I am not going to steal!!!

Valdosta, Georgia
February 29, 2012 11:26am CST
I went to the store the other day with my mom. One of the guys that worked there was following us all around the store and kept watching us! We got so mad he was doing that we left the store and did not give them our business! I would never steal! And I do not appreciate being treated that way. Have you had this experience before? Did you still give them your business? Did it make you mad too?
9 people like this
47 responses
• Ireland
29 Feb 12
I know exactly how you feel. Ever since the local Tesco opened up here a few years ago, both security guards would always watch or trail my boyfriend and I. I soon discovered that this was only happening when I was in with him, when I was on my own it was fine. We had a little laugh about it at first, but after a while it got very annoying. I have since made it my business to strike up conversation with one of them and this behaviour from him has since stopped. He will now always smile and greet us when he sees us. The other, older guy is still watching us, but not as intently as before. Sooner or later he's just going to have to realise we're just regular Joe & Jane Soap in doing our grocery shopping! I guess having a few tattoos makes you a criminal these days
3 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
It is totally wrong and unacceptable right? It is annoying and I for one will not give a store my business when they treat me that way. Besides the fact that it was just a little craft store. Like I need to steal anything there, not! I could not even talk to him I was so darn mad! Thats good that the one guy stopped doing that. You know that makes me mad too but people do think your "trouble" if you have tats or piercings...So stupid! I don't have any but my sister does and my husband does & they do get judged by it...
3 people like this
• Ireland
29 Feb 12
Well said LovingMyBabies, we're not trouble. We're nice people, honest! My fella has the added goatee and No. 0 shaved head to boot, so security guards seem to be making a habit of watching us. We went into one of the toy stores before Christmas (way back in September) to start buying our Christmas presents and the security guard there was constantly watching us. We got eyed up on the way in the door and watched throughout the shop. I found it so disrespectful!
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Feb 12
I would have turned around and said "Look, maybe you weren't trained properly. You're not doing anything but causing yourselves danger. NO I am not going to steal, what makes you think I look like I will? Now do you have a good reason to follow me around like that?" and when they just had a slack jaw... I'd say "I was trained to give the customer the best dang customer service money could buy, because THAT is the way to deter a thief. Leave me be, or do I need to talk to your manager?" Though if I was that mad, I'd probably just leave. I work for a grocery store, we are trained to give them GREAT customer service, be friendly and courteous and help the find things and most likely they'll find an excuse to leave or they will BUY something.
3 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
I wish I did say something now but we were so flipping mad that we just left. I would not have been very nice at all if I did open my mouth at the time. I have worked in retail before and we were taught to make sure we greet each customer so they know someone is there. If they were walking around a lot then we had to ask if they needed help just in case they were planning on stealing they knew someone was there and they would get caught if they tried it. We were never taught to follow people everywhere they went in the store though! Absolutely crazy to me! Very offensive, we will not be going back there ever...
4 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
29 Feb 12
No, and definitely not. I would not want to go back there either. We were taught not to follow around but if we saw it to approach and be kind about it. It's terrible customer service to do people like that.
@sharay (2769)
• India
29 Feb 12
oh yes...i have come across this situation many a times, mostly what i do is i prefer to go to shops where they dont do such things...if they do, i just walk away deliberate to let them know that we dont like such behaviour and sometimes i do ask them and their answer would be, it is not that we are watching you but just want to help you out if you would want to know about something (the products) and some also say, we cannot help it mam, we have orders to do so...i wonder how still many people go to such type of stores
2 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
I agree. I will not give them my business thats for sure! I was so mad that we just left. I wish I did say something to him but it would not be very nice and I hate to be that way. I do not understand why people would want to give them their business.
2 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
We were so mad we just left. I was too angry to say anything! I will never give them my business again. That is for sure. I don't know why some people still give stores their business that act this way...
1 person likes this
@joystick (1675)
29 Feb 12
That is the thing that I would have done.I would have said something to the person that was following you, before I left the store, as that way he would have got the hint, as well as been think twice.I have never had this done to me, also hope I never do.
3 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
I probably should have said something but we were so mad we just left and gave our business elsewhere. I hope it does not happen to you either!
2 people like this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
29 Feb 12
Oh it happens a lot in my country. :) Well, I know it's always annoying, but what can I say? Sometimes we can't trust people too, right? I mean, it's their job, it's their section. Of course we won't steal, but what about others? And he/she must take the responsibility of the lost goods. We're just the black sheep of those irresponsible people. Lol. If I feel too annoyed I usually decide not to buy anything or take what I need as fast as I can then pay and leave. :))
3 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
It is actually not their job to follow people around and basically accuse them of stealing. I have worked in a few stores and we were not taught to treat people that way. Not at all! I could maybe understand more if we were a group of children and they thought that because most kids do not have the money to buy things. But 2 grown women? Um no. Uncalled for and unacceptable! I will not give that store my business!
2 people like this
@vt689586 (584)
• India
29 Feb 12
this did not happens with me yet but it really very embarrassing if it will happens with me and i will not go to that store for anything.i can not imagine the scene when anyone following me on store just for checking whether i am stealing or not.and i warned that guy who is following me at that time to stay away from my eyes either it will be difficult for you
3 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Mar 12
Your lucky its never happened to you. Its annoying and disrespectful! I will not give them my business again. I was too angry to even say anything so we just left...
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Feb 12
hi lovingMy'Babies some securty guards at gold waters in Phonix used to do that to me. And I got so iritate3d I finally sadi'do you really think I am a thief and that I would be stupid enough to steal something wih securityright at my heels.;Look Mr. I am not a thief and I do not steat. I am here to find a dress that fits me,You wanna come in the dressisg room too to be sure I do not steal a dress ? otherwise I am not going t o shop here if you are that rude"I picked out the two or three dresses I w was interested in and went to an empty dressing room,the guard was right outside the door when I came out with the three dresses which I hung on the rack for dresses people did not want.I asked' him if he was now satisfied that I was not a thief.Then I went to the check out counter to pay the bill. He was still right behind me. I turned to him and handed him the dress.; you must check this out, as I might have hidden something in it. He turned red and left the store. the Clerk was still chuckling as I left the store. I never shopped there again. Other stores in Phoenix were not like that. they had surveillance cameras and I understood that but to follow someone around is stupid and unnerving too. I imagine a lot of people having been turned off shopping at places where they follow `you around non stop.
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Mar 12
I should have said something to him but I was too mad. Thats good that you did say something. There is no reason for them to do that to people. That is not the way to run a business. Good he should have felt embarrassed and left! I would not give them business again either! I am sure there are plenty of people who would not shop places because of this like you and I.
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Feb 12
I have never had store personell follow me all over the store. I would find another store to use. I would wonder what was going on.
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 12
I bet! No, I agree. They don't deserve you're business. I would talk to the manager of the store and see what the deal was.
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Mar 12
Your lucky its never happened to you. Its a terrible feeling! I won't be shopping there ever again. They do not deserve my business.
1 person likes this
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
29 Feb 12
I probably would have turn to the worker and told him or her to relax I'm not a thief, and it's a bit insulting that you automatically assume that I'm here to steal I would have made a purchase and stared the clerk straight in the eye while paying my money, but thankfully though I have never experienced such a thing yet though I have experienced other forms of discrimination it is annoying whenever it happens.
2 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Mar 12
Yeah I kick myself now for not saying anything. I was just so mad that all I wanted to do was to get out of there! It is very annoying that is for sure! My mother and I do not look like thieves...
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
1 Mar 12
I have experienced that situation, too. My mother and I visited a bookstore together, and the people who worked there constantly watched us and followed us around. My mother and I both felt very uncomfortable, it was obvious that they expected us to steal something and we would never do that. That part of the city has a bad reputation and shoplifting and other kinds of crime are common in that area. Maybe they have met many shoplifters and watched us carefully because they didn't want it to happen again, but I still don't find their behaviour okay. We did not feel comfortable in that shop and we left without buying anything.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Yeah it is really annoying and rude! It is a very uncomfortable feeling thats for sure. There is no reason to act that way. They lost our business, we will never go there again.
@MandaLee (3756)
• United States
29 Feb 12
How awful! I have never had that experience, but in that situation I would be mad. I would not give them my business either. Did you report the guy to the manager? Have a wonderful day!
2 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Feb 12
It was awful. That was the first time and hopefully the last that I was treated that way. We were very angry. We do not look like thieves or act like thieves. I would never steal. Unfortunately, I think he was the manager on shift that night because he was wearing something different than the other employees.
2 people like this
• Montreal, Quebec
1 Mar 12
I hate when this happens to me! You were with your mom they shouldn't still think that. If you were a group a teenagers then yes but not if you are with your mom?! I get this a lot, people following me in the store acting like they are doing something on the shelf when they are actually watching! It really annoys me. No I don't walk out because I am at the store to buy something, if you would walk in walk out then walk back in later you will look suspicious and of course they would follow you again.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Yeah its annoying and rude! I was with my mother! I could understand more like you said if we were a bunch of teens but were not! There was no reason for it at all. We walked out but were not planning on ever going there again.
@fayol727 (31)
1 Mar 12
Very embarrassing! this did not happen to me yet,but if time come that i can encounter same situation like that may i will not hesitate to ask him or worst thing to do i will not go back to that store/establishment anymore. it is so annoying that someone is following you with a suspicious looks even if we do not did anything/ steal from them.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Yeah its rude and annoying. We will not be going back there again because of how we were treated.
• United States
1 Mar 12
That's super annoying. Did he ask if you needed help or anything? I've noticed in my experience that people who work on commission are more likely to follow you around the store. Not everyone who works on commission does this mind you, when I did I certainly didn't trail my customers and bug the heck out of them the entire time. I personally would have asked to speak to manager. If it was a chain store, I would have asked for the corporate number if the manager was not helpful. I'm sorry that happened to you, I know how irritating it can be. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I once had a sales associate follow me around the store. It was really annoying and I asked to speak to the manager about it.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
He did not ask us anything which made me more angry because at least if he asked then thats his job. He said nothing and just followed us around! They are not working on commission. It was Michaels craft store. They get paid hourly. The guy looked like he was the manager. He had a different colored shirt than the others and a different name tag. It was super annoying. We were so mad we didn't even think about anything but leaving.
1 person likes this
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
1 Mar 12
Yes, I have had a similar experience! I went to a small shop and was a bit undecided, as I wanted to prepare a soup for my husband who was a bit sick. I was looking for some frozen meat, or chicken and kept going from a fridge to a shelve and went around the whole shop. The owner was at the cashier and he kept his eyes on me, but I was NOT planning to steal anything! I ended up buying packet soup, which was not really what I had in mind, but he also wanted to have a look at the bag I was carrying! That was the last time ever went to that shop!
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Its a terrible feeling and its very rude! See that is terrible what the cashier did to you too. I do not blame you for not going back. I will not be going back either.
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
1 Mar 12
That's really iritating, sometimes I just go out and I didn't continue my business inside even I want to shop. There are shop here in my place that have the same employee it's like your will get anything and they will follow whenever I will go. One time I got irritated you know what? I fooled her around I keep walking ang walking around the shelves I just thought she will get tired following me. after 5th turn she stop maybe she's been aware that I was making fun with her.
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
That is too funny that you kept walking around like that. Lol. We should have done that! I would have loved to have seen her face. It is super annoying and theiir missing the real thieves!
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
1 Mar 12
When I was a teenager a friend of mine and I would go to the local grocery store and she would shoplift. Because of that when I went with other friends who they and I would not be stealing this guy would follow us around. The one day he told me that we could not be in the store unless we were buying things. I turned to him and said do you not see she has things in her hands she is buying we have every right to be in here. He walked away but I was fuming. I wasnt the one shoplifting it was my friend and it made me look bad but I wasnt even with her this time when the guy was following me all over.
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
2 Mar 12
Did you tell the guy how offended you were by being followed around like you were a thief? I would make sure to have told him or write a letter to the manager and let them know that they have just lost a customer. I think them following you around without any reason acting like you were going to steal was really rude. I understand why you were upset.
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Yeah that really stinks when you get judged by what someone else does when your with them. I do not blame you for saying that, it would have annoyed me too! It is really rude when people act that way. I will not be giving them my business ever again. I have never stolen anything so it ticked me off.
1 person likes this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
1 Mar 12
Yes, in fact i have. My problem is 'family dollar'. First of all they fool people into believeing its a dollar store by having the word dollar in their name. Its not!!! The prices are comparable to the grocery stores and walmart. I was so excited when the store first open because its right across the street from me. Ok so my problem with them is my purse. Its a bag packstyle. Even if i go in with it on my shoulder instead of my back, they yell ou to me that i have to leave it at the cashier. There isa sign there that says you leave stuff there at your own risk. So i tell them,"this is my purse and im not leaving it anywhere." I also have a smaller backpack purse. I intentionally wore it in on my back and they didnt say a word. One day after i thought they were all knowing it was my purse i walked in there to pick up a bag of sugar. I had already stopped at another store earlier to get chips to snake on the way home. They tell me to leave the bag with reciept an mostly eaten chips at the cashier. I did then started to walk back to get the sugar. Sudden i thought why am i shopping in this palce while im constantly being accussed of stealing. So i turned around got my bag left that store and havent returned since that day. I also when on the internet and explained that whole thing to them. Theres a small convient store here too. I go there instead. Stuff is more expensive but im not treated like a criminal.
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
2 Mar 12
Ive had them follow me in michaels too. They come up to me and ask, "do you need any help?" im already checking out what i came for so i feel like asking them, "why do i LOOK lost?"
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
That is awful that family dollar acted that way! To me they should not treat people that way and you should not run a business that way either! I would not have left my bag up there either, someone could steal it. I do not blame you for not going there anymore. I would rather pay more and be treated better too. It was a Michaels craft store that did it to us.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
4 Mar 12
Well, I would have confronted them first off. Then I would have started a scene in the store. I would have made it known to everyone there they they treat their customers like thieves. And I would never go back there again.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
23 Jun 12
Well then, don't go to that store anymore and tell everyone you know about how they treat their customers. And you could also make a YouTube video and see if it goes viral and also write a blog about it. Let people know that they think everyone of their customers steal.
• Valdosta, Georgia
15 Jun 12
We were so mad, we probably would have gotten in big trouble if we said something because it would not have been nice... Yeah we should have. We left because we were so angry but we told the guy he should be watching the real thieves not us!
1 person likes this
• India
1 Mar 12
I think you should have complained to the manager of the store. I guess something was wrong with the guy. He could possibly be suffering from some form of mental condition.
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Mar 12
Um he looked like he was the manager! He had on a different colored shirt than the other employees and a different name tag!
• India
2 Mar 12
If I was in your place, I would have questioned the guy thoroughly, investigated what he was up to and why was he doing what he was, and if his answers did not satisfy me, I would have reported the matter to the police. I might have gone beyond and looked into his past behavior. I might have wanted to know if he was assigned the kind of job he was doing or he was doing it on his own. I might have asked the investigation to examine his behavior captured in the camera. I would have gone deep into the case and unearthed everything to my satisfaction. On the contrary your action of disappearing from the store has given the guy further encouragement to continue doing what he was. Was it your first visit? First encounter with the guy? If not, was this guy visible earlier? Did he behave in the same manner with you earlier? Does he do this with everyone, or did he target you? These are some of the questions that will get you nearer to the truth. Thanks
1 person likes this