I work about 2 blocks away from the Gig Harbor branch of Harbor Greens and have been inside the store multiple times. Some days I've made purchases; other times I've just browsed. My most recent purchase at this store was yesterday morning.
Most times I've visited, I've carried a small canvas tote bag with me (about the size of a book bag). I sometimes use this as a shopping bag; my main reason for having it with me, though, is to carry things to work (beverages, snacks, or whatever I might need). See, I carpool to work and I'm sometimes dropped off early; on these days, I've made a habit of getting a tea or coffee at MarKee next door, then perusing Harbor Greens before heading to my office.
At no time during any of my visits did an employee EVER mention my small tote bag to me, nor have I ever noticed any sign about not carrying bags inside.
***
This morning, after my usual beverage at MarKee, I walked as per usual over to Harbor Greens; I was looking for little candies or gifts to distribute in these stockings we have at my office. I didn't really see anything that looked right (or rather, that wasn't overpriced), so I left without making any purchases.
I'd walked about 2 blocks, when I noticed two gentleman step outside of a vehicle parked at the real estate agent's office across from my work building. The men called out "Excuse me, ma'am" (or something to that effect). I thought that they must need directions or something, so I stopped. The men told me that they were from Harbor Greens. My first thought was that they were going to take some sort of survey.
I was just about to reply "Oh, I was just there!" when I found out that ... these two men already knew.
Instead of taking a survey, or asking me if I'd witnessed some incident there (another fleeting thought), the men wanted to know if I had a receipt from my trip there this morning. Apparently, they'd gotten into their car and creepily FOLLOWED ME after I left the store to head for work!
I told the men I hadn't bought anything. They didn't look happy to hear this. They told me that some other Harbor Greens employee had noticed me come in "with an empty bag", then leave.
It was obvious what the men were implying at this point, so I offered to let them see inside my tote bag. I held it open for them, and they peered inside. When the two men didn't see any stolen merchandise, they apologized profusely, then got back inside their car and I moved on.
***
As a repeat customer, let's just say I was left VERY disturbed by this incident. Yes, I understand that stores have to take measures to prevent shoplifting.
But other than carrying a shopping bag-sized tote bag into the store -- the very same bag I've carried inside there at least 15 times, and have basically DISPLAYED to cashiers while in the process of making purchases (none of whom ever said a word about me carrying it) -- I did *nothing* that should have made anybody inside suspect that I was a shoplifter.
(For heaven's sake, I'd made a $10+ purchase, carrying the same bag, a mere 24 hours before!)
***
I might have been more understanding (albeit very annoyed) if somebody had stopped me *inside* the store, or at least in the parking lot or something (and questioned me in PRIVATE).
Instead, I'm rather horrified by what actually happened -- that two men I'd never seen before in my life (but who were apparently eerily watching me as I browsed their store) got into a car and followed me down the street before stopping and questioning me. Is this even legal?!
What if I hadn't made eye contact with the men, or if I'd ignored them when they called out? Would they have followed me inside my work building and questioned me there?
It was embarrassing enough to be stopped in the middle of the sidewalk (one which cars are frequently zooming past); I can't even imagine how humiliating it would have been to be questioned at work -- all for the horrendous crime of carrying the same small bag I've carried inside the store over a dozen times, and not purchasing anything (this time) to put inside it.
***
While the two men weren't aggressive in their questioning, and while they did apologize -- there is no way in heck that I will EVER feel comfortable setting foot inside a Harbor Greens again. This includes both the Gig Harbor and Tacoma branches. I'd be too afraid that the employees would be secretly eyeing me while I shopped; and even more afraid that they'd get into another car and follow me again if I decided not to buy something!
I'm disappointed (as well as embarrassed and annoyed) because until this morning, I actually liked this store. Yes, it's overpriced, but it has some interesting foods and cute Christmas stuff.
But yesterday morning's purchase there was my last.
At least I can walk into Safeway or Fred Meyer and feel fairly confident that nobody will get in a car and follow me, or question me in the middle of a sidewalk two blocks away, if I leave without making a purchase read more