Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'So, are you hoping for a yes or a no?'

61 replies

hmmSleep · 20/04/2009 15:54

This is what the check-out man at Asda asked after examining the pregnancy test I had hid amongst my groceries.

AIBU to thibk it was highly innapropriate for him to mention it at all, never mind ask what result I was hoping for?

Luckily I'm not easily embarrassed, andwas hoping for a positive, so not as awkward as it could have been.

I didn't complain as didn't want to get the man into trouble, he didn't mean any harm, was just a bit gormless. Now I'm wondering if I should? Perhaps all staff should be briefed not to ask customers inappropriate questions about their shopping?

I'm certainly shan't be buying any lube etc from there!

OP posts:
TheButterflyEffect · 20/04/2009 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsMagooo · 20/04/2009 16:02

I had exactly the same when buying a HPT when TTC my DS - the girl said 'so is it planned or accidental' grinning & nodding at my test

People are so damn rude!!

Did you get your positive?

lljkk · 20/04/2009 16:05

I would label it nosy, not rude. Just smile and don't answer.

SparklingSarah · 20/04/2009 16:07

I know it's irritating I'd have been tempted to tell him all you hope is your one of many conquests don't spot it as you now need to get a paternity test and do they sell those?
!

marymungoandmidge · 20/04/2009 16:07

It is appallingly inappropriate and you should report him. I certainly would...
I had a similar thing at the Doctors with my first, when I'd done a home test (positive)and was excitedly awaiting results of the 'formal' Doctors test at the surgery. The very 'familiar' receptionist flung the window back at the desk and in front of a roomful of people said, 'Its' NO, is that okay?'....I bumbled out of there in a completely confused daze...almost in tears...and when I got home I rang the surgery and complained..Incidentally I was pregnant, and my son was born 7 months later! Good luck and all the best

Eve4Walle · 20/04/2009 16:07

Not as bad as the Doctor, who when I went to her and told her I'd had 3 positive tests and 2 negative tests and could she help me, immediately asked me if I wanted a termination.

Simplysally · 20/04/2009 16:07

It is out of order to comment on your shopping - you may have been buying it for someone else anyway! - but they were probably trying to be friendly.

Did you get your result btw?

IneedAbetterNickname · 20/04/2009 16:08

Id have told him it was for my 13 year old daughter, and we were hoping for a positive!LOL

For the record, I don't have a 13 year old, I am only 24 myself but look younger so would be so funny!

beanieb · 20/04/2009 16:09

I think it's inappropriate but he probably just wasn't thinking.

when I buy tests (I am trying and have been for ages) I always buy a nice big pack of sanitary towels at the same time just to confuse the checkout person.

No one has ever asked me that question.

SlackBladder · 20/04/2009 16:10

YABU. You should have used the self check out. Very handy for articles of a sensitive nature (i.e. stocking up on on BOGOF condoms! )

I think people on check outs (sometimes, by no means always) just want a bit of friendly conversation amongst all the miserable sods on their mobiles and it sometimes comes out a bit weird. Like commenting on how much chocolate you're buying or whatever.

Hope you got the desired result anyway

chequersmate · 20/04/2009 16:11

I got a 'good luck' when I bought one in Sainsburys.

Thought that was a little bit although pleasant enough.

SlackBladder · 20/04/2009 16:11

I was joking about the self checkout and the YABU btw. in case that didn't come across in my attempt at humour

SparklingSarah · 20/04/2009 16:12

Eve - snap!

I'd had 3 pos's 2 neg's tried to explain to the nurse I needed to know could I just pop in I'd even sit and wait for a cancellation
she simply said even if you know today you can't book a TOP I needed to know because I was about to get some pelvic X rays

KingRolo · 20/04/2009 16:13

Rofling that there is an Asda ad on this page!

Simplysally · 20/04/2009 16:16

The self-check outs would be useless in my local shops as pg/fertility tests/condoms etc are in those locked boxes .

Ten to one they wouldn't scan properly either so a runner would have to get you another one .

HeadFairy · 20/04/2009 16:19

slackbladder, I did exactly that at lunchtime. Funnily enough it prints out exactly what everything else is announcing the price in a tinkly voice... eye drops £1.99, nappies £5.89, pharmacy item £4.99, ham sandwich £2.50 etc etc

drowninginclutter · 20/04/2009 16:19

IMO that is too much of a personal question for a total stranger to ask but you should have said something to him at the time if it was a problem.

Complaining about him, when he was probably just trying to start a conversation to relieve the mind-numbing boredom of sitting there scanning stuff, is way over the top. No-one deserves a black mark on their work record for trying to be friendly.

PuppyMonkey · 20/04/2009 16:21

I had to get one from Tesco the other week and was seriously hoping I would be able to do so discreetly. So I had the bright idea of going to the self service til with the pack thinking it would be quick and hassle free. WRONG!!!!

I set an alarm off and the whole queue was stuck behind me looking. A spotty youth working there had to take my pregnancy test off to be de-alarmed or whatever. I would say about 400 more people saw that I'd bought a test than would have been the case if I'd just gone to the normal queue.

I WASN'T hoping for a positive, btw.

MuffinBaker · 20/04/2009 16:23

gormless??

He was trying to make conversation and a baby coming makes a lot of people happy.

DOn't complain fgs.

HeadFairy · 20/04/2009 16:23

It reminds me of that rude check out girl on the Fast Show that Caroline Aherne used to do so well....

air freshener... house pong does it?

Original poster
hmmSleep · 20/04/2009 16:30

Unfortunately my 'morning sickness' turned out to be a tummy bug, only just started TTC though so not too disappointed.

Slackbladder, although you were joking, think I'll take your advise and use the self check-out next time , or buy one in Waitrose, bet they don't ask in there!

beanieb, lol at the sanitary towels!

kingrolo, do you think it's selective advertising picking up on the word 'ASDA' in my post? I'm waiting to see if an advert for pregnancy tests pops up . . .

OP posts:
Original poster
hmmSleep · 20/04/2009 16:32

Oh, just read puppy's post, shan't be using self check out after all!

OP posts:
NorkilyChallenged · 20/04/2009 16:32

beanieb - I used to do that sanitary towels + hpts purchase things too (was also trying for 3 years before getting pregnant)!!

Original poster
hmmSleep · 20/04/2009 16:35

Muffin, if I did complain, which I don't think I will, wasn't going to mention names, just suggest that they speak to staff in general that perhaps not appropriate to chat to customers over certain sensitive products.

OP posts:
ChocFridgeCake · 20/04/2009 16:43

It just sounds like a very misguided attempt to strike up a conversation and it was probably more of an interesting item to do it on than, say, carrots, or bog roll, or cat food.

Nothing to get knickers in a knot about I think, it's just one of those "Ha..." response moments. Part and parcel of life's tapestry. People are not robots. Sometimes people get it wrong. No real damage done, eh? There's worse things to worry about!

Also, I would never buy sanitary towels just to confuse a check-out person. I mean, you are just one of 200-250 customers on their shift. And they could still comment on your pg test anyway.