11. I Didn’t Offer to Help, You Asked Me To
I was at Home Depot today picking up some flooring. A middle aged lady approaches me asking if I can help her get something off a top shelf. I am 6’4″ and get asked this a lot no matter where I go. It’s no big deal.
I say sure and follow her further down the aisle. She points to a stack of tile on the very top shelf. I tell her that there is no possible way for me to get that and the store would need to get one of those lifter things for her. She thanks me and I go on my way. Or so I thought.
A couple of minutes later I am back in the aisle I was previously in loading wood laminate into my cart and I hear a loud, “Excuse me!” from behind me. Guess who found me again.
Her: “Are you going to help me or not?”
Me: “Ma’am, I have my own stuff to load. Find an employee to help you. They’re walking around or you can go to the front desk.”
Her: “Why should I find someone else when you are already helping me?”
It’s at this point I realize she thinks I’m an employee.
Me: “Ma’am, do you think I’m an employee? I don’t work here.”
Her: “If you don’t work here than why were you helping me?”
Me – “Because you asked and I don’t mind helping. Look at me. I’m wearing a black shirt and cargo shorts. All the employees are wearing an orange smock and pants.”
Her as she is walking away: “You shouldn’t offer to help me if you don’t work here.”
Me calling out to her: “I didn’t offer. You asked.”
Cue her flipping me off as she walks away.