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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have laughed out loud at this retail worker

550 replies

Shmee1988 · 03/03/2025 17:07

Today I went to a highstreet branch for some painkillers. I asked the lady behind the counter if they had some cocodomol. She said 'yes, we have our normal cocodomol and our max strength'. I asked if I was allowed to come and read the box and she said no (behind the counter so fair enough) I then asked if she could please explain the difference between the 2, I obviously meant the difference in strength in the active ingredient. Her honest to God, genuine response was 'yes of course, this one is our max strength version...... and this one ....is not'😂I was so taken aback by the utter ridiculousness of her explanation that I had no idea to respond, I just laughed. Anyone had anything similar or did I just encounter a particularly unknowlegable retail worker ?

OP posts:
heartsinvisiblefury · 03/03/2025 21:31

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/03/2025 17:16

I always find that when people laugh at or about retail, hospitality or any other ‘low paid’ worker it says a lot more about them than it does the person on minimum wage trying to earn a living.

Exactly this

Hyperbowl · 03/03/2025 21:32

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/03/2025 21:23

It's poor form usually to correct grammar but you are asking for it here. I hope you aren't teaching English.

and if I'd of given a customer such a stupid response to a question I'd of fully expected to be laughed at.

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Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on this one as well. 😬

Giveyerballzatug · 03/03/2025 21:32

You have to have thick skin and a sense of humor for sure! I think the world would be a better place😊

Redlocks30 · 03/03/2025 21:34

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle the Op has since said that she lied about having that degree. It's all very bizarre.

Chattie89 · 03/03/2025 21:38

Did she laugh with you, in a sharing a joke fashion? Or did you laugh AT her and hope everyone here would too? If it's the latter you sound like a cow. Similar to one of those school bullies who says oh it was only a JOKE.

Thirteenblackcat · 03/03/2025 21:41

I worked in a pharmacy as an assistant when I was 17. Any sales of pharmacy only meds needed to be OK’d with the pharmacist. They gave me training but it was on the job so practice came before theory.

You were rude to this retail worker.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/03/2025 21:41

Redlocks30 · 03/03/2025 21:34

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle the Op has since said that she lied about having that degree. It's all very bizarre.

Thanks, I missed that.

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 21:41

kittensinthekitchen · 03/03/2025 21:13

Some people are just ignorant, pathetic and ableist - neither minimum wage workers, or imaginary literature degree-holders are exempt.

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I don't see how your comment bears any relation to mine.

Giveyerballzatug · 03/03/2025 21:42

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 21:11

So you gave her a snarky, sarcastic response instead of saying "Actually madam, all tylenol is gluten-free and you'll find it in the first aid section"?

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No not snarky or rude but she interrupted the customer I was helping like she was more important and was very unpleasant. If you're gonna be like that then maybe you should know what the heck your asking for. Maybe she won't be like that to the next clerk. I'm a person just like her and you get what you give. I just use humor as my defense that's all. When she got the Tylenol she was more embarrassed. Not upset.

Devianinc · 03/03/2025 21:43

Shmee1988 · 03/03/2025 20:59

I honestly, truly don't know. As I've explained up the thread, the store has a big wall lined with perfumes, medicines and expensive skin care and 3 little islands where you pay for things. All of the stuff is in locked cabinets. The one for the medicines is in the middle. The one to the left and to the right is for perfume and for skin care, and customers are allowed to wander behind the counter so I asked the lady if I wad allowed to read the box. So no, based on the lay out of the shop, it wasn't at all obvious to me.

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I think everyone is having a real crappy Monday and it’s all your fault. Go in your room and sit in the corner for a minute and think about what you’ve done. Hahaha, this thread just keeps on giving. You did nothing wrong and you just had a giggle with yourself bc it was funny. You’re not going jail tonight, oh, and I’ve worked in retail and it was fun.

republicofjam · 03/03/2025 21:43

Shmee1988 · 03/03/2025 20:54

Did you read why I asked if it was permitted? Or just jump to the conclusion that I'm stupid? Just curious

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Nobody has jumped to the conclusion that you are stupid, you have been relentlessly demonstrating it yourself each time you post a reply.

kittensinthekitchen · 03/03/2025 21:44

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 21:41

I don't see how your comment bears any relation to mine.

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I am refering to people like the person you responded to and the OP as ableist, pathetic and/or ignorant.

These qualities can apply to both retail workers and customers

crumblingschools · 03/03/2025 21:52

Problem is your title says you laughed at a retail worker, you didn't say you laughed with her, you laughed at her. It is the 'at' that makes it rude.

Original poster
Shmee1988 · 03/03/2025 21:53

republicofjam · 03/03/2025 21:43

Nobody has jumped to the conclusion that you are stupid, you have been relentlessly demonstrating it yourself each time you post a reply.

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How so?

OP posts:
YourHappyJadeEagle · 03/03/2025 22:02

The correct answer was to read the dosage in each medicine. That doesn’t need specific training.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/03/2025 22:03

republicofjam · 03/03/2025 21:43

Nobody has jumped to the conclusion that you are stupid, you have been relentlessly demonstrating it yourself each time you post a reply.

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Harsh, but true. 🤣🤣

The OP failed to communicate effectively to the shop assistant.
The OP failed to write a thread title that accurately reflects what she then claims happened.
The OPs story evolved with every post, taking it further and further away from anyone’s reasonable interpretation of the thread title.
The OP doesn’t appear to take on board the view of anyone who doesn’t agree with her.
The OPs responses show a complete lack of understanding of GCSE, let alone A level or the claimed degree level, English with punctuation, grammar and spelling errors littering the posts.

Or perhaps that should be “…punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors littering...” ;)

The common denominator in all of this is the OP, so of course it’s reasonable to blame it all on a lack of common sense on the part of the pharmacy assistant and MN posters. 🤣 🤣🤣

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 22:08

Giveyerballzatug · 03/03/2025 21:42

No not snarky or rude but she interrupted the customer I was helping like she was more important and was very unpleasant. If you're gonna be like that then maybe you should know what the heck your asking for. Maybe she won't be like that to the next clerk. I'm a person just like her and you get what you give. I just use humor as my defense that's all. When she got the Tylenol she was more embarrassed. Not upset.

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Oh, so now you add the detail "... but she interrupted the customer I was helping like she was more important and was very unpleasant." OK then.

Solongtoshort · 03/03/2025 22:10

How funny that 5 years ago retail workers were deemed essential workers during covid, but yet there are still posts like this.

l work in retail and honestly a lot of customers need teaching a few lessons in manners.

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 22:10

kittensinthekitchen · 03/03/2025 21:44

I am refering to people like the person you responded to and the OP as ableist, pathetic and/or ignorant.

These qualities can apply to both retail workers and customers

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Nope, still doesn't make sense why you quoted my post.

kittensinthekitchen · 03/03/2025 22:12

YourHappyJadeEagle · 03/03/2025 22:02

The correct answer was to read the dosage in each medicine. That doesn’t need specific training.

So what was the correct question? Does that need training, because the OP didn't manage it

MyPearlCrow · 03/03/2025 22:14

CowboyJoanna · 03/03/2025 17:12

Why did you ask for the difference? Isn't it clear: one is max strength and one isn't?

YABU have a biscuit Biscuit

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But what is ‘max strength’? Unless you’re a pharmacist, or you read the box, you can’t possibly know. I’d want to know difference in dosage, if that were the only difference, and advice about which version is appropriate for my condition.

so you’re absolutely not unreasonable asking, but instead of laughing id have asked as set out above!

cannynotsay · 03/03/2025 22:16

I work in retail and people like you are just nasty

Giveyerballzatug · 03/03/2025 22:16

AngelicKaty · 03/03/2025 22:08

Oh, so now you add the detail "... but she interrupted the customer I was helping like she was more important and was very unpleasant." OK then.

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Too many details would have clouded the funny. I should have laid it all out better.my apologies 🤣

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 03/03/2025 22:17

She was probably in shock by you asking to go behind the counter. I mean why would you ask this?

CharlotteCChapel · 03/03/2025 22:17

As far as can see the codeine in both the same but the extra may have caffeine as well as its supposed to speed up the rate at which it works.