'You need to fire her!': Entitled shopper tries to force the grocery store manager to fire a repairwoman thinking she's a cashier

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 8, 2025 2:00 PM EST

There is nothing more amusing than watching an entitled stranger throw a tantrum in public only to be proven wrong.

This lady clearly had no desire to wait in line at the grocery store, so much so that she insisted that the employee working behind a closed checkout lane reopen said lane just for her. The problem was that the lane was closed for a reason. The belt was malfunctioning, and they had called a repairwoman to fix it. That repairwoman just so happened to be the person working there. In other words, she wasn't an actual employee at the store.

When you're dealing with entitled shoppers like this woman, there is no such thing as rhyme or reason. So despite numerous attempts to correct this lady, she was fully unable to comprehend the fact that this person simply was not an employee there and the lane was closed because of a legitimate technical issue. She would have to wait in line like every other customer at the store.

Still, this lady would not relent. She ended up getting the manager involved. Little did she know, the manager was sick and tired of her antics. It seems like she had thrown a fit like this before… we don't doubt it!

Advertisement

  • "Could you stop what you're doing and check me out?"

    So, many years ago I worked at a company that maintained check lanes for a major retailer. I was responsible for fixing the POS systems, scanners, etc. A store called in a scale that wasn't working right, so I took the call and started disassembling the checklane to get to the equipment I needed.
    via LabCat62
  • I had a basket put in front of the checklane, pieces of equipment scattered out on the belt, when I heard a noise. An older lady, toting two baskets full of groceries, had moved my "Don't come down here" basket and was staring at me.
    via LabCat62
  • "Can you move that stuff off of the belt? I need to check out." "Ma'am," I said, "this lane is closed. I'm repairing it."
    via LabCat62
  • "Never mind that. I need you to check me out." "I can't do that. I'm not an employee here. This register is out of service." (At this point, I assume she's seen me in the store before, testing the register, and thinks I'm a member of staff.)
    via LabCat62
  • "Well, you're the only one with no line!" "... that's because this isn't a line, this register is broken. You'll have to check out with one of the cashiers down there; they'll be happy to assist you." I said, pointing to the other open checklanes.
    via LabCat62
  • She huffs at me and takes her baskets down towards the other open lanes. As she gets in front of a cashier, I see her gesturing in my direction angrily, waving her fingers. Next thing I hear is a page over the intercom: "Manager to Checklane 22, Customer Assistance."
    via LabCat62
  • The manager (who I knew quite well) came over. More finger pointing. More... whatever. He and she come over to the lane where I still am wrenching a very stubborn H-bar out of a scale so I can get to the weight cell.
    via LabCat62
  • "This lady?" the manager asks. "Yes! She refused to check me out. She had no line and she wouldn't move all that stuff out of the way." "The one not wearing <store>'s color shirt?"
    via LabCat62
  • "Yes! You need to fire her! I've never been treated so r ly in my life." "Lady," he said incredulously, "SHE DON'T WORK HERE!"
    via LabCat62
  • A female customer reads the product labeling while shopping at the grocery store.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Glittering-Data-8... That type of person will still not accept that they do not work there. They will still expect the manager to fire them. Telling the lady that they do not work there
    via LabCat62
  • doesn't matter in their mindset. Manager can either politely agree to fire them [sic] or tell the lady she is an idiot and ban her from the store. Either way the manager has to hear her whine for an intolerable amount of time.
    via LabCat62
  • pn2100001 As a former NCR field engineer, I can't tell you how many times this scenario has played out, almost verbatim...usually in a Walmart or Meijer. It was possible on any retail call
    via LabCat62
  • though, regardless of the store, especially around the holidays. People see a warm body behind the counter and will flock to you.
    via LabCat62
  • TheFluffiestReddi... "Lady, get out of my store and never come back. You're no longer welcome here. You wanted someone fired, well that person is you. You're fired." Ahh, I dream of good managers.
    via LabCat62
  • . pacifica333 23h ago Normalize firing customers.
    via LabCat62
  • NYC-WhWmn-ov50 . 7h ago Depending in the mood of the day, as another (old lady) customer watching this I would so very much walk over and scream in the lady's face, "SHE DOESNT WORK HERE TURN ON YOUR HEARING AID MORON!!!" Its would be very cathartic.
    via LabCat62

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

customer service repair idontworkherelady manager entitled people grocery store shoppers
Scroll Down For The Next Article