Best Buy #260 Suspected Of Being A Shoplifter Even Before Entering Store. accused, shoplift, best buy Mesa Arizona

This company has really gone down hill fast. Even before I stepped foot in the store the greeter saw me and what I was wearing, a simple coat because of the rain. I proceeded to enter the store to look at dvd storage and movies. I proceeded to browse through the section and finally choose a movie and then browsed the cd section. Not finding any thing else I wanted I proceeded to the register.

Little did I know I was followed by an employee the entire time. I found this out because the employee was quite obvious and blew his cover when I was waiting in line at the register. He stood between the register and the exit with arms crossed, his stupid little headset, and stared at me while I paid for my transaction.

After the cashier handed the receipt to me the other employee immediately left the area and that is when I knew exactly what was going on.

Once I got home I called the Best Buy consumer affairs office and wouldn't you know it. I got nothing. Not even a simple apology when I explained what happened. I asked the operator if this is how Best Buy treats their customers? He said "I can't comment on that. I don't know what happened." UMMMM I just explained to him. I replied "It's a simple Yes or No question." He again answered "I can't say Yes or No." His dodging the questions, no apology, and no straight answer told me and should tell everyone reading this exactly how Best Buy operates. Best Buy thinks EVERY customer is a shoplifter, especially those who wear coats in the rain!

It would have been okay to think something was up if I was wearing the coat in the middle of summer here in the desert! But its raining alot this time of year and it is cold right now! Why should people get soaked and sick just to make any retailer feel comfortable and not suspect them of being a shoplifter.

The first rule of retail in identifying a shoplifter (and this rule is used in shoplifting prosecution too) is FIRST you MUST SEE concealment of the item whether in person or by video camera, even if the item has security tags. If the retailer does not see concealment happen then anything that happens afterwards does not matter. I also know this rule from long ago when I worked retail, this point was heavily stressed.

I had the movie in hand in plain site the entire time I was in the store. In any store I always make it a point that if the item is not in my shopping cart it is in my hand in plain view.

What happened at Best Buy was completely inexcusable. Truely disrepectful of customers. That is the last time I ever shop their. I hope every person reading this also stops shopping at Best Buy stores and website. Besides their products are upwards of 30% high than any other retailer.

Tom
Mesa, Arizona
U.S.A.