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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this wasn't a great example of customer relations?

36 replies

NoisyBrain · 28/07/2017 14:47

Popped into Tesco before work the other morning to grab something for that day's lunch and decided to get a coffee from their self-service Costa machine.

There were two members of staff (a young lad, in his early 20s I'd guess, and a woman of around 50) standing talking next to the machine, which is next to the sandwiches. They both saw me, as I had to walk around them to get my sandwich. Just as I approached the coffee machine, the lad stepped in front of me and got himself a coffee.

AIBU have been Hmm that it didn't even cross his mind that it might be polite to at least offer to let a paying customer go first, and also that the older woman didn't say anything? It's not like he physically elbowed me out of the way but he knew I was going for a coffee. He took bloody ages too, faffing around putting sugar in and finding a lid .

OP posts:
MargaretTwatyer · 28/07/2017 14:52

Er, he was a paying customer too. Tesco won't be giving away break time lattes. How bloody entitled.

SheSaidHeSaid · 28/07/2017 14:54

He was probably on his lunch break and so a paying customer too.

I wouldn't get worked up over it.

DJBaggySmalls · 28/07/2017 14:56

If he is on his break he is paying for his coffee and being timed.

leafv · 28/07/2017 14:58

As pp have said he would have been paying for it. If a Tesco member of staff was in front of me with shopping at a checkout I wouldn't expect to go in front of them.

Thunderthighs11 · 28/07/2017 14:59

He probably hadn't started work yet either and was grabbing a coffee too. One he would also have to pay for
You're very entitled to think you had an automatic right to go first. Staff are do not need to be subservient to customers under any circumstances.

HateSummer · 28/07/2017 15:01

How was he on his lunch break in the morning?! Confused

I think he was rude too op.

Sparklingbrook · 28/07/2017 15:09

Do you know if he was having his break? Presumably while you got your sandwich he was queuing? is this another AIBU where you really had to be there to know.

unfortunateevents · 28/07/2017 15:11

How was he on his lunch break in the morning?! - if it was a 24 hour Tesco he had probably been working all night! Anyway, it's irrelevant what break of the day he was on, Tesco don't give out free drinks to staff or allow staff working to just stop off at the coffee machine when they feel like it, so if he was getting a coffee you can be sure he was on a break, hadn't started work or was just finishing work!

Yes, you were entitled OP - next thing people will be complaining that members of staff pulled out of the supermarket car park in front of them!

Thunderthighs11 · 28/07/2017 15:11

Hatesummer, lots of staff start a lot earlier than opening time so it could've been that or he may have been grabbing a coffee before he started

SheSaidHeSaid · 28/07/2017 15:12

Lunch break, breakfast break, tea break... same thing.

kali110 · 28/07/2017 15:13

So because he works there he's not a paying customer too Hmm

Liadain · 28/07/2017 15:14

Yabu. He was probably on a shift break or hadnt started work yet. I doubt that if actually working he'd be allowed a coffee. He has as much of a right to be there as you do.

MargaretTwatyer · 28/07/2017 15:16

So hate, if staff want to shop where they work do you expect them to let every customer in front of them?

BitOutOfPractice · 28/07/2017 15:18

Really? This made a big enough impression on you to start a thread? Blimey!

bloodymaria · 28/07/2017 15:22

It's obviously been on your mind for a few days, time to let it go!

MoiraRosesMeltdown · 28/07/2017 15:29

I don't think YABU. If they are wearing a Tesco uniform they should be behaving like helpful staff regardless if they are on a break.

AnneBiscuit · 28/07/2017 15:32

I don't get the impression that the OP thinks she should have gone first but that he shouldn't have seen her go to the machine and then jump in front of her as she got there. If that's the case then he was being rude.

Polarbearflavour · 28/07/2017 15:38

I used to be cabin crew. Although not quite the same situation, on my way travelling to and from work by train people would try and ask me questions. My solution was to take my name badge off, plug my iPod in and close my eyes.

When shopping in the terminal I was a paying customer - not employed by the airport. I would never let a passenger jump in front of me!

Liadain · 28/07/2017 15:48

No way should a staff member be expected to behave like one when off duty. I mean, ideally they shouldn't start a brawl in the middle of the shop or something, but they are not owned by the place, their break is their own. Should an off duty member have to go help customers find things?

Off the clock, not their problem.

Flisspaps · 28/07/2017 15:53

So he was already next to the machine - where he'd need to be, to get a coffee?

HateSummer · 28/07/2017 15:55

The lad stepped infront of her as he saw her coming. Yes that's rude.

Original poster
NoisyBrain · 28/07/2017 16:35

HateSummer yes, he stepped in front of me as I approached. He'd spent the last few minutes chatting to the other staff member while I looked at the adjacent lunch stuff so it wasn't like he'd stopped working at that split second.

If we'd both been standing in a queue for the machine I would not have expected him to let me, or any other customers go first. Nonetheless I am rather excited to have received my first ever MN accusation of being entitled - I normally play it really safe! Grin

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 28/07/2017 16:38

So he wasn't chatting to the other staff member while he was queuing for the coffee machine? Because that would make sense if he thought he was next.

Polarbearflavour · 28/07/2017 16:49

I worked at a hospital where staff took priority in the canteen queue! There were signs up.

Original poster
NoisyBrain · 28/07/2017 17:00

Sparkling Nope, no queue. The Tesco in question is blissfully quiet at 8am.

OP posts: