That sounds like an unpleasant experience. (And honestly, you'd probably be happy if everyone here just responded with sympathy for your unpleasant experience.

That sounds like an unpleasant experience. (And honestly, you'd probably be happy if everyone here just responded with sympathy for your unpleasant experience.) But if you really sincerely want to explore this, then you should at least consider the other scenario: that you go back and buy flowers, and they're taken aback. They know they were rude to you, and they also know that you came back and gave them a second chance anyways. Theoretically, that could also be a humbling experience for them that also teaches them a lesson... I just think about that old saying that everyone you meet is in the middle of fighting a battle. (Off the top of my head: someone they know may have just died. Or they may know that their business is doomed, and this is their last week before they have to pack up...) Er, this is assuming that the person selling the flowers is the same person who owns the business. Another option is sort of the "anger management" technique. You go back later, at a nice neutral time when you're in a good place and hopefully they are too, and you try to have a friendly, non-confrontational conversation about it. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you. Not jumping on you, but I was in here the other day and you seemed really upset with me. Maybe we could talk about it a little...?" But I guess the real truth is, this situation will probably take care of itself. I just remember two different people at a company where I worked who started being snippy to people out of the blue -- and it turns out they were in the midst of leaving the company. People tend to be rude when they're mentally already halfway out the door (so they know that it doesn't matter)...