Does anyone else get ignored in shops?

[mydogmymate]

This morning I took the dc for a fry up at a local cafe. Loads of people waiting to be served but just two young girls chatting behind the counter and ignoring everyone. This went on for a good 15 minutes, I was there before anyone else, then another woman came out and barked at me to join the queue. I said I’ve been here for 15 minutes and she just looked through me. I was so mad that I grabbed the dc and stormed out.
Next, the chemist. Three people working, no customers, stood there for a good 10 minutes before saying “excuse me” really loud. I was eventually served by a reluctant pharmacist.
Then, the bank. Same thing, being ignored. Two cashiers, no customers.
Is it just me? It seems to be in nearly every chemist I go in. They’re busy and customers get ignored for ages. I have a customer facing job and if I dated like this I’d be sacked 😡

You're not the only one. I find the service varies - it entirely depends on the attitude of the assistant.

Luncharmstrong as for how we dress - I went into a shop one Saturday in casual clothes, maybe a bit too shabby for some and the assistant looked down her nose at me like as though I was barely human. She helped but I could tell that she thought that I wasn't quite the right type of person to grace her department.

On Monday I realised that I needed more of the same so went to the same place in my smart business suit. The same woman helped me and the change in her attitude couldn't have been more different - I was treated cheerfully as though I was a long-lost cousin who'd suddenly come into money and was going to earn her a lot of commission. She didn't recognise me but I recognised her. It was like the scene in 'Pretty Woman'.

My local John Lewis is getting like this believe it or not. I like to go in on a Monday on my day off when it's really quiet. If you want help in certain departments you have to walk up of a group of shop assistants having a good natter and interrupt them otherwise you get ignored. And they don't look best pleased when you do ask for help. I think they see Monday as no customer day! It's putting me off going, been wondering if I should complain.

Please complain it's the only way things change. I complained about my local wilko recently the service in there was becoming appalling! Not only did I get a get a £10 voucher the service since for ALL customers has been much better.

Yes but I've got gobbier in my advancing age

I think it lasts about three minutes now before I find my assertiveness.

If I go to a counter and nobody is there serving, I straight away make eye contact with any visible staff members. It generally works instantly.

If none are nearby, I just call out "Excuse me".

I always say loudly and cheerfully (particularly at the awful self service fills) “Am I stealing these items or are you going to serve me”?

Or in pharmacies “Am I coming behind the counter to nick what I need’ ?

But I say it with a big grin and give them the chance to come back from arseholehood.

Oh and I touch people (not sexually )

Hand on their arm and Hi, I need you to serve me. The touch on their arm actually gets people on your side in body language terms. It’s recommended for deal making, handshake plus arm touch cements a relationship.

I'm 45 and wonder if its a woman over 30 thing and a woman with kids thing.....

I've walked out of restaurants or Shouted 'excuse me I was first' many times .

I was in bra and pants, waving at the woman at the Dorothy Perkins cash desk from the changing room the other day. (Needed a different size)
"Do you need help?"

Its never happened to me, but after 30 seconds I would say "hi, can I order some food"/"excuse me"/"are you serving?"

DH does this kind of passive aggressive hanging back and silently seething thing. Just speak up!

Yes, this happens to me.

I don't go out drinking any more, but when I did, could I ever get served at the bar? I'm not tiny either - did I just look like I was standing there for fun?

I get ignored in shops. I think it's because I look scruffy, and like I don't have any money to buy the things.

Happened to me the other day at a local bakery. Two people were serving, and between them they didn't seem able to put together a simple sandwich and coffee for a couple who were sitting at a table outside, and also make a sandwich for the man in front of me who wanted to take it away. There were only us 2 customers in the shop at that point.

I waited, and waited, and waited some more, while the takeaway sandwich was assembled at the pace of an arthritic snail, while behind me a small queue began to build. Finally sandwich man got his lunch and the woman serving promptly looked RIGHT THROUGH ME and asked the person behind me what they wanted.

I said loudly 'Actually, I'm next', and she looked at me as though I had three heads and I hadn't been one of only two people standing there for about ten minutes.

Mind you, I'm over 50 so I'm clearly invisible 😡

Halsall.* I feel your pain.* Maybe it’s because I’m over 50 that I’ve become invisible

Hmmmm I used to have trouble getting served when I was in my teens. Perhaps there is a service sweet spot between 20 and 50?

Worst ever experience when I was young was in an independent clothes shop: I was 15 and attempting to buy a T shirt. The shop was nowt flash. Anyway, the surly woman behind the till said, “Do you want this taking for?”

Not having a fecking clue what she meant (I’m still not sure, aged 46) I said, “sorry, what?”. In response, she turned to the woman behind me in the queue and said, “God, aren’t kids stupid these days? Aren’t they just STUPID?”

Bloody awful woman.

Yes, I get this. I'm in my 30s. It happens in restaurants too. I often go out for a meal on my own, and if I get served at all in the first place, they often don't come back to ask if I want a main course/dessert/drink or to bring me the bill. And sometimes they take my order and the food never materialises.

I'm under 30 but have 4 kids so

Posted to soon, maybe that's why I'm ignored lol

Always ignored when walking through Debenhams makeup and perfume counters it's as if I am invisible ! Never get asked if I would like to try a product or sample a perfume . I am getting a complex ☹️

i get ignored in my own country when i walk into most shops with my husband - he's english and I'm half asian. They always serve him first and ignore me even though half the time he's only there looking for a seat to sit down! I have become used to it.

While we're on the subject of service,does anyone else get pissed off when shop assistants/receptionists answer the phone when they've got customers waiting? This seems to happen to me every time I go in my GP's surgery. The receptionist approaches me,I open my mouth to speak,then the phone rings. Receptionist then says 'Excuse me,I must answer this' then leaves me standing there for 5 minutes while she deals with the person on the phone. I think this is rude. My opinion is that I was there first,in person,so should take priority. The person on the phone can either call back in a few minutes,or get put on hold until the receptionist can deal with their call. Or is it just me who thinks like this?

hmmmm tough one GranolaLover - i only say this because i have been that caller before when there were people at a desk and i will be forever grateful to the receptionist who answered my call - i needed a dr to run around to my house (close by) as i was bleeding out on the floor (back one day after giving birth) and my husband didn't know what to do - ambulance too far away. The dr ran around and stemmed the bleeding...i survived.

I'm invisible in shops too. Debenhams in the summer comes to mind went to pick up something ide ordered for my mom. It was baking and ide nipped in wearing shorts and a vest top. I'm heavily tattooed and the woman who served me I could see her looking me up and down so I had some fun and put on my poshest voice while being served. That was fun

I think the standard advice for the answer phone first/ serve person in front of you first dilemma is to answer the phone first, though. Something about how the person on the phone doesn't know what's going on, but the person in front of you can see that you'll serve them when you've answered the phone, IIRC.

Oh, waiting to check.in at a hotel reception, being ignored while the receptionist kept answering the phone. I pulled her up on it, as I thought the rule was to deal with the customer in front of you first, but she said that they had to deal with phone calls first! Could not believe it!

Had one once in a restaurant. Nice meal. Asked for the bill. 5 minutes passed. Asked again. Another 5. Asked again. Another 5. So I just got up and left.