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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Told off in Sainsburys

204 replies

MassalaQueen · 21/01/2017 13:40

I was shopping in Sainsburys this morning with my 3 year old ds. At the entrance there was an unmanned taster stall with some crisps in tiny bowls and some Robinsons squash in cups. My ds asked if he could have some juice and I helped myself to a cup. The stall holder came along and said you dont just help yourself to the samples. I was embarrassed and apologised. She then continued to reprimand me saying this isn't a cafe you know and tutting. Was her reaction over the top? Surely the point of the sample stalls are to promote the products rather than tell customers off for sampling. AIBU if I report her to customer service?

OP posts:
Mrsmadevans · 22/01/2017 19:56

She was a jobsworth, usually ime anyway they are men short ones but take no notice op yadnbu

Touchmybum · 22/01/2017 20:01

I know you were caught on the hop but the best thing in this situation would have been to tell her politely to shove her juice where the sun don't shine... :)

MoneyPit2016 · 22/01/2017 20:16

Wow. I work for another food retailer (with lovely mention earlier in the thread, ta!) and this woman would be out on her ear.

  1. If you need to leave the sample stand, you remove the food. People need help with allergen info, stick their fingers God knows where and on occasion, cough all over uncovered food. Staff can discreetly bin it and no harm done. We even insist on Food Safety Level 2 training for our sample team.
  1. You don't sell much of the product you sample. You sell the brand (of retailer). The number one question you're asked on these stands is 'where's the toilets?' Smile

So no, you're not being unreasonable. She sucks at her job and is a big meanie.

CaraAspen · 22/01/2017 20:20

She should have been at her post, so to speak, to serve people. She had no right to take that tone with you and if you can be bothered report her for her rudeness. Whatever happened to the customer is always right?

EasterRobin · 22/01/2017 20:26

If I would have done the same if I'd wanted to try the product. If there are samples on a sampling stall, I'm going to assume they are for sampling.

I think I'd be a bit unnerved if I was told off for it.

Pinkdreams09 · 22/01/2017 20:32

YANBU, next time give her a piece of your mind and walk away. I'm quite reluctant about reporting staff to their managers unless they have been outrageously rude, called u names or used offensive/ abusive language.
While it isn't justification for her actions, she may have been having a bad day..you just never know what people are going through, and I don't like to think that I would ever make contribution towards somebody losing their job.
You did nothing wrong, she was a silly woman for reacting that way. Leave it there and move on.

lukeymom · 22/01/2017 20:37

I would speak to customer service about her.You need to complain,the cheeky cow. I have been in Tesco s and they have had free fruit out for kids to take one and eat as they go round the store
Every time we take about 4 or 5 fruits and my 2 boys eat one each and we take the others home. Not once have they complained about us. Also one time they had samples of different types of crusty bread with butter on. We took several pieces each. No one said anything. Sainsbury should be ashamed of themselves.

frozenfairy123 · 22/01/2017 20:48

Ok I've done this job and the position is filled by agency staff and not really connected to Sainsbury's so manager couldn't do much.
She sounds very rude but at the same time, most customers are extremely rude and maybe u were the straw to break the camels back? They have very strict rules about sampling and u can easily get fired for someone helping themselves. Yet u are often expected to keep the product fully stocked on the shelves too and u don't have time to put everything away for a quick trip to the shelf every hour. Personally I wouldn't help myself to samples unless someone is there offering. Xx

MariscallRoad · 22/01/2017 20:56

I am sorry to hear you had surprises in the store.Sad

chuffingtrain · 22/01/2017 22:21

I run my own business, and when I have leaflets and freebies I want them to run out before the show ends.... taking any back with me is bad bad bad, so in her position, she has lost sales, she could have easily said what do you think ? do you like it ? and that way either secured a sale or at the least not pissed off a potential customer ! the shop assistant did wrong and if I where her boss I would want to know so that the issue never happened again

seriouslynoidea · 22/01/2017 22:36

She is there to assist customers or potential customers and the idea that you should have to wait for her to return to stall to do her job in the manner that she suggested was required, as in - 'only sample when she is present', having 'guessed' that was required when it often isn't is ludicrous.
Makes me mad when sales assistants make u or yr DC feel bad. I was in classy London store over sales period, looking thru sales rails for clothes for me, my 5 yr old DS was copying me one rail away causing no trouble or offence (clean fingers, face and clothes) some stupid sales assistant told him off before I could get to him for messing with the clothes and told him his mum "would be very cross with him". He came to me in tears. I steamed into her, how dare she, he was in no ones way doing no wrong and causing no disruption or damage. Told her - and whole department loudly that if she was the best they could offer for assistance having needlessly reduced a little boy to tears she could put all the items back I had chosen I wouldn't lower myself to buy from there. Could almost feel the applause. Felt so good to defend my ds against needless jobsworth. Classy shop? Oh no!

xenoyia6060 · 22/01/2017 23:23

I think you are being unreasonable. Regardless, I would have waited for the person to return. She could have nipped to the loo or something. I personally wouldn't walk up and just take something.

mammamic · 23/01/2017 02:53

If I was store manager, I'd want to know about this. If this happened to OP then it may not be a one off.

And to the 'I wouldn't take without being asked' brigade - yawn

Lots of stores (out local M&S, Waitrose) don't have a rep on the taster section - it's for tasting: so people can taste. It's in the name/concept. If there's nobody there - most people would reasonably assume you should help yourself

myusernamewastaken · 23/01/2017 07:07

Why does everyone seem to want to complain over every little thing....some of you must have too much time on your hands !!!

PrincessLen · 23/01/2017 12:58

Another MN thread in the paper... easy-peasy story for them.
www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/mum-shamed-sainsburys-taking-sample-9675940

Stonewash · 23/01/2017 13:08

Is there going to be a merger of MN and the DM?

SapphireStrange · 23/01/2017 13:28

YANBU. She wasn't doing her job well at all. I'd complain to the store and to whatever company she was representing.

squishee · 23/01/2017 13:45

Not everything in life needs a follow up action,

Or indeed a fred on MN.

GimmeeMoore · 23/01/2017 13:50

Some of you must live in a haze of indignation that you want to complain about minor events
Op has already said she will not complain,she experienced it but doesn't feel warrants complaint
And this notion of don't eat samples unless one intend to purchase.not sure what Debretts says, but common sense is, a sample is there to be sampled without compunction

SplendorSolis · 23/01/2017 14:27

Unmanned sample tables in supermarket, of course I'll sample without waiting for assistance because that's what I assume is the thing to do. I honestly don't get the assistant's attitude, the point of samples is to promote the product and even a low percentage of additional take up is worth it to the promoter. Those who say only sample if you intend to buy? What? You still buy if it tastes like crap?
I get the same wtf feeling in dept stores where the cosmetic/perfume SAs refuse to dole out the free samples I know have been provided by the manufacturers for the purpose of customers to try at home. Use the tester? No, I'm already wearing skin cream or perfume and they may clash or cause a reaction or if the perfume reeks I don't want to be stuck walking around the shops in it.

alfaros · 23/01/2017 15:38

Not everything in life needs a follow up action,or seeing someone reprimanded
@GimmeeMoore - sure, not everything needs a follow up but this certainly does. a person being ashamed in front of a toddler in a public place for an action that should never have landed him/her in the situation in the first place. Even if OP was wrong to take a sample from an unmanned stall, it should have been dealt with appropriately when OP apologised (which she shouldnt have).

@OP - YANBU. I would definitely escalate this matter to the management as the person in charge of the stall was representing the product and also the store.

Ineke · 23/01/2017 17:15

AIBU, means what exactly,

Ineke · 23/01/2017 17:17

YANBU? Please translate ,

littleredrose · 23/01/2017 17:38

I'd have said: "Ok, luv, you've made your point, don't go on. Jobsworth!"

GimmeeMoore · 23/01/2017 17:40

Op has explained that she is not intending to complain,or escalate,or get a mob with dogs
The only folk recommending pursuing complaint and escalating are those who weren't there