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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To eat my lunch sitting at the cash register (small charity shop)

63 replies

BlackNoSugar · 16/09/2015 14:26

Sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone.
I work one or two days a week as a volunteer in a tiny charity shop in our small town. It's usually pretty quiet. The shop is open until mid-afternoon.
Today I was having my sandwich at the register, the shop had two or three people browsing. One came up to me just as I'd taken a bite, and I smiled behind my hand, swallowed as fast as I could, then greeted her with a jokey "sorry about that, can I help you?" At which she tutted at me, frowned at my sandwich, and said "you shouldn't be doing that, when you've got customers."
Problem is, I'm the only person here. I either eat at the register when the shop is quiet, or go the day without food.
Would you be offended by this if you were the customer? She's the first to ever comment about it.

OP posts:
Lilaclily · 16/09/2015 14:28

I would have said 'I can do what I lihe as I don't get paid '

WhoTheFIsJeff · 16/09/2015 14:29

Why can't you close the shop for 10 minutes for a break?

My DM works in a charity shop and that's what they do. Lots of small shops do it.

mumsgoingtouni · 16/09/2015 14:38

I wouldn't be offended as a customer Iin a charity shop, or any other shop really. People have to eat. She was very rude.

Birdsgottafly · 16/09/2015 14:41

Some people use Charity Shops as a stepping stone to get into retail, so from that POV, you shouldn't be eating when customers are about to be served.

The Woman who works in my PO, eats her lunch at the counter, it makes me feel sick, she's handling money and then food.

I've worked I. Shops and know how minging money (and second hand stuff) is.

I wouldn't complain, I just like it to be clean, were I eat.

Justmuddlingalong · 16/09/2015 14:44

I'm premenstrual so I'd have ushered them all out. Locked the door and finished my lunch. You WNBU, the tutty customer was.

BathshebaDarkstone · 16/09/2015 14:45

DM owns a shop and eats her lunch sitting at the counter. It's either that or no lunch! YANBU. Smile

lushilaoshi · 16/09/2015 14:46

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INeedNewShoes · 16/09/2015 14:48

I used to work in a village shop. My typical shift was 9am-3pm. No way was I going to go all that time without eating. But I would only take a bite out of my sandwich when there were no customers around.

I wouldn't have continued eating when there were customers in the shop though, but then I had the luxury of working in a shop that didn't constantly have customers in (although that made it boring and unfortunately meant that the shop eventually closed).

pineappleshortbread · 16/09/2015 15:01

Yanbu.

I work on a ward in a hospital and on night shifts we eat at the desk. We dont get regular breaks nd sometimes none at all so its eat there or not at all on a 12 hr shift. I eat all night Grin

Original poster
BlackNoSugar · 16/09/2015 15:09

Our shop is usually pretty quiet but we're on the high street so get a lot of people just popping in, I try to only eat if there is nobody there but today it wasn't possible. I did try shutting the shop but people would knock on the glass! (they can see me as it's a tiny shop).

Also, the office doesn't want the shop closing at all - if I pop to the loo I leave it open, unattended. I don't think that's particularly safe but it's not my call.

I do take inoffensive food - today was a plain chicken/mayo sandwich - because strong-smelling food would turn me off if I were a customer. And I have a box of antibac wipes because yes, a charity shop can be pretty minging.

OP posts:
beardsrock · 16/09/2015 15:09

I don't think it's a problem, but you would not be unreasonable for shutting for ten minutes if you fancied. You need the loo and a food break!

RiverTam · 16/09/2015 15:18

Rude mare. I would have asked her when she was planning to sign up as an unpaid volunteer.

whois · 16/09/2015 15:37

I don't think it is a problem.

Blackcloudsbrightsky · 16/09/2015 15:45

Lilac Grin

helenahandbag · 16/09/2015 15:55

Logically I know YANBU but there's just something about eating your lunch at the cash register that strikes me as a bit grim. I don't know why though and I certainly wouldn't have said anything!

I bought a bacon roll from our local deli/cafe a couple of weeks ago and while the girl behind the counter was waiting for the orders to come out, she was munching a breakfast roll, taking a can of coke out of the fridge and swigging from it... in front of customers and near the deli counter with all the cold meats Envy

ilovesooty · 16/09/2015 16:02

weird old bags? Really?

I think the customer was rude but there's no need for ageist responses like that.

WhoTheFIsJeff · 16/09/2015 17:00

The office might not like you shutting the shop but you're entitled to a break surely? What's their suggestion?

Original poster
BlackNoSugar · 16/09/2015 17:05

Their suggestion is to eat at the counter, which is what I do. I'm not entitled to a break as I only work five hours and it's not exactly a taxing job Smile. Loo breaks are, like I said, taken while the shop's open, I just walk away from the cash register and hope if anyone comes in they'll think I'm just 'in the back' sorting or something and that the store's not actually unattended.

OP posts:
Hobbes8 · 16/09/2015 17:22

I used to eat at the counter when I worked on my own in a shop. I was stuck there 12 hours once when the manager due to do the evening shift phoned from France to say he wasn't coming in. What else can you do?

yeOldeTrout · 16/09/2015 17:34

yanbu... but money is disgusting stuff. I'd want to be away from the money box when eating myself.

TheExMotherInLaw · 16/09/2015 19:52

yanbu
I have worked in charity shops as a volunteer and as paid staff, and have always eaten at the counter if I was in alone.
We weren't allowed to close at lunchtime, as it was a very busy period. You were following company policy.
The person eating while serving at a deli counter, however, was breaking food hygiene regulations, and could have been fired on the spot.
I suppose the least awful thing to say to the miserable old bag was that you are ever so short of volunteers, and would she like to sign up to come and help, so that everyone could have a proper lunch break. (sickly smile)

SenecaFalls · 16/09/2015 19:59

you get some weird old bags coming to charity shops...

This is an offensive ageist comment. Angry

ilovesooty · 16/09/2015 20:34

Seneca I'm glad I'm not the only person who thought so.

Fatmomma99 · 16/09/2015 20:36

I would lock the shop and stick a note in the window saying "closed for 10 minutes" and ignore anyone who knocked.

CassieBearRawr · 16/09/2015 21:12

I'd laugh and ignore the silly cow. When she gives up her own time to volunteer there she can do what she likes on lunch. Til then she can jog on.