I'm always getting mistaken for a shop worker

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AIBU for always being annoyed for always been mistaken for a shop worker or do people not check?

I'm always been mistaken for a shop worker. The other day I went to the B&Q in a pair of flip flops, adidas stripped hoodie, jogging bottoms and had my sunglasses on my head. I was pushing a trolly and someone still thought I worked for B&Q.

Late at night in a not busy McDonald's I was wearing flip flops, long black jogging bottoms and a long grey top. I was sipping on my Oasis and I still got asked to help with the machine.

I'm always alone and minding my own business....

I got asked twice in Aldi a few weeks ago where something was, and then someone started complaining to me that the pallets were blocking the aisle. I agreed that they were a trip hazard but directed them to the genuine Aldi staff who were unpacking them as I didn't work there.

With hindsight, my work fleece and dark trousers probably did make me look a little bit like staff.

But I don't mind at all if people ask me for help getting things off the top shelf and will even offer if I see a shorter person struggling to reach something.

This happens to me all the time, as well as strangers telling me their life stories - I assume it has to be some kind of vibe I give off because I also have the worst RBF in history. It's very peculiar.

I get the opposite. I work in a shop, we wear a uniform and name badge and I am usually holding an ipad. We have to greet each customer who comes in, so im usually walking up to people with a smile saying "hi, you ok? Do you need any help?"

Several times a day the response I get is "do you work here?"

No, I like to go around shops asking random strangers if they need help 🤣

Maybe we should swap places OP!

I got asked in a shop where something was - so I did the John Lewis thing and took them to the right shelf, she then asked for something else but I hadn't a clue so had to say 'sorry I don't work here.' Was quite fun.

It's not a "biggie" but it's annoying! Just today I helped an old lady because she asked me but she knew I didn't work there! I fail to understand why they would assume somebody wearing flipflops and sunglasses would be working at B&Q.
What can I say: if it happens once it's on them, if it happens twice ermm maybe it's on you? Or they're all drinking from the same kool-aid. Or your drink was spiked and it was a dream. Or you found a portal into the Twillight Zone! I see a lot of possibilities but the most probable is that, assuming it happened in the same town, they were all related to each other because certain conditions are genetic.

I was always being asked where things were, when I was a vet nurse and went out to get lunch in the supermarket. Very bloody annoying.

I had this regularly when I worked for a retail store and had to walk through WH Smith to get to our shop. The uniform wasn't too dissimilar. I remember once I said "I'm sorry I don't know as I don't work here" and the lady just walked off! No apology, nothing just walked away!

I had a period of about five years where this kept happening to me. It was only ever in one supermarket and one specific branch though. Originally I was polite to people and actually tried to help them but towards the end I usually gave them a bit of abuse but never actually told them I didn't work there. My fantasy was the manager getting complaints about a rude staff member and trying to figure out who it was based on the CCTV showing the person interacting with another customer.

Strangely enough after I started doing this it wasn't long before people stopped bothering me. Not sure if that's a coincidence, maybe as I aged a bit I no longer fitted the correct profile for a supermarket worker.

🤣🤣🤣

Is it really that big of a deal?

@Daphnis156 That was utterly nasty & uncalled for, wow! Reported

My friend's husband was once mistaken for a British Rail employee(I think it was the navy and orange jacket),he spent a good chunk of a seven hour train journey apologising for not knowing how many stops there were before Hereford or how to get to platform 3a at Cardiff.

Just help the person , if you can or tell them that you're sorry but you don't work there.

A bit of human kindness is all that's needed.

Else , stop dressing in clothes that could be mistaken for uniform.

What do you think b&q employees wear?! 😂😂😂

This used to happen to me a lot in my teens. I remember one woman followed me round a branch of Smith's asking me irritating questions and in the end I (teenagers, remember) muttered 'I don't work here' and stomped off.

@FlamingYam 🙄

I think with shops getting stingy about the number of people on shift at the same time, some customers are asking anyone they can find!

I had a bloke come up and say "I know you don't work here, but do you know where the bread crumbs are?" As well as a couple of older people needing help reading dates etc.

I get this ALL THE FUCKING TIME, I think I must have an approachable aura which is great at work (am a nurse) but I need to know how to turn it off. 🙄

The only time it was an issue was when in M&S when I didn’t hear the male customer’s query, as I was bending over jumpers looking for DH’s size.

The man decided to attract my attention by clicking his fingers in my face! 😡

The red mist came over me and I can’t remember my initial response but his reaction was that he didn’t know I didn’t work there.

I told him that was irrelevant as he shouldn’t be clicking his fingers at anyone. I wasn’t being quiet and an actual employee came scurrying over to help.

She apologised and gave me a thankful look.

You free on Saturday to cover my shift?

Hahahahaha

YES! I always get approached s if I'm a member of staff too. Don't wear a bag, and often no jacket.

I once had a long conversation in h&m with a very helpful young man who was going through the rails tidying so i thought who answered all my questions about a pair of boys trousers, would they fit ds, would they do god school, would they wash well etcetc... until i asked how the refund system worked and he said i don't know i don't work here.

I nearly died of embarrassment. He probably thought this wee fat mammy was trying to pick him up

That made me proper

Used to happen to me, too. I'd get women coming up to ask for assistance in department stores when I was in full Goth gear. Once a customer service officer, always a customer service officer. It's like you've been branded. 😄