Questioned over Covid tests in Tesco

[Chouette77]

So I bought two Covid tests with my quickly shop. Young male cashier picked them up, held them up and said, "do I have anything to worry about?'. I said what do you mean. He said "these, do I have anything to worry about - if you have it I have it". I said you probably don't, and paid. I'm irritated though! They weren't even for me, but if they were I wouldn't fancy having my health issues publicised! Am I being unreasonable to be a bit irritated?

They have brought in in Tesco. Has some teenage lad trying to start some conversation about some smoked salmon I was buying.

I had this in ASDA - the unfortunate teenage boy had been told to chat and he came out with some random stuff and when I was like he said (almost tearfully) "They make us talk to customers! They WATCH us!" I felt so bad for him - when I was working minimum wage jobs nobody expected you to have a good attitude.

Dear God, what a deeply disrespectful thing to say.

He’s got a point. And he could have correctly pointed out you’re wasting your money on those tests. No one tests anymore

Glad you are not going to complain as that would be mean spirited and petty. I agree it was a joke that landed poorly. Tesco workers have to contend with far worse from customers

@QuestionableMouse

im assuming she was defending sakes workers not being serious.

@BeaRF75

why do you consider them unnecessary?

And if somebody's loved one had died from said respiratory illness?

Health topics aren't for joking about. Chat about the loaves of bread instead.

@Daisies12

of course they do. People with underlying heath issues, people living with or visiting vulnerable people, people who are respectful & considerate if others.

you may not know many people like this

That’s what I thought when I read your OP, that it sounded accusatory, “Are you infectious?”, not idle chat or a joke as others have suggested.

Depends how he said it. If he was full on deadpan without a hint of a smile to, I'd complain

If he was obviously joking I'd have just laughed

I personally don’t find dead relatives embarrassing; nor do I know anyone who does.

Who said the checkout assistant was joking? They may have been serious. Or they may have been making light of their own health concerns.

Once I only bought cat food and wine and the checkout assistant said it was literally the best combination she'd put through all day. I enjoyed that conversation.

Who mentioned embarrassment at dead relatives? Upsetting and painful yes, embarrassing not so much. Still, who wants to be upset in Tesco though?

Someone who is concerned about contracting viral infections from the public is probably not advised to choose a public facing role lest their health suffers.

Someone who gets so upset in Tesco at the mere mention of the word covid should probably not be in Tesco buying covid tests.

Haha, I wasn't upset!

Why is anyone still buying covid tests? YABU.

Not mentioning, making jokes. Are you deliberately being obtuse? If I have to explain why joking about health related matters isn't polite or advisable then I'm probably not talking to someone who understands the reasons why.

This is hard work 🙄

Just carry on thinking everything is hilarious. The dense and vacuous always seem to like this type of thing. Perhaps the assistant should try his hand at stand up comedy.

This!

They were for my elderly parents who are worried.

Last time I went to the Tesco pharmacy I was buying Covid tests and threadworm tablets. We had a good giggle and the assistant suggested I book into a hotel to get away from home 🤣 No one was offended... 🤷🏼‍♀️

You are right; it’s hard work. I’ll repeat again - the cashier may have been themselves worried about covid.

Your suggestion is that they should rethink their career - one that they likely had before we all caught the plague.

And he could have correctly pointed out you’re wasting your money on those tests. No one tests anymore

lots of people still test. Lots of us have vulnerabilities to covid. It is helpful to know what we’re dealing with.

I can't be sure what I would have said in the moment, taken by surprise. But I'd like to think that I would have reassured him that they weren't for me, in case he was concerned about a vulnerable relative, or had underlying conditions himself.

I didn't realise can get them in Tescos. Have been considering ordering some online to have in, just in case.

He's serving the public and I understand that he doesn't want to catch covid. Just saying get another job is so dismissive. I'd hope that people would mask if they have it. You never know if someone is vulnerable etc

In what way are they unnecessary? Does it not matter to pass covid on to vulnerable people?