Customer gets accused of stealing at a retail store after an employee stared at them for their whole visit, making them want to return their $500 purchase: ' They returned everything very begrudgingly, but I have yet to set foot in that store since'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 14, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

Maybe don't go around accusing customers of stealing if you want them to return.

I wouldn't return to a store that not only had an employee watching me the whole time I was shopping there but also accused me of stealing without showing me any proof they had to think that in the first place. And I most definitely would never buy anything from a place like this, and if I did, I would return it immediately. With this series of affirmations, you can realize that I completely agree with the actions the customer of the story below took. This person had an awful experience shopping because of the employees working there. People who, without any kind of proof, decided that the customer was a robber. We always talk about customers behaving incorrectly and giving employees a hard time. But we don't talk enough about how some employees seem to have as their job description to make the customer have an awful time at their store.

Customers can be annoying, entitled, completely lack manners, and be disruptive. I agree with that, 100%. But that doesn't excuse employees from mistreating every customer just in case they are one of those. We can see online a thousand stories about an entitled customer, but stories like this one don't usually make the cut. They aren't that common, but it is really sad when they happen. Employees are the face of a store. If they treat you well, you will return. If they don't, you won't. Is pretty simple. Hiring an employee who's apathetic or very serious can cause problems for the business, as the customers don't feel welcome, and the business starts to decrease till it has to close.

For your business to thrive, especially given the recent social climate, you must treat customers right. A lot of entitled customers have started to use the phrase "the customer is always right" incorrectly. It doesn't mean that anything they ask for has to be done. It means that you have to treat them the right way, with respect. After all, they are the ones keeping your business alive by spending money on it. 

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  • I'm not sure if this really fits but another story I saw reminded me of this. It was fall a few years back I had just bought my house so wanted to decorate. I ran to the ross that's right down the road and grabbed a cart and started shopping. Right away I noticed I was being not so subtly watched/followed by a certain employee. I did try and approach to ask a question but when I got close they took off to another section. But as I continued to shop I would notice they were not too far away.
    via Abject-Ad-2459
  • A woman shopping at a store. Representation.
    via Boxed Water Is Better

    A woman shopping at a store.

    Representation. 

  • Well I get to checkout and load everything from the cart up and I probably spent around 500 better clothes and decorations. I noticed that the employee was waiting at the end of the checkout section but didn't think anything. After I already paid and everything this employee tells me they've been watching me and wanted me to dump my purse out. A tiny handbag that fit a wallet and keys. I laughed and asked if they were serious considering I just bought so much stuff. They said if I didn't they wo
    via Abject-Ad-2459
  • So I emptied it in front of the employee and security guard and all that was in there was my wallet and keys. After I put the items back in my purse, looked at the employee and said take me to the returns because I am returning everything I bought here today. They tried to back peddle and say it wasn't needed but I said, neither was stalking a customer and accusing them of stealing, so you can either return this stuff now or I will make a scene and go to corporate. They said that this would look
    via Abject-Ad-2459
  • massive return. I reiterated that's the consequences. They returned everything very begrudgingly but I have yet to set foot in that store since.
    via Abject-Ad-2459
  • A shopping mall full of people.
    via Anna Dziubinska

    A shopping mall full of people. 

  • yrhendystu You should still report it to corporate
    via yrhendystu
  • TheDahkLord I would've still gone to corporate afterwards
    via TheDahkLord
  • Dadınkayak That would have been tempting to say "go ahead, call the cops". They would be explaining why by saying a customer just bought $500 worth of merchandise and looks like they may have put something in her tiny purse.
    via Dadınkayak
  • Born_Sandwich 176 Did the same thing once. Bought a bunch of programmable remote controls from a Best Buy and spent close to $1,000. An employee followed me out to the parking lot and wrote down my license plate. I immediately went back into the store, went to the return counter and the employee followed me. When asked for my reason for return I said, "Because this guy followed me out to my car and wrote down my license plate number. I have no idea what he's going to do with it but I won't ever
    via Born_Sandwich
  • ACoolCanadianDude Once I had to buy a couple things at a Canadian Tire. It would fit in my backpack so I went there with my bike instead of taking the car. I started shopping and some manager comes to me "may I help you with your purchases sir?". Mind you, normally employees basically run from customers to not have to answer questions. I knew what he was doing but I played along: "yes I'm looking for X". He showed me where it was, asked me if I needed anything else so I went along for each items
    via ACoolCanadianDude
  • He then accompanied me to the register when he asked to see the content of my bag, which was empty. He then said, "I'm sorry about this but next time, would you please let your backpack at the door?", I answered "you gave me the best service I ever had in a Canadian Tire, I think I'll keep bringing a backpack". He was absolutely not amused. The next day there was a sign "all backpack or duffle bags must be left at the register before entering the store" Imao
    via ACoolCanadianDude
  • bobroberts1954 Computer store, since gone out of business, had a policy of checking bags after you checked out. Every time they asked me to empty my bag I just said "no thanks" and just kept walking. Never any repercussions.
    via bobroberts1954
  • dormouse2 When I was in college, one of the classes I took had a textbook that weighed about 20 pounds. I was in a Woolworths with a friend shopping and I kept putting my bag down because of the weight. The security guard came up to me and asked what was in my bag, I realized what he was thinking, and said, take it and dropped it on his outstretched arm. He went down. I said that's why I keep putting it down, and I walked out without making a purchase.
    via dormouse2
  • War Doctor I don't know where your at. In most places in the US they can not search you or force you to empty your bag/pockets. If they contact the police they need to be able to say what you took and where on you it is located. I would have immediately asked for a manager and filed a complaint with corporate. This behavior doesn't change if they aren't held accountable.
    via War_Doctor
  • IDoNotShare Yeah, go ahead and report to corporate. You were obviously profiled. Whether it was age, race, overall appearance or just because they felt like it. It was wrong. I am fairly sure you weren't the first or only person stopped like this. You had the most practical approach.
    via IDoNotShare
  • bobfromsanluis If anyone is ever confronted in a store by security or police, first thing you should ask is "what is it that you believe I have stolen, and exactly where is it you believe I stashed it?" If they cannot answer either question, they are fishing, they do not "know" that you have stole, they are trying to intimidate and without factual knowledge that you actually did take anything, their fishing exercise is an illegal search. Know your rights, stand up for yourself, no one else will.
    via bobfromsanluis

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customer service employee malicious compliance retail
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