That Retail Funk Never Really Fades: They Can Smell It On You Years Later

From: RHU Facebook

Went to my old store for a visit a few days ago. I walk in wearing my big winter coat and my gloves. Sunglasses on my face. Purse over my shoulder. Car keys in my hand.

I stop and talk to an old mate (male), who is in uniform and clearly working. I got my phone out to read him a funny text I'd gotten from a mutual friend. Coat, gloves, sunglasses, purse, car keys, openly texting, I hear "Ma'am? Ma'am?!"

I look up. "Me?"

"Yeah! How much is this? Is this part of the clearance?"

I look at workmate (again, who is in uniform and is stocking) and raise my eyebrows a bit, turn back to the customer. "I don't know, Love. That would be manager's discretion, and I don't work at this store, so I have no idea what she's marked down."

Jason, instead of helping, just tries not to laugh.

Almost immediately after that, another customer appears "Ma'am? Do you know if you have any more blah-blah in back?"

"I don't work here. I've no idea what they have in the stockroom."

"Ma'am? Can you tell me where--"

"I DON'T WORK HERE!"

These interactions were all in such close proximity to each other that the third customer must have heard me telling the first one I didn't work there.

Most ridiculous visit to another store I've ever had.

--RHUer

Comments

[TechTyger]

Have told this story a few times, but is relevant again... I worked behind the counter at a convenience store (for a small local chain that's now out of business, Presto) decades ago. I do tech support for a living now, and have done for 17 years.

Apparently you're right. I'm 6'3, 300# with a huge bushy beard, wearing a orange striped black shirt with a huge snarling tiger face covering the entire front, and black jeans. The only blue on there at all was the tiger's eyes. I'm standing in a Hellmart, looking at something, and a little old lady comes up and asks if I know where the Foo is.

Being the naturally helpful type I am, I help her find whatever it was she was looking for and even get it down off a higher shelf for her. I'm not sure whether she thought I worked there or she just couldn't find any of the local slaves or what...

[c]

Last month, I was shopping at the toy store with the giraffe mascot...I was wearing navy blue scrubs( work in animal hospital)at the time. I was in the science aisle looking at the microscopes when I hear in the distance "'ma'am, do you work here?" Then again, louder this time"ma'am, do you work here?" I look at him and realize the he is speaking to me... again "do you work here?" I look down at my uniform then back at him and shake my head "no".
Him: "You don't work here?"
Ms: Shaking head:"No"
Him:"Oh. okay"
A week or two before that, I was wearing that same scrub uniform in a grocery store, pushing a cart full of food and a guy asks me where he can find the pudding...
IDK, navy blue is a power color.