Followed around an empty Home store + more Cork

Buffalo987

We visited the store near Woodies and good selection of items but we were obviously followed around by the staff in case we were 'shoplifting'. My daughter and I were so closely 'observed' by a fat guy and other male staff member that he sneezed and we barely missed it. It was around 10am today Saturday no one else in the shop and maybe its company policy to look busy at something but they were all mysteriously at the counter as we paid for our items. First and LAST visit to this store.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Today is Friday!
I had similar in a store hears ago. A polite 'Can I help you?' to the individual ended it. You can't blame them for patrolling to reduce shop lifting; if the store was empty there was hardly anybody else to watch, was there?

freshpopcorn

Buffalo987 wrote: »

We visited the store near Woodies and good selection of items but we were obviously followed around by the staff in case we were 'shoplifting'. My daughter and I were so closely 'observed' by a fat guy and other male staff member that he sneezed and we barely missed it. It was around 10am today Saturday no one else in the shop and maybe its company policy to look busy at something but they were all mysteriously at the counter as we paid for our items. First and LAST visit to this store.

If I felt the staff were accusing me of shop lifting I wouldn't buy anything.
Today is Friday by the way.

micar

Same happened to me in cleary's years ago.

Went in early one Saturday morning to get something specific. Knew where I had to go

No-one was there and very aware of being watched/followed by a security in plain clothes.

I was utterly disgusted that I walked out without getting what I needed. Never went back in.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

freshpopcorn wrote: »

If I felt the staff were accusing me of shop lifting I wouldn't buy anything.
Today is Friday by the way.

Though they were accused of nothing. Paranoia, to a certain degree, set in and could have been easily deflated by the OP if they were concerned or uncomfortable.

freshpopcorn

OP, I don't mean this to be rude by the way but are you sure you weren't drunk because Today is Friday. Staff would be very cagey of drunk customers.

Donal55

When they're that obvious I normally ask them have they nothing better to do?
Henry St, Dublin at Christmas is the worst. When the security staff actually look worse than the shower they're trying to stop.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Home Store + More have excellent floor staff who are always very prompt to assist shoppers looking for items. Being so quiet, they may just have been hovering nearby in case you needed assistance.

pajero12

freshpopcorn wrote: »

OP, I don't mean this to be rude by the way but are you sure you weren't drunk because Today is Friday. Staff would be very cagey of drunk customers.

That's quite an assumption to make, the OP probably thought today was Saturday because they usually work Fridays and were off today,

My boss mistook yesterday for Friday because it was the last day of the work week, I wonder was he drinking too?

freshpopcorn

pajero12 wrote: »

That's quite an assumption to make, the OP probably thought today was Saturday because they usually work Fridays and were off today,

My boss mistook yesterday for Friday because it was the last day of the work week, I wonder was he drinking too?

Even how she describes the incident is a bit patchy and her deception isn't great either. If your marking a complaint you don't call the staff member fat.
My phone and laptop both say today is Friday. Today is also Good Friday. It's probably the most famous Friday in the year. Theirs several articles online and mentioned in the news about today being Friday.

Galadriel

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Even how she describes the incident is a bit patchy and her deception isn't great either. If your marking a complaint you don't call the staff member fat.
My phone and laptop both say today is Friday. Today is also Good Friday. It's probably the most famous Friday in the year. Theirs several articles online and mentioned in the news about today being Friday.

Deception, marking and theirs? see everyone can make mistakes, you don't have to be drunk.

dudara

Enough comments already about it being Friday. Thanks

dudara

freshpopcorn

Galadriel wrote: »

Deception, marking and theirs? see everyone can make mistakes, you don't have to be drunk.

My advice still stands. If your making a complaint don't call staff members fat. It doesn't come across well.

Galadriel

freshpopcorn wrote: »

If your making a complaint don't call staff members fat. It doesn't come across well.

Of course not, no one is disputing that.

oppenheimer1

freshpopcorn wrote: »

My advice still stands. If your making a complaint don't call staff members fat. It doesn't come across well.

Don't suggest people are drunk, it didn't come across well.

coylemj

Store detectives are often on a radio network where they exchange info. on well known shoplifters who are operating in the area. If one of them enters Henry St. in Dublin for example, every store detective on the street will hear about it within minutes and they'll get a description of what he/she is wearing.

It's possible that the OP was wearing similar clothing or answered the general description of a local known shoplifter who was active the same day in the area, it happens.

MonkieSocks

Buffalo987 wrote: »

We visited the store near Woodies and good selection of items but we were obviously followed around by the staff in case we were 'shoplifting'. My daughter and I were so closely 'observed' by a fat guy and other male staff member that he sneezed and we barely missed it. It was around 10am today Saturday no one else in the shop and maybe its company policy to look busy at something but they were all mysteriously at the counter as we paid for our items. First and LAST visit to this store.

That’ll be "The Department of Home Store Security”



Great bunch of lads :P

rubadub

Buffalo987 wrote: »

maybe its company policy to look busy

This is why it never bothers me. I have been "followed" several times, & could not give a damn.

In my local lidl I reckon there is no need for security, but often they have one. I found 2 of them looking at me before on different occassions, I have no problem admitting I was probably the most dodgy looking lad in the store at that time (i.e. there was nobody dodgy in the place!), if I was doing his job I would have felt obliged to have been at least looking like I was needed, and proving I was needed or doing something. So would have followed "the likes of myself".

I gave the 2 of them "the nod" after spotting them following me. I never saw either one doing needed security work, just helping grannies or pointing customers towards products, since lidl usually have zero staff wandering aisles like dunnes or tesco might. I would come in days later and give them a nod hello, and one would still follow me, and I had no problem with that, I understood he just had to been seen to be a worthwhile employee and hope I gave him the impression I did not give a damn about him following me.

Arbie

Happened me about 10 years ago in an electronics store. There was no one in the store,I didn't have a bag or backpack, and I was well dressed. I went in to buy a scart cable for someone as a favour. The security guard followef literally 1 metre behind me, then as I went to pick up the cable he snatched it out of my hand and asked me if I needed help. I said no I just want to buy that cable. He walked me up to the counter and stood right beside me as I paid, then he marched me out of the shop. I was only young and new to Dublin so I thought it was funny at the time. I don't know how I'd react now.

kbell

As long as you've done nothing wrong, then let them all follow you about, wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Diziet

kbell wrote: »

As long as you've done nothing wrong, then let them all follow you about, wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

It would bother me, and I would be inclined to speak with them and the manager.

bee06

Lucia Beautiful Dressmaker wrote: »

Home Store + More have excellent floor staff who are always very prompt to assist shoppers looking for items. Being so quiet, they may just have been hovering nearby in case you needed assistance.

It's also a relatively newly opened store so maybe they were being overly attentive because they are new.

I've been in there twice and the Mahon point store loads of times and have never noticed anyone following me.

infogiver

I'm the first to admit I'm a dodgy looking character. I always have a trolley and I just lump my handbag and shopping bags into it and wander aimlessly around Dunnes in a haphazard way. If there's a "new" security gard in for the day I'll get followed sometimes quite closely but I don't give a damn. They're no exactly discreet, are they?