The phenomenon of being treated like a shoplifter (run-ins w/ Loss Prevention)

[santabarbara]

I’m not a shoplifter, but I’m hypersensitive when it comes to the various ways in which I’m treated like one. For someone who’s never shoplifted (except for the time when I was 5 and didn’t know any better) – I sure seem to get treated like a thief with amazing frequency. It is infuriating and hurtful to me. Shopping is no longer the pleasant, escapist experience it was once upon a time – I avoid it as much as possible these days. Therefore, it has made what was already a huge problem – my reclusiveness – even worse.

One way I’ve “coped” with this problem is by Googling up shoplifting-related things. I guess it eases the “sting” a little to come upon evidence that I’m not the only one this is happening to – that I’m not being singled-out. However – whether it’s happening to “only” me or to everyone – it’s still unacceptable to be treated more like a suspect than a customer, when one is perfectly-innocent.

Anyway, that is how I found this place – via one of my “shoplift” Google sessions. I thought this looked like an appropriate place to vent, and mention some of my experiences. I seem to have a bit of a “gift” for spotting LP and loss-prevention tactics – then again, it isn’t exactly rocket-science. I don’t think I have anything extremely revelatory to say – whenever I notice their supposedly “stealth” behavior directed toward me, it often seems pretty obvious, like anyone reasonably perceptive could pick up on it. Often - mainly when I’m being barraged with “customer service” - it feels like they’re insulting my intelligence – like they think I would have no clue about exactly what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it. Anyway – maybe many of you notice them “in action” too – although from my Googling, most people seem to only notice or react when it’s something extremely blatant – like when they are stopped at the exit by a receipt-checker.

[santabarbara]

What are some of the things you’ve noticed Loss Prevention or employees doing to keep their eye on you? What are some of the experiences you’ve had? I’ll tell you one thing: based on my experience, Best Buy is the most evil when it comes to this. They just seem to do their loss prevention with a particularly insulting, condescending tone – out of all the retailers, I am always most disturbed by Best Buy employees’ manner. In my experience, they are unabashed - and utterly unapologetic - about treating innocent customers like shoplifting trash. They are the most paranoid – and will get aggressive fast at the most microscopic hints of so-called “suspiciousness”.

Just some of the things that have gone on in Best Buy:

I have received many offensive “death stares” by Best Buy employees.

I have been in situations where – within the span of 5 minutes – I have been asked if I “needed help” 8 times by several different Best Buy employees.

I was stared at suspiciously by the yellow-shirted Best Buy door attendant when I asked him where the bathrooms were – and I’m pretty sure that attendant sent people in the bathroom behind me to listen for suspicious activity. (Even if I had wet myself in front of him and produced a large puddle of “evidence” – which I certainly was much closer to doing than he probably realized – it still wouldn’t have been enough to prove that my actions were 100% innocent.)

I have had Best Buy employees come out of nowhere to ask if I needed help (it’s probably a system they have: someone observes me on the CCTV, then sends the employees over) – but as soon as I started explaining my reasons for my store visit, I could tell that they really didn’t want to be helping me. These employees are the perfect embodiment of the fact that when employees ask if you need help, they often aren’t really interested in helping you – they are simply asking you this as a shoplifting-deterring tactic. But at this point, I feel like I’m stating the obvious.

I have heard the distinct tone of disbelief in Best Buy workers’ voices when I told them the reasons why I needed to be particularly careful about choosing an item. At least employees of other stores don’t have that insulting tone of skepticism when I explain my situation to them – they don’t act like I’m lying.

Best Buy employees will even go so far as to act out a vignette in which they walk into your area with another “customer” – and pretend like they are explaining the virtues of some product to that “customer”. The product that they’re lecturing about to this customer happens to be close to the item that you’re checking out – sometimes disturbingly close.

One time, some particularly rude jerk of a Best Buy employee made it a point to “show” some product to a “customer” that happened to be the same product that I was checking out. The employee rudely positioned himself between me and the product – blocking my view. He didn’t bother to say “excuse me” or anything. When I moved over to view the adjacent item, the employee again moved in front of me – again blocking my view. Suddenly this adjacent item had become the new “item of interest” to show to his esteemed “customer”. This wasn’t a coincidence – apparently they had decided that I wasn’t a legitimate customer (or that I wasn’t worth treating like one) – and they were trying to run me off. It was most insulting. You may think I’m being paranoid and leaping to conclusions – maybe it sounds like it, but part of the reason may be because I left out some of the details and nuances of this story to save some words. Furthermore – it can simply be difficult to translate all of the subtleties into words. You just know something when you see it. That was most certainly not a real employee-customer interaction – it was staged as some sort of theft-deterrent or “scram” tactic.

Other times, I have noticed certain Best Buy “customers” who gave off weird vibes – they just seemed a little too observant of me. (Just as LP believe that shoplifters give off a certain “vibe” – LP, especially the bad ones , give off a distinct vibe.) I noticed one well-dressed customer intently checking me out when an employee came over to ask if I needed help – by the way, the employee “forgot” to ask this other “customer” if she needed help. Weeks later, at a different Best Buy, I noticed the same customer staring at me (she might not have realized that I noticed). Gee - what are the odds of me running into the same watchful “customer” at different Best Buys, weeks apart? I think this “customer” thought she was doing brilliant undercover detective work, and that I was some clueless shit.

It’s too bad that they decided to treat me like that – because, contrary to their belief, I was truly looking to BUY – not steal - the types of items I was inspecting. I had the money to buy these expensive items on the spot – and I would have, if I had determined that those items would work for me and if Best Buy wasn’t such a hellhole of paranoid jerks. As it is, I’m determined not to give Worst Buy one G-ddamed cent of my money. I liked when someone said that they just use Best Buy as a showroom for Newegg.

Again, I stress that I’m not a shoplifter – I’m perfectly innocent – I just have a knack for noticing these type of things. It’s basic psychology really – if you notice something offensive happening to you, you’re going to become more and more sensitive to future occurrences. This is how I became “good” at spotting loss-prevention.

Actually – spotting Loss Prevention would be sort-of a fun adventure – if I didn’t find the behavior so insulting.

Again, I invite you to chime in with your experiences, rants, etc..

[santabarbara]

Best Buy and Target are owned by the same parent company, right? I think this could be reflected in their Loss Prevention methods. I wonder if the parent company hires LP to work in both stores – i.e. a LP may work in a Best Buy one day, a Target the next. Or do both on the same day.

One day, I noticed someone who I suspected to be LP following me out of a Best Buy. But he actually got into a car and drove off. He might have actually been a legitimate customer – or he might have actually been LP going through great lengths to carry out his charade. (Maybe he wanted to get my license-plate number.) I wondered where he drove off to, and if he was just going to make a circle and come back to the Best Buy after a short time. But it’s also possible that he drove to the nearby Target – or ended up there eventually.

I can think of at least three areas in my town in which a Best Buy is located in close proximity to a Target. That’s an interesting occurrence – but there are probably other, non-LP-related reasons for this. And the LP probably work in many Best Buys and Targets all over town, not just the ones located close to each other.

[Twin Gats]

Ill be your first response. I dont shoplift either, in fact the last time i did was when i was a wee little kid as well. Cant make a long post b/c my moms here but ill give my input.

First of all, ive been to best buy many times. They treat me with total respect. Too much, in fact. I try and ask for help, and they act busy and slightly annoyed. But of course they are "slyly" patrolling the aisles looking for potential thieves, in reality making shoppers feel uncomfortable.

I've never been approached with a help offer at best buy in my life. I wear xl pro club shirts, baggy dickies pants, im over 6 foot tall, skinny with sunken in eyes and they don't even give me a glance. Idk if you are male or female, but they seem to be doing some major profiling if they treat you like this.

In fact i've never been treated like this with any store, other then those asian-owned liquor stores where the owner stands on his tippee toes just to make sure you dont steal some chips. This is messed up.

[The Greek]

Wow... OP... You've got issues.

I get taken for a shoplifter too. Its mildly annoying. Thats it. Its out of my mind now. Such an issue shouldn't be forcing you to piss yourself on the internet, as hilarious as that is.

What exactly do you think is gonna solve this problem? You can only accept the situation for what it is, and move on. Who cares if they stare you down or ask you if you need help. You clearly have social anxiety issues, and you can't just blame it all on the LP.

You think LP looking at you while you're doing your shopping is bad? Try living in a shitty neighborhood where people pick fights with you all the time for no reason. Learn to deal with the outside world.

You are a pussy. And that word is long overdue in such a lengthy ridiculous thread.

[Twin Gats]

I'd be willing to bet that they are only suspicious because you are acting like it. You probably walk in there all nervous, eyes darting back and forth, strained face. Whats a nigga to do?

[Blux]

Best Buy and Target are owned by the same parent company, right? I think this could be reflected in their Loss Prevention methods. I wonder if the parent company hires LP to work in both stores – i.e. a LP may work in a Best Buy one day, a Target the next. Or do both on the same day.

One day, I noticed someone who I suspected to be LP following me out of a Best Buy. But he actually got into a car and drove off. He might have actually been a legitimate customer – or he might have actually been LP going through great lengths to carry out his charade. (Maybe he wanted to get my license-plate number.) I wondered where he drove off to, and if he was just going to make a circle and come back to the Best Buy after a short time. But it’s also possible that he drove to the nearby Target – or ended up there eventually.

I can think of at least three areas in my town in which a Best Buy is located in close proximity to a Target. That’s an interesting occurrence – but there are probably other, non-LP-related reasons for this. And the LP probably work in many Best Buys and Targets all over town, not just the ones located close to each other.

I can promise you that BBY and Target don't share employees in the sense you are talking about.

At my Store, which is a pretty high volume store all BBY LP's are always in uniform, and none of them work at both Target and BBY. Which we have both of in town.

I did have a warehouse guy that got a second job at Target working in their warehouse until he got full time at our BBY.

But he did go through the hiring process their also.

Also Target and BBY are seperate companies entirely.

Best Buy Co Inc is Best Buy's parent company that also owns Future Shop, Magnolia Home Theater, Carphone Warehouse, Best Buy Mobile and Geek Squad.

Target Corporation is Targets parent company, not sure what else they own though.

[Jerk.]

What are some of the things you’ve noticed Loss Prevention or employees doing to keep their eye on you? What are some of the experiences you’ve had? I’ll tell you one thing: based on my experience, Best Buy is the most evil when it comes to this. They just seem to do their loss prevention with a particularly insulting, condescending tone – out of all the retailers, I am always most disturbed by Best Buy employees’ manner. In my experience, they are unabashed - and utterly unapologetic - about treating innocent customers like shoplifting trash. They are the most paranoid – and will get aggressive fast at the most microscopic hints of so-called “suspiciousness”.

Just some of the things that have gone on in Best Buy:

I have received many offensive “death stares” by Best Buy employees.

I have been in situations where – within the span of 5 minutes – I have been asked if I “needed help” 8 times by several different Best Buy employees.

I was stared at suspiciously by the yellow-shirted Best Buy door attendant when I asked him where the bathrooms were – and I’m pretty sure that attendant sent people in the bathroom behind me to listen for suspicious activity. (Even if I had wet myself in front of him and produced a large puddle of “evidence” – which I certainly was much closer to doing than he probably realized – it still wouldn’t have been enough to prove that my actions were 100% innocent.)

Ask them what the fuck they're looking at. 50% is probably due to how you carry yourself.

Also.
Pretend you're shoplifting. Walk out of the store quickly when you come to get you, run (but don't look at them). When they start running and catch you trip over (make sure their hands are on you), when they find nothing, tell them you ran because you thought you left your oven on and didn't see them. Then sue them :thumbsup:

[meta]

Why don't you stop dressing like a dumb hippy cunt then?!? Look respectable and like a normal person in society and LP wont fuck with you....stupid BITCH!

[Figure-8]

Pay attention to those vibes. Watch it, you're putting vibes out too. What kind?

All you have to do is utter one word, at the right moment, directly into the situation.

Take it seriously, and they will take it seriously. Give it slack, and they will think the same of your freedom and privacy, more so dignity and respect in this case.

How you dress, sure, but action and mind sight will spell the rest.

[The Greek]

Pay attention to those vibes. Watch it, you're putting vibes out too. What kind?

All you have to do is utter one word, at the right moment, directly into the situation.

Take it seriously, and they will take it seriously. Give it slack, and they will think the same of your freedom and privacy, more so dignity and respect in this case.

How you dress, sure, but action and mind sight will spell the rest.

I've got a better idea, stop giving a shit about this whole retarded issue. So what LP watches you. Thats their job. Don't go out changing your wardrobe and demeanor based off of how random LP treat you, or rather, what they might suspect of you. Thats no way to live life, you'd be readjusting yourself every time you went to a new location with different customs. If I'm shopping, I couldn't give a shit if theres 10 LP guys staring me down, so long as they don't physically impede my shopping. Seriously I don't get why you would even give this issue though. Start being more self centered, spineless shits.

Stupid thread is stupid, and can be summed up with the words social anxiety. /thread.

[Figure-8]

If you feel threatened and disrespected because people are given these jobs to pursue carelessly, then the more you stand up for yourself the more you are helping to reset the balance for others down the line.

[The Greek]

If you feel threatened and disrespected because people are given these jobs to pursue carelessly, then the more you stand up for yourself the more you are helping to reset the balance for others down the line.

What the fuck are you rambling about?

Do your shopping. If someone stares at you, fucking grow a pair. Welcome to human society.

And I don't feel disrespected or w/e your suggesting, I'm trying to help you people. Coming on here talking about how LP is negatively affecting your lives... Get over it. Theres nothing more to be said. Don't change your clothes, don't try to act in a less stealthy way, just disregard the people looking at you. It shouldn't be affecting you to this extent. I've been eyed down plenty of times, I have the look of a shoplifter despite the fact I never (ok, rarely) shoplift. It doesn't bother me at all.

If I had a problem with the way they were looking at me I would say something to them, and if they gave me any slack I would go to the manager and say hes interfering with my shopping and if for some reason the manager sided with the employee I would take my business elsewhere, and tell them in a very casual tone to go fuck themselves.

Ive worked in customer service, and the shit customers do is unreal, and the management will normally side with them, unless you start threatening people or getting naked in the store (both those things actually happened). I've had people ask me for something, to which I reply sorry were sold out, to which they reply, I don't believe you I want to look in the back myself you're lying to me, to which I said, well ok you can take it up with my manager sir/may-em.

Seriously people go nuts when you don't even do anything wrong, if someones eying you down tell them "go rub out and stop staring at me, drooling like I'm your grandfather, waiting with anticipation as if I have more salty treats for you."

[Figure-8]

Re-think. It is now morning. Chirp chirp.

[Compact]

Sometimes when I go into stores I feel like I have to try to act not sketchy even when I have no malicious intents.

I also try to act really sober when I'm around cops even though I am just so I don't get hassled.

Lol I dunno its weird.

[santabarbara]

Pay attention to those vibes. Watch it, you're putting vibes out too. What kind?


If I’m putting out “vibes” – those “vibes” have nothing to do with wanting to shoplift. Those “vibes” are related to my individual personality – you know, the phenomenon of being uniquely human. Why should I be treated like anything less than a legitimate customer simply for being myself? I mean, I don’t show any of the major characteristics of a shoplifter: I don’t carry a big empty purse, or wear clothing designed to conceal merchandise. I don’t glance around at employees or other customers (although it’s sometimes hard not to look at the employees when I feel that their eyes are on me: what am I, a caged display?). I walk into stores to do what pretty much all legitimate customers do – and I mind my business while doing it.

If these employees over-interpret my “vibe” as “suspicious” – then it’s their problem. It represents their own prejudices, insensitivities, and limited perspectives. Unfortunately for me, their problems have a detrimental effect on me. It’s pretty much the law of the land: i.e., bullies’ problems often have an effect on the bullied. Dharun Ravi’s personal problems had the ultimate effect on Tyler Clementi.

And I don’t think this issue is as representative of some abnormality or mental fragility as some people are trying to claim. (If certain people in this thread aren’t already serving as LP’s p.r. mouthpieces, they should be.) I know for a fact that most people have a strong distaste for this type of treatment – and that it makes even the innocent very uncomfortable. No one likes being “profiled” in this manner. It does affect the psyche of “normal” people to continuously endure this type of treatment – even if it’s supposedly subtle. I’ve known black men to express a lot of rage and angst about constantly being treated as suspicious – whether it’s the person who rushes to lock her car door when she sees the black dude approaching, or the cop that pulls them over. Why do you think Middle Easterners are up in arms about being given extra scrutiny in airports?

[santabarbara]

What the fuck are you rambling about?

Do your shopping. If someone stares at you, fucking grow a pair. Welcome to human society.

And I don't feel disrespected or w/e your suggesting, I'm trying to help you people. Coming on here talking about how LP is negatively affecting your lives... Get over it. Theres nothing more to be said. Don't change your clothes, don't try to act in a less stealthy way, just disregard the people looking at you. It shouldn't be affecting you to this extent. I've been eyed down plenty of times, I have the look of a shoplifter despite the fact I never (ok, rarely) shoplift. It doesn't bother me at all.


You seem to have this burning need to invalidate my position – to the point of posting multiple angry responses, even to people other than myself. Why so emotionally-invested?

If you aren’t bothered by being wrongly treated like a shoplifter – then maybe it’s because of your own callousness and insensitivity – which is on display in this thread. Just because you’re a hard-ass who is lacking in empathy – doesn’t delegitimize the reactions of people who find this unacceptable. Trust me – my point-of-view has been validated by people whose opinions I respect.

[santabarbara]

I can promise you that BBY and Target don't share employees in the sense you are talking about.

At my Store, which is a pretty high volume store all BBY LP's are always in uniform, and none of them work at both Target and BBY. Which we have both of in town.

I did have a warehouse guy that got a second job at Target working in their warehouse until he got full time at our BBY.

But he did go through the hiring process their also.

Also Target and BBY are seperate companies entirely.

Best Buy Co Inc is Best Buy's parent company that also owns Future Shop, Magnolia Home Theater, Carphone Warehouse, Best Buy Mobile and Geek Squad.

Target Corporation is Targets parent company, not sure what else they own though.


Well, I pretty much know for a fact that not all Best Buy LPs work in uniform - so your store seems to do things differently than the Best Buys I've been to. So I wonder what else is done differently from store to store, from town to town?

I still think it's possible that Best Buy and Target share certain LPs.

[The Greek]

If you aren’t bothered by being wrongly treated like a shoplifter

.... Because someone looked at me, that may or may not work in the store?

I don't consider that being wrongly treated like a shoplifter. I consider that someone looking at me. If I had a problem with it I would give it voice. Thats the point I'm trying to get you to realize. Stand up for yourself and grow a pair. This shouldn't be bothering you in the first place, but if it does, fucking say something. Little bitch.

And LP works in both uniform and in disguise as a customer. And just so you know, LP pretty much suspects everyone to be a thief, you are taking this too personally. I knew the LP guys at my last job and they would walk around eying down every customer, no exceptions (they were disguised though). The point being, its supposed to act as a deterrent towards shoplifting. If shoplifts know they are being watched, they are less likely to steal. At least thats the corporate theory in place currently. Its not that they see you and think, hey theres a shoplifter! I'm going to go interfere with his shopping/lifting!!! They see you and think, oh I better do my job and watch this guy. Thats it. If you have a problem with that, stop going into stores, because thats the only way you're gonna fix this problem. Jesus christ you sound like a little bitch.

[Blux]

Well, I pretty much know for a fact that not all Best Buy LPs work in uniform - so your store seems to do things differently than the Best Buys I've been to. So I wonder what else is done differently from store to store, from town to town?

I still think it's possible that Best Buy and Target share certain LPs.

Much larger Best Buys in other areas have LP people that work for an outside company. They are generally in plain clothes or security uniforms.

I just though about this after you said that. So I guess it is possibly to have Target and Best Buy sharing LP people.

I know that most of the Best Buys in New York have outside companies that do LP for them, and also have employees in store that are Best Buy paid LP guys that watch the cameras, etc etc

Edit: Smaller stores/Lower volume stores will only use internal employees that only work for Best Buy for LP, unless it is a very problematic area that the store is located in.

[ShadyLady]

OP is a paranoid fuck. Seriously, you have issues if you think you're constantly being profiled as a shoplifter. It's employees job to offer you customer service...

[The Greek]

OP is a paranoid fuck. Seriously, you have issues if you think you're constantly being profiled as a shoplifter. It's employees job to offer you customer service...

Wow first post I think I totally agree with you on.

[Figure-8]

If I’m putting out “vibes” – those “vibes” have nothing to do with wanting to shoplift. Those “vibes” are related to my individual personality – you know, the phenomenon of being uniquely human.

Yep. This does not mean they will understand you, and will probably only target you more.

But as soon as they realize what it is, they will have no further interest treating you that way, which is why you should learn to communicate in a way that they would understand. This is the public.

Why should I be treated like anything less than a legitimate customer simply for being myself.

It can be anything, they could be checking you out, for any reason. The idea is that it doesn't mean you're guilty, of anything, but you can do something to help bring clarity to the situation. Confronting and informing is usually the best step. Be peaceful, aware, and to the point.

If these employees over-interpret my “vibe” as “suspicious” – then it’s their problem.

Actually now it's your problem. This is how it works when you are living in this physical universe, the original sacred right becomes partially sacrificed as now we are at the mercy of our neighbors.

But only as far as we let ourselves be pushed around, misunderstood, or wronged without standing up for ourselves and informing the other party.

It represents their own prejudices, insensitivities, and limited perspectives. Unfortunately for me, their problems have a detrimental effect on me. It’s pretty much the law of the land: i.e., bullies’ problems often have an effect on the bullied. Dharun Ravi’s personal problems had the ultimate effect on Tyler Clementi.

Don't feel so bad, worse has happened, and worse continues to happen. These are the little things, you will learn to navigate to the most comfortable "path" and setting if you keep at it. Just be yourself, and be ready to have that tested.

If you're not being bothered, it's just looks, then fine, get over it.

Soon, you will forget they're looking. Then you won't notice them, and for that reason they'll stop looking. As long as you're simple and sincere.


And I don’t think this issue is as representative of some abnormality or mental fragility as some people are trying to claim. (If certain people in this thread aren’t already serving as LP’s p.r. mouthpieces, they should be.) I know for a fact that most people have a strong distaste for this type of treatment – and that it makes even the innocent very uncomfortable. No one likes being “profiled” in this manner. It does affect the psyche of “normal” people to continuously endure this type of treatment – even if it’s supposedly subtle.

Yep, so that's why you stand up.

They'll go, "Oh, I understand, this was a misjudgment." If you explain yourself and represent yourself properly.

This may be as simple as minding your own business, or as apparent as stepping forward and asking the man to step out of your personal space.

[The Greek]

^You're fucking retarded.

[marketgarden]

In my local food place they follow me with their eyes and actually, pretty much everytime I walk in the 'wrong' direction.

It must be a total mind fuck to them seeing somebody walk past all the meat and cheese, pick up a pack of pasta first, then rock backwards towards the cheese. Without fail they've made some kind of move to have either the security guy go play with labels near me or one of the same 2 employees do the same. It may purely be coincidence that the same two employees appear next to me if I double back on myself I can accept, its the fact that its either the 6 foot 3 bald guy with the tats or the other tall one who looks like a boxer that pop in out of nowhere lol.

Most of the time I dont have a clue what it is I want to eat, which I guess is their problem with me and I suppose the problem when you go anywhere. The minute you start browsing to make your mind up, youre loitering.

Can also accept though if theyre doing it then theyre doing it for a reason, ie I fit the profile of somebody who has stolen from them in the past and my zig zagging through the store follows the same pattern, so I dont really mind.

[marketgarden]

Got to say though you really have to hand it to the top dogs of these big chain firms, they really do make the staff at the bottom feel personally responsible for the goods in the store despite the shocking wages/profit ratio, some smart people at work putting together their training programs.

[Figure-8]

^ That's the point. Even if they lose literally zero dollars, and there's a starving homeless kid.

They will mix up their big spaghetti dinners, fresh bread (old about a few hours), cereal etc, and either take it home, or throw everything into the trash and make sure to mix it up with toxic trash and inedibles.

That way, everyone starves, the big wigs keep the money, and they successfully convince humans to kill and reduce the quality of human life, day in a day out.

Yay! Then you get emotional and intellectual people like this!

^You're fucking retarded.

No, you're a childish little man who can't make the proper steps to understanding the most simple of statements. I am not retarded because you can't get there, I assure you. Now be a good little boy and leave the thread, be an idiot come back and post something stupid like you usually do (for attention, yea you're a genius) or come back and post what you can to understand my post without jumping to stupid conclusions or pretending you're the shit.

THAT, is called growing up, so that you don't end up jumping out of line before you get to where you're actually waiting in line to be.

Yea, logic makes you skip to the end before you're finished. :thumbsup:

[Helladamnleet]

Go to my site. I'll teach you how to shoplift which will in turn teach you how to avoid LP.

[virgil caine]

i went to this gas station once and they wouldent sell beer becuase it was past 6pm on a sunday

so i stole a bunch of gum


thats hardcore

[The Greek]

No, you're a childish little man who can't make the proper steps to understanding the most simple of statements. I am not retarded because you can't get there, I assure you. Now be a good little boy and leave the thread, be an idiot come back and post something stupid like you usually do (for attention, yea you're a genius) or come back and post what you can to understand my post without jumping to stupid conclusions or pretending you're the shit.

THAT, is called growing up, so that you don't end up jumping out of line before you get to where you're actually waiting in line to be.

Yea, logic makes you skip to the end before you're finished. :thumbsup:

:rofl: Ya, I'm the little kid because I manage to do my grocery shopping without fear or paranoia. God curse me for suggesting you grow a pair.

[Figure-8]

No, you misinterpreted everything and crapped up the thread for it.

Yes, you're a little kid. Yea, you're not looking to good for thinking I made the thread either, or at least responding to me like I did.

Good going though, you haven't helped anyone and now you're back for more. Chances are it's the way you look and act. Derp.

[Borat]

I used to work as LP. Fuck that company. I want to share with you all the tricks of the LP industry. f

[santabarbara]

OP is a paranoid fuck. Seriously, you have issues if you think you're constantly being profiled as a shoplifter. It's employees job to offer you customer service...


Oh, I’m paranoid? That is quite ironic, and completely laughable, coming from you.

You and your fellow sage- in-shoplifting accused me of being LP-in-disguise – just because I dared enter your thread not being some 19-year-old dipshit looking to rip stores off. That’s paranoia.

You know – I didn’t come here being angry at you thieves, although your actions pretty much make my shopping life miserable. But when I saw you and your buddy’s reaction to my presence – that stirred up my resentment, which is the reaction I probably should have had all along. I’m paying the emotional toll for the crap you feel the need to do – I’m the one who has my integrity constantly doubted – yet you have the nerve to attack me, thwart my efforts to vent, all but throw me out of a forum, and try to make people suspicious of me by throwing around completely false accusations? I’m the one who should be attacking the hell out of you – you thieving scum. Oh - but it’s just like a criminal to not have the basic courtesy and humility to back the hell off of someone who is paying the price for your sins.

But all of that said, something might not be adding up about you. You’re supposedly this hotshot subversive thief - yet you’re effectively taking up the cause of retail companies by throwing around retail p.r.-like clichés like, “It’s employees job to offer you customer service….” A shoplifter, sounding like a store manager? What’s wrong with this picture?

You might have an agenda by attacking my credibility and accusing me of being LP. Or maybe you are simply a “paranoid fuck”, to use your words…

[The Greek]

I'm underlining my adjective's and adverb's!

Thats right - You deal with it.

[ShadyLady]

Lol, I'm thieving scum.

[santabarbara]

But getting back to one of the original purposes of this thread….

Target LP, and associated employees, are little busy-bees as well:

The walkie-talkie method: you walk by, or walk in a general vicinity where a Target employee is located – and suddenly you hear a loud voice come through the static buzz of their walkie-talkies. That’s when you know you - or some other customer in close proximity - is being targeted. They are possibly/probably watching you via the CCTV in the backroom – so they know exactly which employee is closest to you. They then page that nearby employee via the employee’s walkie-talkie – primarily to produce a lot of noise so they can scare you. The store can go from peace-and-quiet to producing the background noise of an episode of "Cops" – all in a matter of a second.

Or you walk into an area of the store that happens to be pretty deserted – only to have that area become a hotbed of employee activity two seconds after you arrive. But this “coincidence” is so common – a lot of this stuff is like stating the obvious. Sometimes it’s slightly amusing to listen to the employees engage in contrived chatter, the purpose of which is annoyingly obvious. There have been times when what they say doesn’t even make any sense.

Or if you’re browsing in an aisle that happens to be located near an entrance to an employee-only area – suddenly you may notice increased employee traffic in that area, with employees walking in and out of that door. It’s as though they are suddenly in the midst of a shift change – only they are not. The “coincidental” activity is totally geared toward making it less comfortable to shoplift. The “eyes in the sky” – the folks watching the CCTVs, are probably directing this activity. Sometimes, the footsoliders may simply communicate among themselves where a “hot” customer is located.

[santabarbara]

More Target stuff:

And there are, of course, some “customers” who can fairly-easily be detected as plain-clothed LP. One time, I walked in a Target with the purpose of buying one $2 item, and seemed to be profiled/followed pretty much the entire time I was in the store. As I was approaching the check-out area, I noticed one guy who was already in line, who had turned himself around to face the direction from which I was approaching. He had turned to stare at me (this was confirmed a few minutes later) – although he tried to disguise his stare a little. Nothing like a guy projecting a strong presence and staring in your direction to scare the sticky fingers out of you, right? Since it appeared that I might get done faster by getting into his line, I got behind him in line. Right before it was his turn to be rung up – an announcement comes over the intercom, stating that a new check-out line was opening up. The new line? The very place where they sell food – you know, the hotdogs and the nachos and the Icees. So this guy walks over to the food place to be rung up for a non-food item – only, I don’t think he was actually ever rung up. He just walked over there to act like he was getting rung up – but when he got there, it looked a little more like an interaction between two coworkers than a real employee-customer transaction. I guess LP figured that there was nothing more the guy could do in that line to thwart shoplifting – so they might as well get him out of my way so I don’t have to wait longer to be rung up – the cashier can take over from there with loss-prevention scare tactics. That “customer” might not have ever even left the store - how convenient that he was still getting “rung up” for his one or two items as I was leaving the store.

The check-out area wasn’t that busy or full – so there was really no need to open up a new line, anyway. Another clue.

If you’re feeling bored or adventurous, you might want to keep a close eye on any suspected LP who is in so-called undercover mode in the checkout area. Pay attention to whether or not they are actually rung up for the items they “buy” (might be difficult to pull off – especially if they are behind you) – see if they actually walk out of the store, get into a car, and drive off. A lot of the time, they seemingly figure that customers won’t be paying that much attention – and they neglect to carry out the charade to the fullest. It can be downright comical what you notice.

[The Greek]

You're a fucking coward.

[Proots]

The people at Target use their walkie-talkies to communicate with other employees (pardon me, "team members"). It works like this :

1. You are in electronics. A customer approaches you and asks where you keep the toilet paper.

2. You pick up the walkie-talkie and ask the person working in the toiletries aisle, where the toilet paper is.

3. You then tell the customer the information you just heard.


I can assure you, they are NOT watching you. You're paranoid. Way to paranoid - it's bordering delusions. With the mind set you have, it's not wonder you perceive every little goddamn thing an employee does as some sort of indirect slight. Target DOES NOT use plain clothes LP's. I've worked at one for many years - I can assure you this isn't true. You're delusional.

All Target LP's are dressed EXACTLY the same way as every other employee - khaki's and a red collared shirt.
What the hell is the matter with you? Seriously?

I mean, are you even paying attention to the thoughts you're having? Do they strike you as normal? What the fuck is your problem? I've never encountered someone who's head was so full of slights, paranoia, persecution and "out-to-get-me" mentality.

The world doesn't revolve around you. As soon as you walk into a store, not all eyes are on you. In fact, when you walk into a store, I can almost guarantee that no one there, customer, employee or otherwise even gives a shit.

I'm sure you feel that an LP has watched you. I believe, that at one point or another, one has. However, to the extent you claim in your deluded ramblings? No. No way at all. Don't believe it and neither should you. Get help.

[sepht]

I’m not a shoplifter, but I’m hypersensitive when it comes to the various ways in which I’m treated like one. For someone who’s never shoplifted (except for the time when I was 5 and didn’t know any better) – I sure seem to get treated like a thief with amazing frequency. It is infuriating and hurtful to me. Shopping is no longer the pleasant, escapist experience it was once upon a time – I avoid it as much as possible these days. Therefore, it has made what was already a huge problem – my reclusiveness – even worse.

One way I’ve “coped” with this problem is by Googling up shoplifting-related things. I guess it eases the “sting” a little to come upon evidence that I’m not the only one this is happening to – that I’m not being singled-out. However – whether it’s happening to “only” me or to everyone – it’s still unacceptable to be treated more like a suspect than a customer, when one is perfectly-innocent.

Anyway, that is how I found this place – via one of my “shoplift” Google sessions. I thought this looked like an appropriate place to vent, and mention some of my experiences. I seem to have a bit of a “gift” for spotting LP and loss-prevention tactics – then again, it isn’t exactly rocket-science. I don’t think I have anything extremely revelatory to say – whenever I notice their supposedly “stealth” behavior directed toward me, it often seems pretty obvious, like anyone reasonably perceptive could pick up on it. Often - mainly when I’m being barraged with “customer service” - it feels like they’re insulting my intelligence – like they think I would have no clue about exactly what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it. Anyway – maybe many of you notice them “in action” too – although from my Googling, most people seem to only notice or react when it’s something extremely blatant – like when they are stopped at the exit by a receipt-checker.

i used to be like that all the time until i started taking zoloft

dress shoes, kakie pants, and a dress shirt will make people think youre an upstanding citizen and leave you alone

[Jojoman]

some cointel proz

[BossDog]

at this point, you might as well steal. go go go

[The Greek]

at this point, you might as well steal. go go go

I honestly manage to shoplift from stores with more ease and relaxation then the OP manages to do his regular shopping. So sad.

[santabarbara]

The people at Target use their walkie-talkies to communicate with other employees (pardon me, "team members"). It works like this :

1. You are in electronics. A customer approaches you and asks where you keep the toilet paper.

2. You pick up the walkie-talkie and ask the person working in the toiletries aisle, where the toilet paper is.

3. You then tell the customer the information you just heard.


I can assure you, they are NOT watching you. You're paranoid. Way to paranoid - it's bordering delusions. With the mind set you have, it's not wonder you perceive every little goddamn thing an employee does as some sort of indirect slight. Target DOES NOT use plain clothes LP's. I've worked at one for many years - I can assure you this isn't true. You're delusional.

All Target LP's are dressed EXACTLY the same way as every other employee - khaki's and a red collared shirt.
What the hell is the matter with you? Seriously?

I mean, are you even paying attention to the thoughts you're having? Do they strike you as normal? What the fuck is your problem? I've never encountered someone who's head was so full of slights, paranoia, persecution and "out-to-get-me" mentality.

The world doesn't revolve around you. As soon as you walk into a store, not all eyes are on you. In fact, when you walk into a store, I can almost guarantee that no one there, customer, employee or otherwise even gives a shit.

I'm sure you feel that an LP has watched you. I believe, that at one point or another, one has. However, to the extent you claim in your deluded ramblings? No. No way at all. Don't believe it and neither should you. Get help.

I see the agenda here is to dismiss me as delusional.

Aren’t Target employees trained to know the layout of the store without the assistance of the walkie-talkie?

That aside, I’m sure Target employees do use their walkie-talkies for “innocent” purposes – but they also use them for the purposes I stated. To think otherwise would be what is delusional.

What you are doing seems like a p.r. technique: when someone does something for both innocent and duplicitous purposes, let’s play up the innocent purposes and pretend that the more duplicitous purposes don’t exist. Furthermore – let’s denounce anyone who recognizes the duplicitous purposes as paranoid.

And I don’t see how you can make an informed assessment about how much I’m targeted by LP. Chances are that you don’t even live within 300 miles of me – much less know me, accompany me on shopping trips, and truly observe what is happening. It takes some arrogance to act as though you know better than I do what is happening to me– when I actually have the front-row seat to what is happening.

It can be a difficult thing for a 3rd party to detect, anyway. Sometimes, the treatment you receive is difficult for someone else to see. I’m sure many people can relate to receiving less-than-blatant treatment from someone – and other people are basically clueless to what is going on.

But just because it may be difficult for others to see, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. A glance (or a stare) toward a customer, employee movement toward the area of a customer, increased volume of a walkie-talkie – these activities can sort-of blend in to the relatively-inattentive as the “normal” activity of a store.

Sometimes – a “good” LP can watch a customer from a relatively large distance away: not something that is easily detected by the person being watched, much less a 3rd party.

And try as you might to deny it, I know there are plain-clothed LP working in Target. From your behavior, this seems like something that certain employees/LPs don’t want publicized. I can see where some people wouldn’t want to draw attention to this, which would explain your post (why so angry?).

[santabarbara]

at this point, you might as well steal. go go go

LOL. That would be giving them what they want.

I'm sure that some of them would actually want to have their suspicions confirmed - it would be a notch in their belt.

Some of those guys get an adrenaline rush from surveillance of and apprehension of a shoplifter. I'm not going to give them their ultimate rush.

I'd much rather just continuously end up being a gigantic waste of time for them.

[Proots]

And try as you might to deny it, I know there are plain-clothed LP working in Target. From your behavior, this seems like something that certain employees/LPs don’t want publicized. I can see where some people wouldn’t want to draw attention to this, which would explain your post (why so angry?).

Yeah.

A company I worked and walked out on as a teen, is having it's methods blown wide open by a paranoid wacko on Zoklet and that's making me angry.

Seriously, that final statement of yours in itself is enough proof that you're deluded, paranoid, egocentric and, quite possibly, mentally ill.

Get help, man.

The first thing you did in this entire, paranoid rambling was admit that you are "hypersensitive". Then, in the previous post, you go on to claim that you just know for SURE these things are happening.

So, you're either hypersensitive and it's all in your head, or, they're really happening. Which is it?

[broseph]

ITT: a guy who's such a good thief that even when caught can bluff his way into appearing innocent.

[santabarbara]

Yeah.

A company I worked and walked out on as a teen, is having it's methods blown wide open by a paranoid wacko on Zoklet and that's making me angry.

Slip-up much? The bolded phrase seems very much like a subliminal admission that I’m telling the truth. You know that what I’m talking about is real – which is why I’m clearly getting under your skin.

To your credit, though – you have an eerie loyalty to the company that you claim to have walked out on as a teen. How many former employees of Target – especially if the time of employment was during the teenage years – would have such a fierce, fighting loyalty? You almost seem unreal.


Seriously, that final statement of yours in itself is enough proof that you're deluded, paranoid, egocentric and, quite possibly, mentally ill.

My posts are not the product of any delusions or mental illness, and deep down you know this. Your tactics are ridiculously transparent, man.


The first thing you did in this entire, paranoid rambling was admit that you are "hypersensitive". Then, in the previous post, you go on to claim that you just know for SURE these things are happening.

So, you're either hypersensitive and it's all in your head, or, they're really happening. Which is it?


A lesson in rudimentary English: “Hypersensitive” does not equal paranoid. “Hypersensitive” does not even equal “Overly-sensitive”.

A hypersensitive person can simply pick up on all of the "minutiae" of daily life that many other people miss. It does not mean that they are imagining these things – it just means that they are noticing and/or reacting to things that can go “under the radar”.

Again, to clear up the confusion you are trying to create – “hypersensitive” is not a synonym for “delusional”.

I have faith that most of the people here are smart enough to know the difference, though.

So you are portraying yourself as someone who didn't score above 400 verbal on the SATs - all in an effort to make me look paranoid, and preserve your company's "secrets". Yeah that loyalty is looking really good on you.

[Proots]

Slip-up much? The bolded phrase seems very much like a subliminal admission that I’m telling the truth. You know that what I’m talking about is real – which is why I’m clearly getting under your skin.

To your credit, though – you have an eerie loyalty to the company that you claim to have walked out on as a teen. How many former employees of Target – especially if the time of employment was during the teenage years – would have such a fierce, fighting loyalty? You almost seem unreal.

Please.

Seriously. I can assure you it's all in your head. I stole from them while I was working for them and I stole from them after I walked out.

I can assure you these plainclothes AP's you're supposedly seeing, are a complete fabrication of your deluded, self-centered, egocentric mind.




My posts are not the product of any delusions or mental illness, and deep down you know this. Your tactics are ridiculously transparent, man.

No, I assure you, they are. Obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks you're a wee bit paranoid. And, by "wee bit", I mean : completely and totally fucked up and delusional.




A lesson in rudimentary English: “Hypersensitive” does not equal paranoid. “Hypersensitive” does not even equal “Overly-sensitive”.

A hypersensitive person can simply pick up on all of the "minutiae" of daily life that many other people miss. It does not mean that they are imagining these things – it just means that they are noticing and/or reacting to things that can go “under the radar”.

Again, to clear up the confusion you are trying to create – “hypersensitive” is not a synonym for “delusional”.

I have faith that most of the people here are smart enough to know the difference, though.

So you are portraying yourself as someone who didn't score above 400 verbal on the SATs - all in an effort to make me look paranoid, and preserve your company's "secrets". Yeah that loyalty is looking really good on you.

Semantics.

Why would you admit to being hypersensitive, if indeed, this so called admission, wasn't to show that it may all be, completely and totally in your head.

You talk about Freudian "slip ups" as if it's something that actually happens. Well, if it does, then, you admitting you're "hypersensitive" most certainly means something.

You're sick. No one is persecuting you. The world doesn't revolve around you. All eye's aren't on you, the moment you walk into a store.

It's all in your head.

I honestly manage to shoplift from stores with more ease and relaxation then the OP manages to do his regular shopping. So sad.

This quote says it best. I have to agree, completely with him. I suffer from less paranoia when I'm actually stealing, than you do when you're walking in a store to legitimately shop.

Doesn't that tip you off, at all?

If you don't believe me, or the numerous other poster's here, simply schedule an appointment with a psychiatric therapist. Casually bring up everything you mentioned in this thread.

Be sure to get back to me, with the results. Because, I'm totally sure any practicing doctor is going to accept your words as those of a perfectly normal, healthy, functioning individual.

Really - no joke. This is not for the sake of the argument. I really want you to do this and report back to me with the results.

[Jojoman]

Midge, you were a shitty hourly and they didn't share any real information with you. They actually watch employees more than customers, so therein creates a whole world of subversive surveillance for niggerdom.

[Darkhunter]

ITT: Paranoid fucks,ate and those that ridicule those two types of people.

[Proots]

Midge, you were a shitty hourly and they didn't share any real information with you. They actually watch employees more than customers, so therein creates a whole world of subversive surveillance for niggerdom.

If they watch employees more than customers, why didn't they - well, you know - catch the ONLY PERSON working in electronics, STEALING electronics?

That's right. Because, they didn't watch dick.

[The Greek]

Midge you're wasting your time, the op is fucked.

[Jojoman]

If they watch employees more than customers, why didn't they - well, you know - catch the ONLY PERSON working in electronics, STEALING electronics?

That's right. Because, they didn't watch dick.

To claim that companies don't ever suspect employees of stealing is irresponsibly ignorant.

Also, ONLY person in electronics is the person who can get away with anything because he doesn't have a direct overlord in his dept nigger

[Proots]

To claim that companies don't ever suspect employees of stealing is irresponsibly ignorant.


I never claimed that companies don't watch their employees. I claimed that Target doesn't watch their employees. Which, they don't.

Do other companies invest time in watching their own employees? I wouldn't doubt it one bit. Target, I can assure you, does not.

The only way a kid was caught stealing before me, is because when he took inventory, he actually excluded the merchandise he stole. When his superior starting realizing that these items weren't being sold and weren't showing up on inventory, he obviously got suspicious.

After they got rid of him, they promptly brought in me - who, began stealing immediately, as well.

Also, ONLY person in electronics is the person who can get away with anything because he doesn't have a direct overlord in his dept nigger

I thought they were busy watching me???

Look - the fact remains that Target's security isn't all that great. Short of the typical alarms, and 1 or 2 asset protection employees, they don't have much.

The AP's that work there, though - are very aggressive. They will watch the camera's and they WILL approach you if you're stealing or damaging merchandise.

However, Target does NOT have plainclothes "mystery shopper" AP's.

[santabarbara]

In my local food place they follow me with their eyes and actually, pretty much everytime I walk in the 'wrong' direction.

It must be a total mind fuck to them seeing somebody walk past all the meat and cheese, pick up a pack of pasta first, then rock backwards towards the cheese. Without fail they've made some kind of move to have either the security guy go play with labels near me or one of the same 2 employees do the same. It may purely be coincidence that the same two employees appear next to me if I double back on myself I can accept, its the fact that its either the 6 foot 3 bald guy with the tats or the other tall one who looks like a boxer that pop in out of nowhere lol.

Most of the time I dont have a clue what it is I want to eat, which I guess is their problem with me and I suppose the problem when you go anywhere. The minute you start browsing to make your mind up, youre loitering.



Do I ever know what you’re talking about. (I may have missed this the first time, and/or I allowed my energy to be used up by the bullies.)

These days, I dread walking into a store without knowing beforehand exactly what I want to buy. I try to have at least a mental list of exactly what I plan to buy. I dread appearing indecisive or confused even for a moment – because I know that lingering or hesitating in any way can be (and is) easily misconstrued as suspicious.

So it’s a tough situation to get through – since I can be chronically indecisive.

I’ve also started buying things online that I used to buy in stores – even things like toothpaste and dental floss.

Leisurely browsing? Are you kidding me? Not unless I’m feeling masochistic – which means I never browse.

[santabarbara]

I think this will be my last reply to you, Midge – since your next response is bound to be more of the same b.s. diversionary smear tactics. All of your screaming and hollering doesn’t change the fact that I’m essentially exposing the truth.

Ladies and Gents - Midge’s, The Greek’s, “Shadylady’s” responses are great examples of how they often treat whistleblowers. These screenames are acting like how people act when they don’t want certain dirty secrets exposed. There is a certain desperation to their responses, isn’t it?

I mean, how desperate – and/or arrogant – do you have to be to seriously ask someone to see a doctor over a messageboard dispute? And to ask to report the “diagnosis” back to you?

And you call me crazy?

Once again – you are busting blood vessels in this all-out effort to declare me a loon. If you really, truly thought that I was deranged – would you be going out of your way to shoot down all of my arguments? Haven’t you ever heard the bit of wisdom that it doesn’t pay to get into a pissing match with a crazy person?

Just think about someone going toe-to-toe with a psycho – it often makes the “sane” person look as crazy as the loon. :cool2:

Actually - there is often something at least a little bit “crazy” about a person who would engage the mentally-ill so extensively.

(Don’t even try it: I’m not declaring myself mentally –ill. I’m speaking hypothetically. Take the hint.)

Or, you could have some powerful motive to slander and discredit me – something stronger (hopefully, for your sake) than, “Oh – I worked at Target as a teenager and it just hurts my heart to see them getting exposed like this."

[Jojoman]

I'm with santabarbara on this, 2 out of 2 Californians agree you are just a petty bullshitter.

[santabarbara]

I'm with santabarbara on this, 2 out of 2 Californians agree you are just a petty bullshitter.

Ahh - a person who gets what I am getting at. There is hope for Californication yet. :)

Thanks for weighing in.

[santabarbara]

What often gets me is when employees or LP pick up on my self-conscious reaction to being scrutinized, and their one-track minds use my reaction as confirmation that their suspicions are right. It's difficult being fully aware of what is going on in stores - because the atmosphere of vigilance makes me quite uncomfortable and self-conscious. Technically, I don't have anything to worry about - since I'm not a shoplifter - but it's just not a pleasant thing to know that you're walking into an environment where you're bound to be mistaken as such.

One time when I was in Best Buy - I was carefully checking out several products. Since I was in the same area for more than 3 minutes, this inevitably made Best Buy employees suspicious - and an employee was sent over to disingenuously ask if I needed help. I explained to him my situation: he, like a good Best Buy employee would, made little "snide" remarks over the course of our interactions that indicated that he thought I was bullshitting. Superb customer-relations there: assume the customer is lying, and is constructing some contrived ruse to shoplift.

Anyhow, I was fully aware of the game that was being played. The employee kept coming up to me for short intervals - all part of their disingenious tactics. When he wanted to leave, he would tell me, "I'll be right back". Perhaps they thought that I would be clueless enough to interpret this as positive attentiveness, but I know that it's really meant as something of a veiled threat, to discourage the thief from doing what they undoubtedly came to do.

At certain points during the whole charade, I sensed him behind me - he was supposedly helping another customer, but he was facing my direction. Again, being intuned to exactly what is happening is not a good feeling. I think anyone, in any situation, is bound to become uncomfortable when they know they are being watched. This response is so not exclusive to the guilty. I knew he was keeping an eye on me - and I suppose at a certain point my body language betrayed my discomfort at being watched. I sensed that this caught his attention - and he began to stare at me more overtly. In his mind, my discomfort/self-consciousness was proof to him that he was on the right track by treating me as suspicious. In actuality, it was something very different - it was an innocent, "human" response to being observed under those circumstances.

[Figure-8]

"What often gets me is when employees or LP pick up on my self-conscious reaction to being scrutinized, and their one-track minds use my reaction as confirmation that their suspicions are right."

This is what you don't want.

Walk erect, look them in the eyes, and ask THEM if you can help them.

[santabarbara]

"What often gets me is when employees or LP pick up on my self-conscious reaction to being scrutinized, and their one-track minds use my reaction as confirmation that their suspicions are right."

This is what you don't want.

Walk erect, look them in the eyes, and ask THEM if you can help them.

That is a type of reaction that can be - and, believe me, IS - interpreted as defensive. It's actually the kind of response that could make the situation worse.

To effectively pull this off (that is - to truly achieve the desired result) - there is NO room for error, and, even then - it still might backfire.

It might get them off your case momentarily - but they have a way of returning, in a different form and/or in increased numbers. I know.

I have had my little ways of "protesting" what is happening, which they seemingly interpreted as guilt. As far as I'm concerned - you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. You're doomed - especially in Best Buy.

[Figure-8]

Then that's not what I'm talking about. For instance. You didn't keep following the thought. They get more insistent. YOU get more insistent. Soon they'll realize you're not stealing because you would've just left. Unless you think otherwise? They're going to tackle you and be like, " WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? STEAL THIS! NOW!" Lol, that's not guilt.

So that's what you must do. But believe me, if you have a conversation with them about it. They're going to understand. They're not going to think you're some super spy.

Just don't feel all little kiddish and wrong when adults with store shirts on come up to you.

Literally.

>: (

Ok. If you can't get that. Then look into their soul.

[santabarbara]

Then that's not what I'm talking about. For instance. You didn't keep following the thought. They get more insistent. YOU get more insistent. Soon they'll realize you're not stealing because you would've just left. Unless you think otherwise?

"Soon"? How many go-rounds do you think it would take? 5? 10?

Is it really fair, or feasible, that I work this hard just to convince people that I'm legitimate?

Why exhaust myself engaging in those battles - battles that would probably fail more often than they succeed?

You are just encouraging treating shopping as this exhaustive battle to prove to people that I'm honest. It shouldn't be like that.

Why don't I just go all out, and hire a defense lawyer as my shopping buddy?

I admit - when the Best Buy employee I described in one of my first posts did that ridiculous thing and blocked my view of certain items I was looking at - I did end up leaving in short order. I had already been there for a little while, and it was somewhat of a reflexive reaction to the annoyance. I was also ticked off at the obvious lack of regard for me the stunt showed. Why stand there and endure an insulting situation just to "prove" something to them?

At that point - I wasn't going to buy the item from them, anyway. Are you kidding?? I would rather buy your phlegm - then slurp it - than buy anything from Best Buy.

They're going to tackle you and be like, " WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? STEAL THIS! NOW!" Lol, that's not guilt.

LOL. Some employees might actually want to do this. Like I said before, I suspect that some of them want nothing more than for me to try to steal something - just so they can be proven correct on the ultimate level.

So that's what you must do. But believe me, if you have a conversation with them about it. They're going to understand. They're not going to think you're some super spy.

They assume that anyone who notices their brilliantly subtle tactics is just a frustrated shoplifter. I've read some of those LP websites, and those sites always seem to perpetuate the myth that all innocent shoppers would just love "customer service" (no matter how phony it is, I guess) - and would never notice all of their little tricks.

Or maybe that's a tactic they use to intimidate people into silently going along with the program. Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a thief - then to open it and remove all doubt, right?

My point is that to broach the subject with employees - and discuss it out in the open - can make things worse. The majority of them seem to be programmed to treat all dissenters as guilty.