Lush staff intimidated/accused my dd and her friends

[B1bbleBabble]

Dd 15 had Christmas money/ vouchers to spend in Lush£30. Went in with 2 lovely girls from school and were smelling perfume testers. Approached as per usual by sellers, one girl didn’t turn round to listen and carried on smelling. None had anything in their hands.Seller then told said girl off for being rude and said it looked suspicious. Went over to speak to other staff who collected in a huddle and started watching them. Girls left as felt uncomfortable but returned as wanted to spend their money and also to complain to manager.Told her what happened and that they wanted to make it clear that they weren’t shop lifters. Dd said she was very fake charming and excused their behaviour by saying they get shoplifters in the store. Manager proceeded to follow them round the store pestering asking if they wanted anything in particular/if they had decided what they wanted to buy yet even whilst they were paying for bath bombs. All other staff doing the same and taking in turns to follow the girls with eye signals. Then all followed them to door and watched them leave the shopping centre through window.

Dd is devastated/ mortified and vowing never to return. She used to love Lush. I’m so pissed off as this was a cheer up trip. They work hard at school and my dd doesn’t generally have money to spend in there.Upstairs in her room now really upset. I could bet your bottom dollar I wouldn’t have experienced the same and surely you need good grounds to accuse and intimidate anybody.

Should I complain to head office?

Complain if you want - they won’t care.

I avoid lush now because of the staff pouncing on you as soon as you set foot in the door, they have gone way past the 'being helpful' boundary!

Our local corner shop has a sign outside saying 'only two teens allowed in shop at any one time' and you definitely could not insert any other group into that sign in place of 'teens' and get away with it

If I go to lush, I put my sunglasses and my headphones on and just power through and ignore them all

Hate Lush. Just want to shop in peace thank you very much. Now DD is older I thankfully don't have to go in there anymore.
For whatever reason, I was one of those people targeted by shop staff in my teens and twenties. I got so fed up of being approached with a 'can I help you' I used to tell than I wasn't shop lifting and walk out.

I know shoplifting happens, I used to work in retail.

Clearly not.

I was once put in hospital due to a horrendous UTI I got from using one of their bath bombs. Nearly lost my baby. Yes, really. Not lying. Showed paper bag with ingredient sticker to Gynae Consultant and he seemed pretty certain when he saw one ingredient in particular.

What was it?

Shop lifting happens.
Shop lifters are often middle aged women.
Middle aged women should be followed by staff to ensure they don't nick anything.

It's a ridiculous stance. Of course your dd should complain to head office, vociferously.

Yeah what's with shops with over enthusiastic sales staff (and lots of them). Holland and Barrett is another one, I avoid if possible as I feel super awkward if they don't have what I need and I leave empty handed.

Lush is a revolting, smelly shop and the politics of the owners stink even worse. Complain if you want, the management won’t give a shit. Next time, consider getting vouchers from a more reputable store.

@zoobincan there are a number of essential oils which aren't safe to be used in pregnancy for that reason.

I saw a documentary once, looking at the work of store detectives.
In it, one shop assistant said that they were taught that one of the triggers for identifying potential shop lifters was a customer who came into the shop but didn't acknowledge the shop assistant either, by responding when spoken to or making eye contact when spoken to (could be a sign that you're distracted and casing the joint apparently).
Could be the friend's actions , rather than your daughter that triggered this.

Certainly they should complain to management, in writing.
Dogging shoppers around a store is inexcusable.

Stopped using Lush when they started referring to women as cisgender.

It was an annoying shop anyway. F 'em.

I don't go in lush anymore as last time I went in one, I found the sales technique a bit much- 3 staff members getting in my way and asking if I needed help or suggesting I washed my hands with some jelly. No thanks. I'd definitely report this- your poor daughter x

I think you should put up a post about Lush on social media, and then watch all the comments that come and say that they have experienced the same, I bet.

It’s not fair to say ‘well they usually get teenagers stealing so I can see why they followed your daughter’ type things, that’s not acceptable!

OP help your daughter write a complaint to lush head office (and get your daughter to suggest each of her friends do the same)
Every time I've been in lush you get an entourage of staff bothering you, do you need any help, are you looking for anything in particular...it is very off putting as im the type of person that wants to look around and see if there's anything there that interests me, I don't want to feel pressurised by sales staff

Op if your daughter loves lush products and doesn't want to go back to that branch of it, then why not shop online at the lush site, she can buy all the same stuff, but without the annoying staff bothering her and following her
uk.lush.com

My DD and I went shopping there at Christmas, and we were "escorted " by an Assistant throughout our trip! There is a very hard sell there and I feel sorry for the staff really.Also the smell is so strong!

there are a number of essential oils which aren't safe to be used in pregnancy for that reason.

That's great. I was however asking that poster which 'one particular ingredient' they were talking about.

@zoobincan At a guess, I’d say it’s clary sage and it was the ‘sex bomb’ bath bomb. Has been known to induce birth and should not be recommended for pregnant women.
Lush has changed so much in the last 10 years. I loved working there initially but by the time I left I was pretty disillusioned.

I hate shops where the sales assistants constantly hover over you, I end up walking out the shop, I don’t know why retail train their staff to be this way when most people hate it, they should do their research and they would find out that most of us hate it, can’t you just look in a shop now?

I be a bit hmmif one of my teenagers told me they'd demanded to see the manager because a sales assistant had spoken to them about being rude.

I'd be proud. Why should teenagers put up with treatment that an adult wouldn't?

Should I complain to head office?
No - stop shopping there. It is like a weird cult.

I would complain and stop shopping there too.

YABU to let her shop at Lush in the first place. Awful place. Little morals.

@B1bbleBabble show her the rant from the man in Black Books when he gets approached in the shop. Tell her to go back and repeat it to the staff