Store

[samantha_:p]

So I went to the store and I had a horrible encounter. So I was looking through the women's undergarments section and this older woman who was working for the store came up to me and asked if I was lost, I assumed her to be one of those people who can help you with what you are looking for. I told her I wasn't lost and She then proceeded to ask me if I needed help looking for something and I told her I knew what size my "girlfriend" was and that I could handle it. She started to walk away fast and said alright I'm gonna go call someone who can help you and I said to her no thats alright. She was walking really fast and she didn't even listen to me when I told her I needed no help. All I could think was I am completely screwed right now, I somehow knew she was calling security so I decided to book it. I got out and next thing I know I see a mall security officer going up the escalatoy to the empty section of the SEARS store I was in. I don't even know what to say to this, I was dressed male and I have NEVER and would NEVER consider shoplifting, and thats the only thing that would make her want to call security... Kinda weird any ideas? Isn't this against store policy?

[Glenda58]

Why run I would have stay and shop you had nothing to run from you are a customer. I would have called her supervisor and got her told off. If you run it looks like you are guilty.

[crossing-the-rain]

If you decided to go ,why ran away,you are the customer ,besides you're not dress like a woman..
Rain

[krisinpink]

I'd say she musta' had somethig stuck in-her sideways that day! If you were totally drab, and said you needed no assistance, you were 100% in the green baby! I think you must have just encountered one of the very small percentage of hostile store clerks out there. I'd say if you wanted to persue it, you have a legitimate beef to post with the store...thats your call and may not be worth the effort.

Your story reminds me of an event I experineced a couple years back..I was driving a very long way back toward home, drab driving North through Missouri when I just couldn't take it anymore, and HAD to buy a new pair of pumps for the rest of the drive. I wandered into a Wally-World, and was looking over the selections in my size (11) when a clerk matching the description of the clerk you had a nasty encounter with, was kinda bustin' my chops about what I was looking for. I felt a similar scare as you, and once she started to move away, I snapped up a pair of fushia pumps and bolted for the safety of the checkouts!! I guess I was just sure the Missouri thugs were 'gonna get me' that day. Oh well, sometimes I guess sometimes we all get a little spooked!!

[samantha_:p]

I really don't have a ton of courage yet when it comes to shopping and stuff, and I know I hafta work on that but right now, but in the end I did not want to end up with a confrontation on my hands.

[klyde]

I don't get it you were shopping why did you run away? Why even leave the department?

[DonnaT]

Now's the best time to confront your fears and shopping assistants like her.

Just mention:


It's Christmas and I can't shop for lingerie for a girlfriend? Really!

Please bring your manager here so we can discuss it.


Or leave the section and go to the office and ask to speak to the manager there.

[McLegs]

Don't get discouraged. Department stores will hire just about anyone. I work for J C Penney & believe me, breathing is the only requirement for employment. Personality IS NOT. Just as in life on the street there are always a few lemons. I've shopped the lingerie dept. & panicked when I had to search thru the hanging panties for the right size. No grab & go this trip. Sales girl smiled & walked on by. Waited near busy register, no odd looks & even asked another girl on the floor if I could pay for these. Got her to ring me up. Made a comment about nice choices. Told her red was my color, laughed it off. So just remember there are some really nice sales people out there. Unfortunately you got one of the losers. Blow it off & try again.

Hugs,
Michelle

[Thora]

I've known a couple young women who worked at a Victoria's Secret. They have problems with men who come in and pawn over the merchandise. These clothing fetishist males scare the sales staff. You were probably mistaken for one of them. That is only a tiny defense of the saleswoman. As all the other posts seem to agree, stand your ground. Show that you are an honest to goodness customer and not just there to abuse the merchandise. Better yet, buy something. Nothing turns a salesperson to positive attitude like a sale.

Then go talk to the manager...

[Naomi]

I really don't have a ton of courage yet when it comes to shopping and stuff, and I know I hafta work on that but right now, but in the end I did not want to end up with a confrontation on my hands.

your not alone regards to courage when shopping for girly stuff, Just today infact when i was doing my grocery shopping a brought some stick on nails, some more make-up a new pair of tights(pantyhose) when coming to pay the lip liner pencil didnt have a bar code to scan, so the till girl, had to get a price check. she didnt batt an eyelid, and i much to my surprise didnt feel any embarrasement.

[kathy gg]

This lady sounds like a real *bitch*. She obviously thought you were going to do something gross.

I know it is hard to gather courage to buy what you need. But you had as much right to be there shopping as any gg would. And I think it was wise of you to use the *girlfriend* excuse, but something tells me your delivery of that is what made her freak out. Men shopping for girlfriends is only believable when it is said with confidence.

Which means you are going to have to work big time on your confidence.

She jumped the gun. When she was getting strange, you shoudl have asked to speak to a manager. If stores are going to call security on a customer browsing half the mall population would be escorted out. So she was in the wrong.

BUT WHEN YOU RAN AWAY.....you then confirmed her fear. She thought you were suspicious, and her suspicions got confirmed by you jetting out.

Please please try to muster up the strength to get vocal if this happens again.

[StayceeCD]

I probably would have done the same thing. Although I know I have every right to be there, and could have used the wife / girfriend excuse. I still don't have the courage needed to buy at regular retail shops for myself. :( Usually it's online or a TG shop. Only once in a grocery store did I muster up a bit of courage and buy lipstick and mascara, and even then I went to the self checkout. But, There it was on the screen for all to see.. Seemed to me to be screaming the word.. COSMETICS!!!!!!! :eek: I know it is an irrational fear. After all, what could happen? Nobody's going to bite you. The worst would probably be weird looks, but so what!! Probably never see these people again anyway!! Christmas certainly is the best time if you can get up the courage. I'm sure it gets easier the more you do it..

[susiegrl19]

I can't stand people like that sales lady. You should have stood your ground and said: Why yes I do need help and held the panties up to your waste and said "Do You think these would look good on me" I bet that would have shut her up.

[Michellebej]

Loss Preventions type, that is!

I spent Twelve years in Loss Prevention, or what you might call store security. I ended up as a Regional Manager on the west coast for one of the major retailers.

First; you did nothing wrong. My lord if we arrested every nervous customer we wouldn't have any cliental left!

Second; there are very strict rules concerning potential shoplifters. This is to keep US from being sued. And; it is to keep our public appearance a positive one. If we arrested every nervous SO that was trying to buy his wife or girlfriend some lingerie, no one would ever shop there again.

We have to actually see them conceal the merchandise and leave the store making no atttempt to pay for it. Now; I know that various retailers, especially in the midwest have signage that says that concealing by itself is shoplifting, but; that is a scam. What happenes is that the fine you would pay for the "shoplifting" is less than what you would pay for a lawyer to defend you. For a short while I worked in the midwest for one of those chains. I didn't like the policy but; it was set by higher authority. Usually when we got a letter from the lawyer we backed down. Once we got sued and lost an amount of money I can't disclose, but it is safe to say that the person involved never had to buy another lottery ticket again.

Sorry for the meander. As a trained Professional I would never make a scene because someone was simply shopping. If you feel intimadated by a clerk then by all means call for management. It makes you look that much more legitimate!

Love

Michelle