Unfiltered Story #124789

I work for a well known supermarket that has a green logo, my uniform t-shirt is the same colour green and has the logo on the back. I’ve finished work and am driving  home with my 5yr old with me when my eldest daughter calls. She tells me that not only has she invited friends over but she also has a cooking class the next day and needs ingredients. I usually shop at my place of employment but as we live on the other side of town to it I decide to go into a rival supermarket that is about 2 minutes away. This supermarket has a blue and red logo and the staff wear a navy t-shirt. I get my shopping and head upstairs to their clothing and home ware dept. I have my daughter in the child seat and about 25 items in my trolley, we are looking at children’s clothes for my young daughter, clearly browsing. I hear a woman ask for a food item but assume she’s talking to a member of staff so I carry on looking at clothes.

Customer: EXCUSE ME! Where can I find tinned fruit?

Me: Are you talking to me? I really don’t know, but I guess downstairs.

Customer: Of course I’m talking to you. How rude. You should know where everything is.

Me: I don’t work here. I imagine all food items are downstairs, not up here with the clothes and home supplies.

(I go to walk away as this woman is annoying me)

Customer: That’s what’s wrong with this country, youngsters are too workshy! (I’m 41)  I’m a paying customer and you will help me.

(She then steps closer to me  and I can smell vodka. She shoves my trolley jolting my daughter and causing her to cry out. A member of staff arrives to see what’s going on)

Employee: Is there a problem? Can I help in any way?

Customer: Are you her boss? Are you in charge here? You need to fire her right now!

Me: I don’t work here. I work for ****. This is *****. I’m just shopping.

(The customer suddenly starts wailing like a hurt child)

Customer: I just want my tinned fruit. I just want to bake. (turning to me) Why wont you help me.

(Security staff and the manager then turn up because of all the noise)

Manager: What seems to be the problem?

Employee: Well; this lady (points to me) is just shopping with her daughter and this lady (points to other customer) thinks she works here and keeps yelling at her.

Security: (to other customer) Madam, this lady is just a customer, she doesn’t work here. She clearly works for ****. Not only is she wearing her uniform she’s also pushing a trolley with shopping in it. And her child. Please calm down and let her go on her way.

Customer: I hate you all. I was going to bake a pie for you all. Now I can’t bake anything because SHE (points to me) wont help me.

Security: OK, that’s it. Madam, you are clearly intoxicated. I’m asking you to please leave our store. I will help you down the travelator.

Customer: No! I want her to do it (points to me). She might as well do something while she’s at work.

(Just then my daughter addresses the other customer)

Daughter: You’re mean. You’re mean to my mummy and you’re rude. You smell like pubs. You should go home and have a nap because you’re grumpy.

(This seems to do the trick. The customer just looks from my daughter to the rest of us and puts her basket on the floor.)

Customer: I believe I’ll go now.

(The rest of us just stand there for a minute, dumbfounded. The manager apologises and I am given a £50 voucher for all of the trouble.)