bad experience at the convenience store

[Lorelei Lee]

I can understand your frustration at being followed around, OP. It happened to me once at Dillards.

I took 4 or 5 8th grade boys with me to the mall to find clothes for their 8th grade graduation. When we went into the men's department, one of the sales people started following (not asking if he could help us, just following). The boys were sort of walking beside and behind me so I am not sure the guy could see me (the boys all towered over me) but it still bothered me.

He then continued to follow us all the way through the store and to the door to the mall. When we got to the door, I stopped, turned around and said something to him.

I asked me exactly why did he think he needed to follow us. He tried to say he thought we needed help. "oh, so you can help me with the lingerie dept. you followed us past, or maybe you know something about make up"? He apologized.


I don't have an issue with any store personnel or security watching for theft, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it and when you are insulting customers or making them uncomfortable then the way its being done needs to change.

3 aisles in a store does not require "following around".

Exactly.

Three aisles, new store, I'm just trying to figure out which aisle has the chips and which has the Twinkies. The guard and the clerk could see the entire store from the cashier's station. No need to follow me around.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My 14 year old, who happens to be an African American male has experienced this kind of a harassment regularly for years. I think most black boys and men would tell you they've had the same experience, and not just once or twice.

 

[Wendy31]

I know people are different, but in that situation, I would have just picked up what I wanted, gone to the cashier and paid for it. Then, I would have left and not thought another thing about it.

Convenience stores near colleges have frequent incidences of theft so I can understand the store employing a security guard. What's sad is that the reason the security guard needs to be there in the first place.

I agree, & this would have been I as well.

Since I would know I wasn't stealing anything & didn't have anything to hide, it just really wouldn't bother me much. While a security guard following me around may have made me bit uncomfortable, I also realize why security guards are needed. A stranger (non-employee) following me around a store would make me a lot more uncomfortable than an uniformed security guard just doing his/her job.

I just would have laughed about it later w/ DH - "Guess what, Honey? I must fit some kind of profile because the security guard at 7-11 was watching me!"

And I certainly wouldn't have wanted the hassle of putting everything back & then finding another 7-11 store to purchase the exact same things that I had had in my hands at the previous store.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I agree, & this would have been I as well.

Since I would know I wasn't stealing anything & didn't have anything to hide, it just really wouldn't bother me much. While a security guard following me around may have made me bit uncomfortable, I also realize why security guards are needed. A stranger (non-employee) following me around a store would make me a lot more uncomfortable than an uniformed security guard just doing his/her job.

I just would have laughed about it later w/ DH - "Guess what, Honey? I must fit some kind of profile because the security guard at 7-11 was watching me!"

And I certainly wouldn't have wanted the hassle of putting everything back & then finding another 7-11 store to purchase the exact same things that I had had in my hands at the previous store.

It just made me too uncomfortable to stay. and I knew I would be near the other store in just a few minutes.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

My 14 year old, who happens to be an African American male has experienced this kind of a harassment regularly for years. I think most black boys and men would tell you they've had the same experience, and not just once or twice.

I can't imagine what that would be like.

 

[wvjules]

I think he was trying to hit on you but didn't quite know how to approach you. A match made in 7-11.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I think he was trying to hit on you but didn't quite know how to approach you. A match made in 7-11.

LOL, I feel honored, but I don't go that way -- the guard was a woman.

 

[Jennasis]

Well, if you aren't shifty lookin', are you a hottie perhaps?

 

[wvjules]

LOL, I feel honored, but I don't go that way -- the guard was a woman.

Well you should have been up front with her instead of letting her follow you through all three rows. Why would you lead her on that way if you weren't interested?

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Well, if you aren't shifty lookin', are you a hottie perhaps?

I wish!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Well you should have been up front with her instead of letting her follow you through all three rows. Why would you lead her on that way if you weren't interested?