But you USED to work here

[April]

I ran into Target today to snag a few things, as I was browsing around, with my cart and my 3 year old a woman I half way recognized came up to me.

"Can you help me in the jewelry case?!" she snaps

"uhh I don't work here" I say

"You did before, I recognize you, help me in jewelry!" She orders

me "USED to is the key word. I haven't worked here for 2 years and I'm NOT going to help you"

Her: "Well I'll see to it you don't work here again!"

Me: " Can I have that in writing please?"

At this point she stalks off. I don't even know how she recognized me as a former employee, but I would have loved to hear her complaint to the manager

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I find smiling in a nasty way and saying "If you don't get out of my space now, so help me I will spit in your face" really diffuses a situation like this. Of course, you have to be willing to actually DO it. They will know if you are bluffing.

Hey, look, it has worked for me. And I don't recall ever having to follow through, either.

[Rubystars]

Hey, look, it has worked for me. And I don't recall ever having to follow through, either.

I'd be afraid in a situation like that, that they would get angry and do it to me first.

[Kara]

Her: "Well I'll see to it you don't work here again!"

She didn't stop to think that perhaps you left of your own free will? Even if she assumed your were forcibly ejected, I can see no logic in presuming that you would desire your position at any point in the future.

[Rubystars]

There was something else I forgot to post about. Was she thinking that store security would let a non-employee behind the JEWELRY case?

[April]

I guess she figured once you work somewhere you ALWAYS work there

[MadMike]

Aw, you mean you didn't glare at her maniacly and tell her the reason you didn't work there anymore was because you murdered a customer?

[BookstoreEscapee]

Even if you did still work there, the presence of a shopping cart and a small child didn't tip her off that you weren't working then? Geez, some people..

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'd be afraid in a situation like that, that they would get angry and do it to me first.

Well, there is that. Nobody ever has done it to me, though, but I have to admit that's the chance you take. They just look at me like I'm disgusting and insane. Which is exactly what I want them to think.

You also run a risk of getting punched in the chops. But people tend to not want to mix it up with a crazy person.

[HALFHUMANHALFZOMBIE]

You should've been like, You're harassing me, Quit harassing me or I'll call the police. Like that Clarence puppet from Wonder Showzen talking to New York citizens constantly and that's how some of them reply...

[Boozy]

Aw, you mean you didn't glare at her maniacly and tell her the reason you didn't work there anymore was because you murdered a customer?

That could have been a classic.
That's the best part about getting mistaken for an employee. You can say what you've always wanted to say at your real job.
I'll have to remember that one. Permission to use it?

[MadMike]

Go for it! I'd be honored. But if you do, I want to know how it worked out.

[Becks]

I find smiling in a nasty way and saying "If you don't get out of my space now, so help me I will spit in your face" really diffuses a situation like this.

In some places, spitting on another person is considered assault. Be careful.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yeah, I know. It would certainly depend on the situation. I'd be less likely to make this threat in a public place unless the person in question had put their hands on me (which in the cases of my actually making the threat, they had.). In one case, it was my drunken, psycho ex roomate, who had gotten in my face. The threat brought her back to earth. She was mad as hell, and utterly disgusted by the threat (which didn't actually get followed through on), but she got away from me and took her hands off. without a fistfight escalating, which was my goal.

[protege]

That's the best part about getting mistaken for an employee. You can say what you've always wanted to say at your real job.

Best part is...there's not a damn thing they can do about it