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Have you ever been mistaken for an employee?

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Elegant

Elegant

Brilliant_Rock
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I was at Costco, wearing jeans, tennis shoes, and a blue t-shirt with the emblem for my elementary school (blue t-shirt). Some man comes up to me as I am wrapping up some chicken thighs in a plastic bag and asks if I work there - I said no - he said "oh, sorry."

Has this ever happened to you and how do you feel about it? How should I feel about it.
 
Oh it''s happened to me a handful of times in my life.. I just shrug it off and laugh about it.
 
Only one time has someone mistaken me for an employee. . .I don''t remember exactly where it was (some retail store), but I just stood there and stared at her while she blabbed away and then when she was done, I told her I didn''t work there and she became really embarrassed! lol It didn''t seem to bother me, I was just surprised that she didn''t even look to notice the expression on my face showing my thinking, "what the h*ck is this woman talking about."

During Christmas time, I overheard a woman being mistaken for a Target employee because she had a red shirt on! Never wear red in that store in Dec.
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I wouldn't care. You probably just looked knowledgeable and comfortable so they came up to you.

ETA I forgot to answer the original question-yes, I have been mistaken for an employee many times at clothing stores! I shop hard and I used to work retail full time so I think I look like I work at clothing stores when I'm shopping!
 
Yes. I don''t mind unless the ''mistaker'' is rude (a tool came up to me in DKNY and asked me to retrieve something without any niceties). Then, he or she gets my death glare.
 
It has happened before. One time I said I am sorry I don't work here. On another occasion it happened I knew what the lady was looking for so I thought I wouldn't correct her and just show her. hehe
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it was no biggie to me.
 
YES LOL, dh and I have this inside joke, I bought (what I thought was) an adorable, tangerine-orange fitted Polo t-shirt a few summers ago. Well don''tcha know that every damn time I wore that shirt, we found ourselves at Home Depot that day for some damn reason. EVERY TIME!!!

So we''d go in there, for whatever the dumb reason, with me wearing my orange polo shirt, and every time no fewer than 3 people would come up to me in the course of that visit, asking where the light bulbs/valve seals/air filters/paint thinner/drill bits were!!! Then we''d both be totally embarrassed that I was wearing what was essentially a home depot uniform, but didn''t actually work there.

Gah
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Date: 1/11/2009 10:56:03 PM
Author: GossamerAngel
YES LOL, dh and I have this inside joke, I bought (what I thought was) an adorable, tangerine-orange fitted Polo t-shirt a few summers ago. Well don'tcha know that every damn time I wore that shirt, we found ourselves at Home Depot that day for some damn reason. EVERY TIME!!!

So we'd go in there, for whatever the dumb reason, with me wearing my orange polo shirt, and every time no fewer than 3 people would come up to me in the course of that visit, asking where the light bulbs/valve seals/air filters/paint thinner/drill bits were!!! Then we'd both be totally embarrassed that I was wearing what was essentially a home depot uniform, but didn't actually work there.

Gah
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Too funny, that happened to me once at Target and I had a red shirt! It didn't even click till someone told me I had the red shirts like the Target workers. LOL I guess there uniform is a red shirt/top and khakis. Be careful what you wear.
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Due to my penchant for black clothes, I tend to get that a lot at the MAC counters & stores. It doesn't bother me... it is funny how long it takes people to realize that you're not reacting like an employee though!

At work I see people mistaken for workers a lot... usually, in seems, it's lack of purse or coat more than anything that creates that mistake. That, and purposefulness. Oh, and shopping alone too.
 
It''s happened to me before, and I haven''t found it offensive.
 
My mom approaches random customers mistaking them for employees ALL the time! Whenever I am with her I get relatively embarrassed, especially since a lot of people are less than graceful about it and think it''s horribly rude. I''m not sure why my mom mistakes them, either... usually I can totally tell they don''t work there.
 
YES! This was actually kinda funny..
I was at DSW earlier this winter looking for boots. It''s WINTER btw.. I''m in a heavy winter coat, scarf, carrying a purse etc.
I''m digging through boxes, looking for my size when this woman a couple feet away from me turns to me and asks me if these boots come in a certain size or if there''s more in the back.

I was like "umm.. I don''t know.."
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I was kinda thinkin maybe she wanted a fellow shoppers thoughts on whether there were more in the back?
When she had this kind of an aggravated "why aren''t you helping me" look I decided to add "I don''t work here..."
Then she looked at me again and probably really noticed my coat and stuff.. and was so apologetic and totally embarrassed she put down the boots she was looking at and left!

I wasn''t offended or anything. And I (think/hope) I had a nice tone about it! I was just really confused as to how someone could mistake me for an employee when I''ve got on my biggest winter coat with bright red scarf, and a purse hangin off my shoulder. I guess that''s why she looked so embarrassed!

But on a different note (somewhat related) when I used to work retail we all wore name tags.. I used to HATE getting the "do you work here?" question.
No. I don''t work here. I''m just wearing this clearly visible name tag and I''m folding this pile of t-shirts by the fitting room for FUN!
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(ha, sorry I''m kinda bitter about my retail days..)
 
All the time. I have had people get angry at me too, I guess coming up to complain about something then getting even madder when they are told I don''t work there. We just laugh now because it is such a running joke.

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Mrs.2Artists
 
Yup happens to me all the time...I used to work in retail...albeit ages ago...I must give off some kind of signal...it doesn''t bother me...after explaining i don''t work there...I either answer their question (if I know it) help them (depending on the store/# of sales people) or direct them to a salesperson...

What''s scary is that sometimes I know more about the product that the sales people
 
Yes it happens to me a lot. I try to help them as best as I can. Also at the grocery store, every old bitty comes to me and asks for help. I don't mind that either, it takes a second to help someone. They always say, bless you dear. Makes me smile.
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Date: 1/11/2009 10:36:08 PM
Author: MC
Only one time has someone mistaken me for an employee. . .I don''t remember exactly where it was (some retail store), but I just stood there and stared at her while she blabbed away and then when she was done, I told her I didn''t work there and she became really embarrassed! lol It didn''t seem to bother me, I was just surprised that she didn''t even look to notice the expression on my face showing my thinking, ''what the h*ck is this woman talking about.''

During Christmas time, I overheard a woman being mistaken for a Target employee because she had a red shirt on! Never wear red in that store in Dec.
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Uh...I actually did this more than once, and I think on both occasions people asked me if I worked there - but wearing t-shirt and jeans and bagging some food? The Target experience was embarrassing for me, big time!
 
Date: 1/11/2009 11:00:41 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
Due to my penchant for black clothes, I tend to get that a lot at the MAC counters & stores. It doesn''t bother me... it is funny how long it takes people to realize that you''re not reacting like an employee though!

At work I see people mistaken for workers a lot... usually, in seems, it''s lack of purse or coat more than anything that creates that mistake. That, and purposefulness. Oh, and shopping alone too.
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See, that might have been the case - I never use a purse, ever. So I guess that could have been it too...thanks...
 
It has happened to me before. If I know the answer I help them anyway. It doesn''t bother me.
 
This happened to me the other day at Alamo rental car. I thought it was odd, and couldn''t figure out if the lady was just asking everyone that she saw (I saw her ask someone else), or if was because everyone she saw was a minority. (me = black, other guy = habesha) Who knows. Didn''t phase me though, no the first of the last time.
 
when I am wearing a tie and shopping in a store then people assume i work there and ask me if im the manager or owner...
 
This actually happens to me all of the time. It doesn''t matter if I am wearing jeans or business casual clothes. Everyone always walks up to me and asks me questions. I used to work retail for about 5 years so it doesn''t bother me. I guess I have one of those ask me anything faces. I will usually be polite and let them know that I don''t work there (if I know the answer to their question I will try to help them out).
 
This happens to me ALL the time! I worked in retail years and years ago and am now physically incapable of not folding a shirt so that it looks like it should be stacked on display. So whenever I am browsing & picking stuff up off a display table, I always automatically fold it perfectly back . . . and 2 seconds later will be asked by someone to help them find a size
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On the up side, I have very neat closet shelves at home!
 
Date: 1/11/2009 10:53:53 PM
Author: Skippy123
It has happened before. One time I said I am sorry I don''t work here. On another occasion it happened I knew what the lady was looking for so I thought I wouldn''t correct her and just show her. hehe
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it was no biggie to me.
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Skippy, that is too funny! Sounds just like you to just help her and not correct her!
 
Date: 1/11/2009 10:53:53 PM
Author: Skippy123
It has happened before. One time I said I am sorry I don''t work here. On another occasion it happened I knew what the lady was looking for so I thought I wouldn''t correct her and just show her. hehe
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it was no biggie to me.
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That was nice of you Skippers.
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It''s happened to me, and I''ve done it to other people. No biggie!
 
Yes, it has happened to me too... a few times actually. Once a person that came up to me was incredibly rude and was talking down to me... I just said- I dont work here and I hope you treat the employee that does help you better than me, and I walked away. The other times I usually see if I can point to someone who does work there- and the asker is usually very embarassed.

It happens... dont worry about it!
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Absolutely. The funniest time was when I was at a Hilton Garden Inn for business. Granted, I was young (21 or so), but all of the employees had matching polo shirts and I wasn''t even wearing the same color. I was up at the breakfast bar and this woman was trying to make a waffle and couldn''t figure out the waffle maker. I had used that type in college, so I showed her how to use it. She then chases after me and starts asking me to get her something to drink. Haha, she seemed very embarrassed when I explained I didn''t work there and I was just being helpful with the waffle maker.
 
It happens to me everywhere, even in Spain. I had on a business suit and as I was getting my breakfast from the buffet someone asked if I could refill their drink. LMAO

The only time its annoying is when even though I say that I don''t work there, they still ask if I can help them out. And sometimes I do but sometimes its an inconvenience.
 
I was in a Hallmark store at Christmas buying some ornaments and while I was waiting in line, some guy comes up to me, attempts to hand me his empty Starbucks cup and asks me to throw it in the trash. I think I must have given him a death glare because he said "Don''t you work here?". Um, yeah, I always go to work with my coat/purse/4 and 2 year old and stand in line with a handful of ornaments with all of the other customers!
 
I''ll just say this... NEVER go into Tar**t, if you''re wearing khaki''s and a red shirt!!! It''s happened too many times.
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