What about me makes it look like I work here?

[Monte Cristo]

This has been driving me crazy for awhile now...

I had to stop at Babies R Us at lunch to buy a baby gate, but before leaving, I go to the men's room. I'm walking out of the men's room towards the baby gate area to get the one I wnated and a guy asks me "do you have anymore of these in the back?" Without breaking stride I said "I don't work here" and I continued over to the gates and then left.

This isn't the first time it's happened to me...it actually happens a lot. When I say a lot I mean at least twice a month. It will be in the supermarket, the local hardware store, a restaurant, and now Babies R Us.

Today I am wearing navy pants, a maroon red button down shirt, black fleece vest with black Dr. Maarten shoes.




MC

 

[AuntieM03]

I have had that happen to me several times, usually it's older people. If I know what they are asking for I'll help them when I can and if not direct them to someone who works at the store. If its someone younger I just say I don't work here. I'm not sure exactly what it is that makes me look like an employee I am usually wearing jeans and a T-shirt, not exactly department store employee attire.

 

[mickeyfan2]

People do it to me all the time.

 

[Missy1961]

Nice to know I'm not alone! It's particulary strange in stores where the employees wear shirts that identify them.

 

[xyzabc33]

Maybe we just all look really approachable(sp?). This happens to me A LOT. You would think that having a child in a cart, a purse like thing slung over my shoulder and my coat on would give them a clue, but NOOOOO! "But you are wearing keys around your neck. "(the car keys are on a lanyard-so I dont lose them) Hellllllloooooo, so that makes me an employee.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Maybe we just all look really approachable(sp?). This happens to me A LOT. You would think that having a child in a cart, a purse like thing slung over my shoulder and my coat on would give them a clue, but NOOOOO! "But you are wearing keys around your neck. "(the car keys are on a lanyard-so I dont lose them) Hellllllloooooo, so that makes me an employee.

I hear you, I didn't have a coat on today, but that hasn't stopped it before!

 

[Monte Cristo]

Nice to know I'm not alone! It's particulary strange in stores where the employees wear shirts that identify them.

Good point, like in Stop and Shop where it happens most times!

 

[cardaway]

Happens to me all the time, and I sometimes I even know the answer.

I've even been known to give somebody the answer after they have finished asking the clueless people who work there that usually know very little about their own store or merchandise.

 

[jenm2878]

I've had this happen a few times. My favorite time was when a woman walked up to me in Kohls with an armful of clothes and asked me if she could try them on. I told her, "Sure, go ahead."

 

[lyzziesmom]

Do not ever, under any circumstances, wear a shirt that in any way shape or form resembles the color red when shopping at Target. It doesn't matter if you are wearing it with khakis, jeans, a skirt or a freakin kilt, you WILL be mistaken for an employee.

 

[Micca]

This has never happened to me. I guess I have a clueless look

 

[Crankyshank]

Happens to me all of the time. I even get asked for directions when visiting places. I guess I look helpful

 

[DisneyBeagle]

I have this happen to me all the time and I finally figured out why. As I pass people while shopping, I look them in the eyes and smile. I think that people aren't used to others being so friendly so they assume that I must work there.

 

[olena]

I know the feeling. My most recent episode was at WDW. We were waiting in the late afternoon in the caves on Tom Sawyer's Island for the sun to go down. It takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and we were attending the Halloween party that night. I found a nice, cool alcove to hang out in. I was standing there talking with my brother and my white cane in hand and this group comes through and the lady asks me the way out. I looked at her puzzled and she said she thought I worked there. LOL! Yeah.....WDW puts their blind employees in the caves!

 

[ButchJohnson]

Just don't go to those places unless you are wearing a ripped up Marylyn Manson T-Shirt or Motley Crue or something, then they'll leave you alone. Oh you may want to get some piercings in your ear, nose and tongue and get some tatoos.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

I have this happen to me all the time and I finally figured out why. As I pass people while shopping, I look them in the eyes and smile. I think that people aren't used to others being so friendly so they assume that I must work there.

Exactly! People are always asking me for directions, etc., and I finally figured out it is because I tend to smile at people alot. I think I look approachable to most people.

Also, if you tend to walk with a purpose, people seem to think you know what you are doing!

 

[NCRedding]

I get this all the time too. The one that really got me was the day I was wearing my most grown up, severe going to court black suit, with real high heels. I ran into Walmart at lunch, and got asked three separate times if I worked there?!?? There was no blue vest, no blue on me at all!

Several years ago at WDW we had our "guest of honor" name badges on, and we're asked where something was. Being great DISers, I could tell them exactly how to find it. After the lady thanked me, she got this quizzical look on her face, and then asked "you don't work here, do you??"

 

[Luv'sTink]

Maybe we just all look really approachable(sp?). This happens to me A LOT.

I think this is why too, happens to me also. I help if I can.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

When I worked retail, I worked at Ulta. We wore black smocks that said ULTA right on them with our nametags. I had people ask me if I worked there. Uh hello, you think I wear this horrid smock around in public? I think not! For my last two years there I worked inventory. I was there before the store opened and sometimes while it was open. But I was in dirty sweatpants and dirty tshirts and sneakers. My hair was all messy and I wasn't wearing makeup. I looked like I just rolled out of bed (which usually I just did! ), not an employee. Even then people would approach me asking questions. I guess I was just an approachable person.

I don't usually get asked in other stores. I think because I'm more of a get in there and get out quick types. I think I usually have a nasty face on. Oh well. I do get asked directions a lot. I usually answer them and hope I never see them again because my directions were probably wrong.

 

[dodukes]

Jenn,
I agree with you, i usually have my nasty face on most of the time, i really just try to not look at people or anything (sorry im unsociable..lol) and i STILL get asked if i work someplace, must happen at almost every store. Its actually quite annoying, i mean dont people know how to tell apart employess, hello at target they were red, publix green, walmart blue, i mean really its NOT THAT HARD!..lol, i usually just give them the $h!t face as i say no. (i know im evil..lol)