AIBU?
To think this wasn't a great example of customer relations?
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 
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 .
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.
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!
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.
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! 
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.