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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    14

    Default Wrongfully Accused of Shoplifting at Claire's Boutique

    LAST WEEK (12/23/05) I was shopping at Claire's Boutique in a local mall. I noticed that everywhere I went one of the store employees would follow. Being African American it was nothing new but it still annoyed me so I decided not to purchase the 3 pair of earrings I had and I replaced them on a different rack of earrings. Well the store employee made a mad dash for the door and as I was walking out she stood in front of me to block me from exiting the store. She was a fairly large woman and being only 5'0" I was considerably intimidated. She asked me where I put the three pair of earrings and I told her I put them back. But she sternly replied "No you didn't." I tried to explain that I returned the merchandise but she continued to make a scene drawing the attention of people inside and outside of the store. The way that she stood over me made feel threatened and I thought that she would grab me if I moved at all.

    Tearfully, I agreed to show her where I had placed the earrings and just as I stated the merchandise was returned to the rack. The woman turned out to be the store manager and she basically escorted me out of the store after I proved her wrong without issuing the slightest apology. Another patron in the store even came out to ask me if I was okay and commented on how viciously the woman had treated me.

    I have been followed in stores many times just because I am a minority but I have never been accused of shoplifting. I was so embarrassed and I could not believe the store manager was making such a scene and accusing me of stealing in front of all those people. I was too shaken up to finish my Christmas shopping. I didn't know if I should go in another store to finish shopping or if I should leave the mall completely. I couldn't even think clearly enough to make a rational decision.

    I want to help make sure this doesn't happen to anyone again. I have already written a letter to Claire's Stores. Who else should I contact to shed some light on this old but still common practice? Is there a state or local agency I should contact to file a formal complaint?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Michigan Attorney General's Office


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle, Wa.
    Posts
    529

    Default

    I don't know how far you want to take this but you were the victim of a 'bad stop'. Because of the way the manager went about it, causing a scene, being intimidating and loud you may want to talk to a lawyer about it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Rhode Island / Massachusetts line
    Posts
    2

    Default Claire's Boutique wrongfully accused

    Contact the regional supervisor of Claire's Boutique. Call the store (or another local one) and ask for the regional supervisor's number. Tell him/her you want a complaint issued in the manager's record and a formal apology at the very least.
    Also contact the Better Business Bureau

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I appreciate your response and I will look into contacting the Better Business Bureau. I did file a complaint with the Mall where the store is located. The Mall's Director of Operations was trying to get in touch with the store's general manager but she has not returned his phone calls. The only thing I have received from Claire's so far is a letter stating they would investigate my complaint on the store level. I called to ask for the the general manager's contact information and she would not give me any information. But I am not surprised.

    The strange thing is, my boyfriend is a teacher and one of his students told him the same thing happened to her over the Christmas Holiday. She said it was at the same store and the employee accused her of stealing and then actually grabbed her as she tried to walk out. Based on her discription I think it is the same employee but I am not 100% sure. I understand that shoplifting does cost companies a lot of money each year. But this lady doesn't even apologize when she is wrong.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    54

    Default


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