Is an Apoligy Enough

[darlene]

What do you do if you are shopping at a department store and get wrongfully acused of stealing,and humilliated in front of other shoppers.

[Inquiring mind]

Darlene, If you are a young person, sometimes an appology is the best you will get. You could write to the head of the company and explain your distress and you may get a reply. In this day and age of people stealing, I have been followed around by store security for having a large open type purse and it is an uncomfortable feeling. Generally, if you do not get upset and offer to let them look inside your bag/bags, you can shop the rest of the way unmolested. Unfortunately, many stores are staffed by young and aggressive persons who have not had the adequate training in dealing with "suspected" shoplifters. Since you were not stealing, then your embarrassment should be set aside as a badge of your honor, as you were not apprehended with the store's goods. It is tempting to shoplift and I admire any person who can resist. Good on you.

[darlene]

Un fortuantly I am a middle age woman who spends about 60% of my weekly paycheck in this particular store, lets make up a name wally world:
my finantial institution is also located in this wally world. I cant get pass this one after being a loyal coustomer for the past 6 years i think i will hold my head up high and march in to the store first thing monday morning introduceing myself to the general manager and demand that the give me the same respect i give their employees when i enter theyre place of business.

[Referee]

I can't address the law, but maybe this can help.

I have had excellent results by sending a properly worded, detailed email to the corporate headquarters of a major company, specifically wally world. This wasn't even for a direct employee rather it was about the clerk at the gas station located on company property.

Not only did I receive a response via email, I got several telephone calls from one of the company big-wigs asking for additional clarification of the incident and for me to restate my purpose for the contact. Wally world then informed me that after they reviewed the fuel station's surveillance videos they had their sister company remove that particular employee from all wally world properties. Then when all was said and done I had a $200.00 gift card in my hand.

All I asked for was an apology for the way I was treated. Mind you after I was verbally abused by the clerk then she called the police on me and made a false statement, claiming I had threatened her. The police pulled me over several blocks down the road. Fortunately for me, I had already gone into the main store and complained to the highest ranking person in the store and requested that they log the incident. This all happened @ 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning.

I'm not saying that your situation will turn out the same. I just think that sometimes local stores are more concerned about the wrong things. Not only that, but I believe the local store managers lack the power to handle things like their corporate offices can.

Just my thoughts.

Referee