AIBU to think this will get the shop assistant into trouble?

[Ashlyn]

DS1 cycled to the local shop to get some batteries for my DS2 (DS1 is 12 and DS2 is 7 and has autism) cut a long story short, the batteries were for one of his toys (DS2's) and he wouldn't have been okay without it and I have recently had my gallbladder out and really didn't feel up to going and getting some batteries, so I said DS could get his favourite cheese for his packed lunches for school (it's smoked cheese that's rather expensive and I don't ever really let him get it as he's the only one and half gets thrown away as goes hard, etc.) I know this all sounds ridiculous btw anyway, he got there, the batteries were more than I expected, so he went to put the cheese back and the girl said she would cover the cost.

DS says she didn't get any money but just let him have it (DS was very thankful to her) I assume this girl didn't cover the cost, she just let him have and although that's lovely of her and I'd love her to know I appreciate what she did, I don't want her to get into trouble and I feel like if I tried to find out who she was to say thanks/pay the money, she'd get into trouble.

DH says it's just polite to go into the shop and explain and pay for the cost. He says he doubts she'll be in trouble.

AIBU?

She would get in Trouble in the shop I work in unless she could prove she had paid. I would go in with son so he can point out the right assistant and quietly thank her and offer to pay out of earshot of management.

Just leave it. She may have decided to do one kind thing a day or something. If you go back there saying things you will probably cause an issue.

Well I do think it would be nice to go back and pay her. I live in Mexico and my local shopkeepers often offer to let me pay the difference later on. I have such a foul memory that I prefer not to accept, but isn't that just common decency and showing loyalty to their clientele?

Our local shop always used to do this, but on the expectation that you paid up next time you were in. How much money was it?

Some people have done this for me, and I'm always extremely grateful and thank them. I think some people are just kind.

Why would you want to cause trouble? This is no big drama. Just let it go as someone having done something nice for your son. You go talking, she'll probably lose her job.

Spread the karma by doing a couple of random acts of karma your self

If we're talking about a properly small local shop, it would be polite to go back with DS sometime soon, have him point her out, and if there's no one around either give her the cash if she did pay or else have her ring up the same item and pay without taking it.

If it's a bigger store, trying to pay could just cause problems, so leave it. Either way definitely don't go back and try to to explain the situation to anyone else, that would most likely get her in some sort of trouble.

I'd let it drop and pay it forward instead.

That definitely could potentially get her in trouble, but she may well have covered it when balancing the till at the end of her shift/day; if the item were rung up, it must be accounted for or there would be obvious money missing. It's also possible that she has the authority to do favours for regulars. That's not terribly unusual at privately run shops as it keeps customers loyal (for good reason!).

Still, it's not worth potentially causing her trouble for such a sweet gesture. That would be so awful!

You could send her boss/the management some sort of note letting them know that [the girl at the till on Date/Time] went above and beyond to be kind to your DC, but leave out exactly what happened. Is that possible, or is it a large shop with loads of tills?

Even if it's a large shop, you could always contact management and let them know that one of their workers went out of her way to help your DC. Let them know how much you appreciate it, how lovely it is to be treated so kindly, that she stands out in your mind as an example, and that because of her you will choose to frequent their shop loyally. Those are very powerful words to a shop owner/manager, and it's something every one would want to hear.

I don't think you should pay it, as that would likely mess up the till balance, and if you're not able to give it directly to the sweet girl herself, then your gesture could out her and run the risk of getting her in trouble again.

I do think such a sweet thing deserves recognition of some kind, but you just can't risk getting her in trouble. What a lovely girl! Stories like these make me so happy.

Was it a local corner shop? Could she have been the daughter of the owner. If you do see her again i would thank her.

Also i am surprised your child was sold batteries when i cant even buy teaspoons without ID.

Please don't repay her kindness by getting her fired

As a shop assistant, I would say it highly unlikely she has personal possessions ie purse behind the counter/till, and would as we all do, get purse and pay for personal purchases at end of shift before cashing up.

As a shop assistant, I would say it highly unlikely she has personal possessions ie purse behind the counter/till, and would as we all do, get purse and pay for personal purchases at end of shift before cashing up.