The older woman with short hair made me so uncomfortable to the point that I put my items back and left.
Full disclosure: my mother and I are probably not what you consider your typical Hallmark shopper. We have visible tattoos. Our accents may make us sound different. I understand.
I also understand keeping an eye on the customers. I understand loss prevention practices. I am a manager of a very successful store, so I get it. But never once have I literally followed customers around nor made them uncomfortable to the point of them putting merchandise back and leaving empty handed.
If you want to deter shoplifters, you ask them how they are, if they are looking for anything in particular, if they need help finding that special gift. You don't make the customer's feel as if they're doing something wrong by looking at the merchandise. You especially don't fart like an aggressive pig without having the decency of saying excuse me. Yeah, we heard you. Dont be so conspicuous next time.
Look lady, if you didn't want us in the store you could've asked us nicely to leave.
My mom and I went looking for a sweet & sentimental gift for my best friend's birthday (which happens to fall around Mother's Day. And pregnant with her first child!) So I wanted it to be special- money was no issue. Instead, the associate tried to nonchalantly follow us around the store. I tried to ignore it at first. I thought maybe I was overreacting. But I couldn't shake that creepy, "someone is watching you" feeling.
After checking out some merchandise around the store, I finally had enough. After the farting incident, I asked my mom if she felt like the woman was stalking us the entire time. She said yes, wasn't it obvious.
I do not like to be stalked while shopping.
I put the items back and we left empty handed.
Some customer service training is in order. If she was my employee, she would've immediately be let go. Between her unhelpful, rude actions and her disgusting lack of public decency, maybe it's best not to work in a public setting.
The short interaction I had with the young associate was great. Maybe the older lady should take note! read more