The lady in question got in a muddle when someone wanted to pay their TV licence, apparently you have to swipe a special machine. At first I thought he was being jokey/affectionate ie "oh what are you like" but he wasn't- he said in front of all the customers, "how many times do I have to tell you and show you, you keep doing this..."etc. Then told the customer "It's like speaking to a brick wall" . He then sent the lady to serve me, she was all upset and swiped my stuff without logging into the till- no problem, no one died, no need to shout. She is probably late 60s, and very slow at serving, but so what? It's a local shop, don't go if you're in a rush. There really are worst things to deal with imo.
Said customer also made a comment- at which point I had had enough and said"Don't you start as well!" then asked to speak to the man, who had legged it to the office. I got him back out and just said how inappropriate it was to speak to her (and about her) in that way, especially in front of customers. He actually tried to justify it by saying "I've told her loads of times..." and I am afraid I saw red, voice was shaky but controlled, v polite and said "No sorry, it is never appropriate to treat someone like that, and tbh I personally would not speak to someone like that even in private". Poor woman , really felt for her- v humiliating . Am still a bit wobbly now at my boldness, I am not usually that vocal- and of course now I have though of other things I should have said! fgs though, it took him less than 5 mins to sort the problem out.