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Report: #7774

Report: Fashion Bug Department Store

Reported By: (Muskegon MI)

Fashion Bug Store .."Bugs It's Customers" Consumer abuse Rip-off

... They were only doing what they had to.

1Author 4Consumer 2Employee

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Fashion Bug Department Store

1809 E. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon Michigan 49442
U.S.A.
Phone: 231-733-5514
Web Address:

Category: Clothing Stores

Submitted: Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Last posting: Friday, November 21, 2008

On 10/27/01 my friend and I were in the Fashion Bug store in Muskegon, Michigan. As we were leaving the store, the door security detector went off. A Fashion Bug associate rushed to the door and told us that we HAD to come back into the store because the alarm had sounded. The manner in which she approached us was very accusatory and we were insulted. My friend pulled her jacket open and said we are not concealing anything and even asked, "Do you want to look inside my purse?" The associate could see we had nothing. I said that it was probably my keyless car door opener which had set the alarm off.

We continued about our business and went into the store next door. Two to three minutes later, the same Fashion Bug associate came into this store and told us that her manager said we HAD to come back to the Fashion Bug store because the alarm had gone off. We had no reason to return to the store and refused to do so. She left. She had only been gone a few minutes when another Fashion Bug associate came to the store where we were still shopping. She said that she was the manager, and told us that we HAD to come back to the Fashion Bus store. Again, we refused.

She left and apparently telephoned the Police and stated that we had taken something from the Fashion Bug store. The Sheriff Deputy came into the store where we were, followed by the Fashion Bug "manager". He asked if we would go back to Fashion Bug, which we did. He asked if he could look in our purses. We agreed and gave him our purses. It was obvious that he did not feel we had stolen anything as he just glanced in our purses. I told him what had set off the alarm and he apologized for any inconvience. Of course, the Fashion Bug associates did not apoligize. And as we left the store, and while still in the presence of the Deputy, my keyless car door opener set off the alarm again!

We were publicly humilated and embrassed by the Fashion Bug associates. I have since learned that Fashion Bug associates have followed customers into parking lots and told them that they HAD to return to the store because the alarm had gone off.

It is not the customer's responsibility to keep their alarm systems calibrated and working properly so that they do not go off when custormers leave.......it is Fashion Bug's responsibility!

If you have experienced similar treatment by Fashion Bug, don't let them get away with it. Something can be done.......legally!

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:

1Author 4Consumer 2Employee

Consumer Comment

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Just say the words False imprisonment

Tanja - DesMoines ()

SUBMITTED: Friday, August 30, 2002 POSTED: Saturday, August 31, 2002

I'm 33 now, but, about twenty years ago this same thing happened to me (no keyless car alarms though:)

No sooner did I walk into a department store, did a security guard wisk me away into a back room for interogation. He accused me of stealing my own coat. Yes, it was new,but, I didn't even purchase it there, nor did the store carry that brand name. I mean gosh, it had SEARS written on the tag! I was at FRED MEYER!

Anyway, I was young and I was terrified! I have since found out that I could have pressed charges for false imprisonment. If you are inocent they have no right to hold you against your will. All you have to say is please, call the police, because I want to have YOU arrested for false imprisonment. They have to by law, let you go at that point, or THEY are the ones in big trouble.

Employee

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You caused the scene!

Sally - Concord (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Monday, June 23, 2003 POSTED: Monday, June 23, 2003

If you would have done what the manager asked then the police wouldn't have been called. She was only doing her job. By you people leaving the store after an alarm goes off, only makes you look guilty. Think about it as if you are the manager.YOU job is to controll your store shrink. Your job depends on overall how the store preforms. Shop-lifting, internal and external is avery big problem in all retail.
By leaving the store, how do we know that you didn't stash the stuff in another store. Because of real shoplifters, every customer is a potential shoplifter. Our job is to sell and to controll theft. You caused this scene by leaving a store after you trip an alarm.

Consumer Suggestion

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Tha't messed up business

Pjai - Fort Bragg (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 POSTED: Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Sally,

The woman said that they checked in their coats and that they even offered to open their purses so that the people could check and see if they had anything. Like she said its not their responsibilities to fix the alarms. I've had alarms go off as I'm going into the store, before I could even buy anything. I've worked retail before and They could have checked them before they left the store. If I were them I would sue the hell out of that store.

Consumer Comment

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Keyless remote? Impossible.

Melissa - Allentown (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Thursday, August 10, 2006 POSTED: Thursday, August 10, 2006

It is IMPOSSIBLE for your keyless remote to make a security alarm go off. It is also impossible for any cell phones or keys to make it go off. I've seen in this profession career-crooks use every excuse in the book when they walk out of a door and the alarm goes off.

It also does not mean you stole anything either. All it does mean is that there is a live security tag somewhere on your persons. It could be in the lining of your purse, it could be in a wallet, it could be sewn into your clothing. Unfortunately, you may never find it and you'll set off every security system in the world.

The interesting thing about this complaint is that you never mentioned going into the store in the first place. Did you set off the security alarm? Hmmm... Odd though. You set it off going out but not going in initially.

Consumer Comment

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Keyless remotes DO set off alarms

Melissa - Unknown (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Saturday, August 12, 2006 POSTED: Saturday, August 12, 2006

I have seen this happen before.

Our local Wal Mart has two seperate in and out doors, and the alarm systems are on both. One day I was next to the door buying fruit when a couple walked in and set off the alarm.

They were confused, since they hadn't even been in the store yet, but they stopped and the greeter came over. The first thing she asked was if they had keyless remotes, the girl said yes, and the greeter held her keys while they both walked back out and in the door.

No more alarm. The greeter said it happened all the time, told them she'd warn the greeter on the exit door, and suggested they may want to leave the remote in the car next time. She was polite and it took all of 30 seconds.

The downside to this story is that if someone had a remote that they knew set off alarms, they might try to use it as a cover to steal stuff.

As for the OP not setting the alarms off on the way in, perhaps this Fashion Bug did not have the alarm system on the entry doors. Who knows. I just thought I'd point out that setting off the alarms with a keyless remote is possible.

Ex-Employee

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They were only doing what they had to.

Jdean - Manchester (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Friday, November 21, 2008 POSTED: Friday, November 21, 2008

If a customer sets off the Sensormatic (Security detector) at the door an employee has to assume two things:

1) That she left a sensor on your clothes (or other item) by mistake and must remove it. By checking for a missed sensor and taking it off right then & there, you will not get all the way home and discover a sensor on your clothes and have to drive all the way back to the store to have it de-sensored.
A missed sensor is why the Sensormatic goes 95% of the time.

OR

2) The customer has tried to steal something they did not pay for.

The employee was wrong to approach you in an accusatory way. However, if a customer sets off the Sensormatic and then tries leaves the store, the employee MUST CHECK THE CUSTOMER'S BAG. Your purse/jacket is none of their business, but your purchases are*.

If I read your claim right, it appears you did not re-enter the store as the employee requested and instead continued onto another store.

In this case the police must be notified. If the alarm is set off and the customer refuses to have their bags check and leaves, then the employee has to assume that merchandise was stolen.