dear abby letter

[Asharah]

My niece was at the mall once with a friend when she was a teenager. An older man started following them around and harassing them, I'm not sure exactly why, I heard this from her mother. My niece complained to the security guard who ignored her. Apparently the guy complained they were the ones bothering him and the idiot guard bought it cause he was the adult. Guy keeps following them and this time a store clerk sees what's happening and calls security for them. Same guard shows up and basically refuses to do anything them. My niece is totally scared by this time and finally gets some action by threatening to stand in the middle of the mall and scream "Rape!" at the top of her lungs if something isn't done. My sister calls the mall management when she hears about it and gives them he**! One thing about my sister, she is not shy about screaming bloody murder if you get her mad! Management trys to say it's just her word, but she informs him about the store clerk. Wonder if she actually got the security idiot fired or not?

[madmusician]

That reminds me of something that happened with my boyfriend, but I don't want to hijack OP. Maybe I'll do a new post for it for your reading enjoyment.

[vTenebrae]

I've been out a couple of times, decked to go dancing at a nightclub (I tend toward "goth" striped tights, lots of black and burgandy velvet, dramatic makeup, combat boots, you get the idea).  People have "mean mugged" and followed me through a store.  Obviously, I must be meaning to steal!

I just giggle because when I get to the counter to pay for my purchases with my credit card.. I hand them my military ID.  That makes them blink a bit

Another story (sorry), very brief.. about how judging a book by it's cover, bit a friend of mine in the buttocks.

A gentleman had walked into his dealership (Chevy, I believe).  He was in paint splattered overalls, scruffy beard, old scuffed work boots, and carrying a banged up black lunchbox.  All the salesmen, including my friend, continued to do their thing and ignored him as he looked at all the most expensive pick up trucks.  After about 30 mins, the man walked up to the sales manager, pointed to a truck, and said "I want that one".  The manager raised an eyebrow and went into the financing spiel, insinuating that he was unsure the man could pay for that truck (about $45,000), but he'd try to get him a good deal if he could.  The old man looked him square in the eye and said, "I will take that one.  And there will be NO commission to anyone.  You didn't sell anything, I chose it.  I'll be paying cash".

Guess what was in the lunch box.  (Must have been one of those 'eccentric' types)

Apparently the guy got a good deal, got the number for the corporate office, and that dealership was out all kinds of neat add on fees.  Also, corporate came in and had a nice "meeting" with all the sales reps, as well.

The have DO have a nice picture of the man & his truck, displayed in the office.. I assume as a reminder.  I giggled when I saw it

[blue2000]

I've been out a couple of times, decked to go dancing at a nightclub (I tend toward "goth" striped tights, lots of black and burgandy velvet, dramatic makeup, combat boots, you get the idea).  People have "mean mugged" and followed me through a store.  Obviously, I must be meaning to steal!

I just giggle because when I get to the counter to pay for my purchases with my credit card.. I hand them my military ID.  That makes them blink a bit

This kind of thing makes me wonder where these people's brains were. I work in retail. Fortunately, I don't deal with customers much anymore, but when I did, the *ahem* creatively-dressed people might (or might not) talk loudly, swear, or mess up the displays, but they were not likely to steal anything. And they tend to spend a fair bit of money if they like the store.
It was actually the conservatively-dressed customers who got caught being sticky-fingered. I had to tail a 50ish gentleman in a three-peice suit through the store once because he pocketed a toy car!