Was I wrong to refuse sale at work urgent advice needed

[LemonBlueberryX]

So this morning at work (I work in retail - but not a supermarket, think along the lines of b&m), someone came in and tried to buy an item. I was working on the till. When they came to the till I felt frozen on what to do as I didn’t feel comfortable selling this item in these circumstances (based on a stereotype of what this person looked like). I asked for ID (it’s a look25 item) hoping they wouldn’t have it so I could refuse sale but they did. After that I felt I had to make a choice and so I refused sale. Because of things that have happened in my area recently I felt that by allowing this sale I would be personally contributing to bad things.

They kicked off and asked for the manager who came over and asked me why I refused the sale and I just froze and couldn’t answer. Manager took over the till and served the person. The rest of my shift went on as normal but Managers just whatsapped me an hour ago asking me to come in at 10 tomorrow for a chat. I don’t work saturdays so not usually in. What do I say?

I dont really want this getting back to my manager so have tried to be vague about said item

I stand corrected I thought you had to look / be 25+

@DontReplyIWillLie and this retailer chose not to sell a knife to an 18 year old. Retailers discretion is a thing. We can refuse to sell what we like to whoever we like.

Me too.

I think you did the right thing too. Better 5 minutes of hassle for the young Jamie Oliver than loads of youths of any colour thinking XY supermarket is an easy place to buy knives. His hurty feelings will last less time than a grieving mother’s heartbreak.

Edit - just read more posts

I get your concerns which are valid but in your role you have to act professionally. You simply can’t go round policing your customers based on speculation. You’ve essentially discriminated against him because of his age. You had no evidence he was going to use the knife for a crime and if he had his ID and you didn’t question this, then you’ve acted unreasonably and unprofessionally. You have to put your lived experience and opinions to one side in the absence of any evidence he was involved or going to be involved in criminality.

If you don’t like selling certain items to certain people I think you’re in the wrong job. If I was your manager I’d be telling you just that and if you keep your job, you need to reign in your personal views.

I think you just need to be honest with your manager. IE, the horrific rates of knife crime among young men made you deeply uncomfortable selling a kitchen knife to an 18-year-old who smelled of weed and wasn't buying anything else alongside it.

Manager will no doubt tell you that you can't refuse a legal sale.

“I know the type” will not stand up as evidence.

Some of the comments on here are ridiculous, the op ultimately had responsibility for what she sells.
There is no obligation to sell anything.
You did the right thing and it's disgraceful that your management didn't back you up.

You did nothing wrong @LemonBlueberryX I can't understand why the manager 'wants a word with you.' How odd. Stand your ground.

Then why is OP’s manager calling her in about it?

Op any manager worth their salt back their staff on the shop floor anything else takes place behind closed doors.
I'm ex retail manager and that's how I dealt with things.
I'm sure you'll be fine I'm sure it will be a case of going over company policy.
All the best op.

Your intentions were good. Unfortunately if you didn’t sell it, someone else would (case in point at your colleague).

An 18yr old shouldn’t be buying singular kitchen knives, but you’re on sketchy ground refusing if it’s not a policy.

Could you write to your head office asking for advice? Perhaps they need to update their policies, especially in areas battling knife crime.

Well tell them that op

I think just be honest that you froze.

Where did she say that. Stop making things up?

You are right.
Years ago I lived in a very rough area and I needed to buy some methylated spirits. I was refused. I asked why when clearly they had it. They thought someone who drank it had asked me to get it for them.

Do what the poster above said OP and say you thought he smelled of weed.

Its a sad world when we can't use our own discretion when selling a utensil commonly used as a weapon.

The thing is if the man was black, everyone would be jumping up and down shouting racism and you wouldn't be allowed say you used your own discretion. So I guess you can't really say that when he's white either even though it is the case. So stick with the weed story.

It is Friday tomorrow 🙄🙄

But that's not your call

Your job is to sell , within the guidelines of the law

You asked for ID, they provided it, it was real afayk - you were obligated to make the sale - unless of course they were abusive

There's been many a time in my life Ive had to sell and serve ( within the law , to those Id be very wary about in my every day life ) but that's the job

I live in a town where a young girl was killed in her place of work by her ex who had just gone into a retail store and purchased a knife. He then went on to enter her work space and stab her to death. She was an innocent young girl and is now gone.

You should not feel bad for what you’ve done.

I think that you were morally right to refuse the sale of a single knife to an 18 year old. And yes, I have no problem with judging on appearance. Everybody does it and it's common sense.

This, I think you did the right thing op.

OP has already acknowledged that she got her days mixed up. AGES back! Do keep up!

Do say that. I think the manager was wrong for permitting the sale (don't say that though:)

After the little girl killed in a park with a knife from Poundland. Most shops removed them from the shelves. Poundland stopped selling them most that do just have a card with pictures on. You take the picture of the 1 you want to the till. If you have no ID they won’t sell you a knife. I’m shocked when I see knives on display. The Range still have them on the shelves. They could easily be stolen and get into the wrong hands.