To have laughed out loud at this retail worker

[Shmee1988]

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 ?

I can understand how those oval single till counters in some Boots look like you can go behind them. They don't look like they're necessarily part of the pharmacy section either, as the actual pharmacy has a proper straight desk that is a proper barrier.

I suspect I would have laughed at the answer, too, and then said something like, "what makes it max strength rather than normal?" and would expect to be told the doses and whether there are other ingredients like caffeine (which there isn't in the Boots cocodamol.) Though I am usually more concerned they sell me the easy-to-swallow caplets rather than the round tablets than the rest of it. And then I go through the grilling about whether it's for myself, if I've taken it before and not to take it for more than 3 days else I'll be on an inevitable path to heroin addiction. They don't actually say that last bit. It's just heavily implied.)

TBH, I worry more about messing up my liver with paracetamol than addiction, though I assume that for both codeine and paracetamol, the doses won't be an issue if you take it as directed.

Exactly that. There really are some ghastly stuck up condescending women on this site. "I laughed in the face of the 'retail worker' and 'the waitress couldn't pronounce fajita - it made me chuckle'. Dear God.

How many times are you going to blaspheme in your responses to people? Is that necessary?

Blasphemy isn’t a crime. HTH.

I see your comprehension skills are at a similar level as your ability to communicate in the written form. ☺️☺️ Few people have said that the response from the assistant was helpful, but many have said that laughing at them was unfounded and rude. It is possible to find someone unhelpful without mocking them, which is the point you keep missing.

Reminds me of ordering kfc the other day at a drive thru, I was asked if I wanted a box meal, so I asked what came with a box meal, he said a piece of chicken, a side then paused then said and a box….. it made me and my daughter smile!

Exactly, this! What a non-event. 🙄

Yes it’s always hilarious when you get “one in” on underpaid hard working people who are simply trying to make ends meet in a business where 70% of people are rude and entitled. Well done OP. 👏

I think (my opinion of course) that the original motive for the thread was to have people joining in and mocking the RA or at least agree she deserved to be laughed at (not with). The tone of the thread title absolutely backs this up for me. If it really was just a lighthearted giggle between the two of them then what would be the point of opening a thread about it?

It’s important to be clear when selling meds which have codeine in it. She should have read the back and confirmed the dosages.

But it was mean to chuckle. She was being a bit clueless, not nasty.

When I have bought Paracetamol with Codeine there are two different strengths of Codeine, one has a few mg more of Codeine. Anything stronger would need a script.

Its obvious to me OP that you meant the difference in dose.
The shop worker was being facetious.

I mean you could argue that if you want a specific answer, then asking the specific question is probably a good start "The difference" could mean anything from the strength of the active ingredient, to other ingredients, to the price, to the number of tablets per box.
I'd have asked you to clarify what you meant, or if I was feeling particularly pedantic following you deciding to a)mock me and b) decide for me that I'm ok about it, I'd have stood there and listed every single difference between the two, down to box shape, colour and fonts used. Now that's sarcastic and facetious, and totally deserved.

Well firstly, I didn't mock, I laughed. Secondly, I probably would of preferred that to the pathetic answer that I actually got. Funnily enough, I am yet to find anyone IRL who doesn't agree her answer was stupid and warranted a laugh.

You also wrote, "Alot". That's actually two words, not one, Op. You have made me laugh /chuckle.

A degree in English Lang?

I don't think it generally matters to people. I work in retail and all of us a complete range of ages get different customers, often mutliple times per shift, saying "eggs?" Or "gluten free?" Etc rather than speaking in a sentence. Sometimes followed by silence walking off, sometimes with thanks or sometimes with an "ok" or "right".
It's astounding the amount of people who are rude.

YABU

It isn’t her job to know the difference between the medicines. It is her job to assist you which she did.

Your question was vague. You knew what you meant but she obviously didn’t hence her answer.

I would have asked you “Is there something in particular you’re seeking out? Do you mean dosage or types of pain that they treat?

I’ve learned being on both sides, it’s best to be clear because people aren’t mind readers and questions can be interpreted in all kinds of way.

Surprised she didn't say they were in different colour boxes 🤣

That is really depressing. I’ve noticed this too.

@Shmee1988 as you didn't actually bother to clarify what your question was and just bought the ones you usually get why did you even ask the question in the first place?
You can't have been that fussed about the difference.

As I've said before (many times) it should have been very obvious what i was asking. I am despairing at the people who think it wasn't, it blows my mind.

If you'd read all of OP's posts you wouldn't have needed to ask that question. 🙄

I get you OP! If something strikes you as funny, you react! That’s what you did. Nothing wrong with that and I don’t understand all these odd reactions.

@phoenixrosehere
"It isn’t her job to know the difference between the medicines." Er, yes it is. I've never worked in retail, let alone medicines retail, and I would have known what OP was asking me to explain and how to explain the difference.

"It is her job to assist you which she did." Er, no she didn't - at all. OP was no better informed about the difference between the products than before she asked the question. The best reading of the RA's response is that she was being sarcastic.

For the umpteenth time, most people aren't disputing that the response from the asssistant could have been better. What we are saying is that doesn't warrant laughing in someones face. And that's because your question is "AIBU to laugh out loud at this retail worker"

If you'd said "AIBU to think this retail workers reply was unhelpful" you'd probably have got a different set of replies!!

edited for spelling :)