Why do people speak to supermarket workers like they are scum?

Posted by jackSB24@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 177 comments

I’ve worked in a large supermarket for a number of years now and honestly I would like my job If it wasn’t for how people speak and treat me. Nearly everyone that talks to me is unbelievably entitled, have no self awareness how little money I make and no self awareness that I work for a multi million pound company where I have absolutely 0 say in any decisions. To quote a lady yesterday it was “disgraceful” that we sold out of avocados, called me a “joke” and then asked me what she was going to have for breakfast. I replied “A bacon sandwich” to which she shook her head in disbelief and said “not in my house!” Wtf is wrong with the general publics brains… (Also got called a “fucking dickhead” couple months ago when the store decided to have a re fit and items got re arranged) Like you’re a grown up, with a brain, privileged enough to travel to and afford fresh fruit and veg, but feel the need to tell me how it’s “ridiculous” when the bananas have moved location… absolute weirdo behaviour

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Skylon77@reddit

People who have never worked in retail have the curious delusion that "the customer is always right" and therefore must be pandered to. Those of us that have done retail know that this is a fallacy.

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zibafu@reddit

People are dicks But, it's also worth remembering that nobody in a supermarket actually wants to be there, staff or customer I worked at toys r us for 15 years. I didn't want to be there, the customers didn't want to be there, the managers didn't want to be there. If you are objective about your customers you'll realise that most are decent enough to you, and most people don't expect the charade that management expects you to put on. Also your strongest memories will undoubtedly be the assholes that come in, and they are probably much rarer than you realize. If I served 50 people a day and 1 was an ass daily, then in my mind I am being treated bad daily and thats all I thought about, but in reality it wasn't very common and was probably a bad 5 minute interaction out of the whole day. But, those bad interactions would drop if managers in retail would grow a spine and tell the assholes to do one, but since everyone's afraid to stand up to customers when they are being wronguns, they get away with it

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mdmnl@reddit

Plenty of people with the right responses regarding the entitled/selfish/ignorant customers. My wife works in a supermarket too and - while she gets some rude customers - her stories are more often about customers who just want a chat or genuinely need help finding ingredients with which they're unfamiliar. It's amazing that someone can complain about a lack of a fruit that's native to continents thousands of miles and an ocean away on a particular Saturday in November. We couldn't get them at all until about sixty years ago. Congratulate yourself on your restraint for not telling her to buy some guacamole and use her fucking imagination.

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talk_to_yourself@reddit

“Buy some guacamole and use it as a lube to push the toast up your ass, madam”

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Poes-Lawyer@reddit

Said with the same tone as ["So Hail Satan, and have a lovely afternoon, madam."](https://youtu.be/VknPftRYazg?si=JAjbzGJRsG79sjDI)

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TheMightyTRex@reddit

The issue I have with the conversation is the whole "can self service checkouts" is they are saying its a chance for them to chat. To me, this seems like forcing someone to chat because they have no one else. It's not a a socal group. Demanding the removal of all self checkouts (despite them being useful) so they can pretend to have friends annoys the hell out of me.

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AussieHxC@reddit

Except it's a long standing tradition in this country for (old) people to actually socialise at the shops, with each other and the staff. Less of the hyper-capitalism and more of a community spirit thing. For some people, those interactions at the shops are all they have and it's a real lifeline for them. When I worked in shops our the locals and the regulars were the ones that actually tended to make your job much more enjoyable as well, as you'd have built up a relationship with them.

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TheMightyTRex@reddit

But that's not a reason to stop me from using yje self service tills. That's what they are demanding. They are more important than my shopping experience. They are all copy and pasting a the shame crap and because they are so vocal about it people thing it's the majority. I always use self service tills as they are far quiver. Im not demanding they remove manned checkouts. I expect them to not demand the removal of my preference.

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Single-Position-4194@reddit

I live in Cornwall and it's quite common down here that people (especially older ones) do see checkout and library staff as someone to chat to. It's more or less expected.

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TheMightyTRex@reddit

But that's not a reason to demand the removal of self checkouts. Just so they have more time to chat to the per3at the till as there would be more checkouts for others to go to.

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Uelele115@reddit

> We couldn't get them at all until about sixty years ago. Even 40 ago oranges were exotic…

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laaldiggaj@reddit

My favourite thing is when I'm looking for something and the retail worker runs me over to point at it on the shelf. There's both of us, in store rushing over to the cumin. Is it there? Has it moved? Is it on sale? Too exciting. Then when you thank you RW profusely, they move on to save someone else lol.

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Highway-Organic@reddit

LOL , just missed spitting my coffee all over my keyboard

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GloomyAvocado5275@reddit

I love your wife if she talks. I know it's not their job to talk to me but I hate it when I'm at the checkout and get one word responses and stared at when I ask how there day is going.

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WalesnotWhales2@reddit

When I worked customer service older women were by far the worst for this type of behaviour.

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Raneynickel4@reddit

Me too. Not sure why middle aged women are so entitled and nasty

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Aggressive-Log6322@reddit

I think this can be true sometimes, in my experience in retail and other customer facing roles, older women are either super lovely or horrible and rude. And older men are often creepy, especially if you’re a young woman.

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b0neappleteeth@reddit

At 16 years old I was called babe and baby by older men when I worked in retail. Felt like I couldn’t say anything back as I was so young

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Aesthetictoblerone@reddit

Old women are either the absolute sweetest beings on earth or complete monsters.

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

100%! I do try and sympathise maybe they have very little going on in their lives and don’t get out much but then I also think they should try be less rude and confrontational

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ohmyblahblah@reddit

I really feel that a variant of national service should be brought in and anyone who has not worked in retail should be forced to do 2 years of front line retail work. Anyone of working age not just young people. People act like entitled cunts

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newnortherner21@reddit

Any retail, not just supermarkets would do.

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tayviewrun@reddit

Not just retail any job where to have to talk to the public. Call centres, delivery drivers etc..

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HotRabbit999@reddit

Pub too please

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SuboptimalOutcome@reddit

Yeah, I ran a mail order shareware business in the 80s as a side job. I'm never dealing with the public again.

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jaymatthewbee@reddit

Every job has it’s shits.

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LemmysCodPiece@reddit

I did 12 years in the licensed trade. I have been insulted, belittled, sworn at, spat at, punched, had broken bottles swung at me, threatened with a machete, threatened with a gun and every other form of anti-social behaviour in between. I realised I'd had enough when a guy ordering at the bar stopped talking to me to answer his phone and told me "I'd have to wait as this was more important." It was my pub and in turn my home. I took the phone from him, told the person on the other end he'd ring them back and then lectured the entitled twat on basic manners. He then told me I was going to be reported to head office and he'd have my job for that. At this point the concept of a Free house was explained to him and he was asked to leave. Not long after that I left the pub game and went back to IT. I am actually a really good publican, but the cunts that walk through the door daily make it unbearable.

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Poes-Lawyer@reddit

What a twat. How hard is it to say "oh sorry, my phone's ringing and I need to get it - back in a minute"? Some people do indeed need lessons on basic manners. I mean, pissing off your local pub landlord is literally biting the hand that feeds you (alcohol).

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GlasgowGunner@reddit

A week would be all it takes.

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CheeryBottom@reddit

Retail National Service would be an excellent idea.

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Healthy_Direction_18@reddit

National Retail Service 🤣🤣 I hope this is in jest.

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Sleepywalker69@reddit

I did 3 weeks on the freezer isle for work experience when I was 14/15, never again.

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ohmyblahblah@reddit

I used to have load the walk in freezer at 6am with big boxes of bread. Had forgot about that lol

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Remote_Echidna_8157@reddit

Retail with a 90% Indian clientele would absolutely decimate some of them.

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YchYFi@reddit

This would not change a facet of certain people. They would still think that way. I know many who have done that work and still talk to fellow workers that way. It's unbelievable.

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TargetOk6288@reddit

It’s common, people forget that we are also human, basic common courtesy goes totally out of the window, I can say hello to a customer and all I get back is “watches?” The same when I worked in a pub, hello to get back “pint of becks” it’s rude as all hell to not at the very least just say “hello” I don’t think it’s much to ask

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Skylon77@reddit

This I'm not the greatest person in the world and I can be a grumpy git when I want... but a simple "Hi, how are you?" costs me nothing and, having worked in retail, I know how crucial it is.

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FireSpiritBoi@reddit

I don't get it either, I'm only ever nice to anyone I meet, but many people are downright rude to minimum wage staff as if they are the ones taking the profits. If you get a professional job, it's amazing how well people treat you. My company charges people £150 an hour for my time and people treat me like a fucking king.

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throwpayrollaway@reddit

Everyone has to eat, even dickheads.

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Rich_27-@reddit

Which aisle are the dickheads on sale and how do you cook them?

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Trigs12@reddit

Doesn't matter how long you cook them. They'll still be raw and bitter inside.

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The_moist_sponge@reddit

Walked round B&Q with the mother-in-law before, and she spoke to the young staff member like utter shit I was so embrrassed. My boss also does the same and talks to staff like they are nothing but robots. Went into screwfix with him, the young girl greeted him with hello and he couldn't even be bothered to greet her back, just instantly started reeling out product codes to her. What age range do you get the most abuse from? I would like to think younger people would know what a shit situation most of us are in with low pay, that we would show more sympathy.

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Rich_27-@reddit

Ex B&Q worker here. The over 60s discount day was utter hell

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ueberryark@reddit

wow. this has reconfirmed my effort to always take care and be extra polite to supermarket workers, they don't deserve that abuse.

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YchYFi@reddit

Because there is little respect for those on minimum wage. Have experienced some form of it in one way or another in various minimum wage jobs. Sometimes people don't seem to see us as actual people. We are expendable robots to them.

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b0neappleteeth@reddit

The thing is, most supermarkets pay above minimum wage 😭🫣

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JohnMcAfeewaswhackd@reddit

The word is resource. You’re seen as a resource.

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SinisterBrit@reddit

We are all just disposable profit generating devices, of zero value once we break.

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bananabastard@reddit

Pricks will always exist, but try to notice the people who don't treat you badly, because surely that would be the majority?

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Sensitive_Progress12@reddit

I've never understood why supermarkets move stuff about. Is it to annoy people? To them it might be that people will have more time in store so buy more items? For me I just leave empty handed & go to another store

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Skylon77@reddit

I think it's based on evidence that shows that sales go up if they do this periodically, as people have to re-explore the store and so end up discovering and buying products they've never thought of buying before.

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LondonPilot@reddit

As far as I know, it’s because it means you’ll have to actually look for things rather than just go to where you know they are and pick them up. And, while looking for things, you might find something else that you wouldn’t normally have bought, but you see it and decide to take one and try it out. They do tons and tons of research into these things, and although some people will just leave as you do, they know that they will make more money from doing this than what they lose.

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Throwaway91847817@reddit

Weak people punch down

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EdmundTheInsulter@reddit

I'm in the bottom rung so I punch sideways

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FamousOperation3431@reddit

This is one massively underrated comment

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bacon_cake@reddit

It's also amazing what people use to justify someone as being "below them". Half the people who kick off at shop workers are not exactly "above" them in any meaningful sense.

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Slothjitzu@reddit

Honestly the people who speak to customer-facing employees the worst are always the ones without jobs at all.

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dividendexperiment@reddit

Not even necessarily punching down, it's punching at people who are limited in their ability for retaliation too. You end up with a bloody lip from all the biting you have to do working in retail

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CheeryBottom@reddit

This! This all day!

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True-Godesss@reddit

What area is this in? I beleive we teach people how to treat us, but it's hard I suppose with short interactions. Maybe change your pose, poster, how you carry yourself and speak in a different manner that relays "don't f&ck with me vibes", but be careful as the last one is on borderline with asshole/douchbag if you go to far..lol

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

My Co worker who is even more done than me absolutely refuses to say the word “sorry” to anyone If we don’t have anything 😂 he says it’s not his fault so he doesn’t need to apologise… that’s what 8 years of retail does to someone, I’m not quite there yet, if someone starts the conversation with excuse me I’m going to be friendly and helpful but when people bark “carrots?!?” At me I’m very un receptive

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Skylon77@reddit

I used to work on the chicken counter in Morrisons when I was doing my 'A' levels. It happened to be near the fruit and veg section (about which I knew nothing, entirely different department), and the number of people who would come up and bark a random word... "apples" "carrots" etc etc. Of course, I knew they were asking me where those things were, bit if they were so rude, I'd just play dumb. "I beg your pardon?" "Carrots, yes, what about them? This is the chicken counter..."

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michaelwnkr@reddit

I’ve never come across this, so hopefully it’s rare. I suppose it’s similar to being abusive to the bus driver of the bus after the missing one; not his fault at all. Unacceptable.

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Terrible_Biscotti_14@reddit

I work in retail but not food. My favourite time of year is Christmas, guaranteed to be told “you’ve ruined my Christmas“ several times at least. Truly magical.

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Aesthetictoblerone@reddit

I’ve just started a job on the Boots tills on Saturdays. Everyone says Christmas is awful. I can’t wait…

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jazzmagg@reddit

You treat the janitor the same as the CEO.

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Gain-Outrageous@reddit

I still remember walking through a shop with my coat on at Halloween. Walked past some dancing decoration and set it off and had a laugh with a customer about it, I said something like "I've got to put up with that for the next 4 hours now" Her face changed and she said "oh you work here?", like the face and the tone, she genuinely might as well have continued and said "I thought you were a real person". Then she asked me where the tights were.

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Nevermind04@reddit

Because it's illegal to slap some manners into them.

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Uelele115@reddit

I’m sorry for you. People are cunts and idiots that fail to realise you’re simply following orders of someone they have no clue who it is. I’ll admit I get frustrated, mainly on the phone (because had to wait an hour and got transferred through 5 departments), but make it a point of telling the person on the other end that although I am frustrated, it is not with them. On the other hand, if you were a Tesco click and collect picker that didn’t follow the aisle directions, I don’t feel sorry for you. :p

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AlucardVTep3s@reddit

I love retail workers, they know where literally everything is. I went into Asda for ONE thing which was an Admiral’s Pie. The lovely lady led me directly to where they would be but the freezers were broken so no frozen goods but it was the exact place because the price tag was there! Same in Tesco when I saw a girl I used to go school with that worked there, she was never the brightest (academically) but managed to pinpoint where the protein powder, sugar AND cheese sticks were! Remarkable!

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Cold_Leopard1425@reddit

This isn't just an issue in retail, it's any job dealing with facing the public. A lot of people are arseholes that think they are number 1 & forget how to treat people respectfully unfortunately.

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jackosity993@reddit

The fact she'd rather have an avocado than a bacon sandwich for breakfast tells you all you need to know.

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PeggyNoNotThatOne@reddit

In my experience of low-paid jobs (pubs, cafes, shops etc) it's inadequate people who need to have someone they wrongly perceive as 'lesser' to make them feel better about the paucity of their miserable existence.

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Mr__Skeet@reddit

Supermarket/retail staff are certainly targets, as are hospitality staff (waiters/bar staff), hospital/hotel porters and a range of others. Younger people in these roles are particularly vulnerable to experiencing arsehole behaviour. Unfortunately, we do seem to have a lot of people in the U.K. who feel they are superior to others for socio-economic or intellectual reasons (not that it doesn’t happen elsewhere in the world). These unpleasant individuals decide to take their frustrations out by punching down on people they perceive to a have a lower rank, and who are restricted from reacting/retaliating. These people are weak, hollow arseholes who skipped learning basic human qualities like respect, empathy or kindness. Always judge a person by how they treat their subordinates (or who they perceive to be their subordinates). Thankfully, there are lots of nice people around to counter this. One good outcome from social media/everyone having camera phones is that more people who behave like arseholes are exposed, and people who have to put up with it can connect with like-minded others and feel better.

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snufflycat@reddit

I have no idea but having worked as a GP receptionist, I assure you it's not just retail. My favourite is when people say "I'm not having a go, but..." then proceed to have a massive go at me. Or "I know it's not your fault, but..." and then hold me entirely accountable for every bad thing that has ever happened to them. In my experience, unhappy people just want to make everyone else as miserable as they are. Jokes on them though, because the people who are nice I will go miles out of my way to do everything I can to help them. The dickheads get told to ring back Monday morning.

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Tacklestiffener@reddit

> I have no idea but having worked as a GP receptionist I worked in a sports centre and it's the same. People are awful sometimes.

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Single-Position-4194@reddit

Bloody hell. I hope you banned them from the centre.

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bacon_cake@reddit

You can always tell when people haven't worked with the general public based on their predisposition to believe stories like that. My sister worked in a spa and once told a story about a customer screaming for the manager in the waiting room because a member of staff had mispronounced their name. It happened, and you having worked in a sports centre with the general public will no doubt believe that a member of the public could behave like that, but I remember someone who'd never worked in a public facing role just not quite grasping that people can behave like that. "Yeah but something else must have happened, surely". Nope, people are actually lunatics sometimes.

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snufflycat@reddit

God that's awful behaviour! Working in a public facing role is truly eye opening and makes you realise that sadly the world is full of scum bags.

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-cunningstunt@reddit

Worked in a restaurant as a server. Can confirm it’s not just retail.

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

A friend of mine once said that you can almost always disregard anything a person says before the word "but".

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tayviewrun@reddit

They are thick... they think that being rude and moaning to you that you will immediately ring head office and demand the avocado shortage will be resolved in 30 mins. That and just plain ignorant, rude and self entitled.

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TheMightyTRex@reddit

I tend to be really nice when speaking to people. When I was in first line support I would bend over backwards yo help the nice ones and do the least amount I needed to get the hasty ones to go away. It's not how it should happen but it's how it works in practice..

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

That’s honestly what I think some of them actually think will happen, which is delusional 😂 when we had that storm couple weeks ago with severe flooding people couldn’t understand why we might be short on certain things then complain when the veg isn’t British grown

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AntonioRadosav@reddit

Because people who treat others like this are real scums.

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newnortherner21@reddit

I think also there is not enough support from retail managers for their staff. Complain loudly enough and you will get something that really you should not.

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deadeye-ry-ry@reddit

This is the biggest issue imo management / owners don't support the staff enough and the staff aren't really allowed to defend themselves because it'll cause the business to lose money so they end up as punching bags

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BuddhaBuddha999@reddit

People who do not treat others with respect are everywhere nowadays. Everytime I have to interact with one of these asshats, I just tune out and try to believe in karma

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

It sometimes happens instantly too. Once had a guy being incredibly rude to a colleague, he turned round to storm out and face planted the glass window that he thought was the door.

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Turneroff@reddit

Sounds like a bit of a pane

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talk_to_yourself@reddit

I have heard people say that it has gotten worse since covid.

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BuddhaBuddha999@reddit

I would tend to agree. Covid and people working longer hours or more than one job for less money has made people more angry

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UnlikelySuspect81@reddit

I agree, it’s everywhere, not just retail but I’m sorry you have to put up with that shit OP. I worked in a call centre between other jobs and my god I soon learned that a very large percentage of humanity are just awful people 🤷🏻‍♀️.

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centzon400@reddit

Blackadder: It is the way of the world, Baldrick. The abused always kick downwards. I am annoyed, and so I kick the cat, the cat [loud squeak] pounces on the mouse, and finally, the mouse-- Baldrick: Argh! Blackadder: --bites you on the behind. ~~ Blackadder S03E04* Nob and Nobility*

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Meatheadliftbrah@reddit

It’s retail. I’m a pharmacist (in a hospital now) and when I worked in a community we got abused daily for things outside our control.

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KaidsCousin@reddit

Maybe respond with 'Yes, sorry we are out of avocados. But you are out of manners'

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Dirty2013@reddit

Thanks to social media too many people think they are better than they are and you are not worthy of their respect Don’t get insulted by their ignorance they aren’t worth your upset. Try a new tact laugh at them either inwardly or if they are complete muppets laugh to their face. Then you’ll enjoy your job a lot more especially if your work colleagues join in your new game

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GizzaCuppaTay@reddit

Because not enough of them have ever been punched in the face. I genuinely believe that every member of society should have to receive a punch to the face when turning 18. That would be enough of a deterrent so that they wouldn't act like that again in the future. The dick head percentage would drop by 99%

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TommyAtoms@reddit

Longest six months of my life was when I was working shelf stacking at Sainsbury's in my early 20s. Very boring but the way people would talk to you was a real eye-opener.

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ComradeBirdbrain@reddit

Which supermarket do you work for? I think there is a real difference between Asda and Waitrose. I’ve had the worst service of any supermarket in Asda but a decent one in Waitrose. Based on my experience in Asda, I can fully emphasise with someone losing their minds at the staff there although I may have just had bad luck, I don’t know but the manager was a complete dick for no reason when I had an issue and I had to remain polite throughout. He deserves whatever hell is coming his way.

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Highway-Organic@reddit

My local Asda has really nice staff . The only problem I get is when the checkout lady starts chatting to the customer in front of me , while I'm waiting for my few items to be sacnned.

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

I wear a burgundy/orange jacket to work 😉 I also work in a town that is seen as being posh by surrounding areas so a lot of people that come in are quite wealthy it would seem, with very high expectations

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AncestralSeeker@reddit

Yep and I think it’s stupid that you can never respond or defend yourself. You’ve just got to take it with a saccharine sweet fake-smile or else risk getting fired. That shouldn’t be how it is. If someone is treating you like shit you should be able to give it back tenfold with no repercussions. Managers should support their staff not say “of course the customer is always right.”

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gyssedk@reddit

My theory to explain this is that many people feel that they can insert themselves into a hierarchy by doing this. If you treat other people as below you, it must mean that you are above them. Other people who might already be "above" others in this hierarchy might also feel that they are entitled to treat others this way for one reason or another. There is this saying about us being able to judge the character of people by the way they treat people who can't do anything to them. And it is true for the most part. For me it boils down to these two options unless there is a special reason.

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TheMightyTRex@reddit

People are cunts

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Accomplished_Turn_30@reddit

Yes had the same experience working at a sainsburys.Had a customer tell me to do her shopping for her.

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Don_Vago@reddit

For more than 40 years the working class have been demonised,with those ordinary working folks who are slightly above minimum wage jobs convinced that they are middle class

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worldworn@reddit

Some people take thier crap day out on anyone who can't argue back with them. Sometimes, it is a vicious circle, there was a miserable old sod who worked at the corner shop. He was short with everyone, everyone was short with him. Heard him complain endlessly about rude customers.

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Zeenoside1@reddit

I’ve got no idea but it’s a very ugly behaviour. I can’t stand people who are rude to staff or servers. I’ve “fired” some customers from my business in the past because they’re rude to my staff. It’s not hard to be polite.

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BorderlineWire@reddit

They seem to do it to anyone (especially on low wages) providing them a service I guess it makes them feel better about their sad little lives. I’ve worked in retail and hospitality, I’m now in civil enforcement. A lot of adults are just large toddlers.

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Informal_Drawing@reddit

Some people were born to be assholes. You have to try your best not to go down with those wankers boats when they inevitably sink themselves.

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Squiggles87@reddit

Unfortunately it's because England is full of horrible cunts desperate to sneer down on someone. They know it's not your fault. They just don't care. It's not easy, but just see these people for what they are and try to ignore them.

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abarthman@reddit

What store and area is this? I am always friendly and polite with the supermarket checkout workers and any other workers that I interact with in the aisles - usually to ask where something is on the shelves. Cant you just ask security to ban them if they step out of line? That would embarrass them and teach them to treat people with respect. If they get away with it, they'll keep doing it to others.

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Kaiisim@reddit

No one is allowed to tell stupid dickheads theyre a stupid dickhead. Without social pressure, these dickheads get to do what they want. If literally anyone from the shop, your manager, the owners, even the public intervened on your behalf we would see less of this. But we don't, we are all too scared they are a nutter who will stab us.

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Popular_Donkey1192@reddit

I dont think its personal but many people seem to have this idea that its your dad's shop and when they are upset they have the right to take it out on you. Thats what it boils down to, they dont even seem to realise they're doing it, Ive ended up snapping back a few times myself because of this. The funniest one was when I was working in Lidl, I was working on stock and the store was very busy. The girl on the checkouts decided to close it, cross the road and go buy something on sale before the shop across the street closed. Im not joking. Anyway this left just one guy on the self checkouts and some lady came up to me and began hounding me, demanding I jump onto the checkout, I had never been trained to use the checkout so I swapped with the self checkout guy and she still kept bothering me, eventually I just lost my rag, looked her dead in the eye and said "stop talking shit love". Her face was priceless and she was speechless, she never said anything after that.

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SputnikPrime@reddit

I just can't even fathom to have an urge to flip out because there aren't any avocados, besides at most a moderately annoyed thought in my own head for like 5 seconds before moving on. Same with openly being rude to a stranger regardless of my state of mind at that point. I'd hope it isn't me being all high and mighty but rather being a normal fcking human being lol, but I guess not

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ThaneOfArcadia@reddit

Because those customers are scum. It makes them feel good. Doesn't only apply to supermarket workers. I just don't get it. It takes nothing to be nice. If you have a problem with anything in the supermarket go speak to a manager or contact the head office.

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Athena_x@reddit

Some people are just twats, unfortunately. I used to work at Halfords on the weekends when I was at uni. One time I was sorting out a customer's order and she turned to her kid and said 'see, this is why you need to do well at school, so you don't end up working in a shop like this lady.'

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it-is-dog-eat-dog@reddit

I'd just refuse to serve the bitch, decent management would support colleagues too

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

That’s actually insane! To be honest if someone said that to me I think I’d give in and just insult them back, don’t think I could handle that level of ignorance, I’m 25 so a lot of people assume I’m at uni or something else but in reality my life hasn’t gone exactly how I planned but I’m trying my best working full time like the next person but it’s very soul crushing most days being spoke to like a lower life form!

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hadawayandshite@reddit

Hurt people hurt people—they’ve clearly got stuff in their own life making them miserable and so they take it out on others

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Browneskiii@reddit

I used to work for Sainsburys and was pretty much irreplaceable (my job is now being done by 2 people apparently) If a customer gave me shit, id give them twice as much back. I didnt care about the profit, i was there to do my job and thats it, karens can go fuck themselves. Management never cared as i did the job they wanted and other customers didnt seem to care. I think we're at the point where everyone would rather workers just do and say what they think rather than be diplomatic about everything. I know id rather go to someone who speaks the truth over someone who's fake nice. Ps: if you dont think you can do that then just remember they're taking their frustrations out on the company through you and not specifically at you.

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it-is-dog-eat-dog@reddit

Yeah I've worked retail for 10 years and thankfully I've not been sacked for all the customers I've retaliated to , squared up to and told them my finish time if they want to dance .....hahaha

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Never-Any-Horses@reddit

I used to work for a Council and my manager was great. She gave me carte blanche to tell rude customers where to get off. Hung up or walked away from so many rude customers over the years - and for the majority it actually shamed them into apologising. A small minority put in official complaints that never went anywhere when they eventually had to concede I'd only hung up after they'd told me to 'fuck off'... 🤣

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Substantial-Elk-9568@reddit

I will 100% judge you depending on how you speak to customer facing staff members. It shows a level of empathy and situational awareness that makes a great friend or partner. The opposite however, just shows me that youre simple and that your emotions are completely in control of you.

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probablynotreallife@reddit

It's really a tiny percentage of people who are like that but occurrences are so abnormal that they are memorable, nobody is going to remember the majority of incidents of people being kind and polite because that's perfectly normal. To explain but not excuse shitty behaviour: supermarkets are overwhelming to some people with the assault on the senses (excessively bright lights, terrible music, screaming children, etc.), the stress that comes with budgeting, being around people, and so on. These factors can make people forget their better nature and behave badly. Again, that's an explanation and not a defense of shitty behaviour.

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AdministrativeLaugh2@reddit

Agreed. I worked in retail for a year and in pubs for a year, and I can count the number of rude/disrespectful twats on one hand. Although, to add to your second point, some people are just dickheads. It’s nothing to do with surroundings or being overwhelmed, they’re just total cunts and always will be.

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Street_Inflation_124@reddit

It’s a good point to make - supermarkets have a LOT of people going through at any time. This means that even though they are a tiny minority, there will regularly be massive assholes in the store.

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Normal_Red_Sky@reddit

>It's really a tiny percentage of people who are like that No, it's not. I remember from my own time working supermarket jobs how they'd change whenever a customer got an answer they didn't want. Supposedly normal, respectable people would do an instant Jekyll and Hyde transformation. The fact is, that's just how people really are. They just think they don't have to act civil to someone they think is below them. Servers in restaurants have this problem too so the excuses you're making about the environment don't cut it for me.

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Sleepywalker69@reddit

The people who speak down to any hospitality or supermarket workers are the scum of the earth.

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Ally_Astrid@reddit

Because people have been brainwashed by this Capalist society to see how much money you make as a social standing. So the people who do the menial and low paid, (but essential work for daily life) are looked down upon like trash, mainly people that can't think for themselves have this attitude.

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Much_Leader3369@reddit

Hate seeing this. I always try to treat people as I'd like to be treated (which is nicely)

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Onepen99@reddit

I used to work a supermarket and I attribute this for a few reasons: * Customer service workers must politely take verbal abuse but cannot give it back. Basically punching bags. * The class system; working-class people are seen as stupid, empty headed, uneducated, wage whores. - Growing up in a working class family that was the perception I felt that the middle and upper-class had of us. * People blamed me for decisions made by the Sainsbury's board of directors. They couldn't compute that a shelf-stacker at the very bottom of the hierarchy isn't responsible for the price of cucumbers.

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Athleticathiest82@reddit

Because most people are cunts

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Morris_Alanisette@reddit

I always used to be so sickly sweet and polite that they got embarrassed in the end. "Yes sir, I agree it's an absolute disgrace that we've run out of Braeburn Apples. I'll escalate it to the highest levels straight away."

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thepoliteknight@reddit

I remember being told The power had gone to my head when I asked a small group of about 7 people to move along. It was April 2020 so social distancing, no masks at that point and the aisles were one way. They clearly hadn't seen each other for a while and decided to have a catchup, blocking a large section of the aisle.

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MrSssnrubYesThatllDo@reddit

I was once in a morrisons in Nottingham and they had some reduced chicken. Said BOGOF on the pack, fair enough, but then the sign on reductions said reduced items are excluded from all offers. You should have seen the anger in this customer. Yelling at staff, asking for management. They were calm pointing to the sign. He wasn't having it Can still see his red face and veins popping out of his shiny bald head. Pointing frantically 'so why does it say BOGOF!?' I was watching thinking why aren't they just kicking him out?

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SomeGuyInShanghai@reddit

I honestly believe that everyone in the UK should be expected to work in customer services for at least a year. Like some kind of National Service. I haven't in a while, but I have worked in Mcdonalds, in a shop, and in a hotel. I am always extremely nice to people in customer service, I know what it's like on the other side. Sadly, very few young people will do these jobs now that the big companies can hire immigrants for peanuts and treat them like garbage because they don't know their rights.

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DVPL0ver@reddit

I’ve always heard something like “you can judge people based on the way they treat ‘service workers’” but I expand this to just anyone who works to survive, anyone who is paid just enough to get by, which is most of us really.

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Horacegoesskiing@reddit

Around 30 years ago I worked in a QwikSave for a couple of years, I’ll be honest I found most of the customers to be genuinely nice, never experienced people like that described by OP.

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SmashinglyNice@reddit

Key point here being “30 years ago”, I did a stint in Tesco in the 90s and mostly people were courteous but as the years have gone by and especially since the pandemic people seem to have socially regressed and become selfish and entitled. I hope we can reverse this somehow as a species.

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Horacegoesskiing@reddit

Yeah, it might be a passage of time thing (as in rose tinted glasses), as I don’t subscribe to the “world has gotten worse” theory by default - I hope it hasn’t at least.

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Limiyanna@reddit

I work as an NHS dental receptionist. We get a lot of anger directed at us on a regular basis. I understand its hard to get an immediate appointment for a non emergency but I can't just cancel someone else to fit you in. Another thing I've noticed is people really become monsters if they have to wait more than 10 minutes. I've been told I'm shit at my job and that it is disgraceful that the dentist is running over because the patient currently in the chair is having some problems with their extraction. It's my fault apparently. When I tell them to complain directly to the dentist when they go in, they become the most sweetest person to the dentist face. I've offered to reschedule people but I get shouted at for that. Sometimes I think some people expect me to perform their treatment myself right there in the waiting room when I am not a dentist myself. Lol Yes, some people can be very rude. Hard on the front line.

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Aggravating-Tower317@reddit

That was me. disgraceful not having any avocados tbf.

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Ornery_Intern_2233@reddit

I bet you actually had the bacon sarnie in the end as well, just admit it

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Aggravating-Tower317@reddit

I am a 76 year old vegan. Bacon sarnies will not be eaten in my house

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talk_to_yourself@reddit

I’m starting to think it *was* you

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VixenRoss@reddit

Just think though, all that money you saved, you could buy a house next week…

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ImColinDentHowzTrix@reddit

I've worked in a supermarket for 6 years now, and the answer to this question is universal I think: some people are just cunts. 9 out of 10 customers are absolutely fine, but you don't remmeber the ones who say 'thank you' and go about their day - you remember the 1 in 10 who made you feel like shit. Some people are just cunts.

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berbakay@reddit

That bacon sandwich line cracked me up 😂

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chartupdate@reddit

Reminiscent of when Apprentice candidates were playing at being bakers and fucked up a bread order for a hotel. Manager: "What am I supposed to tell my guests to do?" Contestant: "Try the Atkins diet?"

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maleandpale@reddit

Not surprised she wanted Avocados. It’s always the bien pensant types who behave worst to low wage workers. The ones who think they’re right-on and think they’re friends to poorer people. It’s rank.

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Bigmo7@reddit

I can't help but think some people like to feel superior to those working in retail. I see it in other stores too and in hospitality sometimes as well.

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jackSB24@reddit (OP)

Yeah 100%, I think it’s a really horrible mindset, when I see people being rude to waiters it drives me crazy

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talk_to_yourself@reddit

I agree with the woman. When the store ran out of avocados, you should have flown to Peru, quickly grown another batch, and shipped a crateload back to your supermarket. She deserves an apology. Being serious, it must be frustrating that you can’t bar idiots like this, like you could if you ran your own store. As a till worker you’re pretty powerless, and that’s why @ssholes feel you can be dumped on without conscience.

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Monkey-spanker86@reddit

Coz us British love to look down on people working in what we would call “dead end” jobs

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Stormstar85@reddit

I’m a firm believer that EVERYONE should do a mandatory year in retail. Covering and working all holidays. People in general would be (I’d hope) nicer and more understanding that retail work is HARD. The general public can be horrible and entitled. I worked in various face to face retail positions for about ten years. Only way I coped was to tell myself I’ve no idea what is going on in the persons life. For all I know they have just lost someone they love. But then again there are often people who just want to be mean to make themselves feel better.

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Street_Inflation_124@reddit

Hey, I’m a Professor that was flown out to a conference as a keynote speaker at the expense of the conference. As I got off the plane someone else saw the topic of my t-shirt and proceeded to aggressively berate me because a company that I’m not involved with recently pulled out of a project that I’m not involved in, using a technology I think is stupid. TLDR - people are assholes, it’s not just your job, and some of us understand that the people stacking the shelves probably aren’t also the purchasing manager for the store.

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Shoddy_Temporary_741@reddit

Because they think you're stupid. Lawks knows why. People work in supermarkets for all sorts of reasons (gap year, young kids just like it, whatever). And someone has to or we'd starve! I think everyone should be forced to work retail for six months. Then maybe they'd be kinder.

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gtrcar5@reddit

I don't think they see past the logo on your uniform, they just see the Tesco (or whatever shop) logo and don't realise that they are actually talking to a human being. In other words they are short sighted and dumb.

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Preacherjonson@reddit

Because they (the speakers) are scum but don't know it.

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Sid_Harmless@reddit

I work in supermarkets doing the refits, I do all the refrigeration. Dealing with the public is one of the worst parts of the job, and it's not even my job! I do feel for you honestly. The good thing for me is that when I'm elbow deep in a broken fridge and someone cames over and demands to know where xyz is, I can just blankly reply 'sorry I don't work here'. Always seems to confuse and vaguely annoy people. Sorry love, did the hard hat and spanner not clue you in that I might not be the guy to shout at about your fish finger problem? Even if I do know where they are I'm not going to help if you're rude about it.

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jaymatthewbee@reddit

I worked in supermarket retail for 10 years and I have mixed feelings on this. The truth is some people are just dicks, however, I think as a customer I can also feel when I’m being bullshitted to my a member of staff. You can’t kid and kidder, so to speak. It’s not beneficial to you to be confrontational back to rude customers, stooping down to their level just makes your day more miserable. When a customer says it’s ridiculous that the bananas have moved say something like ‘yeah I agree but bosses like you keep you on your toes’.

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Tacklestiffener@reddit

I'm always polite to shop and restaurant staff. I really try to be nice to everyone (doesn't always work out) because I genuinely feel it pays dividends for me. If you're rude to someone, they might know there is a pallet load of avocados just outside but there's no way they're going to get you one now.

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Bluebidoo@reddit

It's the same in most public facing jobs. There's a sizeable and ever-growing minority of entitled pricks and prickesses

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jlb8@reddit

That sucks, I used to work in Sainsburys circa 2005 and almost every interaction I had was pleasant. Even when we chased and caught thieves they weren't particularly bad once we had them caught.

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rezonansmagnetyczny@reddit

I worked in fast food when i was 18 and even people on the dole would treat you like you're the shit on their shoe for working there. IMO a stimulating environment like a supermarket or a fast food establishment is just too much for some people. Their brains can't handle the input, forget how to function and get themselves worked up so take it out on the employee.

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chonkyclouds@reddit

Supermarket staff have my utmost respect and I've worked in supermarkets myself. Unfortunately it does involve dealing with members of the public and that means you'll be exposed to some downright bizarre behaviour. How does a fully grown woman not cope with the concept that a supermarket might be out of stock of a certain fruit? If it was me, I'd say "oh well, I'll grab something else" and that would be the end of it. Because I'm an adult. Best not to take it personally, if people behave this way towards you it's a reflection on them and not you. You only have to deal with them for a few minutes, but they have to live with their miserable selves 24/7.

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jake_burger@reddit

People are just that small, nasty and frankly - stupid. For a start they should learn to complain without being horrible, then they should learn that any worker in the service industry wearing a uniform has no power to do anything or address their problem so it’s pointless even saying anything to you.

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ninisin@reddit

Unfortunately many people are very self centred. People get impatient standing in queues where they have to wait an extra minute for something and think they deserve to be served. Don't get too disheartened, many appreciate the hard work supermarket workers do. Bless them.

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idontlikemondays321@reddit

I think it’s because you see such a high turnover of people that you unfortunately come across a disproportionate number of dickheads in the process. Best thing to do is kill them with kindness, they’ll know you’re being sarcastic but can’t complain about it. Also if anyone does cross the line, refuse to serve them. You have every right not to.

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Legitimate-Bath1798@reddit

There's always gonna be some arseholes in society

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Basic_Memory_4233@reddit

Because people are so self absorbed. So for that person, you may have a million other things in store but she's not there for any of those, the most important thing is what she wants. Seriously though what was Hermione and Tarquinn supposed to eat on their artisan sour dough bread as you personally had failed in ensuring there was good availability of Avocado 😂😂😂

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DoomPigs@reddit

i love how you told her what she's going to have for breakfast

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iMatthew1990@reddit

Because people are weak turds. And often see a safety net when losing their minds with anyone currently working, thinking that the poor worker won’t do anything back because they’ll lose their jobs and they see they have some weird customer high ground. These are the types of people that would run away from an actual fight. They also do it hoping to get an unprofessional reaction to try and gain even more advantage for whatever they’re claiming for. For example, someone trying to return something for a reason not acceptable for a return. So they kick off treat people like crap, hope someone messes up and says the wrong thing, use it as a weapon to get said refund.

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tReadingwithhope@reddit

She sounds so entitled. Some people are lacking such basic manners and unfortunately seem to express that mainly towards those who see as "lower" than them although they wouldn't survive a week working as/without supermarket staff -\_-

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