Do you resent being "watched" in stores?

applecruncher

applecruncher

SF VIP
Location
Ohio USA
I tend to carry large purses, and in cold weather I wear a very big, loose fitting winter coat. So, it's understandable if a store employee keeps an eye on me. I usually ignore it or, if it gets annoying I look at the person with a raised eyebrow or I ask if they can help me find (whatever).

However, all of us are being "watched". That scruffy-looking person dressing in a wrinkled shirt and torn jeans in the aisle at the grocery store might be a store detective. And, there are surveillance cameras all over the place, even in the parking lot.

I don't mind at all! I'm not shoplifting, I'm not changing price tags, and I'm not opening packages and eating food without paying for it.

Years ago I had a serious stalker problem that went on for years........suffice it to say surveillance cameras helped me.

But the idea of being "watched" bothers some people.
 

I know we are being watched to see if we are going to rob the store or another crime, but rather than bother me it kind of makes me feel that if someone would try to steal something from me or attack me at least someone would be watching and might be able to help me.
 
I have never given it a lot of thought, but in the case of store survelance, or public areas, I do not really mind. If it helps prevent crime, and could serve as a "witness" to events it could be a great asset. I mean, most stores and parking lots have signs letting us know we are being monitored, so it is no secret
 

I don't resent being watched, it's their store, their stuff.

If I ever had a garage sale, I'd be watching everyone eyeing my stuff. ;)
 
I'm the super guilty acting customer, if I go into a store with a banana or a candy bar I'm absolutely sure that I will be tackled and arrested for shoplifting before I leave.
 
Doesn't bother me - people are entitled to keep an eye on their stuff.

I live in a county which has the highest concentration of CCTV cameras in Europe. Makes me feel safe when I go out.
 
Marie5656 said:
I have never given it a lot of thought, but in the case of store survelance, or public areas, I do not really mind. If it helps prevent crime, and could serve as a "witness" to events it could be a great asset. I mean, most stores and parking lots have signs letting us know we are being monitored, so it is no secret
Click to expand...
Marie,I agree with everything you said Sue
 
I don't mind cameras, but I hate smaller stores where they hire someone to pretend to be a customer and follow people around. One time, in a store I had frequented a lot, this happened and the manager volunteered to me that's what one person in the store was doing.

Like Aunt Bea, for some reason it makes me feel guilty. :shrug: I avoid putting my hands anywhere near my purse or pockets. Very uncomfortable.
 
I don't care about the cameras. In fact, I feel safer in these days.

I think I'd feel uncomfortable though, if someone in a smaller store was following me around. Hah- it would be funny if, in that scenario we turned to the person and tried to strike up a conversation, like "Pardon me, but you look SO familiar, did you ever work at ____?" (with a big smile) Or, "isn't it just awful what they're charging for this?" etc.

Anyway, a friend of mine is a retired prosecuting attorney and he told me people should never, EVER try shoplifting at Target Stores! He said their security systems equal Homeland Security.

Sure enough, my EX-dil had a sticky-fingered friend who got caught lifting stupid hair bands and scrunchies at Target. She slipped them under the flap in the child-seat part of the carriage! It was in the paper.
 
With all the lunatics and criminals running around, I am all for CCTV surveillance. If it keeps the shoplifters in check, that helps keep the store prices down, and it has proven to be a huge plus in catching criminals.
 
On the flip side:

We had a case here about 20 yrs ago:
A 60 yr old mad went into Meijers to get batteries. He took an empty package to make sure he got the correct ones. Two security officers tackled him, and as a result he was paralyzed for life. :eek:mg1: He sued and received $12M and a percentage of Meijers profits for X years, IIRC. (jury award)
 
applecruncher said:
On the flip side:

We had a case here about 20 yrs ago:
A 60 yr old mad went into Meijers to get batteries. He took an empty package to make sure he got the correct ones. Two security officers tackled him, and as a result he was paralyzed for life. :eek:mg1: He sued and received $!2M and a percentage of Meijers profits for X years, IIRC. (jury award)
Click to expand...

OMG, the poor man! He deserves every dime and more but there's no price high enough to compensate for what he lost. :nightmare:
 
I don't mind at all, my pet peeve are the sales ladies in dress shops that want to know your size, the style you are
looking for, the colour etc. These places I just walk out of and they are wondering these days why we shop online.
 
I don’t mind like others said it gives you some security, espically on the roads now days
I have a dash cam in my car to,protect ..ME ..in the event of an accident ....because there are so many staged “accidents” happening on our roads now days
 
I don't care very much about store security people or cameras watching me, I'm not a thief and if some lunatic starts something, hopefully they'll have the footage to bust him. Of course if one of their security guards thought I had something and tackled me without reason, I think the video footage might magically disappear or be compromised by the store owners. :playful:
 
I read somewhere that when you enter a store and are instantly greeted by a salesperson asking how you are today, is there anything they can help you with, etc., they do it because it lets you know you are
being watched, and cuts down on shoplifting. Somehow, I do find it annoying; I don't like being treated like a potential criminal, even though it probably helps us all in the long run.

Applecruncher, that story about the man being paralyzed by security guards and being awarded $12M is incredible. I'm sure you believe it's true, and maybe it is, but it sounds a lot like the urban myths that
were making the rounds about 20 years ago. I'm wondering if there's a link to the story.
 
Sunny said:
I read somewhere that when you enter a store and are instantly greeted by a salesperson asking how you are today, is there anything they can help you with, etc., they do it because it lets you know you are
being watched, and cuts down on shoplifting. Somehow, I do find it annoying; I don't like being treated like a potential criminal, even though it probably helps us all in the long run.

Applecruncher, that story about the man being paralyzed by security guards and being awarded $12M is incredible. I'm sure you believe it's true, and maybe it is, but it sounds a lot like the urban myths that
were making the rounds about 20 years ago. I'm wondering if there's a link to the story.
Click to expand...

Gee whiz. You're "sure I believe it's true"......really?

C'mon, Sunny. You've known me awhile. Good grief, gimme a little credit. I'm not an idiot.

I know it's true because 1) it happened in the city where I've lived for 44 yrs 2) the (attorney) husband of a former co-worker was involved in the litigation. The case was huge news here. The man's name is LEO (LEROY) SPANGLER (I don't know if he's still living).

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.legal/7BfVB4ch_J0[1-25]

That should give you enough to go on. I'm not going to do any more research nor am I going to provide you with personal information about the referenced acquaintances for your own satisfaction.
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top