Stopped by inventory control!

[Hoshi]

Woah... I just got back from Kroger.
I had went, looked at Aussie shampoo, got a bottle, then went to look at the disposable razors, since there was both a p&g insert AND p&g e-saver Q for them. I looked at them for like 5 minutes, looking at prices and counts for 3 different kinds of razors - picked up a 2ct pack of Venus razors, looked at the package and did some mental math, and put it back on the peg. I decided I didn't want to pay that much for them, and took the like, 5 steps towards the back of the store from the end of the aisle where the razors were to get some yogurt. Back there, I saw a worker whisper to another and glance at me...it made me uneasy, but I thought I'm just being paranoid. I grab some of those and head back to the shampoo to switch out the bottle because I realized I'd picked up conditioner.

I see a guy follow me and keep going past me when I stopped. I noticed him peeking around the corner 3 times while I was putting the Aussie back...which freaked me out. They aisle was empty except for me. Then I went the next aisle over to look at chex mix, and was immediately confronted by a guy who said "Mam, I'm *indistinguishable words* and flashed a badge. "What did you do with the razor blades?"... here I was, looking shabby in my t-shirt and kinda baggy jeans (I've lost some weight recently and haven't updated my wardrobe)...my hair is always kinda frizzy, and I hadn't washed it yet this morning since I was gonna do it right before I got ready for work in a few hrs. I probably looked like a hobo with a funny t-shirt on (it says "Caps lock is cruise control for AWESOME!" LOL).

I said "I put them back..." and he just responded "Oh, really? Did you, now?" and obviously didn't believe me. I started rummaging through my pockets to pull out the two coupons I had for them... he then started pointing at bulges in my pants saying "And what is this?" and nudged my shirt up a little with his hand-held scanner to see in my pocket better, which freaked me out a little, like he was going to physically arrest me or something since he was all up in my space and standing quite close to me.
I took everything out, showing him my wallet, keys, phone, and the 15 or so coupons I had folded up in pockets (I don't use a purse because I WILL forget it somewhere!!), including the 2 coupons for the various razors. He had me completely empty my pockets in the middle of the aisle that was packed with people (as apposed to the empty aisle I was just in, or asking me to discuss it with him somewhere that wasn't full of customers...) - it was mortifying. People were staring and shooting me weird looks.

He proceeded to look at me suspiciously, like he thought I had them hidden in my undies or bra or something. Then he told me "someone" saw me take razor blades into the bathroom (also mortifying, as I know nearby customers could hear him). I explained I didnt even GO in the bathroom - or near it. It was in the FRONT of the store, which I didn't even go to after looking at the razors...not until he was already following me at the shampoos. And I'd never gone in the bathroom or even within 5 paces of the bathroom entrance.
He just said "Is that so, ma'm?" and gave me this sleezy look. At this point, I was shaking, it scared me so bad. I don't know why, but someone thinking I stole something scares me. :shrug7: Especially razor blades. I was looking at DISPOSABLE RAZORS, anyway...but if I was going to steal something...I mean, razor blades? I have enough razors in my stockpile to last me at least 9 months - and all of them were gotten legitimately with coupons. And they are far better in quality that the ones I was looking at.

He never even said he was sorry, even after all pockets were emptied. And every time I said anything in my defense, he would reply with a sarcastic or patronizing rhetorical question, such as "Oh, really now?" "Is that so?" "How about that?"
In the end, after my pockets were emptied and I'd insisted I didn't take anything, he just walked past me. I heard him mumble something, but I couldn't tell what. And that was it.

I kinda felt like I was being stalked the rest of my shopping trip in there - and several workers seemed to keep turning up near me and taking their time moving along. Every fiber of me wanted to just abandon my basket and get the heck out of there, but it felt like it would be as good as an admission of guilt. So I called my roommate to come and stay with me while I finished my shopping, since I live not but 2 or 3 miles away. I'm kind of afraid to go back to Kroger now! I have some freebies I can get with Qs, but I don't even want to set one foot back in that store. Even for freebies. And I used to go to Kroger several times a week.

Has anyone ever been wrongly accused of shoplifting? Am I overreacting?
It really bums me out that the guy was obviously not convinced that I didn't steal. I hate someone thinking that of me. :sad: I can't even explain how embarrassing it was to be asked to turn my pockets out there in front of tons of customers. I know what people probably thought of me.

Now, after thinking about it a little while...I don't know how it could be made right, anyway. No stupid $10 GC can take away the humiliation of not only being treated that way, but having others see it happen. No apology from him, sincere or otherwise, can take away the sting of knowing customers watched me accused in public of being thief, and being asked to empty pockets and show him what was in them, one by one, as customers looked on. I'm way, way beyond mortified at this point.

[mom2lucas]

I'd have said, "Pull the surveillance video. We can watch it together."

[Hoshi]

I should have, but my mind was racing. My adrenaline was pumping like crazy, and I was panicking. It's just like that feeling I get from a shot of epinephrine at the dentists office... my hands were shaking like a leaf, I'm was stumbling over words, and scared out my wits. I know it was stupid, but whenever I'm confronted about anything like that, I panic. Even when I'm completely innocent. Which makes it so much worse.
I think I said something like "I didn't take it! You can look at the video!" and he said something like "Is that so?"
Everything he said was like that - he made it clear he thought I was a thief. And he never even apologized for stopping me in front of a ton of people, whom all promptly stared. I was mortified. :hectic1:

I'm not sure if I should complain or not. I know that I'm probably overreacting, but he could have been a lot more gentle about it. Really...instead of confronting me in the shampoo aisle that was COMPLETELY EMPTY as he was peeking around at me, he confronted me in the next aisle that was full of people. And he was all up in my personal space - edging up my shirt with his scanner thing to look in my pocket. And he was not apologetic in the least. In his mind, I was 100% guilty, and he showed it...everytime he said anything, it was "Really, now?" or "is that so?" or "Huh, how about that?"

I wanted to run right out of the store, but I figured that would be as good as an admission of guilt... so I called my roommate to come and finish the shopping with me, because I didn't want to be alone. I know that's irrational, but I wanted someone to be there to stand up for me and stay calm.

The Kroger is only 2 or 3 miles from my apartment and I usually go to it at least once a week, but now I don't want to set foot in there again. :sad:

[kval07]

I would contact the store manager. I would call and see if he/she is available and then go in to the store and have this conversation in person. Under no circumstances should he have touched you or your clothing at all. I would complain about how you were treated and also ask to see the tape which shows you shoplifting.

We have two different personalities I see, lol. I would have been loud, vulgar and defiant. Basically, I would've made a huge scene. Hell hath no fury like a woman embarrassed for doing nothing wrong.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I would have said the same thing as mom2lucas! That is crazy! The only time I have been followed and accused of anything while shopping was when I took 2 Evian water hangtags at Walgreens. The manager came at me and told me I was stealing. I was taken aback and put the hang tags back. I took two coupons and there were still lots left on the display. Needless to say, that manager does not work there. She was a real snot about coupons anyways.

[mom2lucas]

He touched you? I'm pretty sure that store security is not allowed to actually touch you unless you initiate contact. At least, that's how it was back in the day when I worked in a grocery store. I'm with kval - the store manager needs to know about this.

[shsshorty7]

Ummm.. the invasion of personal space would be enough for me to complain to a manager.. NO ONE has the right to touch you unless you ask..

[everprincess]

I would have demanded to see the store manager immediately. Just because you are a couponer and may have a second thought about paying too much for a item and then putting back on the shelve doesn't give him a right to belittle you. He would have hated to do this to me because I would have caused a big scene about how I'm just trying to save money to take care of family. Hope you get some resolution. Oh and don't stop shopping at this store. Don't let people stop you from saving money by shopping at the closest store you have.

[notsyourbeezwax]

OK, I would have been even more direct. If he had touched me, his family jewels would be throbbing for a week!!!

You really need to let the store manager know about this. The next time, the store could find itself with a very ugly, very public lawsuit on its hands. This guy does NOT know how to do his job, and the manager needs to stomp on him fast.

[wildnutcase]

As kval07 said, you definitely need to speak with the manager in person.

He should count his lucky stars he did not try that with a couple of pp or me.

If he had pulled that crap on me, I would have gotten very loud and made a scene and someone would probably have had to call EMS; throbbing family jewels would have been the least of his worries. About 25 years ago, I was a cocktail waitress. One night, as I was serving this guy his drink, he grabbed my ribs. I know that he was really trying to grab a boob---he had been commenting about how nice he thought they were---he just has a really lousy aim. Later on I'll bet his aim would have been better---at least he would have gotten a real thrill before I unleashed my FURY on him.

I was already having a bad day and night, and one of my regulars had been buying me straight shots of Tequila. Now, I am a very "happy drunk", but, when I drink Tequila---you had better not pi$$ me off. Anyway, he grabbed, I swung, he fell, I walked off to the back to cool off. Next thing I know, all the employees are acting all weird, some customers are backing away from me, and others are offering to buy me so many drinks I would still be drinking them. So, I asked one of the bartenders "What's going on?" He looked at me laughing and said, "Like you don't know." I told him, "Yea, if I knew, would I be asking you dumb a$$." He told me that I broke the guys nose. I told him, that's impossible, I HIT HIM WITH MY FLAT HAND---NOT A FIST! The bartender told me to please warn him if he is starting to get on my bad side.

No he did not press charges for assault---how could he, he started it I was just defending myself. I don't really think he wanted anyone else to know that he got his a$$ kicked by a skinny blonde chick from California.