Guys and Gals,

I'm having a problem with a auto parts store in my area, don't want to slander it. Anyway the last 2 times I have been to this store a few of the employees have been following me and my friend around, well tonight we found out why!

They think were a bunch of petty theives. As we were leaving tonight some guy comes out and shouts out
him - 'How did you like X product' (forgot what it was)
me - huh what are you talking about?
him- you know what I'm talking about
me - no I don't
him- crate of X product that you were looking at and left the empty box.
me - huh?

With that he walked inside. So me and my friend go get my g/f in the car and go back in to solve this. We ask for a manage. While waiting the guy who accused us sees us and quickly tends to his work so he doesn't have to deal with a real confrontation. After a few minutes the manager comes over, and we explain that some of his employees think we stole stuff. He admits to hearing a little about it, so I explain we didn't do anything and since this is the only auto store close to my house I don't want bad terms with them. I then explain that I have worked for 7 years across the street in retail and I know how bad the shoplifting is in this area, and also since I was mad about the whole thing I told him I could knew more about shoplifters and lost prevention then his employees did. So during this whole conversation he is acting disintristed in it. So I introduced myself to him, and told him that if they don't want me in the store just tell me, if not don't follow me around and insult me like that. So we bid our ways and go.

The reason they think were thieves is I recently got a beater car so I'm always up there. Well one day me and my friend were reading through the different oil cleaners and engine flush stuff. I was wearing my leather jacket with gloves, and my friend is about 6'4" 260lbs and wears a leather trench coat. And I gaurantee that out of all the people in the store we stood out the most, so in there minds they find an empty box in the section were are in, were the first people that pop into there minds, meaning we did. I know the logic.

Now I know they falsely accused us, mostly based on appearence. They waited over a week to even confront us about it. They didn't care for our version of anything. And worst of all they caused a scene in a parking lot, which I was made to be the bad one. And I have worked to hard build up that 'good guy' image with alot of people.

And like I said, I've been in retail for 7 years. I knew that guy head a powertrip yelling at us when he was in the store and we were outside, and I knew he was surprised and scarred when we came back in. I know many loss prevent procedures, I know how to catch theives in a lie. Part of me feels that what goes around comes around, b/c I have made mistakes before. Difference is I handled the situation when it occured and admitted wrongness afterword.

So aside from not shopping there again what would you guys do? I'm tempted to have my friend that works and another in the chain call up and vouch for me, or even some of the part timers @ the store vouch for me. If thats not good enough, I can muster up a few detectives and patrol men.

This really sucks b/c now I have to drive well over 15 minutes for a decent auto store besides Walmart and K-mart.

Well thanks for reading all this, I think I just need to vent off a little more. The g/f has been venting all night and I haven't had a chance

 

theif! kiddn

yea what a pain in the ***, even if you do convince them it was not you it's still gona suck to go their. well for awhile.

 

If that's the only local parts place you don't have much choice. I really wouldn't worry about it. If they were so sure it was you and your friend, they wouldn't let you in the store.

If they continue to be idiots, remind them that accusing a person of a crime (in public and witnessed by others) is against the law. Many retail types and security bozos seem to think they are exempt from these laws..... they aren't.

 

Stop wearing trenchcoats!

No seriously, I wouldnt worry about it much. If you didnt take anything then they can think whatever they want.

 

Reminds me of when I was in the 7th grade. My art teacher accused me of throwing clay. I got PISSED. I started yelling and told her I was going to see the principal and left the room without permission. What she didn't know was the principal and my mom were bowling buddies. The art teacher never gave me a bit of trouble after that.

It turned out to be a self-taught lesson. Whenever accused of something, confront the person and never be afraid to rant and rave all the way to the top if you did nothing wrong.

 

If you really want to screw with the employee, get your buddy to go in with you again. You make sure the idiot is watching you closely. Pick up some item, especially something small and expensive. When he's not looking, stuff it on another shelf where they won't notice it right away and make some motions as though you were hiding it under your clothes. Now, walk out...

The guy should come running after you accusing you of stealing again.

What you do from then on is your decision.

 

Hiya captainoblivious, I'm sorry for misunderstanding that happened at the auto store but dont let it get you down. Having the experience that you have in retail and from what you read here you already know how important customer service is to the success of a business. If this undisclosed store truly suspected you of theft they really went about handling it the wrong way.

Dont bother trying to redeem yourself in their eyes. You seem to be an honest and upstanding individual, do you really care what those bumbling fools think of you?

I dont know what part of NJ you're in, but it's got to be worth the extra travel time to find a place where they'll treat you better. I have an R&S here in town that treats me ok but when I ask them for anything aside from the normal applications they look at me like a deer trapped inthe headlights. I found a few places on the way to work and back that will actually listen to what I want and they try to accomodate me. One of them is a NAPA store BTW.

Cut your losses and be done with them........good riddance and good luck in the future.

 

See thats kinda the problem. I don't care what those few employees think, but 1) they accused me and my friend in the parking lot, where people I recognized were present and 2) there are few people in the store that I'm, for lack of a better word acquatence (sp?) with like some of the cashiers and mechanics. The managers ignorance will reflect upon there attitude towards me.

Thanxs for all the replies guys.
Dennis that was funny and good.

LE PEW - If your interested, next sunday theres gonna be a meet up near Wayne, check in the Lightning section for a thread call St. Patricks day meet.

Nevermind here you go:https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=68412

 

Write the manager a letter. Of course, have his name and the name of the guy that 'called you out'. A personal letter get's attention.

Don't be 'nasty' but tell your side of it--in writing . Keep a copy for yourself. You are a good customer. You shop there and they need you--and your friends. The manager shouldn't want to anger his customers by employing stupid clerks.

Good luck,

Dan

 

You said you didn't want to mention the name but is it a chain store? If so, write the regional manager. If it's a locally owned one, forget about the manager and go for the owner.

I'd be quite PO when the manager seemed disinterested, he has a boss too!

 

you can walk in next time , go right up to the fool that acused you and ask for some help ... wander around the store with him asking stupid questions and basicly waste an hour or so of his time ... might be a fun way to waste a rainy day

 

i would like to tell you to go higher up the chain as previously mentioned, but i recently did this with a sporting goods chain. i quickly found out that the larger they are, and the higher up you go, the less you or your patronage matter to them.
don't waste your time. make the extra drive and be sure to tell as many people as possible why you are willing to drive so far not to use that store. you will get better resultes this way, word of mouth is still one of the best advertisements for a business.

 

wildchild - I know what your saying but I'm still going higher. The last retail job I had, the higher you went the better it was. If someone called our corporate office, it trickled down to the store manager. But I know other chain stores are not that good.

I decided I'm going to go back to the store, talk with the manager again. I will lay out proof that we are innocent and that they handled the situation all wrong and then tell them how they should have handled it. After that I will be contacting the corporate office and Regional Manager and suggest to them the store needs to be trained better in loss prevention issues.

Thanks again for all the advice, and all the laughs. Some of you guys are cruel

 

messin with these guys won't do nothin. You need to go to the top. Send a letter to the main offices.


-or throw a brick through the window. Whichever takes your fancy.

 

Just curious...What kind of "proof" could you offer them?