‘Tell the wife’: Wild reason man keeps complaining to store owner

A young Aussie business owner has been left feeling “annoyed” because a man keeps walking into her store and saying the same thing.

A young Aussie business owner has revealed the bizarre reason why a man keeps walking into her store and complaining.

Sophie Bird, 31, owns three retail businesses, Tallow and Tide, Amilita and T & T Clean Surf Store.

Her business, Tallow and Tide, in Coffs Harbour on the north coast of NSW, sells clothing for women and children, but one man isn’t happy about it.

Ms Bird shared on social media that the unknown man has come into her store on three separate occasions and said the “exact same thing” every time.

The stranger will waltz in with his wife and while she’s browsing, he’ll start the same conversation with her.

Ms Bird said the guy is well-dressed and in his fifties, and he’ll moan that there’s “nothing here for men” even though she’s repeatedly told him her store is for women and children.

“Then he goes on to tell me how unfair it is that none of the shops he goes into with his wife have anything for men,” she said.

She said they’ve had the same chat three times now … three! Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

At this point she's over it. Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

Ms Bird said every single time he will complain that there is “not enough stuff” for men in most retail stores.

“I’ve literally had this conversation with this man so many times at this point. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to say,” she said.

She always reminds the man that her other store, Clean Surf Store, stocks styles for men, but he doesn’t want to hear it.

Ms Bird said she’s trying to be “chill” about the man’s continual complaints, but they are getting on her nerves.

Speaking to news.com.au Ms Bird said she has an inkling the man might be trying to get a “rise” out of her by saying the same thing every time.

“It is just this one guy. Everyone else just comes in and buys stuff for their wives just like normal,” she said.

“He could throw a stone and get an entire outfit for himself.”

She’s directed him to her store that does sell men’s clothes. Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

He has the same problem every single time. Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

Ms Bird said she’s not sure why he keeps saying the same thing to her.

She feels like he is doing it to get some kind of “reaction” from her which is frustrating because she’s just trying to run her store in peace.

“Is he expecting to hurt my feelings? I don’t exist just to please you,” she said.

“It is so annoying [but] after the third time, it is just funny now, he said on the way out of his store, like ‘I’ll just go to Bunnings,’” she recalled.

Ms Bird said she’d be thrilled for him to stop coming into her store, and go somewhere else – honestly anywhere else.

“Be my guest,” she joked.

People online were pretty stunned by the man’s brazen behaviour, with someone commenting that she should tell him to “get out” and another suggested she should tell him she doesn’t want his business.

Others were just perplexed by the behaviour.

“I’ve never once had the urge to go to a men’s store and complain that there is no women’s clothing,” one wrote.

“I mean the whole world has been created and built to cater for you isn’t that enough?” another asked.

“You need to tell the wife he can’t come in and put a bowl of water outside for him,” one joked.

She's worked hard to create a nice space. Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

People online were surprised by the customer’s attitude. Picture: TikTok/tallowandtide

The 31-year-old finds the man annoying because she’s worked so hard to create a welcoming and inviting space.

Ms Bird opened her first store in 2016 when she moved to Coffs Harbour. Realising there was “nowhere to shop”, she saw the gap in the market.

She wanted to create an environmentally conscious store where everything wasn’t “wrapped in plastic” and cost $5.

At the time, Ms Bird had no business experience, but she’d worked in retail since she was 14 and saw how much waste there was.

“I have a deep love for pretty things but I also didn’t want to hurt the environment,” she explained.

Ms Bird said it is “hard” work, especially in this “current economy where people are swinging back to buying really cheap stuff” to work in slow-fashion retail but it is also worth it.

“I’m never going to be a millionaire but I’m so fulfilled,” she said.

“We are filled with women-led brands, and often they’re stay-at-home mums or single mums, and I love that we can give them a platform and watch their business grow,” she said.

She’s also proud that she’s created three stores that are filled with “so much heart” and really mean something to the community, and she’s certainly not going to let one man ruin things.

“It is a connection point for the community,” she said.

Originally published as ‘Tell the wife’: Wild reason man keeps complaining to store owner