Shop took my bags from me

[Watermelonsugarcube]

This is something that happened around15 years ago that I just randomly remembered, not a massive issue just something I’m curious about.

Aged around 20 I was out clothes shopping, big city centre. I walked into a shop (pretty sure it was Armani exchange but can’t be 100%) and a member of staff approached me and said “would you like us to take your bags for you madam? You can collect them when you leave”. I wasn’t really sure why but being young and still wet behind the ears I compliantly handed them over, I thought it was maybe just something they did in posh shops so that you didn’t have to carry them (I realise Armani exchange isn’t exactly high end but to my 20 year old river island clad self it was the height of luxury).

Until I realised that every other shopper in there had their bags with them and realised they probably had me down as a shoplifter. Still remember the embarrassment of having to ask for my bags back before I could leave.

So not really an aibu, just wondering if anyone who’s worked in retail knows if this was an actual store policy and did my admittedly badly dressed but ultimately shy and perfectly normal lone female presence really give out mega shoplifter vibes.

In Pretoria and Johannesburg, in some stores, there was a desk at the entrance and cubby holes behind like a coat check. All large bags had to be left there and collected on the way out. I quite liked it as it made the shopping experience more enjoyable.

I also wonder if it's a good tactic to get people to buy more. If you have loads of shopping bags - especially ones from fancy shops, they could single out those shoppers to relieve them of their bags so they can have the space to enjoy shopping in that store without struggling. When I'm carrying 3-4 bags and going into another shop, as it's a shlep I may not stay as long. Also if I have bags I have a reminder of what I spent and always talk myself out of buying another item before I get to till.

The security guard in my local supermarket hates me and walks around staring at me like I might try and steal a triangle of Brie at any moment. I used to think it was just his manner but asked friends who always shop there and they said they had never seen him anywhere by by the tills. Next time I went in I noticed he clocked me and moved from the tills. Whichever aisle I walked down he would be ‘nonchalantly’ walking past it.
i’m a 40something year old woman who has two small children and (I think) dresses pretty well…. I don’t look like what I imagine shop staff where I live think shoplifters look like (shifty looking teenagers who are on a free from school I imagine)….

it Makes me so uncomfortable.

but honestly. He is probably sooooo bored, I don’t blame him for wondering if the exhausted housewife who comes in after school pick up, with her two hyperactive children, looking flustered and growling ‘stop running around’ at her kids might have been a cat burglar in a former life and likes to keep her hand in by lifting a few bottles of Tabasco and a box of Nescafé tabs….

don’t give it another thought. Next time someone does that smile sweetly and say ‘no thanks’ and if they say ‘you can’t come in’, channel Julia Roberts and say ‘do you work on commission? BIG mistake. HUGE… sorry I have to go shopping now!’ And waltz off to spend money somewhere else.

My understanding is that legally they should only display suspicion when sure. That if you were stopped and searched and they found nothing that you could take out a legal case of defamation against them. So this example I would have complained. I’ve never heard of any of the behaviours described on here! It would be very incorrect if based on suspicions of shoplifting.

Kids will nick a packet of Haribo or some deodorant. Middleaged women with kids will have the most expensive bottle of wine away, thinking that it can be excused with a tinkly little laugh of 'Oh, Goodness me, I completely forgot about that and the packets of fillet steak and Cathedral City that also fell into my bag whilst I was struggling to herd the children and pay for the Petits Filous, Pom Bars and Pink Lady apples. Must be peri brain'.

Toys r us is the one that sprang to mind..

It was easier in the days where every shop gave you free carier bags