Ok I hate to do this. But I had a really bad experience.
I was shopping with my bf and the second I walked in I felt like i was a criminal. We had just gotten to the mall and this was our first store.
My boyfriend said how he loves a pair of socks upon entering and I grabbed them because this is our first Christmas together after a horrible death on both sides of the family. We're excited to celebrate and be cheesy so I'm trying to get any gifts for him because he's the type of guy who "doesn't need anything"
While shopping I tried to hide from him I grabbed them and anything else he said he wanted but in the end the only thing while shopping he said he really cared for were the "cool socks" upfront. While shppping the employees are just doing their job, I've worked retail ten years. They're offering help but they're also not very slick. They're speaking out loud that they think I'm stealing the socks. Even shouting "we're good" up on the ladder when I held them out in plain sight to show I have them im buying them. Almost like an unspoken communication lol.
Now as someone who works retail, I see you was stocking the socks. 4 on each row, so why would I infront of her go to steal socks she JUST put up? While they're communicating out loud and counting them in front of me. I see it and I hear you. I actually at one point went to put the socks back bc I felt uncomfortable. Lol. I tried getting my husband to leave the store or shop in different corners because " I'm gonna get something" I sidnt want him to see him getting him the socks.
Here's where I did make a mistake I can admit and admites to the woman. I had a shopping bag completely empty and I put the sock in. I didn't have the bag completely closed and assumed they knew I was shopping with it as I went to open it to put something else in to carry. I had a huge shoulder purse and it made sense to me to carry things like that since this store didn't have a shipping cart. But I see where that went wrong in the scenario I'm in. I can't be that mad everyone's doing their job. The approach just made me feel horrible, and so did the second I came in.
As I'm hinting toward my husband about different bear paw I think they're called pink socks I want I'm telling him maybe they'll be cheaper at dicks. Hunting I want TV em when the worker turns the corner and tells me shes not kidding around give her the socks. So I handed her socks and tried telling her I'm not stealing like they've been implying since the second I touched them and I want to buy them (I had a gift card I wanted to use) and I even asked her about the sock sales earlier because I want to get him the socks. (Idk anyone who steals and would put so much attention on a item they're stealing)
She said to give her the socks in my other pockets. Where I dropped my two empty bags open took out all my pockets in my pants. She said jacket too and I showed her I had nothing.
She told me she won't call security and to just leave and wouldn't let me speak. It was a total misunderstandings but she wouldn't even let me explain it.
I totally understand these women are doing their job, I went to call after to explain sorry if I made them uncomfortable but when I tried to say I was uncomfortable too bc it was so hostile they hung up before I even got to that.
Now I'm just annoyed. My bf will not go back in that store which he loves for skate equipment. And now I'm just uncomfortable around there because why would I steal when they're talking out loud about me and counting infront of me idk it just felt so rude and in my ten years of retail I would never approach a cutter STILL SHOPPING in the store like that and kick them out.
It's just a shitty feeling from the start. It's nobodies business but we're people too. You're people doing your job but this was our first chrismas shopping trip in years, first store, first item after upgrading from a shelter to a home and it just ruined the whole day.
It would've been one thing to say it the next to kick us out and be so hostile then hangup.
In my opinion this isn't one of those something's being left out story. I don't think anyone trying to steal writes this out either, or tries to call back.
I understand the employees are doing their job and stealing can affect hours, pay, and it's their job to keep stealing down so the company makes money as zumiez does a yearly trip and bonuses on commission.
But next time maybe idk anything else.
Have a wonder holiday regardless. I just won't be returning. read more