I am sorry this shopper was falsely reported to be shoplifting. It is a tough task to have to address this issue with a shopper, especially one whose style and presence we (I and my sales staff, [redacted], [redacted]) were enjoying so much. She was a breath of fresh air in the second day of an [redacted] in...
a conservative, “over 55” community, and we had told her we loved her fabulous fashion, especially her purple hair! I tried to be gentle with Mrs. [redacted], told her she had been reported shoplifting and I asked her to display that she had no merchandise in her purse, which she did immediately. Her purse contained no merchandise. Then, she looked so crestfallen, I explained that it occasionally happens that shoplifting is reported to me. It is always my responsibility to address the issue with the reported shoplifter. I cannot simply watch the shopper leave the house, possibly with the client’s unpaid merchandise in their possession. I am hired by my client to maintain security. I explained that sometimes just a shopper’s normal shopping procedure is the cause of the misunderstanding. She said it might have been the action of taking candy pieces out of the purse, or putting her cell phone back in or out. I mentioned, in addition, the person who reported her, a community resident, is from a distant culture entirely, which can add to misunderstandings. Later, when Mrs. [redacted] began weeping silently where she was seated, we were surprised and we all felt sad and tried to comfort her. [redacted], who is not a hugger, hugged her. We were sorry this shopper was falsely reported to be shoplifting. We talked about her after the sale. Her tears were touching and we felt sad for the false report. I am sorry the special day she and her husband were having was blighted. I am sorry she was falsely reported shoplifting.The issue I have with Mrs. [redacted]’s statement is not the slight differences in her timeline from mine, or the wording, it is the intimation that I gave her prejudiced customer service, which is untrue. I have to take direct action when I see or am told of shoplifting by shoppers at my estate sales, no matter who it is. This is not judging “a book by its cover.” Mrs. [redacted] saw the resident report her actions to [redacted]. What followed was not prejudiced; it would have been prejudiced if I ignored the report. I did not ask to see inside Mrs. [redacted]’s purse because I was prejudiced against her. I simply followed long established (25 years) procedures which I have created to ascertain the facts of the matter: staff or customer reports ongoing theft or accusations of theft to me, they describe the shopper, and I approach the shopper, man, woman, any age or race or nationality. It is always the same with any shoplifting behavior or report of it at the estate sale. I enjoyed her, and I am sorry she was falsely reported shoplifting. And she and her husband are always welcome at my estate sales. And I wish them well! ID # [redacted] ID# [redacted]
I am sorry this shopper was falsely reported to be shoplifting. It is a tough task to have to address this issue with a shopper, especially one whose style and presence we (I and my sales staff, [redacted], [redacted]) were enjoying so much. She was a breath of fresh air in the second day of an [redacted] in...
a conservative, “over 55” community, and we had told her we loved her fabulous fashion, especially her purple hair! I tried to be gentle with Mrs. [redacted], told her she had been reported shoplifting and I asked her to display that she had no merchandise in her purse, which she did immediately. Her purse contained no merchandise. Then, she looked so crestfallen, I explained that it occasionally happens that shoplifting is reported to me. It is always my responsibility to address the issue with the reported shoplifter. I cannot simply watch the shopper leave the house, possibly with the client’s unpaid merchandise in their possession. I am hired by my client to maintain security. I explained that sometimes just a shopper’s normal shopping procedure is the cause of the misunderstanding. She said it might have been the action of taking candy pieces out of the purse, or putting her cell phone back in or out. I mentioned, in addition, the person who reported her, a community resident, is from a distant culture entirely, which can add to misunderstandings. Later, when Mrs. [redacted] began weeping silently where she was seated, we were surprised and we all felt sad and tried to comfort her. [redacted], who is not a hugger, hugged her. We were sorry this shopper was falsely reported to be shoplifting. We talked about her after the sale. Her tears were touching and we felt sad for the false report. I am sorry the special day she and her husband were having was blighted. I am sorry she was falsely reported shoplifting.The issue I have with Mrs. [redacted]’s statement is not the slight differences in her timeline from mine, or the wording, it is the intimation that I gave her prejudiced customer service, which is untrue. I have to take direct action when I see or am told of shoplifting by shoppers at my estate sales, no matter who it is. This is not judging “a book by its cover.” Mrs. [redacted] saw the resident report her actions to [redacted]. What followed was not prejudiced; it would have been prejudiced if I ignored the report. I did not ask to see inside Mrs. [redacted]’s purse because I was prejudiced against her. I simply followed long established (25 years) procedures which I have created to ascertain the facts of the matter: staff or customer reports ongoing theft or accusations of theft to me, they describe the shopper, and I approach the shopper, man, woman, any age or race or nationality. It is always the same with any shoplifting behavior or report of it at the estate sale. I enjoyed her, and I am sorry she was falsely reported shoplifting. And she and her husband are always welcome at my estate sales. And I wish them well! ID # [redacted] ID# [redacted]