Warning to those in Knoxville: Just For You - The Stockroom accuses shoppers of shoplifting (& right in the middle of the store in front of everyone).
I went in today for the first time (it's a local boutique). When I first came in the store I was greeted & immediately the girl comes to me & asks if I'm browsing or need anything in particular. I said "just browsing, thank you." She was friendly & said ok to let her know if I needed anything. I shopped & found several shirts & she came back & offered to take them into a room for me. That's fine. I'm not someone who cares to be watched like a hawk while I shop but a lot of boutiques do this because I think they think it both deters theft & also they think it's good customer service. So she took my items, I looked a little more & had a couple more shirts so she came & took those too. I said ok I'm actually ready so she led me to the room for me. Tried my clothes on, picked some & didn't like some others but I left them all in the fitting room. She (a different lady now, who I later learn is one of the owners) says I'll go ahead & take the ones you liked up front for when you're ready to check out. I said ok, I'm just gonna look a little more. So I picked up a pair of pants & went toward the fitting room. All of the employees were gathered in a circle laughing & talking & I don't like asking for help, I'd rather be left alone unless I need help. So I went into the room I thought was for me, like I do anywhere else I've ever shopped. After about 30 or so seconds, I hear a woman come up & say "how many items did you have?" I replied "just one". She replies in a clearly annoyed tone, "ok, next time you need to make sure you get an employee first so they can see your items." I just said ok.
At this point my heart is racing & I'm angry. Despite the clothes I really liked & wanted that were up front, I'm not going to put up with that & support a business that makes customers feel like they're acting suspiciously. I get my things together, fold the pants neatly & leave them on the stool in the fitting room & open the curtain to leave. I purposely opened the curtain all the way so it was clear my one item was there. Not to mention I'd left all my other items there before. I start to walk to the door & I also purposely walk by the register so it's clear I'm not hiding anything. The woman confronts me & loudly says, "WHERE are your items?!" I replied "on the stool". She says, "No! They're not!" I said YES they are, thanks! & I walked out to my car.
I get to my car & I call because I'm insulted, embarrassed & angry. I ask for a manager or owner & guess who comes to the phone? The lovely woman who publicly accused me of shoplifting. She obviously couldn't have cared less & felt she did nothing wrong. So, shop at your own risk at this store! read more