Karen Feels Humiliated Because A Customer Who She Mistook For An Employee Refused To Apologize
I think it’s safe to say that having that I am confusion moment every once in a while is part of what makes living fun.
Sure, it greatly depends on your attitude and how you’ll handle it once confusion hits you square in the face in a public setting and everyone else capitalizes on it. But, if you can laugh at yourself, you’re golden.
But if you can’t, well, then you’re gonna be hamulated humiliated in a store full of people because you asked a manager to fire someone who doesn’t even work there.
More Info: Reddit
Being confused for an employee is an interesting opportunity for some to get mischievous in, and even more so if the customer is asking for it
Image credits: F. D. Richards (not the actual photo)
This Redditor shared how they were mistaken for a local farm supply store employee, a situation that led to public humiliation in mere minutes
Image credits: Own_Row_9101
The customer just would not stop with her pestering, so the author of the post had to be “fired” just to prove the point that she goofed up
Image credits: Maarten (not the actual photo)
The story goes that OP, Reddit user u/Own_Row_9101, used to work at Kroger. After work, OP went to a local farm supply shop—because his family owned pets and farm animals and he needed something from there—and he incidentally also wore his Kroger uniform.
It wasn’t long until some other store patron approached OP and started asking for help with some clothes. At first, OP was polite and directed the shopper in the general direction of the clothes aisle. It also didn’t take long for her to come back and start asking for him to unlock the changing booths so she could try something on.
It didn’t help that the store patron gave OP a bit of an attitude, so OP gave some attitude back and shooed her away like Jack Sparrow shoos whatever this is. Yet again, it didn’t take long for the woman to appear in the flesh, this time with a manager.
She demanded OP apologize to her. The manager, seemingly a tad bit confused, prompted OP about it. OP refused to apologize and continued with what must be one of the most sincerely funny things you could ever say in front of someone annoyingly rude in the store: “What for? She’s rude, obnoxious, and irritating as hell. No, I don’t want to apologize.”
The back-and-forth continued for a bit until the shopper demanded that OP be fired. The manager tried to explain why that couldn’t be done, but OP prodded him to just save everyone the hassle and to just fire him. And so he did. OP quickly leaned in and sarcastically said “Are you happy now ma’am? That’s the third time he’s fired me this week. Have a nice day. Thanks for shopping Smith’s Food & Drug,” and then walked away. The store burst into laughter. The shopper also burst a vein and stormed out.
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
Aside from the teeny-tiny spelling mistake, brought to us by auto-correct, that OP left and then everyone had to make note of it (spoiler, it was the word humiliated, for some reason it got spelled as hamulated), folks enjoyed the story.
Some were surprised at the lady’s sheer attitude, singling OP out every time she approached him, which lays testament to how questionable their intelligence is sometimes. There’s also further proof as OP is quite straightforward with his remark about the lady just not getting it that he ain’t no employee.
Another Redditor shared a story of how they went to annoy their friend where they worked and happened to start helping an old lady with some gardening-related matter when another patron showed up and absolutely demanded services from this person. Long story short, their friend had to come over, listen to the patron being upset, then hire and then fire the friend on the spot.
And yet others were wondering if this was the third time… what about the other two? We need to know now. They might have had something to do with being more straightforward and OP could have just been the same in this situation, explaining he doesn’t work there. But that would’ve been boring, right? Also, it’s not their fault folks can’t read the name on the uniform.
The post got nearly 5,000 upvotes (with a 94% approval rating) and a good handful of Reddit awards. You can check out the post right here.
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
It goes without saying that what OP did was not the correct way of dealing with an annoying customer, but they weren’t employees either, so no judgement there. However, folks should not forget that this is retail—of course it’s gonna be frustrating because the floodgate for ignorance is open to everyone and it just naturally comes with the territory.
Folks in retail stores are usually one of four things (or a mix of several): angry, indecisive, demanding or critical. In any case, it can be frustrating for the retail employee to handle it. However, there are some tactics to defuse these kinds of customers.
If a customer is getting angry about something, kick it off with an apology—politeness and humility can go a long way in stopping one’s anger dead in its tracks. Then proceed to talk them through it with a calm tone. Whatever you do, don’t reciprocate the anger as it only begets more of it.
If a customer is, say, demanding, clients of this caliber often have a misunderstanding of how the employee can help them. In that case, just reassure them that you will do your best to ensure they get what they want, and get ready to make a compromise if need be. Calling the manager is a possible solution as they usually have more decision-making power.
There are also critical customers, who might actually have some good insights in what they say, so active listening can turn out to be useful in more ways than one. Say you appreciate their honesty and input, and assure them you’ll get the word across to the decision-makers in the store.
In any case, it’s key to stay professional, remain calm, listen and then speak calmly, all the while striving for a solution and meeting the customer’s needs. And if you’re not an employee and you do end up getting yourself into some mischief, then at least share the results on r/IDontWorkHereLady.
You can also share these stories in the comment section below for some of that Bored Panda karma!
Folks enjoyed this I don’t work here, Lady story, and even more so the author’s autocorrect mishaps
Or poetic license. Which is really hard to revoke.
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I actually don't understand why, when the woman asked this guy to unlock the dressing room for her, he replied, "NO! Now go away and leave me alone!" instead of saying, "I can't do that because I don't work here" or something like that. The woman clearly thinks he works there, and I don't know too many people who wouldn't be pissed as hell if they asked an employee (or someone they thought was an employee) to open a dressing room and they responded the way this guy did. The woman may have been rude, but this guy clearly was deliberately fueling the fire.
Agreed. I too noticed that not once did he say "Sorry I don't work here".
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This either never happened, or the story has been so embellished that it bears little resemblance to what actually took place.
I doubt it happened. The writer didn't get farm / agricultural jargon right.
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I'm a "big bloke" and used to have a Schott bomber jacket, if I wore it out to a pub or club people would assume I was security and launch into tirades about terrible things that had just happened (never anything serious, just petty bitching). I used to just nod, let them rant and then say "you should complain to security about that".
OP could have handled this a little more kindly by informing the other shopper up front that he didn’t work there. Even if the other shopper was dumb as a doorknob, she didn’t deserve OP’s irritable response.
This is the second time I've read a story like this on BP, except this time it's in a different store. The author must have really loved the original story.
I thought the same thing. It's way too similar to the story where an old lady mistook a teenager for a worker at a grocery store.
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This feels fake, or at least embellished. To me, none of the interactions make sense aside from, ironically, the lady. OP kind of sounds like an AH, to be honest. Sure, the lady was annoying but that couldve been resolved by OP simply stating they didn't work there when she initially mistook OP as an employee. It's pretty obviously an innocent mistake regardless of whether she was rude or not.
Last year I was at a video store to buy a new TV. The owner went into the back to get something, and I was the only person in the store. An elderly gentleman walks in, ask if the store sold TVs, and I point to all the sets and said I guess so. So he tells me what he's looking for, and I lead him to a TV and said this is exactly what you want. When it was time to fill out the paperwork, I told him he'd have to wait for the owner, since I was a customer too. He thought I worked there, but being a retired sales closer, my instincts just kicked in and I sold him a set. So when the owner comes back out, I told him this gentleman wants to buy this TV and I'll wait for him to finish the paperwork. First time I ever sold a TV and the owner knocked off $50 on my set. So I guess I got a commission even though I didn't work there. But it was nice to know I still had that closer mentality!
I went to Colonial Williamsburg years ago and was wearing period costume. Pretty much everyone assumed I worked there in spite of the visitor badge I was wearing and I got asked sooo many questions, not to mention all the people that wanted pictures with me! I'm going back to Williamsburg next week... Not dressing up this time... 😏
I find if I'm shopping whilst wearing my work uniform people will always assume I work there. All people see is a name badge and make assumptions. My work shirts are all orange with a distinct logo and I have an orange lanyard and orange name badge.
This has happened to me lol. Didn't go so far as getting the manager but the person was so confused and just kind of kept following me from a distance. I guess to see if I was really shopping or if I was stocking c**p. I was just in regular clothes, I was equally as confused by why he would think I was an employee.
I was wearing a #SaveLucifer shirt and someone insisted I worked at Meijer. 🤦♀️🤣
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Alfalfa and hay are two different things. And dealing with demanding and entitled customers is hard work. Whether you work at a place or not.
Thank you! Nobody would ever say they are going to purchase hay and alfalfa. If he wrote that he's going to return to buy Timothy hay and alfalfa pellets, then maybe, but most of us would just say "Timothy and alfalfa pellets."
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I once confused a customer for an employee, because he was wearing a work-uniform, I didn't pay attention which one it was, but after he said he didn't work there, I Woops-sorry-apologized, felt stupid and moved on... I feel like he simply didn't tell her "I DO NOT WORK HERE !", which is the only reasonable thing to do. If she keeps annoying him, why doesn't HE go for the manager and say "This lady keeps thinking I work here, would you mind educating her please ?" Problem solved.
I think that the OP made up the story because nobody says that they are going to buy "hay and alfalfa." That's like saying they are going to buy "hay and hay." Alfalfa, while technically a legume, is a type of hay.
This is the first story where I thought „fake“ or rather the all mighty internet phrase „and then they all clapped“. But who knows? It might even be true
"and I walked away as everyone listening starts laughing" You meant "clapping."
I had experienced this several times when some guy asked me about a product or article. I just smiled and told them to ask the shop keeper. Simple. Hopefully you did not create the story to make a content.
this is an old story, just retold. it was unnecesary, if u had just replied, no, im sorry. i dont work here.
Why did the writer tell the entire story, then post the story by the original creator? If you're amalgamating interesting stories to repost online, you should not tell the whole story. It's pointless for us readers to have to read all your commentsthat tell the entire tale, THEN read the ACTUAL story. Tell us a few comments like, "This clever person served karma to rude karen" and THEN post the actual story. I love reading over videos, but this "style" of sharing funny incidents by telling the entire thing before the repost isn't entertainment so much as it is annoyance.
I worked at a smaller more expensive supermarket when I was a student, so I did my shopping elsewhere. I forgot to bring a jacket one shift, and was buying veg etc on the way home at shop B, in my shop A uniform. One lady asked me where something was, and as I knew and was also still in work mode, I told her where it was. She said thanks, then did a double take and grimaced a bit in embarrassment (realised my uniform was not for that store, and I had a shopping basket). I smiled and said 'it's what I do!' (awkward response ik, but better than nothing 😅)
I was once mistaken for a waitresses while on a date because I was wearing a black dress. I just politely clarified that I didn't work there and continued on to the washroom. When I worked in retail that require I wear a uniform I kept a t-shirt in bag/locker to change into after my shift or if I was intending to shop later. It was easier to change quickly then constantly be fielding questions from customers; even when I wasn't in the store I worked at. The OP could have saved herself some grief if she'd simply told the woman "Sorry, I don't work here. You'll have to find an employee." You don't get points for meeting rudness with more rudness.
In stories like this we never get to see the other side. And he seems kinda proud to deliberately kindle the fire.
Just to respond to the comment that alfalfa and gay are the same thing. They aren't. Hay is a mixture of grasses and plants that often includes alfalfa but is never purely alfalfa. Feeding a horse nothing but alfalfa will cause it founder. Horses love it but they aren't equivalent.
I once ordered takeout from a Chinese restaurant while I was on a work trip. I can make my own chinese food but my hotel didn't have the resources. As I am waiting for my order...in a business suit inside this dive bar dumpy chinese restaurant, a family of four expected me seat them. I did, gave them menus. They then called me back to take their orders. I didn't write anything down and then proceeded to sit back in the lobby without putting in their order. The dad got super pissed and we got into a shouting match. Then the owner came out with me take out order. Didn't get an apology. Racist morons.
Or poetic license. Which is really hard to revoke.
Load More Replies... I actually don't understand why, when the woman asked this guy to unlock the dressing room for her, he replied, "NO! Now go away and leave me alone!" instead of saying, "I can't do that because I don't work here" or something like that. The woman clearly thinks he works there, and I don't know too many people who wouldn't be pissed as hell if they asked an employee (or someone they thought was an employee) to open a dressing room and they responded the way this guy did. The woman may have been rude, but this guy clearly was deliberately fueling the fire.
Agreed. I too noticed that not once did he say "Sorry I don't work here".
Load More Replies... This either never happened, or the story has been so embellished that it bears little resemblance to what actually took place.
I doubt it happened. The writer didn't get farm / agricultural jargon right.
Load More Replies... I'm a "big bloke" and used to have a Schott bomber jacket, if I wore it out to a pub or club people would assume I was security and launch into tirades about terrible things that had just happened (never anything serious, just petty bitching). I used to just nod, let them rant and then say "you should complain to security about that".
OP could have handled this a little more kindly by informing the other shopper up front that he didn’t work there. Even if the other shopper was dumb as a doorknob, she didn’t deserve OP’s irritable response.
This is the second time I've read a story like this on BP, except this time it's in a different store. The author must have really loved the original story.
I thought the same thing. It's way too similar to the story where an old lady mistook a teenager for a worker at a grocery store.
Load More Replies... This feels fake, or at least embellished. To me, none of the interactions make sense aside from, ironically, the lady. OP kind of sounds like an AH, to be honest. Sure, the lady was annoying but that couldve been resolved by OP simply stating they didn't work there when she initially mistook OP as an employee. It's pretty obviously an innocent mistake regardless of whether she was rude or not.
Last year I was at a video store to buy a new TV. The owner went into the back to get something, and I was the only person in the store. An elderly gentleman walks in, ask if the store sold TVs, and I point to all the sets and said I guess so. So he tells me what he's looking for, and I lead him to a TV and said this is exactly what you want. When it was time to fill out the paperwork, I told him he'd have to wait for the owner, since I was a customer too. He thought I worked there, but being a retired sales closer, my instincts just kicked in and I sold him a set. So when the owner comes back out, I told him this gentleman wants to buy this TV and I'll wait for him to finish the paperwork. First time I ever sold a TV and the owner knocked off $50 on my set. So I guess I got a commission even though I didn't work there. But it was nice to know I still had that closer mentality!
I went to Colonial Williamsburg years ago and was wearing period costume. Pretty much everyone assumed I worked there in spite of the visitor badge I was wearing and I got asked sooo many questions, not to mention all the people that wanted pictures with me! I'm going back to Williamsburg next week... Not dressing up this time... 😏
I find if I'm shopping whilst wearing my work uniform people will always assume I work there. All people see is a name badge and make assumptions. My work shirts are all orange with a distinct logo and I have an orange lanyard and orange name badge.
This has happened to me lol. Didn't go so far as getting the manager but the person was so confused and just kind of kept following me from a distance. I guess to see if I was really shopping or if I was stocking c**p. I was just in regular clothes, I was equally as confused by why he would think I was an employee.
I was wearing a #SaveLucifer shirt and someone insisted I worked at Meijer. 🤦♀️🤣
Load More Replies... Alfalfa and hay are two different things. And dealing with demanding and entitled customers is hard work. Whether you work at a place or not.
Thank you! Nobody would ever say they are going to purchase hay and alfalfa. If he wrote that he's going to return to buy Timothy hay and alfalfa pellets, then maybe, but most of us would just say "Timothy and alfalfa pellets."
Load More Replies... I once confused a customer for an employee, because he was wearing a work-uniform, I didn't pay attention which one it was, but after he said he didn't work there, I Woops-sorry-apologized, felt stupid and moved on... I feel like he simply didn't tell her "I DO NOT WORK HERE !", which is the only reasonable thing to do. If she keeps annoying him, why doesn't HE go for the manager and say "This lady keeps thinking I work here, would you mind educating her please ?" Problem solved.
I think that the OP made up the story because nobody says that they are going to buy "hay and alfalfa." That's like saying they are going to buy "hay and hay." Alfalfa, while technically a legume, is a type of hay.
This is the first story where I thought „fake“ or rather the all mighty internet phrase „and then they all clapped“. But who knows? It might even be true
"and I walked away as everyone listening starts laughing" You meant "clapping."
I had experienced this several times when some guy asked me about a product or article. I just smiled and told them to ask the shop keeper. Simple. Hopefully you did not create the story to make a content.
this is an old story, just retold. it was unnecesary, if u had just replied, no, im sorry. i dont work here.
Why did the writer tell the entire story, then post the story by the original creator? If you're amalgamating interesting stories to repost online, you should not tell the whole story. It's pointless for us readers to have to read all your commentsthat tell the entire tale, THEN read the ACTUAL story. Tell us a few comments like, "This clever person served karma to rude karen" and THEN post the actual story. I love reading over videos, but this "style" of sharing funny incidents by telling the entire thing before the repost isn't entertainment so much as it is annoyance.
I worked at a smaller more expensive supermarket when I was a student, so I did my shopping elsewhere. I forgot to bring a jacket one shift, and was buying veg etc on the way home at shop B, in my shop A uniform. One lady asked me where something was, and as I knew and was also still in work mode, I told her where it was. She said thanks, then did a double take and grimaced a bit in embarrassment (realised my uniform was not for that store, and I had a shopping basket). I smiled and said 'it's what I do!' (awkward response ik, but better than nothing 😅)
I was once mistaken for a waitresses while on a date because I was wearing a black dress. I just politely clarified that I didn't work there and continued on to the washroom. When I worked in retail that require I wear a uniform I kept a t-shirt in bag/locker to change into after my shift or if I was intending to shop later. It was easier to change quickly then constantly be fielding questions from customers; even when I wasn't in the store I worked at. The OP could have saved herself some grief if she'd simply told the woman "Sorry, I don't work here. You'll have to find an employee." You don't get points for meeting rudness with more rudness.
In stories like this we never get to see the other side. And he seems kinda proud to deliberately kindle the fire.
Just to respond to the comment that alfalfa and gay are the same thing. They aren't. Hay is a mixture of grasses and plants that often includes alfalfa but is never purely alfalfa. Feeding a horse nothing but alfalfa will cause it founder. Horses love it but they aren't equivalent.
I once ordered takeout from a Chinese restaurant while I was on a work trip. I can make my own chinese food but my hotel didn't have the resources. As I am waiting for my order...in a business suit inside this dive bar dumpy chinese restaurant, a family of four expected me seat them. I did, gave them menus. They then called me back to take their orders. I didn't write anything down and then proceeded to sit back in the lobby without putting in their order. The dad got super pissed and we got into a shouting match. Then the owner came out with me take out order. Didn't get an apology. Racist morons.
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