Lost in IKEA and mad that I wouldn’t personally guide her out
For my birthday this year I decided I wanted to do a little shopping day out of town to get some stupid stuff (like special flavored oils or nice hand soap) just dumb stuff that brings joy I don’t normally splurge on. After shopping around all morning we decided to swing over to ikea to round off the day.
For context I am 24F wearing a multicolored tie dye patchwork overalls with a bright red sweater that says “I believe in Santa”. My partner is wearing jeans and a Hawaiian dadesq style shirt and a bucket hat.
Further context we have a shopping cart full of stuff and I am in the process of flipping through duvet covers.
This is when I hear a woman screaming “MISS!” repeatedly from a distance , becoming more agitated each time. Now try as I do to mind my own business, I was too tempted and looked up to see what all the hollering was for. I look up to find a woman across the main aisle leading through the store on the other side of the showroom beaming me down. She literally huffs at me before yelling from across the room (also FILLED with other people *including actual employees*) “HOW DO I GET TO MY CAR?!”
I have worked in customer service since the day I could legally get a job, I understand the public. I was feeling birthday kindness in my heart i chose peace, so I walked 2-3 feet closer so I was in the main aisle and said very kindly “There are actually arrows projected onto the ground on this path showing you the way through the showroom” I smile and pointed to the projection and the path they were on. I paused a second afterwards to make sure she understood, I then nodded, thumbs up and turned back to what I was doing. My partner and I to giggle about the transaction that should have ended there but I get interrupted again. “WELL WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANYWAYS. WHY CANT YOU JUST SHOW ME THE WAY?!”
That evil little chill hit me when you know there’s a problem customer you must deal with, my nervous system started going off and then a blissful calm swept over me. I was not an employee and I have free will. I now much more loudly and assertively say “I am NOT an employee here but I’m sure if you CAN ask kindly they would be happy to help you” and really thought this would be the end. Nope. She yells at me again to show her the way out and asks what I’m doing that’s so important completely disregarding what I just said.
My feathers are ruffled at this point, not just the banshee but the employees not coming in for an assist. I’m being squawked at over here no defense. I choose not to respond and just let her figure this one out, I was trying to savor my good vibes. She then begins her approach. Out of the corner of my eye I see her start jaunting over to us huffing with each hip sway, as she reached the main aisle dividing the room my partner unlike me, was ready to match her vibe. He shrieks at her “SHE…. DOES…. NOT….. WORK… HEREEE” I think well that’s uncomfortable but this definitely ends it she’ll be embarrassed, I’m embarrassed but nah “I just need to know how to get out of here and YOU won’t tell me”.
FINALLY I lock eyes with an employee I raise my arm in the air and point at Miss Thang infront of me and tell them she’ll be needing some help. THE LOOK this Gargamel woman gave me was almost worth the hollering. To make it better the employee said almost verbatim what I said to begin with.