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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel insulted

31 replies

insulted4 · 16/09/2024 17:03

I was in town today and browsing in a pharmacy/shop, and a member of staff approached me and asked if I would be interested in a free blood pressure check, which they're offering today. I thought why not? That could be useful to know.

I then went through the process to have this done and after I gave my DOB they said I'm not old enough as you need to be 40. I am only in my very early 30s!

It's really spoiled my day that the original woman thought I was 40+. Maybe I'm being pathetic but I feel like complaining to the shop as approaching people who are nowhere near 40 and assuming they are would upset people. AIBU

OP posts:
greenrollneck · 16/09/2024 17:47

Be nice if that's all I had to be offended and worried about. I'm sure they didn't mean too.

TooMuchRedMaybe · 16/09/2024 17:49

Don’t complain. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes and we don’t need to have a society where every mistake becomes a complaint. Especially not when it comes to their livelihood.

These two guys for example are the same age. Who would a thunk?

To feel insulted
SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 16/09/2024 17:49

Rather than complain you could suggest that they find a more tactful way of phrasing the question. Someone said to me recently 'I'm sure you can't be anywhere near pension age, but if you were, you might be interested in this...' I was rather charmed (I'm not at pension age yet, but fast approaching). Maybe they could say when they get to the age question, 'Oh gosh I forgot about the age criterion. Sorry to have taken your time'.

Purpleraiin · 16/09/2024 17:52

insulted4 · 16/09/2024 17:22

Thanks for the response. Yes hoping this was the case, but if managers are putting that pressure on staff to the extent it means they are risking insulting customers to meet numbers surely that needs to be addressed?

Show quote history

From my experience they rarley care. If it's a big chain pharmacy and a customer emails in a complaint to head office, it may, or may not get passed down to the store manager. If it does make its way down the chain then I can honestly say I have never seen a manager take a complaint seriously. I've heard them mentioned for about 10 seconds in a quick morning group huddle then carry on like it was never mentioned. If its an idependant pharmacy then it's mentioned briefly before the pressuring is resumed. All they care about is numbers, targets, money.
If the ammount of pressuring can lead to errors/insults, then let the patient vote with their feet rather than reduce the pressuring seems to be the go too.....
I'd like to think that's not the case everywhere, but I'm a locum so have worked in many many Pharmacies, and that seems to be the general attitude in all the stores I've worked in.

easylikeasundaymorn · 16/09/2024 17:57

you only need to look at some of the 'guess my age' threads on here to understand that many people are absolutely TERRIBLE at guessing ages.

KrisAkabusi · 16/09/2024 18:03

insulted4 · 16/09/2024 17:35

Basically to suggest staff are told to be a bit more mindful when approaching people for age related checks, not just assuming their age and wording it in a better way.

Show quote history

How would you word it? Given that they are going to ask you anyway and have to check you're over 40. What phrasing wouldn't insult you?

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