Charity Shop Lady closed Fitting Room directly as I was stepping in.

[CharityShopHorde]

Hi,

The volunteer of a huge charity shop walked up to the fitting room entrance the same as me, looked at me, and went in and closed the curtain "in my face". I tried telling her that I was out by 2 seconds and would be quick etc but she was adamant it was no. I was so annoyed! It's a pain to take items home and return.

I bought them all (£40) and went to another store next door, tried them on there, and then returned for a refund on half.

This way, she wasted her time running items through till, doing a refund and having to put all items back.

AIBU to be pissed off at the poor customer service and actually, rudeness for being so strict on rules?

I know there was at least 30 mins to shop closing but no sign on fitting room opening and closing times.

Why be a dick to other people for no reason just to make their evening more stressful?

Charity shops have a manager. Speak to her.

What do you mean you told her you were out by 2 seconds?

Tbh you don't come across as less annoying.

But she was closing? All shops have a closing time, not just charity shops. Why do you think a charity shop owes you special privileges?

She is probably required to keep to set hours. Why be a dick about it?

I would have said I can’t buy these without trying them on and so I’ll have to leave them.

I don’t know why you’d buy them
and then go to the effort of going next door and then returning half of them.

Yes she was very rude and I would have said so.
I would tell the manager.

At the very least she could have explained that she needed to close it.

There was still 30mins until the shop closed.

And if the changing rooms close early then the shop assistant could have just explained it.

She’s probably a volunteer who wanted to go home on time. I’d be forgiving.

She ... did? You told us she was adamant she was closing. What bit of that wasn't clear?

It's usual that fitting rooms close before the main ship, isn't it?

Not really usual for charity shops to be arsey, in my experience. They shop worker sounds unhelpful.

A lot of charity shop volunteers have learning difficulties or emotional issues around work and responsibility. That's often why they're volunteers and not paid employees somewhere else. Expecting the same kind of service that you expect in M&S could be seen as a bit mean and fussy.

But she was closing? All shops have a closing time, not just charity shops. Why do you think a charity shop owes you special privileges?

Eh? No she wasn't. OP clearly said it was at least 30 minutes until closing time, so this really does make no sense. OP, I'm with you - very frustrating. However, this is likely to be a volunteer (and some do have learning disabilities) so it is possible that there was no mean intent.

I meant I was trying to explain to her that I felt she was being overly strict on timing as if I had arrived 2 seconds earlier I would have been in the changing room by then.

Very unfriendly of her.
But glad you got the last laugh by taking half the clothes back.
Ha! I bet she didn't like that!
Good work!

Thanks! I was just, I think, understandably frustrated that I'd spent 15 mins rummaging/ browsing for the right sizes and items etc. I had popped to see the fitting room was open too before I looked. I think a bit of flexibility wouldn't have gone amiss. Hey-ho.

Do you mean you went to try something on, she said no it was 5pm for example and the changing rooms close then with the shop scheduled to shut at 5:30?
So you bought the items, tried them on elsewhere and then returned them in the 30 mins between the changing rooms shutting and the shop closing?

What yet another charity shop negative thread? It's a weird trend on here lately.

No need for rudeness just because she's a volunteer

I mean her being rude to you

Yes

No of course not, I love charity shops. It's a thread about an action I perceived as rude that happened to be in a charity shop.

Why didn't you ask to speak to a manager, or if no manager on duty call back another time rather than moaning on Mumsnet? I agree with swim, many charity shop volunteers have learning difficulties or other challenges and although training etc is in place it is not always easy and you really can't assume you will get the same service as in a mainstream retailer (although that also often leaves a lot to be desired).
It might have been that she was only person working in the shop and perhaps their policy is to close the changing room early to avoid shoplifters obviously it would be difficult to tactfully explain that.
I am not excusing rudeness but having managed volunteers for many years it does have its challenges.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. Obviously it's no big deal and everything worked out (although thanks, @jenpil 😉).

I am thinking some of you may be right about neurodiversity. Good point.

To the poster who asked about the manager, I didn't want to escalate / argue / be told it's closed by a second person. She may well have been the manager, who knows.

Anyway, thank you for letting me rant. I will continue to be flexible and kind (as appropriate) as I still thinks that's a nicer way for the world to work. But everyone's different.

Agree with all your points. However, all that being said, would you close a fitting room as someone was one footstep away from stepping into one though?

And I would rather just post on MN to get it off my chest.

I think I would assume she was a volunteer and perhaps had some form of neurodiversity.

My cousin is severely autistic but masks well. She takes rules very seriously, if she was working there and was told that the changing room should be shut 30 mins prior to closing, she would do this, even if the place was on fire, sort of thing!

You could feedback to the shop though, it might just need explaining to her that there's a bit of leeway with the rules, with specific exceptions.

Spiteful.

Still the OP thanked you for your response... 🙄