Almost Lost my Purse in Big Lots Today!

United States
December 14, 2007 2:09pm CST
We headed for the stores today and managed to put a major dent in the Christmas shopping. When at a Big Lots store, I was looking at some MP3 player accessories and had to put my basket and purse down in order to reach over the boxes that lined that aisle. Unknowingly, I walked off without my purse. My husband and I were in the last aisle of the store when two store clerks were heading our way and said that she was looking for someone named Sarina. I turned and faced them with a curious look on my face. I wondered how they knew my name. I told them that my name was indeed Sarina and she smiled and looked at her coworker and said "that didn't take long" as she handed me my purse. Well, needless to say, my jaw dropped wide open. I thanked her and gave her a big hug. She smiled and wished me a Merry Christmas. As the to clerks rounded the corner of the aisle and disappeared I looked at my husband as he said that if it had happened in Walmart the purse would have been long gone. I was kicking myself for being so careless and trying to remember where I left the purse. It wasn't until we left the store that it came back to me. At the next store I put my purse strap over my neck and carried it under my left arm. It wasn't very comfortable, but it was safe. I am ever grateful to the clerks who returned my purse.
4 people like this
11 responses
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
14 Dec 07
That was very nice of that clerk to look out for you and your purse. I haven't went into Big Lots for awhile but it is nice to know that they looked out for you today and you are so right about Walmart as small as my town is that place is crazy right now. I hated to work there and deal with it.
• United States
15 Dec 07
Geez, after reading this again I realized that I was at Big Lots prior to this. I was at The Dollar Tree when I nearly lost my purse. What a blonde!
• United States
14 Dec 07
dear elusivebutterfly...i am so happy for you, friend...and you are right to keep you purse straps around your neck from now on, though i did see another discussion on mylot where a mother at fisherman's warf in sanfrancisco had her purse straps cut with a knife or razor and her purse stolen like that in a crowd..but i still think it's the best way to carry a pocketbook, for sure..and your karma is good for sure, so your holidays should be awesome..take care, stanzi
2 people like this
• United States
15 Dec 07
I've tried to carry a small wallet to hold money etc, but it was easier to put it down than the purse.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
14 Dec 07
Boy, you were lucky!! I am glad you had some honest people there. I have started taking a cart and seatbelt it in. That way if someone tries to grab it, they won't be going too far. I am glad it was a good turnout.
2 people like this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
14 Dec 07
Hi ElusiveButterfly, It's nice to hear a 'real life Christmas story' with a happy ending. What a wonderful thing for those clerks to do. I know there are still lots of honest people in the world, but it's good to hear an example like this. It would've been a horrible shock for you, if you'd have found your purse gone, etc. etc. Take care.
• United States
15 Dec 07
I am still in shock that the purse was returned to me.
1 person likes this
• Canada
15 Dec 07
I would be too, but it's really wonderful, just the same.:)
@wrongway (277)
• United States
15 Dec 07
You were very lucky especially at this time of year. Kudo's to the clerks for being so honest and caring.
1 person likes this
@nichole1983 (1187)
• Canada
15 Dec 07
thats why i dont carry a purse anymore... i hear all these stories of ppl being so careless... not saying that you were... but a little you were.. you should of never put your purse down... if your going to carry a purse... and you have a jacket over top put it under the jacket that way you wont have anyone try to nab it or put it down anywhere either.. if you are going out shopping.. do you really need everything that is in your purse... i usually just carry my wallet.. i have inside pockets in all of my jackets... another thing that i notice ppl using are hip sashes.. something you can put around your waist and you can put your money and cards in that as well..
@GardenGerty (157494)
• United States
15 Dec 07
That is scary, especially at this time of the year. I have gotten to putting my cash, and ID in a small pouch that has a wrist strap. Either that or it goes into my pocket. My problem with purses is that I keep getting bigger ones, and they keep getting heavier, and then I do put them down and lose them somewhere. I am so glad that you were in a small enough store that the clerks would feel responsible to actually look for you. At WalMart they would put it in lost and found, if a clerk found it. If someone dishonest found it, it certainly would be long gone. That is very sad to think about. This is much happier.
• United States
18 Dec 07
I'm so glad the clerks found it and then found you in the store to give it back to you. I agree with your husband--if that would have been walmart then it would probably be gone. I know you were so thankful when it was returned to you.
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
18 Dec 07
HI EB!! I am so glad you got your purse back!I have lost mine before and that is such a terrible thing to happen. It was very good of the cashiers to come find you. Good thing a customer didn't find it, you may not have gotten it back. It is SOOO easy to just lie your purse down and forget that you have done so. I left mine hanging on a chair in Subway one time. Thank goodness I remembered it a few moments later and it was still there. I had a LOT of money in there from our Girl Scout cookie sales and I could never had replaced that money!
@aleeming1 (163)
• Canada
15 Dec 07
I think that I would cry if I ever lost my purse. I could care less about the money that would be in there. But all my things important are in their like my birth certificate and stuff. If I had lost my purse or if someone stole from it I would rather have them just take the money and leave everything else. But I almost misplaced my purse at Gatwick Airport in London. That was a freaky day.
• China
15 Dec 07
You are very lucky really! But i am not!Because i have happened the case as yours , but I didn' t find the my lovely purse ! 55555555555555