Humiliated by Sainsbury’s staff for buying a slimming magazine

[duchy]

Originally Posted by bonnies mum

The manager may be waiting until he has spoken to the impudent check-out staff before contacting you. However, they should have kept you up to date if that is the case.
Give it till tomorrow and then take your case further by contacting customer care.
I don’t like the current trend of staff engaging with customers about their purchases- what I buy is my business and does not need approval from anyone.

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That was not impudent , it was downright offensive and any manager worth their salt would be on to the customer straight away to assure them they would be investigating further.

[louvb]

That is awful! You were better than me tho I would have got into a blazing row! You certainly need to complain in the strongest possible terms. But don’t forget you’re a lovely person inside and out xxx

[Guest]

Originally Posted by bonnies mum

The manager may be waiting until he has spoken to the impudent check-out staff before contacting you. However, they should have kept you up to date if that is the case.
Give it till tomorrow and then take your case further by contacting customer care.
I don’t like the current trend of staff engaging with customers about their purchases- what I buy is my business and does not need approval from anyone.

See more...

When I worked in the lingerie section of m&s, once a month we were monitored on the tills (a manager stood behind us with a check board) and if we didn't comment (although positively) on the customers purchase we would be marked down. I felt so awkward doing it as it was obviously mostly bras and pants!

[Bianca]

Originally Posted by Mrs_O

When I worked in the lingerie section of m&s, once a month we were monitored on the tills (a manager stood behind us with a check board) and if we didn't comment (although positively) on the customers purchase we would be marked down. I felt so awkward doing it as it was obviously mostly bras and pants!

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That's totally OTT! Have they considered that customers might not want you to comment on their purchases (especially underwear)? Probably not, M & S execs seem to be losing the plot.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Bianca

That's totally OTT! Have they considered that customers might not want you to comment on their purchases (especially underwear)? Probably not, M & S seem to be losing the plot.

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There's nothing quite like folding someone's pants while trying to make conversation while your manager is watching the transaction. Bet the customer enjoyed it as much as I did...
Something along the lines of "well these look very comfy" holding up a pair of pants!

[Crystaljordan]

Originally Posted by Moody230

A bit of a long one but not sure what to do about it?

Whilst shopping at my local Sainsbury’s store last night I was repeatedly humiliated and judged for the contents of my shopping basket by the checkout assistant. This was in front of a large queue and my 8 year old son. I purchased a Slimming World magazine which was the first item of a basket load on the conveyer belt. The sales assistant said ‘you do know it’s just a magazine and won’t work?’ he then scanned a ham and pineapple pizza and said ‘so why you buying a pizza with a slimming world magazine and held it up? i said ‘it’s for my son’s tea’ and pointed at my son who was standing next to me, he then held up the pain au chocolat’s and said ‘what about these?’ i replied ‘actually their for my daughter’s breakfast.’ He then lifted up the croissants and said ‘i suppose your gonna say the same about these’.

I’ve never felt so humiliated and embarrassed in my life! He made another derogatory comment about buying the magazine, but at this point I genuinely cannot remember what it was and just wanted to get out of there. I left the store physically shaking and reduced to tears.

What the sales assistant also failed to recognise is not only is it none of his business what I choose to purchase, but my 8 year old son who witnessed the incident has been gastrostomy fed via a feeding tube since birth, and a result has a very limited diet. If he wants to try a pizza, I am more than happy to buy him one and should not be humiliated in front of him and other customers for doing so.

On returning home I contacted the store and asked to speak to the manager, I was informed he was not in so I was put through to the assistant manager. He took my number and said he would inform the store manager about what had happened and apologised. He said the store manager would call me back today. No surprise, he hasn’t.

The only outcome i’m seeking from this degrading experience is that other people are not judged and humiliated in the way in which I was for buying a slimming magazine. The sales assistant may have thought he was being funny, but the tirade of abuse in front of a large queue lasted several minutes, in which the only look on my face was one of embarrassment and still he did not take this as a cue to stop.

I now feel too ashamed and embarrassed to set foot in the store.

A mum of two, slightly over weight size 14, but who’s judging?!

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Probably just trying to make you feel that you didn’t really need to be buying that magazine, maybe ?, they are booked on these ‘putting people first’ courses in their line of work, and maybe he was just trying to make you feel better as a customer, that you didn’t really need that magazine, yeah, maybe judgemental of him but I’m sure he didn’t realise, and no it didn’t really need to happen, yes, I get where you’re coming from, it didn’t work, just made you feel worse, but I’m sure he wasn’t actually wanting to upset you, probably the opposite and thought you might take it as a compliment, was he youngster ?, just saying, my own son is very complimentary and non judgemental, he will always try to say the most wonderful things to people to try to make them happy without thinking it through thoroughly, however I’m really sorry that you felt that way, I’m sure he will be mortified once he’s learnt the error of his ways...xxxx

[Bianca]

Originally Posted by Mrs_O

There's nothing quite like folding someone's pants while trying to make conversation while your manager is watching the transaction. Bet the customer enjoyed it as much as I did...
Something along the lines of "well these look very comfy" holding up a pair of pants!

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Isn't it ridiculous!

"Ooh, thermal! Nothing like warm cheeks!"

Chatting to customers about their new pants is not where M&S' business succeeds or fails. I imagine it makes them feel they're being proactive; they just haven't thought it all the way through. They have better things to work on.

As the OP's experience shows, it's better to be friendly and polite and make neutral small talk.

[keeley78]

Originally Posted by Crystaljordan

Probably just trying to make you feel that you didn’t really need to be buying that magazine, maybe ?, they are booked on these ‘putting people first’ courses in their line of work, and maybe he was just trying to make you feel better as a customer, that you didn’t really need that magazine, yeah, maybe judgemental of him but I’m sure he didn’t realise, and no it didn’t really need to happen, yes, I get where you’re coming from, it didn’t work, just made you feel worse, but I’m sure he wasn’t actually wanting to upset you, probably the opposite and thought you might take it as a compliment, was he youngster ?, just saying, my own son is very complimentary and non judgemental, he will always try to say the most wonderful things to people to try to make them happy without thinking it through thoroughly, however I’m really sorry that you felt that way, I’m sure he will be mortified once he’s learnt the error of his ways...xxxx

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Seriously?

[bonnies mum]

Originally Posted by duchy

That was not impudent , it was downright offensive and any manager worth their salt would be on to the customer straight away to assure them they would be investigating further.

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Wow - bit touchy there.

[Dougie]

I am very much in the camp that i think people get offended too easily these days BUT this is outrageous! I am sitting here getting annoyed for you. I would totally take this to Head office, the cashier was so out of order it's untrue 😠😠.