I'm always getting mistaken for a shop worker

[temosmail]

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 don't know if it is that, I visited an Asda- not my regular supermarket so I didn't know my way around, it was an emergency visit for a protractor for my DS's maths' mock exam on the way home from work, it was 8.30 at night and I was rushing as a result. I was wearing work office clothes, a smart Whistles' coat and smart boots, I also had a smart handbag with a couple of files in it, I got asked by a male customer where he could find a writing pad, we were in the stationary aisle so pretty obvious but still I said, 'i don't work here'. None of my clothes, mannerisms, i.e rushing and time of night suggested I worked in Asda.

The only thing I could think of was despite wearing quite expensive stuff I work in IT/data field and in dress sense probably conform to those stereotypes a bit and wouldn't wear corporate heals style boot as a result as not the right attire. The man maybe thought they weren't healed boots but workmen boots.

Her reaction reminds me of the time I was living in a rented house with a phone number that was one different from a cab firm and we used to get a lot of wrong numbers particularly at chucking out time. Usually they just accepted it and even apologised but there was one woman who refused to take it on board and went, ‘So you’re not going to send me a taxi?’
’no because I’m not a cab firm, you’ve got the wrong number’
’Well that’s not very good!’

"Are you sure you don't work here"

Words fail!

When I worked at a major museum in customer service (which had a security element) we wore a hideous and obvious uniform, had ID tags, name badges and radios like walkie-talkies slung on our belts. We would still get people looking us up and down and asking doubtfully "Do you work here?"

I once had someone in Tesco say to me - Oh you don't work here, but where is [can't remember what she wanted]?

I've had this happen a few times. Never understood why and it's mildly irritating and somehow bemusing at the same time. I must have Resting Helpful Face or something. I'm actually a bit of a socially anxious misanthrope underneath.

I also get the life story thing when I'm on a train or bus. And I'm always a prime target for chuggers, panhandlers etc

I have it on good M N authority that there is a woman working in M and S who is always happy to tell you exactly which chips go with which steak and wine! 😀😁