Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Told off at supermarket for using the wrong checkout

175 replies

ToldOff292 · 04/03/2021 16:25

I was shopping in Morrisons today and then went to self-checkout. There were some clear screens covering some of the checkouts but I thought this was for social distancing purpose.

The till was ready to be used (as in not turned off), so i scanned my items and I bought some paracetmal which triggered an age check to come up meaning a shopkeeper had to come and confirm it.

Anyway, this girl started telling me to watch where i'm standing and "you shouldn't even be using this till, it's closed you know" and rolling her eyes at me.

I just said "sorry I didn't realise".

But AIBU to think some shopkeepers think we're psychic? They could have turned the till off if they didn't want people to use it?
There was no "do not use" signs on it either 😕

OP posts:
DynamoKev · 04/03/2021 17:43

@justanotherneighinparadise

I assume this is the self service tills at Tesco? I think if so every other till is out of use due to SD. I agree it isn’t obvious and I only figured it out when I queued and saw that other people were leaving the gap and so I did too.
I was shopping in Morrisons today - first thing in op
starfishmummy · 04/03/2021 17:50

We definitely need a picture. It's vwry Unreasonabke of the OP not to go back and take one

DynamoKev · 04/03/2021 17:51

@starfishmummy

We definitely need a picture. It's vwry Unreasonabke of the OP not to go back and take one
A diagram would do.
CruisingBob · 04/03/2021 17:52

I wonder if supermarket management over do the scary frontline covid management.

Back at the first lockdown I had a checkout operator who has seen me shop there for ten years scream at me for being literally a toe over a line.

It happened a few more times, recently when I had my back to the cashier and the previous customer at the bagging area, facing my trolley & the store unloading 'backwards' at the far end of the conveyor.
I had a mask on, I feel so sorry for the cashier in this case in a constant state of fear, but it really was a total over reaction.

Does any one know if management pass there fears down to the shop floor?

ancientgran · 04/03/2021 17:52

@NotFabulousDarling

There were some clear screens covering some of the checkouts but I thought this was for social distancing purpose. Either you knew it was closed for social distancing and used it because the others were full (therefore you broke social distancing) or you knew it was closed for social distancing so despite other tills being available you deliberately used this one and deserved to be talked to like an idiot. Which is it? Do you really think you're the first person to have thought of ignoring the rules at the checkout today? This week? This month? This year?
I shop at Sainsburys. If a self service till is out of use they have signs with red writing saying it is out of use. Bit clearer don't you think?
WorraLiberty · 04/03/2021 17:53

@RunningFromInsanity

I’m willing to bet anything she didn’t actually roll her eyes.

You didn’t get ‘told off’ you were informed that the till you were using wasn’t actually suppose to be used.

A non event.

This ^^ massively.

With the amount of eye-rolling, tutting, sneering and muttering shop staff apparently do, I'm surprised they have any time for work.

A huge non event OP.

incywincyspiders · 04/03/2021 17:54

[quote ToldOff292]@incywincyspiders but if it's happened 50 times a day, maybe they should put a sign up saying "till not in operation" rather than leaving it on and then complaining a customer is using it?[/quote]
Signs dont always help. Ours have a massive red sign on saying do not use, people will take them off and still try to use them!!

LaceyBetty · 04/03/2021 17:57

I can't imagine giving this "event" even two minutes of headspace.

Lifechange1981 · 04/03/2021 17:57

Please be kind with your words. You do not know what else is going on in someone else’s life.

AllownotEllow · 04/03/2021 17:59

I can see how it would annoy you, but to be fair she had probably had a shittier day than you. I would hate to be working in a supermarket during covid.

mainsfed · 04/03/2021 18:01

@Lifechange1981

Please be kind with your words. You do not know what else is going on in someone else’s life.
What part of "sorry I didn't realise is unkind? Confused
Lifechange1981 · 04/03/2021 18:01

Hello! Sorry to hear what happened to you love.

More do, sorry for the bitchy replies on here to you from random mothers.

We should be supporting each other not belittling each other.

In a cruel world, choose to be kind 🌸❤️

Stay strong. E x

withlotsoflove · 04/03/2021 18:03

I cover checkouts sometimes....
I usually close my gate and serve the last customer to go back to my actual position on the CSD.
Sometimes even a closed gate isn’t enough & customers think that’s just a suggestion, & try to come through anyway!
You were probably the 107th person to do it that day!
When we were first told we’d have to wear masks everywhere/ it pissed me off !
Not now though - l love saying FFS at customers & will miss my face covering!
I realise that isn’t helpful to today’s question / but there ya go!

Newhaven25 · 04/03/2021 18:04

YANBU. How were you supposed to know you couldn't use it if there was no sign?

pudcat · 04/03/2021 18:05

I have not been to Morrisons for nearly a year. The first time I went after 12 weeks of lockdown I was shouted at because I did not see a queue of 1 person waiting to be called to a checkout. I followed the markers on the floor to stand on one near an empty checkout. There were no signs telling you to queue in the aisle between baby clothes and magazines. So I vowed I would never set foot in the place again.

MissyB1 · 04/03/2021 18:05

Dh is a Dr worked thorough the whole pandemic, wouldn't dream of being rude or patronising to patients. So that argument doesn't wash with me.
Some people love to boss others around it makes them feel powerful, She was probably the jobsworth officious type. Just feel sorry for her.

Notapheasantplucker · 04/03/2021 18:06

Tbh she does sound like she was rude, but I wouldn't have given it anymore head space once I left the shop. Shit happens, you went to the wrong till, spilt milk 'n all that.

Theunamedcat · 04/03/2021 18:07

They can switch tills off if they don't want you to use them

stablefeet · 04/03/2021 18:10

I think this is the setup I've seen in my local Morrisons. In which case yes, you are right, it is confusing and it is easy to assume the screens are there just to separate people. In other supermarkets if they don't want a till used it's switched off.

Nohomemadecandles · 04/03/2021 18:11

I don't think it being a shitty job is permission to be rude Confused

Peppafrig · 04/03/2021 18:14

[quote ToldOff292]@Donotfeedthebears exactly! It doesn't take much to realise customers aren't psychic and we are going to make mistakes.
I hate the attitude of "customers are always entitled" or "customers are so rude" just because said customer has made an error

@Peppafrig I've been working in schools throughout, including working with key worker children, imagine if i was just patronising to a parent just because "i've had to work throughout"[/quote]
It doesn’t sound like she was patronising to you at all. So if a teacher was patronising to me like you claim this shop worker was to you . I would have no problem with it at all . It’s a non event you just felt silly we you didn’t understand how to use the simple system .

RagamuffinCat · 04/03/2021 18:18

The tills are probably all on the same circuit, so you can either have them all on or none of them. I work in a supermarket in the bakery. There are three signs up at the entrance to to bakery saying we are currently unable to slice bread to minimise handling. They couldn't be clearer. People still ask for their bread sliced on average once an hour. At least once a day someone wants to argue about it, and how unfair it is that you won't slice their bread. We have had people screaming at us, throwing bread at us, swearing at us and insulting us. We are just trying to carry out the rules that management set, and I think that we are all at the end of our tether with it now. She sounds rude, but you are probably one of many customers in her shift that haven't followed the rules and it is exhausting.

whoamitojudge · 04/03/2021 18:18

Maybe if you were unsure then you could have checked first before you used it?
I work in a supermarket ( not Morrison’s) and we’ve closed every other till on self scan for social distancing and they have a big red circle with the words checkout closed on the screen.
You’d be surprised the amount of people that try to use them Hmm

stablefeet · 04/03/2021 18:21

@whoamitojudge

Maybe if you were unsure then you could have checked first before you used it? I work in a supermarket ( not Morrison’s) and we’ve closed every other till on self scan for social distancing and they have a big red circle with the words checkout closed on the screen. You’d be surprised the amount of people that try to use them Hmm
Where did Op say she was unsure? She wasn't unsure, she saw a till ready to use and used it.
Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2021 18:22

.

Told off at supermarket for using the wrong checkout
Swipe left for the next trending thread