Weird Experience at Shoppers...

Jul 22, 2014

Emily W.

I've worked in retail and the security policies kind of suck. The reason that an associate follows you around is because we cannot stop you unless we actually witness you stealing. So if you look suspicious (or even if you don't look suspicious but the company has been having issues with shrink) you will be followed around.

As for asking for IDs: whenever someone makes a return without a receipt, is making a return from a card, or is buying with a card we have to see ID. This prevents theft and fraud. Many people steal items from one store, then try and return them with no receipt at a different one. We enter ID info into the system because it will flag the transaction if the same person does too many no-receipt returns.

Rarely, we will ask for an ID for a cash purchase if the total is large or the item is one of the "problem" items that get stolen and returned a lot.

When an associate asks if you need help, it is also a loss prevention measure. When petty thieves realize that the employees have seen them and recognize them, nine times out of ten they go somewhere and dump all of the stuff they were going to steal.

Please understand that retail associates aren't targeting you personally or making some judgment of your character. We are in charge of preventing theft and we are only upholding company policy. Now, we aren't supposed to be quite so obvious about it (or rude in some instances) but we have to do it no matter what. If you are feeling harassed, tell the associate that you will find them if you need help. If they still follow you, ask if they can hold your items at the counter. Usually they will leave you alone. It isn't ideal, but the few bad apples who steal are the ones that ruin everything for the rest of us.

Jul 20, 2014

Shelley W.

Yes, its happened to me and I actually point-blank asked her why the heck she felt the need to follow me around the store. When she couldnt answer, I answered for her by putting the products down and walking out. Then when I arrived home I sent a very heated email to corporate. They responded by calling me personally and sent me a gift card. Speaking up is golden.

Jul 19, 2014

Shaye M.

Wow Diana, I love that quote!

Jul 19, 2014

Diana T.

I agree with Harlyn unfortunately discrimination is a big problem in America (and I'm sure worldwide) but it's just something that we have to deal with as women and minorities - we are all going to be discriminated against at some point in our lives - and the only way to combat it is to call people out on it when they do it - if you see something that is not right you need to speak up and say something - in the words of my favorite MC " silence is defeat - my solution is to speak" we can all help to end discrimination by voicing our concerns and helping out others when we think they are being wronged :)

Jul 19, 2014

Rissa G.

I would be SO pissed if someone literally followed me around or came up to me and made a snide remark like some of the things I've seen on here. Lmao. oh hell bo.

Jul 19, 2014

Shaye M.

I know how you feel! I was shopping yesterday, was swatching some lipsticks cause I was looking for a new peach/coral colour as I don't have one and Everytime I go there this one lady follows me around and makes me feel uncomfortable so I don't end up purchasing any lipsticks, I then realised I needed nail polish remover and when I went to the counter to buy it she literally came over and said "I thought you were looking for lipsticks".. Just makes me want to scream at them like, what the f*** do I look like to you? Makes me so angry and uncomfortable when people judge me lol. Hate it!

Jul 19, 2014

Yaya B.

Actually Harlyn I said I did... I worked for Macy's.

Jul 19, 2014

Diana T.

Yeah I guess that's true too - but I wouldn't take it personally when it happens to me I just think that this person is just trying to their job that's it

Jul 19, 2014

Yaya B.

Its plain wrong unless someone is actually putting shit in their bag or person they should not be treated this way.that is what security cams.and.guards are for and sales associates should not act like cops or security.

Jul 19, 2014

Diana T.

Yeah but that's just it "looking" or "acting" suspicious is subjective and at the discretion of the employee - what might look suspicious to one person could he construed as discrimination but there is no "tell tale signs" of suspicious behavior it's just whatever the employee thinks in their head at the moment looks or feels suspicious - it's the same with cops - someone might just be driving not breaking any laws but a cop will pull you over if you "look" suspicious - and yes it's discriminatory but when your on the job what else do you have to go off of when you are looking for suspicious people - hopefully that makes sense

Jul 19, 2014

Yaya B.

I disagree with you Diana...I too worked in retail. the only time you are told to follow or watch or call for security is if you feel like they are acting suspicious and in my opinion that's str8 up discrimination. especially if they just walked in or if someone looks a certain way... I'm soo sorry you went through this Janelle I would have told her off and asked for a manager..but that is just me.

Jul 19, 2014

Ivanna O.

Shoppers sounds burnt.

Jul 18, 2014

Rissa G.

Same Olivia, I hate being stared at so I always end up telling them something lmao. Bad habit.

Jul 18, 2014

Alyx T.

Sephora gets really stuck about it. I went to return something a few weeks ago (it's always like this whenever I return anything) and they ask for an ID, I have a school ID so I gave her that. It's got my full name, age, picture and even my address on it but apparently school/work ID's don't count. They got super pissy and I said "I'm barely 17, I don't drive, so I don't have other ID" and they told me "next time come in with a real ID". Apparently they need me to become 18 super quick or get my license before I return anything else lol.

Jul 18, 2014

Lara C.

It always turns me off hate that.

Jul 18, 2014

Lara C.

That always happens to me at pharmaprix (same as shoppers but the quebecois name) there's one 2 mins from me. I'm a good client of there's but no matter what there's this little old lady that follows me around like a psycho. they get theirthings stolen a lot. and they try to make you pay at their cash because they put it under their own name undrr their sales.

Jul 18, 2014

Alyx T.

I think with sephora it's a "we think you look like a thief, let's see if your name matches with the system to the beauty card your using" thing. Or at least that's all that makes sense. Idk why they would if you don't have a account with them though. Maybe just to know your name if they find anything stolen?

Jul 18, 2014

Marie R.

I have a question because I've had a similar experience as Jacqlyn when they asked me for an ID. Why do they do that? I mean I understand if it was like an alcoholic beverage or cigarets or whatever but it's makeup...

Jul 18, 2014

Alyx T.

Maybe it's province differences? Because the one near me has a boutique with a register and everything. They just don't care where you pay.
I always get followed. Or completely ignored. There's like never an in between except at the one sephora where most of the employees know me. But everywhere else they either stalk me and ask me a zillion questions about what I'm looking for or don't talk to me at all, even when I'm clearly waiting for help.

Jul 18, 2014

Olivia A.

I've never had a bad experience at shoppers before and I had no idea that you were supposed to take your beauty stuff to the beauty cash. I've but it from the normal cash lots of times.
@Jacqlyn Lol! You were asking her if she needed help!
If people stare at me I stare back or I put my hands in the air with a 'what the heck' face. I get kinda rude when people stare at me. Lol

Jul 18, 2014

Diana T.

It happens she was just doing her job to make sure you weren't trying to steal anything - if you have ever worked in the retail industry you are instructed to do these things to prevent theft I wouldn't take it personally

Jul 18, 2014

Nala H.

Never happened when it comes to makeup. But I had this stupid girl follow me and my sisters around Hot Topic. She would always act like she's fixing something when we looked at her but she was like two steps behind us wherever we went

Jul 18, 2014

Kyraa D.

That's so weird..
I've never had a Shoppers employee not let me walk around the store with beauty products or stop me from paying for them at the main register :s like, not ever in my life..
very odd. either Shoppers around me have different rules or the employees don't care (x

Jul 18, 2014

Anna B.

That has never happened to me. Sounds awful.

Jul 18, 2014

Alyx T.

Harlyn that's definitely a store depending thing. The shoppers closest to me is small and doesn't have that rule, but the shoppers a few blocks away is big and has people blocking so you have to checkout at the beauty section. My friend works at the one closest to me though, they definitely do not have that rule.