6 July 2012
Monday can be difficult if you've had a great weekend. I enjoy the work I do but my employer often causes me to wish I were employed elsewhere. Indeed, it often feels like they want me to work elsewhere. Thats a story for another day. We are usually very busy straight after a weekend, customers tend to overlook that we operate seven days a week or perhaps, just prefer not to call during their weekend break.
At the end of my shift, I put my iPhone eardphones in and lose myself to whatever music comes up, varying from birdsong tracks to classical, heavy dub to pop, rock to hip hop and rap to jazz. This helps me to unwind and to negotiate the umpteen less fortunate beggars I must pass at least twice a day.
This last Monday, I was looking forward to an easy night, knowing I would not be able to get the paint brush out in the morning, due to the forecasted heavy rain. I popped into a local supermarket store, a minor diversion to the usual five minute walk. I needed some fresh vegetables and a pizza. I filled my basket and went to the checkout. The young shop assistant immediately pointed to his ears, google eyed and urging me to remove my earphones. This I did and he said "I find it rude if people are wearing eardphones when being served!". As he started to scan my purchases I put my earphones back in, preferring Mozart to the beep of his till and somewhat angered by his remark. He protested some more, so I asked him to call the manager.
I completed the transaction on my card and readied to leave. A young lady appeared and I listened to him explain how rude I was being. I interrupted, saying I'd had a long day, that I often shop and spend a great deal of money there but now wonder if I ever want to return to their store again. I then looked at the young shop assistant and told him I have to deal with difficult customers everyday but I would never talk to a customer the way he spoke to me and that I did not appreciate being treated like a piece of shit he might wipe from his shoe. This annoyed him, she held him back, so I bid them goodnight and left in a far worse mood than when I had arrived.
I might have dealt with this better but I was tired. Whether he thought me rude or not isn't the issue, it's what he said that I object to. I could hear him well enough with my earphones in, although he deliberately spoke very quietly to labour his point. I did say hello when I approached him, I even said thank you and goodbye when I left. That I did not wish further interaction than for him to bag up my shopping, let me pay and be on my way was my choice. If he's unhappy with that, then simply he's in the wrong job.
I've discussed this issue of supermarket etiquette with many of my friends and since emailed six of the major supermarkets about their stance on the matter. So far I've had two very different responses...
Copyright Ⓒ 2012 Christopher Patrick Kirk all rights reserved
Supermarket Etiquette • Opuss № I