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

[hmmSleep]

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!

Saltire, lovely story!

hmmSleep you're not being unreasonable, I think commenting on pregnancy tests would be off limits for anyone with half an ounce of sense. I can't class this as "just trying to make conversation."

I remember being advised to buy a test a fortnight after miscarriage to check my HCG levels were going down. That was a very sad checkout experience and if anyone had asked me if I was hoping for a yes or a no, they would have had a furious woman on their hands.

YANBU, but agree with the others who said he was probably, in a misguided way, trying to make conversation. I bought a test in Paris recently (to check whether I was ok to drink on a hen weekend) and the assistant said "Ohh la la!". I didn't think French people actually said that, so quite amused. (Turned out the thing was wrong/too early anyway and the copious amounts of wine may have been a bit of a mistake..!)

Please bear in mind that not only is checkout work very boring, but that in some supermarkets (like ASDA) the staff are instructed to make 'friendly conversation' but not exactly given sensitive, thoughtful training on how to do so. It will be one laminated photocopy with 'Comment on something the customer is purchasing on!SMile! Advise them to buy low fat yoghurts if they're a porker!' And that people gifted with empathy and superb diplomacy and conversation skills will not stay long on a checkout but will be off to a higher-earning job like a shot.
Basically, get over yourself. He wasn't trying to be rude, and if a clumsy remark from a stranger puts you into traumatic shock for the day you probably shouldn't be allowed out on your own.

"And that people gifted with empathy and superb diplomacy and conversation skills will not stay long on a checkout but will be off to a higher-earning job like a shot"

solidgold, I actually think you need to 'get over yourself'. I know people who work at checkouts because it fits in with childcare, they don't want a higher-earning job, they just want to earn a bit of cash without having a huge workload. My sister for instance, a qualified teacher and Graphic designer worked in a supermarket when her children were younger as it fit in well with school hours. I think the majority of check-out staff would recognise that it is inappropriate to comment on certain purchases, as would the majority of the rest of the general public.

And, if you read my original post it didn't put me in 'traumatic shock', I just felt as it could have been a sensitive situation, as some of the other posters have put, after a miscarriage for instance he should have chosen another topic of conversation, it's really not that hard.

Im trying not to find it funny to picture the look on your face when you are trying to see what 'comeback' you could use. Its horrible when you can only think of something when you walk away! duh!!
im tring to get the hang of all the ttc, ds and other words i dont know....lol
I find whenever i try and buy hpt's i always have some couple or a man standing right there - because the shop has condoms right next to it!!!

hmmsleep would you also have been offended by a friendly good luck with the test or hope you get the result you want?

nappyaddict, I'd have still thought it a little odd to get any comment, but those would have been better, appeared less intrusive and more friendly with no need for an awkward response, just a 'thank you'.

CyberMom, I actually wish I'd just given a friendly smile and said, 'I'm hoping for a positive, but can I suggest you don't ask people in future as some might find it an awkward question? Enjoy the rest of your day'

That way I could have let him know that I realised he was only trying to be chatty, but got across perhaps not to ask in future.

...depends..I personally would'nt care

It's like the people who come in our shop - I do sometimes look at the 60+ year old man buying condoms on BOGOF, and wonder if they are for him or someone else, but certainly wouldn't say "oh hoping for a shag tonight then". Or the young girls for pregnancy tests or the morning after pill, I certianly wouldn't comment about it,but a comment like the one made to the OP, whilst I wouldn't say it, I wouldn't be bothered if it was said to me

A million years ago (when tills were still manual - not scanners, gasp) I had an afterschool job at a supermarket and we were trained that you do NOT comment on ANYTHING a customer is buying. Not A thing. Even at 14 I would have had more sense than to comment on something that personal, without any training.... hardly rocket science is it.

I think it's easy to say you wouldn't care... but I think in some situations you'd have to be a pretty hard person NOT to care (after a miscarriage for example).

still would'nt care ..because they don't know my personal circumstances..