“You knew where the customer service desk was off the top of your head, you MUST know where my book is and are just being rude not to drop whatever you are doing to respond to my irrational desires.”
I get that a lot. Even funnier is when I’m shopping in a bookstore and customers from the bookstore I used to work in see me. They always ask ME for help, even knowing I don’t work there.
WooHoo! I am not the only one this has happened to! Of course I’ve also been guilty of showing them where a book is and still not working at that store…
Going through the archives and just had to comment. I call it Retail Face. I can be completely out of uniform in another blasted town and still get asked where something is. And me, being me, if I know where it is I help them find it!
SurlyQueen
SO true. I think it largely has to do with how I shop, too, though. I spend a lot of time in stores, so I don’t like to dawdle in them when I’m off the clock. I need a thing, I locate that thing quickly, and make my way out.
I’ve never seen this in person, but I hear a lot about it. How in the world does a person get to a place where they think asking a perfect stranger who is OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING for help in a store is normal? And gets MAD when the person won’t help?
I understand when I’m at a grocery store and someone asks me to get something off a shelf for them because I am bloody tall and they are not. That’s different. But expecting a random shopper to know where things are? What the hell?
Well, in their defense I’ve done that too on occasion. If I’m looking for something, don’t see an employee nearby but I see someone moving through the aisle with the apparent poise of someone who shops there regularly I will ask them, figuring they may remember where it is. If not, then cest le vie and I will go hunting for an employee.
But, yeah, the ones who then get all testy about it need to go cop a squat on a snowbank, chill out a bit. You just asked a stranger for a favor, be more polite when they can’t help you out.
Right, I’m one of those Purposeful Walkers whenever I’m in any store, and I understand that that makes it look like I’m official. I got no problems with folks who ask me a question and then shrug it off when I say “Not sure/I don’t work here.” (and yeh, if I recall where something is, I’ll point ya in the right direction.)
But sometimes, I just want to hang out in a book store and not get bothered, ya know?
This happens to me when I’m walking with girlfriend, clearly engaged in conversation and just vaguely loitering (and usually wearing jeans ripped under one leg). NOTHING about that says I know what I’m doing, and yet…
13 thoughts on “#498 Mistaken Identity”
Wanderer
“You knew where the customer service desk was off the top of your head, you MUST know where my book is and are just being rude not to drop whatever you are doing to respond to my irrational desires.”
SurlyQueen
Yep, totally psychic about that CS desk…what with using my eyes to view it. Also, yes, I AM TOTALLY RUDE.
Lol.
Mickey
I get that a lot. Even funnier is when I’m shopping in a bookstore and customers from the bookstore I used to work in see me. They always ask ME for help, even knowing I don’t work there.
man in black
Probably thought you were new
Shihosa
WooHoo! I am not the only one this has happened to! Of course I’ve also been guilty of showing them where a book is and still not working at that store…
SurlyQueen
Ugh. Yeah, this happens to me in lots of places.
okiegoddess
Going through the archives and just had to comment. I call it Retail Face. I can be completely out of uniform in another blasted town and still get asked where something is. And me, being me, if I know where it is I help them find it!
SurlyQueen
SO true. I think it largely has to do with how I shop, too, though. I spend a lot of time in stores, so I don’t like to dawdle in them when I’m off the clock. I need a thing, I locate that thing quickly, and make my way out.
Music-chan
I’ve never seen this in person, but I hear a lot about it. How in the world does a person get to a place where they think asking a perfect stranger who is OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING for help in a store is normal? And gets MAD when the person won’t help?
I understand when I’m at a grocery store and someone asks me to get something off a shelf for them because I am bloody tall and they are not. That’s different. But expecting a random shopper to know where things are? What the hell?
GreyWolf
Well, in their defense I’ve done that too on occasion. If I’m looking for something, don’t see an employee nearby but I see someone moving through the aisle with the apparent poise of someone who shops there regularly I will ask them, figuring they may remember where it is. If not, then cest le vie and I will go hunting for an employee.
But, yeah, the ones who then get all testy about it need to go cop a squat on a snowbank, chill out a bit. You just asked a stranger for a favor, be more polite when they can’t help you out.
SurlyQueen
Right, I’m one of those Purposeful Walkers whenever I’m in any store, and I understand that that makes it look like I’m official. I got no problems with folks who ask me a question and then shrug it off when I say “Not sure/I don’t work here.” (and yeh, if I recall where something is, I’ll point ya in the right direction.)
But sometimes, I just want to hang out in a book store and not get bothered, ya know?
Tacomain
Bookface!
Raev
This happens to me when I’m walking with girlfriend, clearly engaged in conversation and just vaguely loitering (and usually wearing jeans ripped under one leg). NOTHING about that says I know what I’m doing, and yet…
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