"I don't work here"

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This is light-hearted. I am just curious if this happens to other people too.

I worked in retail and hospitality for well over a decade so I have permanent smile on my face even when I am angry, can orient myself in any shop immediately and I guess I have something else too, because "Sorry, I don't work here" is a sentence I end up saying quite often!

The best example. Went to John Lewis to look for some inspiration in a home department. I was switching cushions on one sofa, where my DH sat, to see which colours and patterns work best together. I had to pop into a nearby aisle few times to get different cushions (I put them all back after, I am not a dick).
3 separate people asked me "Excuse me! Where is x?" They all "Oh! I thought...", apologised and thanked me (all very polite) when I said I don't work there, but it's x aisles down. All in a span of 15 min.

I had no uniform, clothes didn't resemble JL in any way. It happened in other shops too! Once I ended up helping lady in Debenhams chosing a colour of a coat she wanted. She was lovely though.

Is that it? Is the retail and hospitality worker in me forever and so strong that people just can tell?
You know, like in a movies where people can easily identify cops or former cops?

I am retraining to a non retail/hospitality management position.

Firstly, AIBU to worry they will all just think I am a lost shop assistant who accidentally entered their offices?😂 It obviously "shines" from me.

Secondly, AIBU to be curious if this happens to other people from other professions too?

This happened to me a lot in my 20s in clothes shops. I’m not at all approachable and was quite brusque in response. Didn’t seem to stop people. I find it quite odd and somewhat rude. I’ve never once asked someone who didn’t work somewhere for assistance. It’s normally glaringly obvious and even when it isn’t it doesn’t take long to discern who is staff. It mainly happened to me when I was in office gear but in the shop within office hours but not always. Once I was asked whilst in jeans and carrying a rucksack - I was pretty rude that time. I think it’s more to do with being young and female.

This is like a reverse, but when I (not that often) have been looking for something in a shop, I always seem to find the person who says - Sorry, I don't work here...

An equal mix of men and women. I don't know why they look so helpful...

When I worked in shops in a shopping centre and went into other ones before /after work people always asked for help. Despite having a uniform of a different shop.

I'm often asked for directions by drivers, I'm a smiley middle-aged woman so I suppose I look approachable.

The only problem is that I have a "furrin" accent (Brit in America) so as soon as I give them the correct directions, I can tell they don't believe me and probably ask someone else up the road!

Why would I bother giving directions if I was a tourist? I know the area!

I reckon you can always spot an off duty copper or a military person. And a plain clothes priest.

I haven't worked in retail since I graduated many moons ago but someone stopped me in Next to ask for shoes in a particular size and when I said I don't work here she said 'are you sure?' . Pretty sure yep.

My first ever visit to Germany. I got off the train at Cologne station and went to the ladies'. As I was coming out, a woman asked me in German if you had to pay. Feeling very proud of my school German, I replied in some detail that you did, and how much.

She wandered away looking a bit confused. Then I heard her go up to some-one else and say, “Excuse me, do you speak English?”

This always happens to my ds he’s always being asked for help in supermarkets 😂

I got asked about smoking on the 1st stage of the Eiffel Tower?!? I was having a vertigo attack at the time. ( I know- I didn't think- I was so excited to be going up the Eiffel Tower!). I still managed to reply in school girl French that it wasn't allowed!
I was wearing Scout Leader Uniform at the time!

I last worked in retail over 20 years ago but still get asked. It is less annoying when people start by saying "excuse me" but those who launch straight in to "where's..." will be told in no uncertain terms that I don't work there. I don't think clothes are part of the reason as I have often been asked when wearing winter coat and scarf. The worst are those who argue the toss and this always seems to happen when I am on my lunch break. Idiots.

I get asked for directions all the time - must look like I know where I am going, lol

It's because you (presumably) left your handbag etc with your husband whilst dealing with cushions. Staff don't carry theirs around with them either.

I was in Asda last night and a woman asked me where something was. I said sorry I don't work here and she said oh I thought you did as you were wearing black!

I was in a shop once and a lady bumped into me, she then screamed and grabbed me. Apparently she thought I was a mannequin and she knocked me over! I mean I'm tall...but I thought I at least liked alive.

I've had people come up to me while I'm still in uniform from the company I work for (blue) when popping into other shops after work...in Asda, B&Q, and Wilko, so all completely different colour uniforms

I wear navy trousers and a black/navy t-shirt or polo shirt for my job, not a uniform as such. But if I go to ANY shop or supermarket during my lunch hour or after work I will definitely get stopped by someone asking me for help. I reply with the usual “sorry, I don’t work here” and a few times I’ve had them look me up and down and say “are you sure?”
Pretty damn sure!

Forgot to add - even worse when I’m carrying my purse and phone around and putting stuff in my basket and STILL getting asked. You’ve just got to laugh I suppose!

I was in Topshop trying on a dress yesterday, and came out of the changing room to show my friend what it looked like. As I walked towards the shop floor, a woman popped out of her changing room and said “I need this in a size 12”. No please, or can you help me. I just said “sorry, you’ll have to ask a member of staff”.

Something that happens to me extraordinarily often is people stopping me to ask if I can recommend a coffee shop/bar/restaurant. I am actually crap at giving directions, and once ended up walking two really lovely elderly American ladies to the place I suggested, and they insisted I join them for a glass of wine! They were so nice, and it was a great little place that I knew they would like.

In touristy areas I often get asked to take photos for people (I must have a trustworthy face - someone even trusted me with their phone to take a photo in the water in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland). However as I often travel alone that usually works in my favour as I can get them to reciprocate.

I also get asked for directions a lot. Which is an issue when I can get in my car and drive somewhere no problems, but try and direct someone there and it all goes very pear shaped!

Yep. Me too.

It’s odd because I have more of a resting bitch face these days & I still get asked!

I’ve done bits of retail, but not as a proper job as an adult.

Maybe it’s just that shop staff are hard to find when you want them, so people just latch on to anyone who looks vaguely like they might be able to help 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t get mistaken for an employee but seem to attract people on the street who need help - such as advice on bus timetables etc. Once I was stopped by a family wanting to know if there was a vegetarian restaurant in town. I wondered what it was about me that they picked me out on a crowded pre-Christmas street as the person most likely to know about vegetarian food?

I get asked for directions in London all the time. I have a good sense of direction but also dyspraxia. This means although I could walk myself from A to B, trying to explain to someone else how to do so is quite a challenge.
I get asked if I speak German a lot. I don’t. I must look Germanic, despite lots of Celtic heritage.

Surely this happened because you were moving round loads of cushions?

My parents took me into London to celebrate a significant birthday. I was dressed very smartly (to please them). We went into Harrods, my first time ever in there – and two very grand elderly ladies mistook me for an assistant.

When I looked hesitant, they apologised very graciously, and one said, “Ah ... I think we've asked some-one who isn't here …?”

Should I feel flattered? Well, it was Harrods!

Always happens to me when I shop with my mom, usually because she’s holding my handbag and/or coat whilst I’m trying stuff on etc. so I look like I work there. Doesn’t bother me at all though.