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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I witnessed a retail employee being absolutely vile to an elderly man today

389 replies

Greenfinc · 06/07/2023 14:54

This afternoon in a small branch of Lidl at the self service checkouts. Nobody was on the actual tills so no option to use them instead.

An elderly man needed some help scanning his shopping and was explaining to the employee overseeing the checkouts that he was partially sighted and was struggling to find the bar codes.

The employee was absolutely horrible to him saying being partially sighted doesn't mean he can't see and that there's a difference between being partially sighted and blind. Her attitude was vile.

She begrudgingly scanned his remaining items, as though he'd asked her to pay for them herself, and as he was collecting his change from the machine she sarcastically said "oh you managed to see that well enough did you"

I asked him if he needed any help and if he was ok and he explained that he'd had two surgeries on his eyes and couldn't see very well, and that he was only able to get about to the shop on his own as he knew and was used to it but struggled with the bar codes.

I told him I'd heard everything that woman had said to him and that I'm going to contact the head office about her and report exactly what I'd heard. He said he didn't want to make a fuss and that she was clearly just looking for an argument.

WIBU to report her to her employer regardless? I feel really sad about it and don't think somebody like that should be in a customer facing role working with members of the public. Horrible bully.

OP posts:
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5
Mmhmmn · 07/07/2023 02:02

Togiveandtoreceive · 06/07/2023 16:02

But what can they do?

I mean the victim in this scenario didn’t want to pursue it.

So it’s someone who overheard treatment of someone that they didn’t like but the person who endured it shrugged and walked away.

Obviously the victim wasn't the complainant.

He's an elderly man who's had surgery on his eyes FFS.

That doesn't mean Lidl shouldn't be assuring the complainant - whether that is victim or bystander - that the matter sounds serious and will be treated as such because cruelty towards vulnerable, paying customers and the public is not what they are looking for in employees who are paid to serve customers and represent the company.

Higher standards, PLEASE.

sidebirds · 07/07/2023 17:41

Report the cow!

NannaKaren · 07/07/2023 17:41

That made me cry, bless you for helping that gentleman - yes def report that Bitch!

Bludyhelltobenutz · 07/07/2023 17:50

I think Lidl would be pretty angry that one of their customers was treated in such a way. Hopefully one of you Mumsnetters out there work for them and will share these posts. I’m fairly sure the vile assistant would be sacked on the spot and may be in breach of the law too.

LoisLane66 · 07/07/2023 17:57

Report. No hesitation in thinking that's the correct thing to do and I'm glad it was you who obviously care about the way people are treated, so thanks for taking the steps to report. 💐

browneyes77 · 07/07/2023 17:59

I work for a food retailer.

There’s absolutely no way we would tolerate this behaviour towards our customers.

She needs to be reported so that at the very very least she can be given the feedback and improve her customer service skills or be put into a better suited role.

Even if she was having a bad day etc that’s absolutely no excuse for speaking to a customer in that manner. None whatsoever.

Lalalondon99 · 07/07/2023 18:00

You sound lovely. I’m a disabled woman & struggle to shop- unfortunately this type of hateful attitude amongst shop staff and people in general is not uncommon… you really notice when people are nice… should be the other way around but I think many people just see us a nuisance/ burden etc…in no small part thanks to the way disabled people are spoken about - particularly by politicians & the media (see recent Jeremy Vine Twitter row over ‘cracking down’ on sick & disabled???!)

AnnieSnap · 07/07/2023 18:10

Well done for taking the time to do all you have @Greenfinc I think it’s so important to try to get situations like this addressed 👍

Hmm1234 · 07/07/2023 18:12

Report, google review did you get her name? Companies as big as Lidl definitely pay attention to google reviews now

jonahjones · 07/07/2023 18:19

jc12689 · 06/07/2023 14:57

I would have called here out there and then while she was doing it.

this. I would have too, I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut as things like this anger me so much especially as I have an elderly parent with dementia who still likes to go to the shops. I hate the way the world is so inconsiderate towards the elderly and all this modern technology is leaving them behind to struggle. I prefer to use manned checkouts myself as self service ones can be a right faff and stress me out and I'm only in my 40s.

Owl55 · 07/07/2023 18:21

My late mum had very poor vision , it took her ages to shop as she had to peer closely at everything and she did take longer at the till . She lost so much confidence with staff like this who tried to rush her and would always apologize for taking a little longer . I would usually go with her but there were times when she would cry because of people like this! Please report her .

Plagioclase · 07/07/2023 18:21

You are a lovely human and I’m touched your heart went out to this man. So much so that you spoke to him afterwards. It would have made him feel much better to know there are kind people out there I’m sure. You did a lot more than most people would. Lots of people are reluctant to get involved and would just get out of there. I think you are handled it beautifully at the time. It’s very easy to sit behind your computer and ask ‘why didn’t you do this or that’. Pay no heed to those comments. You did the right thing and if you do report it hopefully they’ll take it seriously so it doesn’t happen again. Take care x

gemstoneju · 07/07/2023 18:22

I don't know where you are, but judging from where I live, LIDL don't offer good customer service at all. I'd actually welcome self-service in our store because I can't pack at the breakneck speed they sling groceries through the till, and they certainly don't offer to help. But what you describe is so off the scale rude that yes, I would report her. The old man's family would want you to if they were aware of it.

Cerealkillerontheloose · 07/07/2023 18:23

Greenfinc · 06/07/2023 14:54

This afternoon in a small branch of Lidl at the self service checkouts. Nobody was on the actual tills so no option to use them instead.

An elderly man needed some help scanning his shopping and was explaining to the employee overseeing the checkouts that he was partially sighted and was struggling to find the bar codes.

The employee was absolutely horrible to him saying being partially sighted doesn't mean he can't see and that there's a difference between being partially sighted and blind. Her attitude was vile.

She begrudgingly scanned his remaining items, as though he'd asked her to pay for them herself, and as he was collecting his change from the machine she sarcastically said "oh you managed to see that well enough did you"

I asked him if he needed any help and if he was ok and he explained that he'd had two surgeries on his eyes and couldn't see very well, and that he was only able to get about to the shop on his own as he knew and was used to it but struggled with the bar codes.

I told him I'd heard everything that woman had said to him and that I'm going to contact the head office about her and report exactly what I'd heard. He said he didn't want to make a fuss and that she was clearly just looking for an argument.

WIBU to report her to her employer regardless? I feel really sad about it and don't think somebody like that should be in a customer facing role working with members of the public. Horrible bully.

100000%. Please please please do so. Regardless because her behaviour was vile.

I work with the homeless and often see other people great them like shit on their shoe and my god it makes me so sad. I’ve always stuck up for them even so far as to have someone try to attack me but I would still do it because they’re human and you should do this too

sassyclassyandsmartassy · 07/07/2023 18:29

As a boss I would absolutely want to know if one of my employees behaved like this as I would be wanting to sit them down to have a talk about what happened and decide whether it was a training issue or a warning…. But I certainly wouldn’t want my business affected by such a poor attitude

Ostryga · 07/07/2023 18:33

Thank you so much for standing up for people @Greenfinc !

I have a hidden disability (epilepsy) but supermarkets etc are very stressful places to be because the lighting seems to bring seizure on. Thankfully I’ve only ever had lovely treatment, but it’s so bloody lovely to know there’s people like you out there that will call out shutting behaviour.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 07/07/2023 18:40

You did the right thing OP. When I was faced with blatant disability discrimination the worst part was other members of the public standing around gawping at what was going on, but saying nothing. I felt humiliated and utterly alone. A kindly word would have meant so much in that moment. Instead I had to console myself with the £10k they had to pay me in compensation when I sued the fuckers.

Channellingsophistication · 07/07/2023 18:41

Well done OP for complaining about this terrible employee. It breaks my heart to hear of anyone particularly an elderly person treated in this disgraceful way. I hope she gets her just desserts and gets fired!

LILLYPRINT · 07/07/2023 18:43

It's a no brainer, report her. She doesn't deserve the job. Imagine it was a parent or elderly relative of your own who was spoken to in that way.

gardenflowergirl · 07/07/2023 18:46

I definitely would. Put it on social media so all can see the complaint. In fact I'd complain in person in the shop to the manager, there's probably CCTV to identify the employee.

MrsMarzetti · 07/07/2023 18:49

Report her.

Deathraystare · 07/07/2023 18:50

My eyesight is not great but sometimes I struggle to find where the bar code is!

askmenow · 07/07/2023 18:57

Thats bloody disgusting! Why do people like that work in retail? I know retail workers do get some stick from the public but to treat a person who's really struggling like a second class citizen is awful.

I'd have asked their name immediately, helped the chap out of the shop and gone back in afterwards and given her what for in the presence of her manager.

Once you have a name, they realise the seriousness.

askmenow · 07/07/2023 18:59

I had an eye op recently and was struggling with an eyepatch covering the better eye so I know its really disorientating. And I'm quite confident. That poor chap.

Rosmarina · 07/07/2023 19:04

How awful that a person like that is employed by this food store . These check outs are annoying anyway > Poor man being subject to "help" from that horrible person . She should be reported and given the sack immediately !