Have you been "watched" while shopping? - Blu-ray Forum

djluis2k6 · 09-19-2009, 05:50 AM

....and I'm not talkin' about on twitter. Who's got some good stories about being followed or "watched" while browsing in a store.

For me, nothing major, but I go into Best Buy a lot and 9 times out of 10 buy something, usually spend more than $50 per visit. But before I was dropping that much almost weekly, I would browse a lot cause I might buy something I wasn't planning on. I guess the hoodie threw up a red flag cause the associates would constantly be watching me and my friends around the store. Catching us at every corner with "is there something I can help you find?" Crazy, I really should have just told them straight up that I don't need to steal, I got plenty of money.

SlmShdy1 · 09-19-2009, 06:04 AM

I don't care if somebody does have tons of money. After working in retail, you learn not to trust any customer.

I was at a 24 hour Walmart and I was just walking around with my girlfriend. I noticed a lady near the front of the store and, about 10 minutes later, I saw her in the electronics department after we had just been in that department. I found it funny because that was part of my job at Walmart and here I am being watched. But it's nice to know they're watching because too many people steal.

mikejet · 09-19-2009, 01:19 PM

It's all about how you dress and act. If you look like a mature adult you will maybe be asked if you need help and be greeted when you come in. If you look like you might be trouble or might steal they will watch you.

Satans Puppet · 09-19-2009, 01:36 PM

lol not in an electronic store...

In a corner shop I usually go to... the little old lady, who must be the mother keeps following me around, one time I didn't have the hands to carry a basket as I had my niece in a push chair, so I put a bottle of coke on the rain hood, fully on view and she started having a go... Told her I was gonna pay but she continued to have a go.

So I handed the bottle back to her and left the store.

Thanks But no thanks....

With all the cameras about these days you can't get away with much... I work in a shopping centre office block and the security can be insane

although never quick enough for the grab n run gangs... seen a couple of DVD/Phone stores hit at various points during the year where youths are running out, alarms blaring with electronics under arm...

BLAH!!!

Bethany · 09-19-2009, 08:28 PM

My husband and got some Christmas money that we blew on blu-rays. As we were adding to the cart, several Best Buy guys were talking into their microphones and sneaking glances. They'd walk by, do a check and keep going.

Finally curiousity got the best of them and we had an audience. We paid for the blu-rays and walked out the door. Every time we walk in we get a cheerful "Hello" now.

Steve · 09-19-2009, 08:52 PM

My wife and I were being followed by a loss prevention guy in a Super Wal-Mart once. My wife used to do this for a living while she worked at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so she spotted the guy immediately. After a few minutes we split up, and when the guy continued to follow me she came up behind him and called him on it. He was pretty embarrassed, but she offered him some tips on how to be less obvious in the future.

Lord_Stewie · 09-19-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman325

My wife and I were being followed by a loss prevention guy in a Super Wal-Mart once. My wife used to do this for a living while she worked at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so she spotted the guy immediately. After a few minutes we split up, and when the guy continued to follow me she came up behind him and called him on it. He was pretty embarrassed, but she offered him some tips on how to be less obvious in the future.

lol.

GGX · 09-19-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejet

It's all about how you dress and act. If you look like a mature adult you will maybe be asked if you need help and be greeted when you come in. If you look like you might be trouble or might steal they will watch you.

lol I'd rather not go around wearing polo's just so a few employees wont think I am not there to steal.

HiI'mBrian · 09-20-2009, 12:46 AM

I sadly have to stalk the BluRay aisle at my Target due to several theft rings that target them.

having worked in electronics for nearly five years, I can spot the thieves as they come down the main aisle.

red_5ive · 09-20-2009, 12:56 AM

Not sure if I've ever been watched, but when I'm asked if I need any help I like to say, "No thanks. I'm just touching stuff." They usually leave me alone after that.

Hammie · 09-20-2009, 02:54 AM

I've noticed being watched a few times. Usually, I start taking deep sniffs of what ever I'm holding -- Blu-rays, toothpaste, bread. Then I start talking to myself saying things like, "oh, the person who touched you before me had peanut butter on their hands. Didn't they?"

Wal-mart seems to be the place that does this a lot. Either that, or they have the least skilled people to do the watching/following.

mikejet · 09-21-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGX

lol I'd rather not go around wearing polo's just so a few employees wont think I am not there to steal.

Not saying you have to dress up but don't go into a store with a baggy t-shirt and baggy pants.

jono_0101 · 09-21-2009, 09:01 PM

i cant remember being followed while shopping for blu rays, but a few weekends ago, i was accused of stealing a foam cooler from a supermarket, i was getting two and using the self checkout, and rather than take them apart, i was just going to scan one twice, the lady ran over and was like, "you need to scan both of those" even though they were both already on the receipt, then she felt dumb

phlydude · 09-21-2009, 09:06 PM

Why is it I get tailed walking around a store when I don't want to buy anything in particular but when I am ready to buy something, no one is around?

The security guys at Best Buy will ignore any other person walking in the door but they always give me the up and down and are sure to say hello to me.

I'm not a small guy but I don't think I look like a rabble rouser either...overweight, balding white guy - maybe my cargo shorts draw too much attention because of the extra pockets?

Teabaggins · 09-21-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlydude

I'm not a small guy but I don't think I look like a rabble rouser either...overweight, balding white guy - maybe my cargo shorts draw too much attention because of the extra pockets?

maybe they are watching you for other reasons......

JamesKurtovich · 09-22-2009, 07:26 PM

Probably, but who cares? They can follow your ass all they want, you don't have anything to hide.

MrJoeKalel · 10-31-2009, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiI'mBrian

I sadly have to stalk the BluRay aisle at my Target due to several theft rings that target them.

having worked in electronics for nearly five years, I can spot the thieves as they come down the main aisle.

Hahaha I will start doing that if that ever happens to me there!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 350gt

One time at BB I think I was being followed by this one guy and I stopped and stared at him in the isle. Not with a friendly smile either, but I watched him back and he played it off and started looking at Wii games and even picked up a cooking mama disk and pretend to read it.

I really get a kick out of going to a high end retail store and browsing. It just sucks cause I am Hispanic and I know I am just getting stereotyped. I have even bought something just so I didnt look like all the others who walk in and dont buy shit.

I've never felt this way at BB, and I used to go and browse (without buying anything) a lot of times...however, Dillards is a VERY different story. Maybe it's because the cashiers want to make the sale, but they are always looking at me and asking if I need help or if I need to try that on...I always feel harassed there but I like that they tend to have good sales every once in a while.

swifty7 · 10-31-2009, 04:19 AM

I have been in tons of electronic stores and never felt like I was being watched by anyone. Now!! however might look around if somebody is watching me for security reasons.

BluBonnet · 10-31-2009, 04:46 AM

I don't think I'm being watched. However (and please correct me if I'm wrong) just because you don't see a person watching you, doesn't mean you're not being watched, right?

What I mean is, and especially in the electronics stores or sections, isn't a lot of the surveillance being done via closed-circuit cameras?

Jeff Kleist · 10-31-2009, 05:04 AM

When I was a buyer, we had a guy we called the "VHS Vacuum" (this was 10 years ago)

With the LP guy standing next to him, a GOOD LP guy mind you, he could still do it, and he'd leave little piles of shrinkwrap in his wake.

They caught his buddy, but we never saw him doing it.

09-19-2009, 05:50 AM	#1
djluis2k6 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2007	Have you been "watched" while shopping? ....and I'm not talkin' about on twitter. Who's got some good stories about being followed or "watched" while browsing in a store. For me, nothing major, but I go into Best Buy a lot and 9 times out of 10 buy something, usually spend more than $50 per visit. But before I was dropping that much almost weekly, I would browse a lot cause I might buy something I wasn't planning on. I guess the hoodie threw up a red flag cause the associates would constantly be watching me and my friends around the store. Catching us at every corner with "is there something I can help you find?" Crazy, I really should have just told them straight up that I don't need to steal, I got plenty of money. Last edited by djluis2k6; 09-19-2009 at 05:51 AM. Reason: thread title change

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
I watched "For your eyes only last night" and something surprised me..	Movies	Leopold BUTTERS	29	12-23-2008 05:02 PM
Who here has watched "The Fall" on blu-ray?	Blu-ray Movies - North America	coralfangs	21	12-22-2008 01:05 AM
Moving a title from "unwatched" to "watched" in your collection	Newbie Discussion	billinga	4	12-11-2008 03:20 PM
Just watched "Final Destination 3"; Favorite death scenes (SPOILERS)...	Movies	wnicholas76	0	04-24-2008 02:58 AM
UK gets "Kill Bill" 1&2, "Pulp Fiction", "Beowulf", "Jesse James", and more in March?	Blu-ray Movies - North America	JBlacklow	21	12-07-2007 11:05 AM

09-19-2009, 06:04 AM	#2
SlmShdy1 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Honolulu, HI PlayStation® PSN: SlmShdy1 Home Theater Gallery:39 Blu-ray collection:292	I don't care if somebody does have tons of money. After working in retail, you learn not to trust any customer. I was at a 24 hour Walmart and I was just walking around with my girlfriend. I noticed a lady near the front of the store and, about 10 minutes later, I saw her in the electronics department after we had just been in that department. I found it funny because that was part of my job at Walmart and here I am being watched. But it's nice to know they're watching because too many people steal.

09-19-2009, 01:19 PM	#3
mikejet Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Los Angeles, CA Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:29	It's all about how you dress and act. If you look like a mature adult you will maybe be asked if you need help and be greeted when you come in. If you look like you might be trouble or might steal they will watch you.

09-19-2009, 01:36 PM	#4
Satans Puppet Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Blu-ray collection:166	lol not in an electronic store... In a corner shop I usually go to... the little old lady, who must be the mother keeps following me around, one time I didn't have the hands to carry a basket as I had my niece in a push chair, so I put a bottle of coke on the rain hood, fully on view and she started having a go... Told her I was gonna pay but she continued to have a go. So I handed the bottle back to her and left the store. Thanks But no thanks.... With all the cameras about these days you can't get away with much... I work in a shopping centre office block and the security can be insane although never quick enough for the grab n run gangs... seen a couple of DVD/Phone stores hit at various points during the year where youths are running out, alarms blaring with electronics under arm... BLAH!!!

09-19-2009, 08:28 PM	#5
Bethany Active Member Member since:Sep 2009 Location:Middle of Nowhere, NE Home Theater Gallery:4 4K collection:62 Blu-ray collection:2576 Blu-ray reviews:2	My husband and got some Christmas money that we blew on blu-rays. As we were adding to the cart, several Best Buy guys were talking into their microphones and sneaking glances. They'd walk by, do a check and keep going. Finally curiousity got the best of them and we had an audience. We paid for the blu-rays and walked out the door. Every time we walk in we get a cheerful "Hello" now.

09-19-2009, 08:52 PM	#6
Steve Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Anna, TX 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:41	My wife and I were being followed by a loss prevention guy in a Super Wal-Mart once. My wife used to do this for a living while she worked at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so she spotted the guy immediately. After a few minutes we split up, and when the guy continued to follow me she came up behind him and called him on it. He was pretty embarrassed, but she offered him some tips on how to be less obvious in the future.

09-20-2009, 12:46 AM	#9
HiI'mBrian Active Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Radville	I sadly have to stalk the BluRay aisle at my Target due to several theft rings that target them. having worked in electronics for nearly five years, I can spot the thieves as they come down the main aisle.

09-20-2009, 12:56 AM	#10
red_5ive Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:The 'state' of Southern California Home Theater Gallery:18 4K collection:364 Blu-ray collection:996 DVD collection:4 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:1	Not sure if I've ever been watched, but when I'm asked if I need any help I like to say, "No thanks. I'm just touching stuff." They usually leave me alone after that.

09-20-2009, 02:54 AM	#11
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	I've noticed being watched a few times. Usually, I start taking deep sniffs of what ever I'm holding -- Blu-rays, toothpaste, bread. Then I start talking to myself saying things like, "oh, the person who touched you before me had peanut butter on their hands. Didn't they?" Wal-mart seems to be the place that does this a lot. Either that, or they have the least skilled people to do the watching/following.

09-21-2009, 09:01 PM	#13
jono_0101 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2008 Location:St. Louis Blu-ray collection:164 Trading Score:7	i cant remember being followed while shopping for blu rays, but a few weekends ago, i was accused of stealing a foam cooler from a supermarket, i was getting two and using the self checkout, and rather than take them apart, i was just going to scan one twice, the lady ran over and was like, "you need to scan both of those" even though they were both already on the receipt, then she felt dumb

09-21-2009, 09:06 PM	#14
phlydude Power Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Winter Garden, FL USA Playstation ID: phlydude Blu-ray collection:132 Trading Score:1	Why is it I get tailed walking around a store when I don't want to buy anything in particular but when I am ready to buy something, no one is around? The security guys at Best Buy will ignore any other person walking in the door but they always give me the up and down and are sure to say hello to me. I'm not a small guy but I don't think I look like a rabble rouser either...overweight, balding white guy - maybe my cargo shorts draw too much attention because of the extra pockets?

09-22-2009, 07:26 PM	#16
JamesKurtovich Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Alaska Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:229 Blu-ray reviews:4 Trading Score:2	Probably, but who cares? They can follow your ass all they want, you don't have anything to hide.

10-31-2009, 04:19 AM	#18
swifty7 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Trading Score:3	I have been in tons of electronic stores and never felt like I was being watched by anyone. Now!! however might look around if somebody is watching me for security reasons.

10-31-2009, 04:46 AM	#19
BluBonnet Blu-ray King Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Trading Score:1	I don't think I'm being watched. However (and please correct me if I'm wrong) just because you don't see a person watching you, doesn't mean you're not being watched, right? What I mean is, and especially in the electronics stores or sections, isn't a lot of the surveillance being done via closed-circuit cameras?

10-31-2009, 05:04 AM	#20
Jeff Kleist The Digital Bits Member since:Jul 2008 Trading Score:1	When I was a buyer, we had a guy we called the "VHS Vacuum" (this was 10 years ago) With the LP guy standing next to him, a GOOD LP guy mind you, he could still do it, and he'd leave little piles of shrinkwrap in his wake. They caught his buddy, but we never saw him doing it.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals