Shouted at and bag searched in the street for shoplifting! (I didn't). LONG

[TRexingInSportsDirect]

AIBU to think this is the worst 'prize' ever?

I won a FB competition for a 'boudoir' photoshoot. The shoot itself was fine; they gave me a price list but told me 'but there are always special offers on the day'. This referred to the 'reveal' day, where you book an appointment to see and order the photos. I got a free photo as part of my prize, and thought I might buy some if the special offer was good.

Today was 'reveal' day. There were no special offers, so we picked the free photo, the lady put it in a bag, and we asked if we could order other photos later. She said something like "not really, we told you you have to order today otherwise all the photos [prints] get destroyed. You can book an appointment to come back but it costs 50 pounds'. So we asked to go back to the reveal room, which was fine. We umm-ed and ahh-ed a bit but decided not to buy anything. We said thank you and bye to the lady at the desk, she said bye and we left.

Walking back to the car, past shoppers and people sat outside at cafes, we heard someone who sounded pretty angry shout from good 50 yards away "Excuse me" - it was the woman shouting at us!! She continued "Can you come back here please, I need to check your bag"! Obviously while dying of embarrassment we hurried over and showed her our bag only had the one free photo in. She was saying 'Oh this is soooo awkward' (erm, it's not exactly a picnic for me, thanks)!!!

Anyway, she said some photos were "missing". We explained we moved some and put them next to others to compare, but they were all still there. She said no I've counted them. My husband suggested we go back with her and sort it out, and she said no, I know who you are, I'll count again and I'll email you. So we did the walk of shame to the car in front of everyone who was probably wondering where we'd hidden the stolen photos! I was so upset, embarrassed and shocked, I just cried (i'm not a crier normally)!! We were supposed to go to the cinema tonight, to have a date - needless to say I didn't feel like it, date's cancelled and I feel like crap.

AIBU to be really pissed off and upset, and think being shouted at and accused of theft in the street is pretty much the shittest prize ever?

Oh. So they printed all the different sizes off ready for you to buy..... Rather than do the usual and show you the photos on a projector or computer screen??

I'd be putting in a complaint about that - she needs retraining.

Sorry she made you feel so crap op

Wow that is rubbish op. I wouldent go back there gain, or recommend anyone to it. she sounds ghastly. I would put in a complaint. You shoukd go on your date, don't let her ruin it for you.

She's the managing director!! All the other staff were lovely. They printed off all the photos in A4, but they did show a slide show on the computer too - not sure why both. Anyway, she emailed to apologise about the 'drama' and to re-iterate how mortifying it was for her. WTAF is wrong with people?!

Thanks for the flowers 99percentchocolate

That's really odd that they went to the expense of printing photos that weren't being paid for?

Isn't it Backintherealworld? Especially as they were on the screen anyway. They said they had 'never' had someone just take the free photo and leave, which is in part what lead to some heightened emotions or some such bullshit - in the apology email. From which I understand she was shocked and annoyed at how cheap we were, so felt would up and sprang into shouty action thinking we'd stolen the photos!

Free makeover and photoshoots are known as being cons but this is different to the usual set up so I'm not sure whether there really were missing photos or not, the woman's behaviour is a bit odd though so try not to worry about it as I'm sure you'll never hear from them again.

Yabu. Yeah it was embarrassing but get over it. You done nothing wrong and I doubt the people in the cafe even care!

I wonder who DID steal your boudoir pics then. It quite creepy to think some stranger somewhere might be banging one out to pics of you in your undies isn't it!

No sorry, she did go back and count them, and then emailed to say sorry for the 'odd' situation (of me not buying any pictures) and the 'drama' (of her shouting at me in the street). So nobody actually stole anything, I'm not getting arrested (hopefully - nice of her to confirm though)!

Although printing out photos you hadn't even asked/paid for is really odd. I have never come across this being done

Complain about her.

I would like to think I wouldn't have let her look in my bag but I suspect I would in the shock of the moment.

YANBU.

I empathise! A few years ago after walking out of my local supermarket the security guard came running out after me. Had a carrier bag from the shop and he didn't even ask to see the receipt, just asked if we'd paid

It was embarrassing. They should be sure before accusing someone, or at least not come running making a scene.

That wouldn't have bothered me. Presumably the people in the street were strangers you'll never see again?

Bloody hell. She might have been disappointed you were not taken in by the scam to get you to buy over priced photos, but she has taken the piss with her attitude and behaviour. I would leave some shit reviews for her.

I don't think it costs them much to print them out, the whole thing is a high-pressure scam from the start

Step 1- you 'won' a photoshoot. Er, no, this photoshoot is just a ploy to get you into the shop so they can get you to spend hundreds of pounds

Step 2- You go into the photoshoot, they print out a load of photos (which costs them 50p in ink + paper), and they try the high pressure sales tactics ('this offer only valid today, £50 fee to come back, pre-printing photos you handed asked for, we will destroy the photos).

Step 3 - all the previous lies and manipulation failed, and they didn't make any money off you, so they outright accuse you of theft.

They are scum, and should be named and shamed as widely as possible.

I agree with Rick- I would reply with a very snotty email. The utter cheek!

Thanks all, I have sent her a snotty email, and let her know I will certainly be doing reviews on FB, twitter, mumsnet (of course)! For now dh and I have decided to salvage the evening with a movie night in. Review posting to commence tomorrow!

That's what I'd have done OP. She's actually pretty stupid too as she's admitted to her crazy behaviour in writing...

Quick update - dh hasn't started the film yet as I told him I have to update mumsnet - we're a match made in heaven! Anyway, after my snotty response to her snotty apology, she actually emailed back a genuine apology and she is sorry she ruined my day - didn't realise there were people around etc, and would like to gift me the rest of my photos by way of apology. Which is as much as they can do, isn't it? I doubt they will be doing that again in a hurry if it costs them a whole shoot each time! So I won't have to spend my Sunday angrily writing on the laptop well, not reviews anyway, I'll still be on AIBU, haha.

Thanks for listening to me offload and huffing with me.

Well that's a result!