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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To call this an assault?

374 replies

trustyrustie · 27/06/2023 21:21

I was shopping in one of those supermarkets, that isn’t actually a supermarket but sells all the stuff that you know that you don’t know you need until you walk in today. When I finished, I approached the till area. There were a few tills with one woman on one till. the other tills were empty. I joined the queue for the till and there were three or four people ahead of me.

I had a trolley with two items in it, and I was holding the trolley with both hands. At some point the cashier left her position at the till to walk towards the customer services desk and look at two ladies working there. I didn’t realise she had done this until she yelled over aggressively to them “I’m sending some customers down to you because I’ve got plenty of them here” or words to that effect.

Without me expecting it she then aggressively physically pushed my trolley while I still had hold of it with both hands so that it spun 45° to the right in the direction of the customer services desk. My arms were pulled and my body was spun around as it went. She then turned around and went back to her till.

I think this was an assault.

I was shocked and upset… A few people that I know agree with me, and a few don’t

AIBU?

OP posts:
MRex · 28/06/2023 07:34

She was rude and you should complain. There was no assault and you were not injured, you were just irritated. If you overdo the perceived harm in your complaint like you have here, then it still have less impact than if you stick to facts.

Naunet · 28/06/2023 08:05

Thanks for this thread OP. x

Clafoutie · 28/06/2023 08:17

Not assault, but absolutely not acceptable behaviour.
I’m sorry people are being unkind on here OP.

GodisaBC · 28/06/2023 08:33

Is B & M a supermarket that’s not a supermarket?
Vase and footstool?
please please tell us op.

CleverLilViper · 28/06/2023 08:38

sewerrat · 27/06/2023 21:33

interested to know why you're beating around the bush and not naming the store. was this cashier also a bodybuilder and taking steroids to make her so strong and aggressive to you?

My money is on B&M.

No, it’s not an assault. It was rude and aggressive and she was obviously taking out her annoyance on the trolley but it’s not an assault.

If you felt so strongly about it- why didn’t you raise it as a complaint?

GoodChat · 28/06/2023 08:40

GodisaBC · 28/06/2023 08:33

Is B & M a supermarket that’s not a supermarket?
Vase and footstool?
please please tell us op.

I am going for The Rang

GoodChat · 28/06/2023 08:40

Range*!

Hill1991 · 28/06/2023 08:53

There is nobody sane on this earth who would say that this is assault she literally just could of been trying to get past your trolly, I think your really being dramatic

Porageeater · 28/06/2023 08:54

If she had done this to my dd she could have potentially seriously injured her as recent spinal op.

She needs to not be doing this however it is labelled. Funny thread yes ok but it could genuinely have serious consequences for some people.

Hill1991 · 28/06/2023 08:57

Ilovetea13 · 28/06/2023 00:04

Wow I can't believe some posters on here!!
To downplay this as a overreaction by the OP, if this happened to me in a shop I would be very upset as I'm sure most of you would of been.
The OP was obviously NOT expecting her trolley to be launched whilst still holding on to it so is bound to of been in shock and wasn't able to fully balance herself or comprehend what happened.
Whilst not an actual physical assault per se, it was most definitely an act of aggression.
Disgusting behaviour from the shop assistant I would definitely lodge a complaint against her(hopefully there will be cctv) .
Your definitely not overacting OP.

Launched your making it sound like she picked the trolly up and threw it across the shop and that I would love to see, OP is clearly overreacting

queenMab99 · 28/06/2023 09:22

If someone grabbed a trolley I was holding on to, and yanked it in a different direction, when I wasn't expecting it, I would be shocked, and possibly physically hurt. It may not be classed as an assault in law, but it is an assault, in general terms.

queenMab99 · 28/06/2023 09:28

I use a walking stick normally, in supermarkets, the trolley is sufficient to keep me upright. If someone surprised me by pulling the trolley away, I would probably fall over, so maybe I am biased.

GodisaBC · 28/06/2023 09:33

Yes the Range, they definitely have a customer services desk, and strong members of staff.

OneTC · 28/06/2023 09:35

If someone shoved you directly then it would obviously be assault. If someone shoved something you're holding onto, causing you to move like they effectively shoved you, then it is still quite obviously an assault, to me anyway. You don't push people in the direction you want them to go, it's a supermarket not a derby day.

I'd expect pretty much anyone this happened to to react badly or feel aggrieved, including most people laughing at the OP itt

Quiverer · 28/06/2023 09:37

Hill1991 · 28/06/2023 08:53

There is nobody sane on this earth who would say that this is assault she literally just could of been trying to get past your trolly, I think your really being dramatic

And yet it literally fulfils the legal definition of assault. She blatantly was not trying to get past the trolley. Why are you trying to change the facts?

JeminaSunshine · 28/06/2023 09:40

You lot are being mean, she was wheeley disorientated

GoodChat · 28/06/2023 09:47

GodisaBC · 28/06/2023 09:33

Yes the Range, they definitely have a customer services desk, and strong members of staff.

Their staff are definitely more intimidating than the B&M staff where I am Grin

ButImNotOldEnough · 28/06/2023 09:48

@JeminaSunshine I shouldn’t have laughed but I did Grin

wutheringkites · 28/06/2023 09:52

If she pushed it 90 degrees, I'm surprised you didn't get an acute injury.

GoodChat · 28/06/2023 09:53

wutheringkites · 28/06/2023 09:52

If she pushed it 90 degrees, I'm surprised you didn't get an acute injury.

She just wanted OP to be at the right angle

TalkingSchist · 28/06/2023 10:05

OneTC · 28/06/2023 09:35

If someone shoved you directly then it would obviously be assault. If someone shoved something you're holding onto, causing you to move like they effectively shoved you, then it is still quite obviously an assault, to me anyway. You don't push people in the direction you want them to go, it's a supermarket not a derby day.

I'd expect pretty much anyone this happened to to react badly or feel aggrieved, including most people laughing at the OP itt

Most people would have either went about their day as normal, confronted the “attacker” in the moment, or went to speak to the manager. Op is giving a very over dramatic account of what happened online, which is what makes the whole thing ridiculous.

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 10:05

@wutheringkites and @GoodChat 🤦‍♀️

AlexTfan · 28/06/2023 10:06

Report her.

GoodChat · 28/06/2023 10:09

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 10:05

@wutheringkites and @GoodChat 🤦‍♀️

Stop pretending you didn't laugh Grin

GodisaBC · 28/06/2023 10:10

Did the vase get any injuries from such a ferocious turn?