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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have pulled her up on this

101 replies

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 12:53

So I was in Waitroise shopping and as I have a my waitroise card can get a free tea or coffee. So I paid for my shopping and was given my cup to take to the self service machine. The queue was long so the lady on customer services told us there was another machine at the deli counter
I arrived at the deli counter and the person serving started to make the tea.
A deli counter customer arrived and she left my tea to go and serve the customer. It wasn't a quick transaction so I started to get edgy as my car park ticket was about to run out.
So she than left deli counter customer to finish off my tea. She than apologized and pointed out she had only one pair of hands. I said that she should have finished serving me as I was 1St.
So I was I be reasonable to say this or was I rude as I wasn't actually paying for the tea.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 09/02/2017 15:20

What a shame you weren't there as a mystery shopper. That would have given you an ideal platform for giving Waitrose essential feedback regarding the employee's inadequate performance...

I can't believe the pp who suggested a written complaint.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 09/02/2017 16:16

The tea and coffee isn't free at all though is it? Waitrose are expensive. You've paid for that drink 10 times over if you've done your weekly shop there.

With that in mind, YANBU at all. The assistant was serving OP first, she should have handed over the tea & let OP decide how strong and/or hot she wanted to drink it before heading off to slice ham. Both were paying customers.

Next time OP, try Aldi. They may throw your shopping at you but you'll at least have enough money left over to buy yourself a decent coffee on the way home!

Cherrycokehead · 09/02/2017 16:21

You probably made her feel a bit shit all day - hardly worth it over a cup of tea, and it's not very brave to tell someone off who's not allowed to respond to you. The poor woman was doing her best with what she had. People like you make jobs like that, that much harder.

Sparklingbrook · 09/02/2017 16:31

I can't really understand queuing for a hot beverage in a paper cup free or otherwise.

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 16:54

Well cherry if she had responded to me instead of wandering off mid transaction without warning than she wouldn't be feeling a bit shit. Plus I wouldn't be feeling a bit shit because I apparently made her feel a bit shit.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 09/02/2017 16:57

Seems like everyone is feeling a bit shit.

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 16:59

OP posts:

Cherrycokehead · 09/02/2017 17:35

'Wandering off'? I thought she was rushing trying to serve two customers at the same time? One whom at least was being rude and impatient... why are you trying to make it sound as though she was drifting about in a oblivious sort of way?

kali110 · 09/02/2017 17:59

I think you were rude for nothing.
So she served another customer whilst the tea brewed? Sounds like she was managing customers whilst she was on her own.
There was no need to be rude to her at all.

Aworldofmyown · 09/02/2017 18:31

No cherry she was serving OP first. If you are going to attempt to serve two people simultaneously then you need to make them aware of that. Not just 'wander off' (because that is what she did).

I have worked in customer service and retail for years and whilst customers can be hideous I am increasingly experiencing really poor service in shops. I blame the companies, not the staff, inadequate training.

Cherrycokehead · 09/02/2017 18:46

aworldofmyown Well in that case, be rude to the company's head office and not the individual staff member. I worked in retail many years ago and I still clearly remember individual instances of customers being rude to me although I very much doubt they remember it. To them it was just a case of having a bad day or being in a hurry but often it would leave me nearly in tears. The OP has asked if she's been unreasonable and I think it was unnecessary to tell the woman off. Maybe just be a bit kinder next time... it's only a cup of tea.

Trifleorbust · 09/02/2017 19:04

I'm with you, OP. Finish serving a customer unless there is a cooking time on their food. It's a cup of tea so all she had to do was give it to you.

Aworldofmyown · 09/02/2017 19:16

cherry the OP was not rude. The deli assistant stated that 'she only had one pair of hands' the OP replied that 'she should have served her first as she was first'

Valid criticism and I would prefer that than a complaint to head office - what do you think would happen then? I suspect a bollocking from his/her line manager. This way she can decide whether she would do the same in the future.

Sparklingbrook · 09/02/2017 19:19

For all we know the Deli lady may have been spoken to by her boss because there had been complaints about people waiting too long to be served previously, so then when she is making tea too she tries to do it all.

Or she doesn't usually work on the Deli, or is new and hasn't had sufficient training or, well just about anything really!

She has most likely forgotten all about it.

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 19:35

I was the only customer when I handed her my cup. The other customer must have arrived after she got teabag and pressed for water. If she had said I am sorry I need to serve this customer I could have said sorry I am in a hurry just pop some milk in and I will sort it. The other customer may have been delayed 30 seconds. Instead I was kept waiting a couple of minutes and the other customer a minute also.
Anyway I will forget about it and hopefully she has too.

OP posts:

Botanicbaby · 09/02/2017 19:43

Greenfolder has nailed it.

It really isn't worth this angst for a "free" cup of tea. Make tea at home, enjoy it more.

It's not pleasant trying to serve a few people at once esp if one is getting impatient and shifting their feet because their parking ticket was about to run out. Deli staff weren't to know & that's not their fault. She sounded harassed, I sympathise.

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 19:55

She had no need to serve two people at once. She choose too. The other customer was just waiting her turn. When I I arrive at a counter and the assistant is busy I don't expect her to serve me immediately. I wait my turn.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 09/02/2017 19:59

I think it may be time to

a) Complain to the store
b) Let it go

PersisFord · 09/02/2017 20:01

I have a friend who works in Waitrose and says the free coffee causes ENDLESS trouble. They ran out of lids once as a delivery didn't arrive....it was absolute chaos! Loads of stroppy middle class people slopping coffee on each other and tutting.

gandalf456 · 09/02/2017 20:12

Why was the deli woman making the tea? I thought they were all self service? They are at.ours.

Unwise of her, perhaps, to serve another customer. I work in retail. Sometimes it's tempting to do that but when I have done, it's never quick. It's usually when I am interrupted, though. I have learnt to say I'm still serving sorry. Usually, they're fine.

I don't think it's right to tell you she's rushed off her feet but it isn't her fault because management are slashing staff to the bone

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 20:25

Not sure why it's behind the deli counter. Would be better if it was self service.
Anyway not going to complain. It is over but may still be tempted to reply to posts.

OP posts:

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 09/02/2017 20:28

She didn't look rushed off her feet to me. She was reducing cheese when I arrived and I patiently waited for her to finish what she was doing. Thinking back maybe she was under pressure to carry out these reductions.

OP posts:

greenfolder · 10/02/2017 06:54

Free tea and coffee was a nice idea for those few branches of Waitrose with a coffee shop. It still caused issues cos yoi are giving away for free what you should be selling.
Then you listen to the chuntering and decide everyone should have free coffee.
Our local waitrose is small. The only exit is blocked by idiots queuing up for their free coffee and 2 stools to sit on. You then have people trying to carry shopping or push a trolley whilst clutching a hot drink. Its not even like there is somewhere nice to sit outside. Then there are random cups left everywhere.
Kill it Waitrose. If you must give everyone a free bag of coffee to use at home.

gandalf456 · 10/02/2017 11:00

They should make it so.you have to buy something and not be allowed a cup.til you're going home

Original poster

Catlady1976 · 10/02/2017 11:59

That is precisely how I did it gandalf. I paid for my shopping and requested the cup which is then filled at self service normally or at deli if there are issues like yesterday.
After not wise to carry drinks around whilst shopping.

OP posts:

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