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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If one more shop assistant, hair dresser or anyone else in the service industry ask this I might scream

100 replies

kittypop · 17/12/2018 20:02

Are you organised? Everywhere you go - doesn't matter where. Has any man ever been asked this. It's getting on my wick now.

OP posts:
katseyes7 · 17/12/2018 21:17

slashlover My mother used to take "how are you?" as a question and not a greeting. She'd stand there regaling them with her ailments, real or otherwise, for as long as they'd put up with it....

OKhitmewithit · 17/12/2018 21:22

@FadedRed genius Grin

I’m adopting this.

FascinatingCarrot · 17/12/2018 21:27

Yeah, that didnt come across OP

kittypop · 17/12/2018 22:09

Biggerknickersagain no of course it wouldn't make any difference who asked - just haven't encountered as many teachers, doctors or lawyers.

OP posts:
blackteasplease · 17/12/2018 22:10

Just small talk! They don't actually want to know. It's just something to say. And you ask the same thing back!

kittypop · 17/12/2018 22:12

When I'm asked the next time I might a half hour monologue of all the things I have done and all the things I've still to do!

OP posts:
BoswellandForshort · 17/12/2018 22:30

My hairdresser and I have a pact to never mention Christmas to each other. He’s sick of talking about it all day every day. Instead we think up the least festive conversations we can. He’s great

Kintan · 17/12/2018 22:38

OP how many hairdresser's appointments are you having for this to be a problem?!

Almondcandle · 17/12/2018 22:41

Why is your son’s friend volunteering in a shop? Is it for work experience?

kittypop · 17/12/2018 22:46

Almondcandle he isn't volunteering - he's employed - someone else suggested he might be volunteering. He used to volunteer when he was younger, although not at the same place.

OP posts:
Biggerknickersagain · 17/12/2018 22:47

@Kittypop

Just wondered, us in the service industry tend to feel a bit battered at this time of year!

I suppose the opposite of are you ready for Christmas from workers would be
"Oh isn't it awful you have to work (insert festive day here)! Still at least the money will be good!"

If we're going for the half an hour monologue when asked if you're ready for Christmas, when I'm asked the above then I may start saying
"Yes, it's shit, no I don't want to do it but I know it's part of my job, and I don't get any extra pay, so if you could not be a twat, I'd be endlessly appreciative" Xmas Wink

Could suggest a cross industry/customer trade off?
Staff won't ask if you're ready for Christmas if customers don't say it's awful you're working X day - while using the bloody service.
Sounds fair to me Xmas Grin

And btw, I'm no where near ready, and I'm scared.

FairNotFair · 17/12/2018 22:51

Ha, the anaesthetist who put me under for my hernia repair surgery on Friday asked me this.

Hey, so did mine last Tuesday, Mrs!

Frequency · 17/12/2018 22:51

I'm a hairdresser and doing a few shifts in my old job (shop assistant) over Christmas. I get asked if I am ready for Christmas roughly 11 times an hour. When it's raining or cold or snowing I get told the weather is horrid around 11 times an hour. In summer, I get told it's too hot around 11 times an hour.

I smile, I reply and get on with my day. People like to talk when they're interacting with others.

If you came to me for your hair done what would you prefer me to talk to you about considering you're a stranger?

Troels · 17/12/2018 22:58

Grin Dd asked me if I was organized ready for Christmas when she came in from school she's 13 It's being taught in high school

StoppinBy · 17/12/2018 22:59

I think you need to get over yourself.... it is small talk, kind of like mentioning the weather and these people actually don't care one iota if you are ready or not.

They are trying to pretend they are interested in you but the minute you walk out the door they forget that they even asked you.

tillytrotter1 · 17/12/2018 23:00

Well, are you? Organised that is.
There are people with real problems of all kinds and you're actually wasting time stropping about this? Get off the keyboard and organise yourself.

A slight sideline, I used to love it in August and random strangers would say, if the children were playing up, 'Bet you can't wait for school to start again!' One of us would reply, 'No, we love the time with our children in the Summer holidays, it isn't long enough!' We never told them that we were both teachers!

Almondcandle · 17/12/2018 23:06

Well then you describing someone who works in a shop as not being able to get a job suggests you think shop work is not a real job.

Cherrysherbet · 17/12/2018 23:07

I work in a supermarket.

I don’t have to be friendly. My manager wouldn’t notice if I was or not. I chat to the customers because I try to make their day a little bit happier. We get a lot of elderly people in who don’t see another soul for the rest of the week.

It’s nice to be nice. I make a difference to some with my cheery chit chat. Sorry ( not sorry) it annoys you so much.

Btw your son does have a job. Like me, he works in a shop.

Lucky for people like you, that people like me make it possible for you to do your Christmas shop.

Seasons greetings.

ItsThisOneThing · 17/12/2018 23:14

Yes it drives me crazy!! And I know people are just being polite and friendly and I'm being unreasonable, but it fills me with murderous rage!!

BerylStreep · 17/12/2018 23:49

Our folk in my local supermarket are a mixed bunch, but all friendly.

One has clearly taken the need to engage to heart, and he comments on EVERY single item that he scans. 'Oooh, that looks like a nice deodorant' (whilst opening it for a sniff). Funnily enough, he is actually my favourite when I'm in the mood. The poor guy had the misfortune to ask me about my New Year a couple of years ago when I had just lost my closest friend on NYD. He was very discreet as I dripped tears down my face.

Another laughs so raucously you can hear her all over the shop and tells jokes and anecdotes that are not even borderline racist, but I think she genuinely doesn't realise.

And my favourite one is a really nice guy, who chats away, and although he may have had the same conversation 40 times that day already, doesn't make you feel like it.

There was one who I hated, who droned on and on about his degree, and expressed surprise when I told him that I had done my masters at the same university in a similar subject. It was clear he was shocked that they had ever allowed such elderly and uncool people to enter his fiefdom, and probably had me down as a liar. When I saw him I would actively seek out another till, no matter how long the queue. You could still hear him droning though.

Apart from him, and I think he went quite some time ago, I really do quite enjoy shopping at our supermarket. Please keep up the small talk, I for one quite enjoy it, and I promise to keep my answers short and generic Grin

bringincrazyback · 17/12/2018 23:50

I play along when I'm asked that, because people are just trying to be friendly (and, as a PP has pointed out, they're not obligated to do so), but if I'm having a crap day I must admit I do often groan inwardly at the question. I abhor small talk in general, tbh, although I think I hide it well as I'm a polite/friendly person, at least by outward appearances. lol

jessstan2 · 18/12/2018 03:08

Well kittypop, I won't ask if you are organised.

By the way, have you got everything for Christmas ?
(Ducks and runs)

Meangirls36 · 18/12/2018 13:06

Haha I am soo not organised not bothered with a blessed thing at all

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 18/12/2018 13:57

Would you rather that your hairdresser's opening gambit was "what are your thoughts on Palestine?" or "tell me about your most traumatic childhood experience?". It's just small talk. It's how it works.

Usernumbers1234 · 18/12/2018 14:02

Asked at least 6 men in the last 48 hours if they are ready / organised for Christmas

Why is everything round here twisted into a feminist agenda these days. The important stuff is lost in a fog of nonsense.

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