# Minor pit: Are men not allowed to buy sheets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493 "2012-08-05T05:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/41 "2012-08-05T18:18:56Z")
wait until mid October to buy sheets and you won’t have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/42 "2012-08-05T18:31:19Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > wait until mid October to buy sheets and you won’t have a problem. Better yet, keep taking white ones to the clerk and asking if they have any w/ the eye holes already cut out. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/43 "2012-08-05T18:55:56Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > God damn it! I’m just a pathetic single man with no woman to help me with these complicated linens of Satan. And I’m sick and tired of sleeping on 20 year old sheets stained with cheetos dust, spilt beer, gallons of semen, and tears of despair. Yes, I know these fucking sheets with the unicorns don’t match up with the plaid pillow cases but I don’t give a shit. Just ring me up bitch! > [@wolfman](#): > > That’s why I shop for my sheets online. I don’t have to worry about the prying eyes of the public. They show up in a discreet brown box that says ‘Not sheets’. Not one of my neighbors knows of my sick fetish for covering my man mattress. What are all the cool kids saying these days to mean “Oh my god, you made me laugh so hard!” beause you did. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/44 "2012-08-05T18:56:47Z")
Unless maybe you were unknowingly ripping nasty farts he entire time, I don’t understand. Although I know a woman who came to the US from Cuba years ago. The first time she shopped for linens, she was given a nasty look. She told the clerk she needed “sheets”. She pronounced it “shits”. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/45 "2012-08-05T20:14:07Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Not in Bed,Bath, and Beyond Redemption it isn’t 🙂 Buddy, these sheets’ll take you places that Jesus won’t go. Think I’ll head over to BBB and see if I can stir up a ruckus. I’ll post the minute I get back. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/46 "2012-08-05T20:44:06Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Buddy, these sheets’ll take you places that Jesus won’t go. > Think I’ll head over to BBB and see if I can stir up a ruckus. I’ll post the minute I get back. Make sure to ask for the Martha Stewart “Holy Roller” series of bedsheets (with stain guard 5000 of course). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/47 "2012-08-05T20:58:44Z")
That’s bizarre. Still, my first thought was that single men don’t buy housewares at Macy’s. They go to Target, Walmart, Kmart or some other discount store. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is also okay. But Macy’s housewares in my mind is for wedding registries and affluent stay-at-home spouses. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/48 "2012-08-05T21:05:16Z")
Earlier this year I realized that I really needed new sheets when it occurred to me that my then wife bought the ones that I had and my divorce was six years prior. I decided to treat myself to some nice ones and went to Nordstrom. They were pricey but they are damn nice sheets. The sales lady couldn’t have been nicer. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/49 "2012-08-05T21:16:44Z")
Did you wear a full length leather coat or a large rain coat? Then it must be just bad luck, of course maybe this happens to me and I just don’t notice, what do I care what silly people are doing while I shop? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/50 "2012-08-05T21:19:30Z")
I don’t understand this at all. Why did you buy the sheets? Why didn’y you say “You’re right, I don’t need these sheets” and walk away? Or (even better) make her do a return? > [@Taomist](#): > > Ok, now I’ve gotta come up with a dozen reasons why a man might want to buy a sleep mask with unicorns and ribbons, don’t I? At least let me wake up first, mmkay? Does it comes with handcuffs with hot-pink boa feathers? > [@Acsenray](#): > > That’s bizarre. Still, my first thought was that single men don’t buy housewares at Macy’s. They go to Target, Walmart, Kmart or some other discount store. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is also okay. But Macy’s housewares in my mind is for wedding registries and affluent stay-at-home spouses. Macy’s has good merchandise and great sales. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/51 "2012-08-05T21:36:48Z")
This reminds me of an experience I had. In the USA I am very comfortable around parts stores, auto parts stores, hardware stores you name it I could be assured that even if a incredulous clerk approached me my requests would assure them I was in the know enough to be part of the tribe. I once went in to one place with my mom in the early teens, the male clerk TALKED PAST her to me! Even though she was the one that requested the part, he simply could not bring himself to talk to a …a…woman! Anyway fast forward to me living in Trinidad, and our fridge kicks the bucket. Knowing that often it is simply the start relay that is blown and needs replacing which is a simple job for the mechanically inclined I went to the local appliance parts store. On entering the clerks are already acting funny, no problem I think of course my request will assuage them. It did not! They literally told me I should just have it professionally repaired, you don’t want to mess with start relays there is like dangerous electricity and shit. OMG are you handling me?! Are you treating me like a woman!? WTF just because I’m white and foreign, I’ll have you know!!! Anyway yea clerks can definitely be some prejudiced mo fos. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/52 "2012-08-05T23:47:31Z")
Huh. Never experienced it. In fact I bought my latest all-in-one bedlinens set at Macy’s (I had a discount card), and there were no issues whatever. Though the associate who rang me out _was_ a fellow male. That was a very strange incident. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/53 "2012-08-06T00:51:57Z")
Last time I bought sheets at Bed Bath Beyond they only had them for the thick mattresses that are such a fad right now. :mad: I hate those bloated 20 inch thick mattresses. I had a heck of a time finding a fitted sheet for a standard 20 yr old mattress. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/54 "2012-08-06T02:13:26Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Macy’s has good merchandise and great sales. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s not where one expects a single man to buy housewares. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/55 "2012-08-06T02:55:50Z")
Waitaminnit. OP tells us that the first (older) clerk glared at him, and the other shoppers and their kids glared at him. And he tells us that the cash registers clerk asked a lot of stupid and inappropriate prying questions, but he doesn’t mention if she also glared at him. This could be a significant detail! Was the cash register clerk anywhere near your own age? Maybe by asking those prying questions, she was attempting (clumsily, to be sure) to ascertain your… availability! She was hitting on you, dude! Possible? Maybe? (ETA: Srsly, kinda-sorta. I never woulda thunk to ask a female cash register clerk similar prying questions to determine her availability, but I saw it suggested many years ago. IIRC, it was suggested in the book “How To Find And Fascinate a Mistress” by “M”.) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/56 "2012-08-06T03:39:42Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > This experience is also terrible, though. It doesn’t matter if their only masks were pink with lace and bows and unicorns \. But that was still totally clueless and rude on her part. Maybe she felt all the sleep masks they carried were of poor quality and thought she was doing customers a favor by warning them away. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/57 "2012-08-06T03:59:28Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Maybe she felt all the sleep masks they carried were of poor quality and thought she was doing customers a favor by warning them away. I spent my 7 months of working at Blockbuster doing this exact thing w/ the Woody Harrelson movie, ‘Kingpin’ and couples on a date. “Put that down and just walk away. Go get another movie, I think there’s a copy of ‘Chasing Amy’ or ‘Army of Darkness’ out there. Here, I’ll pay for it myself.” ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/58 "2012-08-06T04:10:31Z")
Are you sure you weren’t “accidentally” in the Lingerie department? ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/59 "2012-08-06T06:24:50Z")
LOL, this thread ended up getting way more replies than I expected. Look, I was wearing my nicest trenchcoat and was only masturbating in-store a **LITTLE BIT**! …kidding. Seriously, I don’t believe I’m a creepy looking guy. At the time I was wearing boat shoes, khaki shorts, a button-down short-sleeve shirt (with undershirt.) I’m early 30s, professionally employed, and if anything a bit nerdy looking (big chunky glasses.) No tattoos, no piercings. None of my female friends (most of whom have children) have ever told me “Hey, guy, you give a creepy vibe” or anything to that manner. This was a minor pit in that, yeah, I feel a bit uneasy when as a single man I shop places that normally only a woman, or a couple would shop. This particular place (“bed/bath” in a department store) was a bit worse than usual in that they all viewed me with suspicion. On the plus side, I broke in the new bedding last night. The new sheets are nice; the new pillows are **heaven**. So nice not to have to lay my head on a lumpy, busted old pillow. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493/60 "2012-08-06T10:46:16Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > On the plus side, I broke in the new bedding last night. TMI, dude! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-pit-are-men-not-allowed-to-buy-sheets/630493.md?page=4)