Another "I Don't Work Here" Situation

[Misanthropical]

When I bought my car, the dealer had my set of keys on a d-link. It comes in handy.

It seems no matter where members of CS go the general public just assume we work at the store we are shopping in at the time. Heck, Mr. Mis frequently gets mistaken for a manger of what ever store we are in, but only if he is with me.

It never ceases to amaze me that I'm out shopping in a big floppy hat, over-sized t shirt and capris and people still assume I work there, even if I'm with one of my kids who has just clearly called me "mom" and asked me to buy something they want.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I was once pushing around a two year old in a shopping cart. I was like, "Sure, let me finish stocking the shelves with toddlers and I'll be right with ya."

Dumbasses.

[zombiequeen]

I had this happen yesterday! Hubby and I are in the pad aisle making fun of the different brands (yeah we're weird and had only gotten three hours of sleep. We make fun of pads) when this lady grabbed my shirtsleeve and pulled me off to the side saying I'd get fired for PDA and that she needed my help. I looked down real quick...shaggy horse show shirt (burgundy with SPARKLY SILVER all over), nasty old shorts because I only have two pairs. I told her that I didn't work there and then went back to where hubby was. She harumphed and walked off quickly, probably because she caught on.

[underemployeed]

I was in sporting goods once and asked where something was I told him I think over there, asked about something else, I said don't have a clue your on your own.... I shouldn't have let it slip when he told me "Fix your attitude or I'm getting your manager!", that "Well I happen to work in a gas station 30 miles from this location, so I'm sure my manager won't give a shit what I do with my free time, you do whatever floats your boat, even if it means being an asshole to people able to call you on it"

[Blade_Raver]

That gives me a great idea.

I'm going to fancy me up a lanyard with keys... then go walking around stores to see how many people I can sucker into thinking I'm an employee.

Then I'm going to have a field day with responses!

It could make for an interesting youtube video!

[Misanthropical]

Blade_Raver you're evil! I like that in a person! If you do do it please put it up on YouTube!

[Little Retail Rabbit]

This has only ever happened to me once, mainly because Goths don't generally get mistaken for store employees when they are in "full costume" :P But the one time it did happen, I was shopping in a Claire's Accessories (which actually happens to be a rather Goth-friendly company!). I was wearing a black ra-ra skirt, a black lace-trimmed cami, a black band hoody, black and red striped tights, and massive New Rock boots in silver patterned with spiderwebs. As I was browsing, a lady came up to me and asked me where something or other was. I blushed and smiled and said "I don't actually work here, but I can show you." She was hugely embarressed (bless her) and apologised and I said it was ok and just showed her what she was looking for. It transpires that the assistant manager of that branch as pink dreads and multiple facial piercings, so I guess it was thinkable that I could have worked there too! But I do know that Claire's have a plain black uniform (I interviewed there once...it was a shame the contract hours were too low! I have a feeling I'd be working there now!).

[Blade_Raver]

Misanthropical - Thank you I just need a decent working video camera that I can conceal plus a video editor that allows me to pixelize the victim's faces.

Must avoid lawsuits and the like, right?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Been done! Check it out!

http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I got this today at the Grocery Store of Not Awesome.

The Grocery Store of Not Awesome is located closer to my house than the Grocery Store of Awesome is, and has a slightly bigger product assortment, but the store is dark as hell and the aisles are so narrow I inevitably end up trapped behind some cow or two with their carts blocking the way.

As I'm fondling apples, some lady comes up to me to ask me where the milk is.

The dress code at the Grocery Store of Not Awesome in black pants, white button-down shirts and TIES. Yes, the employees have to wear a tie. To work in a grocery store. The dress code at the Grocery Store of Not Awesome is not a poo-brown T-shirt, old blue jeans, and ratty Birkenstocks.

OT on the white shirt/tie dress code at this store: There's a guy I see walking through the neighborhood every so often. He was always in a white shirt, black pants and a tie. But he always looked sweaty and disheveled, hair mussed up, the shirt wasn't tucked in and the tie was undone somewhat. He looked like a big important businessman who'd just gone done having hot sex with the secretary behind the copy machine. I always wondered why he went around dressed like that.

And then today at the Grocery Store of Not Awesome, I saw him stocking shelves. It all made perfect sense, and illustrated how absurd it is to make grocery store employees look like they're going to a wedding. Any professional statement the store might've wished to make is gone after an hour or two of good hard work.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The Olive Garden made us wear white dress shirts. White shirts, in a place where we're slinging tomato gravy all day.

So we were always covered in red splotches and had a dirty shoulder (from the tray) at the end of every shift.

Always thought that was beyond stupid.

[mattm04]

I am not sure why keys=employee.

Visible keys, any sort of pants other than jeans (and often jeans, too), a dress shirt, a golf shirt, a ponytail. They are like a clarion call to the oblivious shopper.

Because only employees have keys in their tiny heads. And not all employees carry keys exposed, though most do at my store on a Carabiner. I can think of several who are authorized to have keys and carry them who keep them in their pocket.

Also employees on other companies shop in other stores. If on break or just getting out of work they may have keys or some ID card visible.

Don't get me started on people who may be in a store to service equipment. No, the two guys pushing a cart full of tools and bottles, etc, with "XYZ POWER SYSTEMS" on their shirt do not work here. They are simply fixing things, in this case a generator.

[PepperElf]

Been done! Check it out!

http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

Yeah I think that's the original "Flash Mob"


Although personally I'm not really a fan of them.
Some see them as harmless fun.... but I see them as a means to distract people from say, shoplifters.... or as a means to get in the way of any LP or LEO who's trying to apprehend a suspect etc.

[Carsomyr]

When I read this thread I didn't think it would apply to me. I'm sure I don't have a 'professional look' any more than anyone else. Doh.

I got a sub on my lunch break. A yummy sub, I might add. And while I'm eating it, someone walks in and - only a few steps into the door - asks me if I work here.



1. I'm not wearing the uniform. No shirt, no hat, you get no service.
2. You're halfway to the counter. Can do it in two strides if your legs are long enough.
3. Even if I did work here I'd clearly be on my lunch break and have no desire to help you when there's capable people at the counter. Go away!
4. I don't think it's the keys. You can smell CS.com on me, can't you?

[Food Lady]

Beside which, when do food service people ever get to sit down?