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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Retail workers working today and tomorrow

108 replies

Darkestnight · 23/12/2018 08:16

I wish you good luck and let's hope there are not to many rude customers to deal with on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
I had quite a few yesterday and just smiled at him and that got to him big time. Let's also hear any stories you have on customers what has happened today or the last few days.

OP posts:
Pinkprincess1978 · 23/12/2018 09:06

I was stuck behind someone on Asda yesterday and machine wasn't accepting her card. It did eventually but took two assistants to sort. One assistant kept apologising I said it was fine, not her fault etc. She gave me two £1 coupons off my shopping!

I do wonder how bad customers get if my normal response was deemed worthy for coupons. Made my day though that £2 😍

ShannonRockallMalin · 23/12/2018 09:12

Worked in retail for years so know how you all feel! Hope today and tomorrow aren’t too hellish.

I’m working Christmas Eve but only in a library. Idk who the fuck thinks about popping to the library on Christmas Eve so I suspect we’ll be quiet!

Figmentofimagination · 23/12/2018 09:14

I'm only working a 4 hour shift this afternoon than god. Worked yesterday afternoon and evening as well. Just enjoying the quiet time sat in bed before the storm.

LittleCandle · 23/12/2018 09:16

So far, I have been lucky and not had many wanky customers. I do work in a very small shop in an unusual place which helps. That said, I have had colossal wankers in past jobs. The person who tried to push past me into the shop as we were closing the doors at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, shouting 'But I haven't bought my Christmas presents yet'. Not my problem, mate. I have a home to go to and getting off half an hour early on Christmas Eve means I'm not going to squander the time on a fuckwit like you. I am in tomorrow, but enjoying my day off today. We have just got our last food items and been lovely to the retail staff.

Ffswtf · 23/12/2018 09:16

One last shift early doors Xmas eve, just planning to power through it! I've had some truly lovely customers over the years and some absolute horrors. Merry Christmas to all those working over the festive period, may you all have non-crappy shifts and a glass of something cheeky/warm cosy bed/plate of deliciousness waiting for you at home xxx

Strugglingtodomybest · 23/12/2018 09:17

When I worked in retail, I enjoyed Christmas, I liked the store to be busy -time went faster - and I found people to be much friendlier too.

I was in asda yesterday for far too long, and I liked that everyone was having a bit of a laugh over how busy it was. Lots of smiling and apologies and I exchanged a few comments with other shoppers about taking our life's in our hands. My friend who works there also commented on what a lovely atmosphere there was. I think being able to hear the band in the entrance playing carols probably put people in a festive mood.

Sunshineandalltherainbows · 23/12/2018 09:18

I do feel sorry for retail workers who have to deal with rude customers there is just no need. Every person that I’ve seen working has been lovely apart from one woman in marks and Spencers who clearly didn’t want to be working and was so exceptionally rude to both customers and other younger staff I was actually quite shocked.

iamthere123 · 23/12/2018 09:19

Went to my local Morrison’s yesterday and it was totally heaving and every single customer and every single worker in Morrison’s were smiley and lovely. I hope that continues as I was pleasantly surprised and it made what could have been a rubbish trip into something quite enjoyable.

Strongbeatsskinny · 23/12/2018 09:20

I would just like to say to all retail workers stay calm smile and ignore the grinches out there today and tomorrow. You certainly don’t have it easy some of you will only get Christmas Day off because most shops are open on Boxing Day.

anonymousss · 23/12/2018 09:20

used to work in m+s in store and worked Christmas Eve 3 years ago.

Women were fighting over the turkeys I was reducing ( only about 80p off ) and I came home with bruises and scratches. People were pulling and pushing me and snatching reduced items out of my hand. It was really claustrophobic and awful ( they were about 30 all in a circle around me ) it was horrendous! I never worked in retail again after that. Absolute vultures.

Peridot1 · 23/12/2018 09:22

Yes - best wishes to everyone working with the general public be it retail, hospitality, nhs front line, etc. My sister works in retail and hates Christmas because of rude idiots.

I’m off to pick up our turkey and veg from a local farm shop shortly. That will be busy I’m sure but hopefully they don’t have to deal with too many idiots.

I refuse to shop on Boxing Day as really feel the shops don’t need to open and it’s so unfair on the staff.

iamthere123 · 23/12/2018 09:22

Um ... @shannonrock last year I took all my marking and data to the library in Xmas eve - partly because my brother was working so I kept him company and partly cos I really needed somewhere quiet where I could waste my day on social media!

Aaaahfuck · 23/12/2018 09:22

I worked for a supermarket while doing my MA and for a bit afterwards. I lived 300 miles away from my family (with my partner) so Christmas could be hard as I didn't get to see them. We weren't allowed leave in December. As a result I'm so appreciative of retail workers at this time of year. I'd also like to see all shops closed on boxing day. No one needs to shop then. Let the workers have another day off.

Youcouldbemysilversprings · 23/12/2018 09:23

I worked in a supermarket as a student, I have really fond memories of Christmas, Xmas hits in a constant loop, eating sweets from the 'damaged goods' section in the stockroom, and generally customers were in great form, baring the odd grumpy sod who wanted to good a turkey in a microwave bag!
Office Christmas's just don't compare, good luck to you all today!

GCAcademic · 23/12/2018 09:24

I had a shop assistant in house of fraser yesterday actually seem taken back when i wished her a happy Christmas makes me wonder what shit she had to put up with yesterday!

I can still remember the blatant relief and gratitude of the Ocado driver last year when I didn't get cross about the substitutions. He had had a full day of people shouting at him, some of the things he told me they'd said we're utterly vile. He'd also had shopping actually thrown at him. He told me I was a really nice person. For not shouting over some missing snacks or assaulting him! Poor bloody bloke.

claracluck78 · 23/12/2018 09:26

Yesterday I was in a local large Sainsburys which wasn't especially busy. The trolley guy made a couple of chatty remarks to my kids as we were leaving and then had a bit of a 'make sure you are good for Father Christmas' joke.

After loading the car and putting my trolley back, he came up and said 'Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today'.

It made me all fuzzy and then a bit sad that he said thank you to me because so many others won't have said hello to him.

Merry Christmas to all of you working today.

thegreylady · 23/12/2018 09:27

Our local Morrison’s had a Santa on a sleigh at the door to chat to children and his ‘elves’ were offering tangerines or apples to all children. My grandson , aged 9, was delighted to have a free orange!

Theweasleytwins · 23/12/2018 09:27

I used to work in a supermarket bakery. People got annoyed when we ran out of things and got surrounded when trying to reduce food

Mudmonster · 23/12/2018 09:29

@StyleOfTheTimes I work in pharmacy too. On Friday a patient shouted at me because I told her the script she was requesting wouldn’t be ready till next Thursday/Friday, like it was my fault the surgery was shut for two days.
Or the pervert who was buying Viagra who asked me if I wanted to take one with him Hmm
I love my job but Christmas is the worst, I’m working tomorrow and I expect to be doing emergency supplies all day.

Violetroselily · 23/12/2018 09:29

I used to work at M&S (in the food hall) over Christmas. It was always manic but people were mostly in good spirits and we'd have fun.

DemToes · 23/12/2018 09:30

Is it me, or do the shops seem quieter this year? I went shopping in a massive regional shopping centre on Friday and it was ok. Food shop yesterday wasn't too bad either.

Are people leaving it to the last minute, more organised or a sign of the times?

anonymousss · 23/12/2018 09:31

@DemToes everyone's doing their shopping online now, that's why!

IndianaMoleWoman · 23/12/2018 09:38

The lady on the checkout in Tesco yesterday looked exhausted. She forgot to ask if I needed any help packing and seemed really panicked and apologetic when she realised. She must be under a lot of pressure to make sure she asks every customer, even if they’re clearly managing perfectly fine by themselves. I may be overthinking it but it stuck with me all day. Something needs to be done about our ridiculous, target-driven workplaces across the board.

Namastethefuckawayfromme · 23/12/2018 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Slipperboots · 23/12/2018 09:46

I had a friend who worked in HMV and people always ran in 10 minutes before they closed and then screamed at them they had ruined Christmas.
My friend gave them a mouthful every time, wish I could have seen it.