Old woman!

I consider myself fortunate to be old because what’s the alternative!

All she really had to say was 'there's a customer at the till'.

Plain rude!
But probably young (Aren't most people these days?)
When I was under twenty, any one over thirty was "old"

I have a different viewpoint now though!

Think society is too sensitive. If someone is old then so be it! I’m not sure I’d have challenged another hospitalised aged patient about their choice of language. Is this akin to bullying?
There’s a programme on TV where contestants are urged to ‘say what you see’
Let’s not be so sensitive, but still polite if possible.

Allsorts my dentist and his nurse do that too, but I find it very helpful. I’d much rather listen to them than sit in painful silence. In fact I always thought it was a distraction ploy on their part. If they spoke to me they would get rather indecipherable replies. This happens with the hygienist, who works alone so prattles on while she works and I have to grunt or hold up a thumb in agreement. Again it’s distracting though a bit pointless.

I think I’ve strayed from the old woman purpose of this thread.

When I was in Kenya aged 49 a young man asked my daughter where the old woman (me) was. Perhaps to him 49 was actually old and he certainly wasn’t being offensive.

I went to the dentist two weeks ago, apart from saying good morning, the whole conversation was between dentist and nurse, a wedding they were going to, child care and cosmetic surgery which they both had had and loved. I was invisible neither saw me. She started before the pain killer worked and I had to flap my arms. The filling came out this morning!

After a coach tour in Lisbon, after I complained that the guide only spoke German, knowing I was English (they were in the majority), the guide said “Goodbye, old woman” as I left the bus. It was obviously meant as an insult and at that time, I wasn’t old!
There are some excellent ripostes here and I wish I could think of them when needed. It’s only later I think up a witty comeback.

My daughter and I were on the train last week and we laughed at a comment made by a group of youngish men. One then commented “look, even those middle aged women are laughing”. I was quite pleased by that description but my daughter was gutted! ??

I've just been on the customer helpline at Boots because my Advantage card isn't working. After a lengthy call with lots of questions and explanations regarding registering a new one, I said Well fingers crossed I manage to do this. The young girl ( who was very nice, and patient) said, at least twice, Ah bless you. Bless you. I felt so old ?.

I judge shopworkers by the same standards I judge anyone else.

In both examples, the person in question did not treat the client with the common courtesy you would expect anyone to show to someone else.

It has got nothing to do whether the employee has had training in interacting with customers, or even, more ridiculously, it was not her job to tell staff there was a customer awaiting service. As for carrying on a private conversation on the phone while doing your job, especially when that job requires you to interact with other people.

How many threads have their been on GN complaining about people being on thier phones all the time, when the individual have been dealing with customers, or clients etc etc?`

Basic good manners and courtesy to other people puts both these peope in the wrong.

We are all getting to or in the "OLD", bracket but do not need to be reminded, the cleaner would not have shouted there's a woman at the till with a huge nose.
We are the family archivist in some cases as people drop off at the end but we don't want to be reminded.

I give up.

If you had written a letter complaining about the overall service, the shop would probably have sent you a voucher by way an apology.

No. She was just rude. A cleaner would not normally interact with customers so would not get any training. Sometimes these low paid workers don't have a lot of social skills.

She should have hollered there's a grumpy old woman at the till

Honestly, the poor cleaner assisted you by summoning a colleague - not in the most diplomatic way granted but I don't know why you were 'disgusted'.

There's another thread complaining about a cashier who was having a conversation into her headset, but another poster said she wouldn't mind that as she doesn't want to engage in chit chat.

Poor shopworkers, can't do right for doing wrong!

kircubbin2000

Oldnproud

I agree that it would have been better if the cleaner hadn't said what she said. I would not have been too happy with it either in the OP's position

But just consider ... maybe it wasn't even her job to alert the other staff to the fact that a customer was waiting. Maybe she was annoyed on your behalf that you were being 'ignored'. Maybe she thought that adding the words 'old woman' would add a sense of urgency that would make someone come more quickly.
There are all sorts of factors that might explain, though not excuse, how she worded what she said.

I have to say though, I thought that the comment Sometimes these low paid workers don't have a lot of social skills. was as bad, if not worse than what the cleaner said.
Very judgemental and insulting to low paid workers. Saying '^Some people ..."^ would have been much more acceptable - and true!

There's always one!

Really?

Oldnproud

I agree that it would have been better if the cleaner hadn't said what she said. I would not have been too happy with it either in the OP's position

But just consider ... maybe it wasn't even her job to alert the other staff to the fact that a customer was waiting. Maybe she was annoyed on your behalf that you were being 'ignored'. Maybe she thought that adding the words 'old woman' would add a sense of urgency that would make someone come more quickly.
There are all sorts of factors that might explain, though not excuse, how she worded what she said.

I have to say though, I thought that the comment Sometimes these low paid workers don't have a lot of social skills. was as bad, if not worse than what the cleaner said.
Very judgemental and insulting to low paid workers. Saying '^Some people ..."^ would have been much more acceptable - and true!

There's always one!

Slightly veering off topic but grandtante I created a no dig potato patch last year and it is brilliant. Why did we never get told this before!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LH6-w57Slw
If we must get old there is no need to suffer.

My young granddaughter said her teacher was old. She looked to be all of 25! Guess it’s all relative.

I agree that it would have been better if the cleaner hadn't said what she said. I would not have been too happy with it either in the OP's position

But just consider ... maybe it wasn't even her job to alert the other staff to the fact that a customer was waiting. Maybe she was annoyed on your behalf that you were being 'ignored'. Maybe she thought that adding the words 'old woman' would add a sense of urgency that would make someone come more quickly.
There are all sorts of factors that might explain, though not excuse, how she worded what she said.

I have to say though, I thought that the comment Sometimes these low paid workers don't have a lot of social skills. was as bad, if not worse than what the cleaner said.
Very judgemental and insulting to low paid workers. Saying '^Some people ..."^ would have been much more acceptable - and true!

Ignorant and rude, don’t let someone like that matter. I would say something to the Manager though, better she says nothing than open her mouth.

If an employee makes you feel humiliated, they have done something their employer needs to know about. Write to the manager and give date/time, what happened, and how it made you feel.

Perhaps just saying they had a customer at the till ?

win

She could have been implying do not keep her waiting as she is old, which could have been what she meant, obviously she should not have shouted what she did. Yes training is required for sure

No. She was just rude. A cleaner would not normally interact with customers so would not get any training. Sometimes these low paid workers don't have a lot of social skills.

She could have been implying do not keep her waiting as she is old, which could have been what she meant, obviously she should not have shouted what she did. Yes training is required for sure

!well I don't mind being 81. And yes I am classed as old.