Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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:

UhtredRagnarson · 04/03/2021 21:04

@LaceyBetty

I cannot believe this has 145 responses. People are rude to me everyday of my life. Way worse than this incident. I'd be a shell of a human if I took stuff like this so personally.

Honestly OP, I know I sound rude, but I really don't think it has done your well-being any good to have posted this and dwelled on this for so long.

This!

Original poster

ToldOff292 · 04/03/2021 21:04

@LaceyBetty i was over it hours ago, I've only stuck around to see people excuse why it's okay for retail staff to be rude

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2021 21:05

@Forestcantrun

There is a right way and wrong way to address this, the staff member clearly could have communicated better in this instance. I am sorry this has made you feel this way but don't let it get you down.

I recently checked out with 3 bottles of wine and set off some alarm at the supermarket. The young guy who was patrolling the self service was brilliant. He asked did I have alcohol, I replied loads then he started laughing, pointed at a 5 cm high notice under the screen "no alcohol", obviously I was laughing at the ridiculousness of this sign, he scanned my till or whatever wizardry occurs and agreed absolutely no one saw this sign but he enjoyed it.
Some people are just brilliant and make your day, some people are just not that great at communication. Hopefully your next interaction is with the former.

Reminds me of when I went to the Post office which is actually inside a convenience store. It was a Sunday-so you wouldn't expect the PO bit to be open, but the PO website was a bit confusing... So I ask 'is the Post Office open?, then see the printed sign that says 'We are open if the shop is open' literally inches from my face. The shop assistant had obviously been asked this a bajillion times but still managed to laugh.

Forestcantrun · 04/03/2021 21:06

OP has the right to express how a situation made them feel. Some MNers mightnt even bat an eyelid but that does not invalidate OPs feelings.
I work in healthcare. I guarantee if that interaction was in a hospital and someone rolled their eyes at a service user it would cause mass hysteria here.
Lets face it, getting out to the shop is the highlight of most of our weeks now. Everyone in public facing jobs are getting it tight but there's no excuse to make someone feel bad.

Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2021 21:07

[quote ToldOff292]@Sparklingbrook i didn't say that's why you find it fascinsting but it's why i find it fascinating [/quote]
Eh? And why am I getting flowers?

It's getting more fascinating by the minute.

Forestcantrun · 04/03/2021 21:08

@Sparklingbrook I have been known to ask for directions to a location I'm standing in🤣🤣🤣

Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2021 21:09

[quote Forestcantrun]@Sparklingbrook I have been known to ask for directions to a location I'm standing in🤣🤣🤣[/quote]

LaceyBetty · 04/03/2021 21:11

Lets face it, getting out to the shop is the highlight of most of our weeks now.

I think this might be the crux of this matter. Maybe we are all becoming hypersensitive to even the slightest slight (pardon the expression).

SchrodingersImmigrant · 04/03/2021 21:11

[quote ToldOff292]@SchrodingersImmigrant just because you specifically haven't doesn't mean other people haven't?
I've never been knocked over by a car, does that mean I should presume the people who have are lies? what a silly thing to say[/quote]
While you think it's silly, I think the issue might not always be with the staff at all and people on here try to paint themselves much better than they actually behaved. Whether it's because they believe they were in right or whether it's because they just embellish the truth a bit, I simply don't believe that they were as innocent and staff was such a big bad wolf as they make up here.

Forestcantrun · 04/03/2021 21:12

@ToldOff292 this "no alcohol sign" usually hangs nice and high above the tills, usually a green tick or red X... I clearly buy too much wine🤣🤣
Usually visible 🤣🤣 Clearly sometimes gets hidden for amusement. I'm going to have to look harder in future🤣

Pillowcase123 · 04/03/2021 21:12

This is such a non-event. Are you always so dramatic OP?

Baluchistan95 · 04/03/2021 21:13

YANBU

Sloelydoesit · 04/03/2021 21:15

I was about to reply that this is such a non event. But then remembered I got cross at a tooth brushing noise incident yesterday.

UhtredRagnarson · 04/03/2021 21:16

@Sloelydoesit

I was about to reply that this is such a non event. But then remembered I got cross at a tooth brushing noise incident yesterday.

😂😂😂

Derekhello · 05/03/2021 07:36

@ToldOff292
Retail staff have spent the last year giving customers slack it’s been absolutely horrendous. Maybe she was at the end of her tether, no people shouldn’t be rude to each other but customers 9 times out of 10 are rude in general, pandemic or not! So she’d probably had enough and unfortunately you were on the receiving end. It’s still a non event though. And before anyone jumps on, retail staff don’t want to be “put on a pedestal” just a bit of politeness now and then would be great.

Hollywoodzc · 05/03/2021 08:27

I’ve come across a couple of shop assistants and customers like this. Very snappy and think you’re stupid for missing one of 950 signs about covid. Unless you get within 2 meters of someone for a fair bit of time or went in there with symptoms it doesn’t really matter that you’ve used a till does it.
I’ve found the shop assistants seem to forget they work there so the rules are obvious to them.

Sparklingbrook · 05/03/2021 08:35

There must be a certain pressure from management to make sure Covid rules/guidelines are adhered to. IIRC business can be fined for any breaches now.
Possibly in OP's position management would be asking the staff member why they allowed that till to be used when it shouldn't have been?
I don't think shop assistants are allowed to forget the rules, dealing with them day in, day out along with the usual work they have to do.

It's been a year and I would hope that staff and customers alike are aware of social distancing etc by now.

Donotfeedthebears · 05/03/2021 11:30

[quote Derekhello]@ToldOff292
Retail staff have spent the last year giving customers slack it’s been absolutely horrendous. Maybe she was at the end of her tether, no people shouldn’t be rude to each other but customers 9 times out of 10 are rude in general, pandemic or not! So she’d probably had enough and unfortunately you were on the receiving end. It’s still a non event though. And before anyone jumps on, retail staff don’t want to be “put on a pedestal” just a bit of politeness now and then would be great.[/quote]
90% of customers are rude? I doubt that very much! On my shopping trips, most staff and customers are perfectly normal and polite.

When I was airline cabin crew, the majority of customers were perfectly fine. In the premium cabins, customers could be demanding but eye rolling, a poor attitude and and snarky remarks from staff to passengers was unacceptable. I’ve dealt with passengers who were pretty rude and shouty but we were taught to stay calm and polite, let them rant and find a solution to their issue.

I am ALWAYS polite to retail staff and understand their jobs have been hard over the past year. Most staff are perfectly pleasant and just trying to do their jobs but a few have been quite rude.

I don’t go to my local Co-Op these days as early on in the lockdown staff were shouting at customers waiting to pay “you need to stand on the circles for God’s sake.” All the customers were quietly doing what they were told and I overheard one cashier say “for fucks sake, what a bunch of retards.”

I work with some pretty annoying colleagues in my job (senior military officers) but I don’t go around being rude to them. Like many people, I’m classed as a key worker and have been WFH in a very busy job. No need to be unpleasant to anybody really is there.

incywincyspiders · 05/03/2021 14:33

I mean if you don't work in retail, how can you say that the majority of customers aren't rude? My personal experience is about 75% are rude or just plain ignorant. It will also vary on area and type of retail. But it has DEFINITELY got worse in my shop over the last six months.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 05/03/2021 15:33

@incywincyspiders

I can second that with long experience from retail and hospitality. It's like once people cross the doorway on a way in something switches.

Stellaris22 · 05/03/2021 15:50

Definitely. I work in retail and it's noticeable that when outside, people step aside or cross the road to social distance. But in a shop when people see you wearing a uniform, it's like you are invisible or don't deserve respect.

Donotfeedthebears · 05/03/2021 15:51

@incywincyspiders

I’ve worked in retail and for an airline and I can see how customers behave when I go out?

incywincyspiders · 05/03/2021 22:38

Okay forgive me I didn't see you say you worked in retail. Maybe you are lucky with the places you have worked 🤷🏼‍♀️ or maybe I am unlucky 👀

I mean I can't believe I have had stock thrown in my face numerous times in the past year.. security has been called a lot more to our shop in recent times even though it's actually quieter.

I'm not advocating being rude to customers, I always try to remain professional but sometimes customers do make it near impossible. Treat people how you want to be treated.

StardewMelons · 06/03/2021 01:27

Yesturday My 82 year old dad had to pull his mask down because he was finding it uncomftable to breathe (Hes medically exempt but wears one 90% of the time) and had a manager of morrisons hunt him down and give him a lecture and told him to pull it up or leave, discusting. I understand there are annoying customers but that doesn't mean there isn't shitty retail staff!

whoamitojudge · 09/03/2021 14:41

@stablefeet
She didnt say she was unsure- I did.
However, if you see a checkout with screens covering them surely you would check first if you could use them?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7