expect her to pack the lot, but in that store they always offer, and I certainly expected to be acknowledged, and probably did expect her to offer to pack at least while I was at the aisles end of the conveyor belt IYSWIM.
I'd like to be told why she was likely being grumpy (as farfetched as necessary) or why I made it worse or overreacted. They don't sell grips so it's likely I'm short.
Alternatively, if she was definitely the U one, is it worth pursuing? I've encountered her before and she's not one of the chattier staff, but I've never known her be rude before.
I have experience in retail so I know it's shitty dealing with cuntstomers all day long. But if I read the situation accurately, she shouldn't have been on a till today, and that's a management issue.