I was working my part time job today and had my very first experience with customers blatantly attempting to steal. I mean, I've found the empty containers that they've left behind after pocketing stuff (Henkel knives and even air freshener, for Pete's sake), but I've never seen someone just out-right LIE to the staff and try to steal.

This lady came in with her two daughters about half an hour or so before we closed. Didn't think much of it, just thought it was a little odd that they were just sitting in our little furniture section and not browsing or anything, but I was busy and didn't have time to pay closer attention. The most significant thing about them was that the kids were some of the most destructive brats we've had in.

Well, about 5 minutes before we closed, I noticed that she had one of my coworkers running ragged, trying to get stuff for her. A dining table from the back room, stools, felt pads, etc. They get up to the register, and my manager comes up to me. Apparently, the lady was trying to return a $300 Calphalon knife block set and get credit for it to buy the stuff she'd picked out, and he wanted to make sure that she hadn't just picked them up (usually, people try to return something as soon as they come in, or at least tell us that they will be returning something). I honestly hadn't noticed, I was too busy doing other stuff and hadn't paid much attention to her. So, we go look at the knives. What do we see? A nice hole in the knife block display. The chick hadn't even bothered to move the boxes around to make it look like the shelf was full.

To make matters worse, once she was found out, the lady then tried to pay with an expired credit card, then tried to get a store card (declined, not surprising). Then, of course, she said she didn't have her checkbook on her and left, leaving the dining table, stools, knife set, etc. at the register for me to put back for her.

I'm pretty sure she got away with at least one Yankee candle, though. Before I knew what she was doing, I'd filled several holes in our candle display, one of which was a candle that she'd failed to buy (and I don't think the ladies right behind her in line had candles).

omg where in MA? i had no idea.

the stealing is bad but wait until you catch someone masturbating in the asile.

Edited June 25, 200818 yr by Ariel

This is true about the masturbation thing...my first job was in a video store, and we had a guy that would always stand behind the big cardboard movie things and masturbate. YUCK!!!!

Yankee candles are expensive, but I think worth it. I don't think the scents can be beat. Luckily for me I live only 30-45 minutes from where they make the candles here in Massachusetts, so I can get to the "flag store" and check out the discounted items for a bargin!

OMG I've been there, it was the first time I ever experienced complete sensory overload!! Was driving my daughter to visit UMass and thought we'd make a quick detour on the way home. It was a real treat for anyone into YC, never made it to the factory but found the shop to be enough for me.

I didn't know where to start it was so much fun. Another fun place to go is Boyds Bears near Gettysburg! Nanook:smile:

I accidentally stole a bottle of Water from Babies R Us this weekend and didn't realize it until we were on the road. Now I'm paranoid to go back in there, even though it's something I know no one else even noticed. I accidentally steal stuff sometimes (e.g. something gets wedged under my purse in the shopping cart and I don't notice until I'm out of the store) and I usually feel too stupid to go back in and pay for it.

During early college I worked at a music store. A kid came in to buy a tape, I didn't see a parent with him. No big deal. Except the kid was trying to buy a "parental advisory" labeled tape, and one of my co-workers had just gotten in trouble for selling one of those to a minor. That co-worker and I were on opposite registers, and I didn't want him to get in trouble again, so I called out to him, "Watch the tape that kid has" meaning for him to pay attention and see the label. he didn't hear me, so I called it out again. Next thing I know the kid's mother is in my face yelling at me about how her son is NOT a thief, and I should quit yelling out to everyone that they need to watch the tape because her son is trying to steal it. That was so far from what I had meant that I didn't even put 2+2 together until she had stormed out of the store with her son in tow.

I hate the way that some stores are starting to require you to produce your receipt to leave the store, even if you don't trigger the sensor. Sam's Club is an example, and so is Wal-Mart if you try to leave via a side exit (e.g. garden department even if you checked out at the garden register). Sometimes I absent-mindedly shove the receipt into a pocket or down in my wallet and can't find it when they want it. I've actually had a store try and retain me "for investigation" when I couldn't find my receipt, even though the cashier verified she had just rung me up.

It's all craziness I tell you.

Legally they can't make you show the register unless it's a membership place. Lots of employees don't know that though and they'll make a big stink if they ask you for your receipt and you say No. But they are in the wrong and you shouldn't let them push you around.

Well I heard the Wal-Mart thing, they can't require you to stop and show your receipt. We have to EVERY SINGLE time, mostly because of the big dog food bag I think, that isn't bagged. But since reading that you're not required, my DH made a scene last time we went :tt1:

It's this little old asian lady, and she was hard to understand but she was at the door, hand out.. doing her job. And my husband goes "No, we don't have to" and he keeps going, and I'm standing there akwardly as she is chasing him out the door yelling something (I don't know what) so I give her the receipt even though he keeps going, and I finally yell at him to stop (before this poor lady kills herself chasing after him).

So.. required or not, they will chase you down!!! We wasted more time with him trying to avoid her, than if he just gave her the damn receipt.

lolololol i've been asked for my receipt when i had a worker taking a tv out on a cart with me walking out of walmart like i stole a tv wtf walmart makes me mad sometimes

i feel so guilty now, i think its my fault they check eveyone's receipt now. Once when i got the 40 lb dog food bag, i forgot to get the tag off it for the checker, and we got out to the car and when i went to get it off the cart, i was thinking i didnt get charged for it. I checked the receipt and sure enough, no charge. This is after spending more than an hour in the wal*mart, which is irritating in itself. I didn't go back in and pay for it. I know, i'm awful.

I used to work at a wal*mart too and my son works at one now! But its always such a hassle to do anything other than just buy your stuff. If you have to return something, or ask for help, omg, such a pain! If i ever need to return something, i end up giving it away, rather than deal with the hassle.

Now every time i go, whether for one item or a cartful, they check my receipt. I am so sorry to everyone.

But on the other hand, some businesses are so carefree about it. I.E. when i went through a terrible time with my oldest, he shoplifted from Sears, a pair of pants. I didn't know until we got home and he tried to convince me that while we were gone that his friend had broken into our house, left these pants for him, then locked the house back up. Well, Sears was closed by the time we got home, therefore we went back the next day. I asked to speak with the manager, and explained to him what happened. The manager asked to speak to me privately, and asked me what i wanted them to do. I told him I wanted him to do whatever it is that they do when they catch a shoplifter. He said they only call the parents and let the parents handle it. I explained to him that I thought he should call the police. (at wal*mart if you are caught shoplifting, besides the legal aspects, you are not allowed back in the store) The manager refused to do anything. I couldnt believe it. Here I was trying to explain to my son that what he did was illegal, yet, I felt that the store was saying, too bad you got caught.

When I was younger and dumber only about 3 years ago someone talked me into stealing something I got caught....it was in a claires store. They didnt just call my parents they didnt do that at all they called the cops and security guards and had them escourt me out anfd my ride left so I had to sit outside in the cold for 4 hours having no way home they told me to get off the property and to walk home which was a 30 minute DRIVE, finally i was able to call someone who could come pick me up. I was fined 150 bucks for a 6 dollar item I tried to take. Went to court and went to jail for a day.

This is true about the masturbation thing...my first job was in a video store, and we had a guy that would always stand behind the big cardboard movie things and masturbate. YUCK!!!!

I like the movies too, but that's taking it a bit far.

mmm masturbation LOL

Back to the candles mwhahaha...

Last night I bowled a 200, and the deal with me and DH is if I bowl a 200 I get a candle... told ya'll I love those things, and we go to cracker barrel after bowling every wednesday. They had the mango peach salsa ones on sale!! I liked it , bought it, and had TWO PEOPLE come by today and say 'Ew your office stinks' :blushing: :hurray: :party:

Guess I'm going back to buttercream.. they also had vanilla cupcake, maybe if I get another 200 next week I can get that.

I'm an incense junkie lol

mango peach salsa sound slike it would smell yummy

maybe it just sounds good to us cause we're food addicts? LOL

Yeah, the mango peach salsa smells good in the jar, but I personally don't like it when it's burning. It's one of the few candles I've thrown out before it totally burned down (I got a votive to try it).