Service with a snarl
I should have realised my tour of DIY stores this afternoon would not go as planned when a woman in Wickes mistook me for a member of staff. As the store didn’t have what I wanted, I moved on to the nearby B&Q. There I am loading up my trolley with timber when some bloke walks over to me and asks where the “T&G” was. I politely explained I didn’t know. By the time customer number three approached me to ask where something was, I was starting to lose my temper – she got a terse reply stating I was a customer and was not able to help. It was as I turned away from the woman that I came face-to-face with a man leaning over some wood. He came out with the line “Excuse me, do you know…”. I’m afraid I snapped at that point. He looked stunned when I had finished but managed the line “I’m sorry, it’s just that you’re wearing orange so I thought…”. It then clicked, under my jumper I was wearing an orange t-shirt which wasn’t tucked in at the bottom. It must have only been 3″ in length visible, I pulled my jumper over it and replied “there, it’s gone. Happy?”.
The moral of this story – Never go to B&Q whilst you are wearing orange because it just causes all sorts of hassles. I never did work out why the woman in Wickes mistook me for a member of staff however… their corporate colour is blue. I was glad to get home.
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:08 am
I must be some kind of cameleon as I’m either totally ignoed by staff or hassled by fellow customers asking for a price check or where the heamoroid cream is.
I used to have a short blue jacket. I was constantly been asked at Piccadilly Station about train times and delays and platform numbers. It got to the stage where I used to just make stuff up. “The London train? Yeah, platform 15, but you’ll have to hurry as it’s running five minutes early today”.
And talking of price checks, I used to love going into the Poundshop and pick up a random item and ask a memeber of staff how much it is.
April 3rd, 2007 at 7:47 pm
alternately, you could do so intentionally for your own entertainment…
http://www.improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/
April 4th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Huh- i just get asked constantly for directions. Doesnt matter where I am or what I’m doing, but I think I must have been a signpost in a previous life…
April 4th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I have to admit, I do like Richard’s Platform 15 idea at Piccadilly Station. Maybe I should have “helped” the customers a little more – “you have to go right to the other end of the huge B&Q warehouse and it’s the first thing you’ll see on the left”. It would give people the opportunity for a little exercise if nothing else!!
For me though, the most amusing interaction with a member of staff still has to be in McDonalds, by initially appearing completely indecisive when they ask for your order before finally replying “Erm… what do you recommend?”. The confused facial expression you get is priceless! Alas I haven’t seen that one done for a few years now…
April 5th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
There’s an even crueller one for Fast Food outlets. Point to the picture on the wall and say you want one of those pizzas. See the look of total disgust on their face when they point out that that spotty youth is in fact their staff member of the week. Priceless.
OR
Go into to pub called The George and Dragon and ask the woman behind the bar if George is in. It can take a while for the penny to drop.
April 6th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
People always seem to ask me for directions too – I thought they all should’ve learnt by now that although I know where I mean – the directions don’t always go to the same place!