sales assistant sniffs clothing I returned to the store

[shethinksistink]

I have namechanged for this as I find it very embarrassing.

I went shopping end of last week, found trousers and a top I liked, wasn’t sure of the sizes and couldn’t be bothered trying them on, so took both items in 2 sizes. At home I tried the bigger sizes on first, they fitted great so didn’t even bother trying the smaller sizes. Bagged up the 2 smaller sized items and set them aside to return yesterday.

Friend arrives 9am and we drive into town and my first port of call is to bring my returns back. Shop assistant packs out the two things, looks at my receipt, starts checking the numbers off against the tags then picks up the top and sniffs at it. Not in a discreet way, the exact same way you’d sniff at the armpits to check if it needs to go in the wash, blatantly! She didn’t look happy. I hate to do the exaggerated “I was shocked to the core” mumsnet thing, but I was. I have genuinely never felt so shocked, embarrassed and dumbstruck in a shop in my life. I am hyper vigilant about personal hygiene and the thought I would return smelly items made my recoil in horror. But I hadn’t even tried them on, so I was totally confused. There was a queue a mile long behind me at the desk. Everyone could see and hear this.

In a total fluster I ask the sales assistant what the problem is, she replies in quite a disdainful tone “I just thought I smelled cigarette smoke”. I don’t smoke and neither does anyone else in my house but I was just massively relieved it wasn’t a BO smell. So I jump in and say that it can’t be smoke as I don’t smoke and my house is smoke free. And she again replies disdainfully with “well I can definitely smell it” with a kind of roll-eye facial expression. The whole exchange had a hostile kind of undertone to it. At this point it dawns on me my friend smokes in her car all the time, just not when others are in it. No doubt she’d smoked 2 or 3 on the drive down to my place. The bag with the items had been in the car for around half an hour. Yes, they no doubt had a second hand stale cigaretty smell to them.

But even at that. I was appalled that any sales assistant would sniff an item of clothing in such a blatant manner then bemoan the fact the smell wasn’t to her liking. 40-a-day smokers are actually allowed to return clothes. As are dog owners, chip pan owners, curry cooks, people who cook fish in their homes, people who don’t shower daily and so on. While I sympathise with stores who no doubt get some ponging items of clothing returned, I have never ever witnessed a sales assistant do an in-your-face sniff test in front of a long queue of onlookers. AIBU to find this an appalling lack of manners on the part of the store/sales assistant?

If things must be sniffed, shouldn’t it been done discreetly? Then again, I doubt stores can refuse to accept items of clothing that have been stored in the houses of smokers or pet owners or people who own a chip pan or fry fish or are painting the skirting boards with gloss or people who wear cheap crappy perfumes. So why the hell did the sales assistant sniff my fucking top? lol

For the record the whole thing knocked me so sideways I didn’t say a word to the sale assistant. I just left the store as quick as I could. Checked with my friend and yes she had smoked in the car that morning (and it would be fair to say she smokes daily in her car as she spends 3-4hours per working-day on average on the road, wouldn’t surprise me if she smokes 50 ciggies a week in her car). My mood was so fucked up I abandoned my shopping trip and came straight home.

Calmed down in the afternoon, and called the head office of the store. They were appalled and assured me it would be dealt with. I had the name of the sales assistant as it was on the return receipt. Asked me to put the whole event in writing and send it to the head office, which I have done and they’ll get back to me in the new year. I then called the actual store and spoke with a manager who was equally sympathetic and horrified, apologised on behalf of the sales assistant and assured me it would be dealt with and wouldn’t happen to anyone again.

So AIBU to consider having a little trip into town tomorrow morning, finding the sniffing sales assistant and just politely ask her if she meant to be so rude she meant to spoil my day and embarrass me to the core then she should be wholeheartedly congratulated as it worked a treat. And tell her that I hope after head office and the store manager are finished with her that she feels half as rotten as I felt yesterday morning. Then just wish her a happy new year and smile and leave.

Or am I just being childish and petty and should leave it at the written complaint and the 2 phone calls?

And yes, even a few minutes exposure can leave cigarette smoke smell depending on the material, and it's a foul, foul smell.

I wouldn't expect to buy 'new' clothes and find they smell of smoke, I think you were extremely lucky to get a refund

I live in Portugal, every shop, cafe, restaurant, even hospital and government dept has a complaints book you can ask for and write in. You'd have a great time here op

@ILostItInTheEarlyNineties..lmao! That would be me boogeying on the dance floor, with my hands above my head and my price tag out!

Haven't read the full thread - I rather wish head office had said they would look into the way you were addressed. Wish they'd also backed up the right of the assistant to check not just whether an item had been warn but whether it was damaged in any way, such as smelling of smoke.

Next time make sure anything you want to return just because you don't want it is in mint condition.

Worn not warn

I hate the word but OP you sound unhinged.

Fucking hell, overreaction much?

You buy clothes in 2 sizes as you are too lazy to try them on, then return one size stinking of smoke. I think YABU here, also ringing head office; are you trying to get the sales assistant sacked, or just taking out your anger at some other issue on the poor lady/man.

The clothes aren't saleable. They smell of cigarette smoke, and if the store is something like Sweaty Betty, then yes that makes them completely unsaleable.

She wasn't very polite, no, but nor is returning new items after saturating them in stale tobacco smoke. I appreciate it was an oversight on your part, and she wasn't polite enough, but your actions weren't courteous, either.

I find the level of exaggeration around just how bad smoke smells very high Yes it's not a nice smell to a non-smoker, but it's not that bad in trace or second hand amounts.

It is to me. It literally makes me heave. Not everyone experiences things identically to you - and I'm afraid dismissing numerous people when they tell you their feelings and sensations over something is, yes, rude.

YABU. If I were her and you returned to the store to tell me that I had ruined your day by checking the clothes, I'd probably be able to contain my laughter but definitely think you were unhinged.
This is partly why I could not work in retail, dealing with customers such as the OP would tip me over the edge.

My mood was so fucked up

You do sound pretty fucked up to be fair.

So AIBU to consider having a little trip into town tomorrow morning, finding the sniffing sales assistant and just politely ask her if she meant to be so rude she meant to spoil my day and embarrass me to the core then she should be wholeheartedly congratulated as it worked a treat. And tell her that I hope after head office and the store manager are finished with her that she feels half as rotten as I felt yesterday morning. Then just wish her a happy new year and smile and leave

Evidence of how fucked up you are. You need to get counselling or something.

Wow.

You're a whole different flavour of precious.

Your post also seems horribly vindictive. Therefore, in answer to your question, I would have to say that yes - you are indeed being unreasonable. Thank you for asking. HTH.

Your friend is right to feel embarrassed - she smokes in the house and in the car too. My OH does not smoke in the house. He does however smoke in his car. His car literally stinks of fags. It is really unpleasant & I don't like travelling in it. The smell lingers for ages & it really is not nice.
YABVU to expect customers to want to buy new yoga gear that smells of 2nd hand smoke.
Everybody on here has said YABU so you need to accept that YABU & as people have said probably got the shop assistant in no end of trouble, and possibly the sack.
You are blowing this out of all proportion.

Complete OTT reaction. How would you have felt, OP, had you gone into the store, picked up a garment and it stank of smoke or BO. Like most of us you would be horrified and would not buy the garment, even possibly taking it to a member of staff to complain. THAT is why she sniffed your returns. It's perfectly normal, it has happened to all of us. I suggest you only buy online in future to avoid a reoccurrence

I find the level of exaggeration around just how bad smoke smells very high Yes it's not a nice smell to a non-smoker, but it's not that bad in trace or second hand amounts.

Second-hand smoke causes cancer - this effect is well-established. Third-hand smoke as residue on clothing and soft furnishings is also carcinogenic, and is the focus of a lot of current research to establish exactly how much exposure is harmful, particularly to young children.

Just because you personally don't find the smell of cigarette smoke repellent does not mean other people ought to find it acceptable, nor does it make it harmless.

I've been riveted from Bluewater to Blackhorse Road. Usually a boring journey as a passenger but not today thanks to this thread! My, what a couple of delicate flowers you are.

Marks and Spencer's did this to me, haven't shopped there since!

You know what op you are right. If clothes returned smell of cigarette smoke it shouldn't be a problem. We'd all be happy to pick up a new dress for cousin Helen's wedding with that lovely tobacco smell attached. Maybe accompanied with a fake tan smear around the neck so as no need to accessorise with jewellery!

I hope nothing ever really happens to you OP. Massive over reaction.

Imagine that poor girl gets fired now because YOU returned clothes that stank of smoke.
Imagine you took home some clothes that stank of smoke - how much would you complain then.
Over reaction, pathetic and entitled

If the clothing did smell of smoke, then I think the shop is within their rights to refuse to offer a refund as goods should be returned in the condition they are sold.

You have already taken this too far. The shop is within their rights to check for signs of wear / use especially given the time of year when people often wear items and return them.

YABU and the fact that you seem so keen to get the sales assistant into trouble is rather sad.

The incident knocked you sideways? Seriously?

This thread is great

Wow that sales assistant sounds a right cheeky mare. Fancy pointing out something stinks of smoke when it actually does stink of smoke.

The head office and store manager are humouring you.the assistamt was doing her job and there is no way she will get in trouble for that.