ben2go
Well-known member
I took my GF and our 6 year old son to Academy Sports and Outdoors in Spartanburg,SC today,only to be ran off.I was then told by the manager that I was paranoid or was acting suspiciously.
Let me go back to the beginning.My son got out of school at 10:30am because his awards day end at that time.So we,my GF,son and I,decided to head over to Academy to look at camping and fishing gear for a trip this summer.We all went straight in and to use the restrooms before we looked around.When we came out there were store employees, and what I thought were customers, all around us.When we would move isle to isle or section to section,they seemed to move also.Ater about 10 minutes,my GF said she was going over to the clothing area.My son and I continued through the tackle section.The group that seemed to be following us suddenly parted.Half tailed my GF and the other half followed my son and I.We turned to go down and isle and a man came around the corner pushing an empty cart.He had an ear wig in but no cell phone, only a small 2way radio in his back pocket.I over heard him mumbling," I have the two in sight".After moving a few more times, and him following me,I pulled out my cell phone and called my GF in the clothing area.She said we needed to leave, now.I told her our son and I were gonna use the restroom before we made the trip home.Of course we weren't followed.The loss prevention guy radioed to the employees that we were heading to the restrooms and they relayed were we were at.I could hear them.They were saying it looks like the guy is getting nervous.I wasn't!I was getting angry and upset bad enough to use bad language around my 6 year old son.I didn't.I held it in because I don't confront people when my kids are with me.My son knew I was getting upset.He didn't beg to stay and browse like he usually does.We meet my GF up at the entrance.She said that she was followed, and the teenage boy wouldn't let her get more than 10 feet away.My son and I had the same experience.He even noticed it at 6 years old, and being distracted by fishing and boating gear.So you know it was getting bad when a 6 year old starts feeling unwelcome.We arrived at the store at 10:55 am,by 11:10 am we were ran off by paranoid loss prevention and security staff.My GF is a security officer and heads up a team where she works.She deals with the legal issues of the security team and she said that the actions of the staff could get us a nice settlement.I digress because I am not a sue happy person.Instead,I thought I would call the store manager and tell her of my experience.I described exactly what happen to all of us and told her that the plain dressed loss prevention officer scared my son.I described everything and everyone that followed us.It was 15 people in total.I spoke to her in a calm collected manner.Never once insulting her or her staff.She rudely kept breaking in on me while I was trying to tell her what happened.I could hear all the little, I don't believe you noises, she was making over the phone. I could almost see her rolling her eyes and making faces on the other end of the phone.She asked me what I expected her to do about it.I calmly told her that I would call a meeting with all the staff,explain the issue,and ask everyone to be a little more relaxed,not intrude on peoples personal space,don't make them feel guilty for browsing, don't make their children feel like they are doing something wrong,and about to get in trouble.The response I got was,"I believe you are paranoid or you were acting suspiciously".It came with the most smart a** hateful child like tone.After talking with my son and GF,we have decided not to return to that particular store.I thought about calling the corporate office,but I really have my doubts about it doing any good, considering the managers child like attitude.I absolutely refuse to be violated or have someone try to intimidate me in any place.OK rant over.Just needed a little vent time.Thanks for listening to me whine.Oh did I mention the manager hung up on me like a PO'd teenaged girlfriend?
Let me go back to the beginning.My son got out of school at 10:30am because his awards day end at that time.So we,my GF,son and I,decided to head over to Academy to look at camping and fishing gear for a trip this summer.We all went straight in and to use the restrooms before we looked around.When we came out there were store employees, and what I thought were customers, all around us.When we would move isle to isle or section to section,they seemed to move also.Ater about 10 minutes,my GF said she was going over to the clothing area.My son and I continued through the tackle section.The group that seemed to be following us suddenly parted.Half tailed my GF and the other half followed my son and I.We turned to go down and isle and a man came around the corner pushing an empty cart.He had an ear wig in but no cell phone, only a small 2way radio in his back pocket.I over heard him mumbling," I have the two in sight".After moving a few more times, and him following me,I pulled out my cell phone and called my GF in the clothing area.She said we needed to leave, now.I told her our son and I were gonna use the restroom before we made the trip home.Of course we weren't followed.The loss prevention guy radioed to the employees that we were heading to the restrooms and they relayed were we were at.I could hear them.They were saying it looks like the guy is getting nervous.I wasn't!I was getting angry and upset bad enough to use bad language around my 6 year old son.I didn't.I held it in because I don't confront people when my kids are with me.My son knew I was getting upset.He didn't beg to stay and browse like he usually does.We meet my GF up at the entrance.She said that she was followed, and the teenage boy wouldn't let her get more than 10 feet away.My son and I had the same experience.He even noticed it at 6 years old, and being distracted by fishing and boating gear.So you know it was getting bad when a 6 year old starts feeling unwelcome.We arrived at the store at 10:55 am,by 11:10 am we were ran off by paranoid loss prevention and security staff.My GF is a security officer and heads up a team where she works.She deals with the legal issues of the security team and she said that the actions of the staff could get us a nice settlement.I digress because I am not a sue happy person.Instead,I thought I would call the store manager and tell her of my experience.I described exactly what happen to all of us and told her that the plain dressed loss prevention officer scared my son.I described everything and everyone that followed us.It was 15 people in total.I spoke to her in a calm collected manner.Never once insulting her or her staff.She rudely kept breaking in on me while I was trying to tell her what happened.I could hear all the little, I don't believe you noises, she was making over the phone. I could almost see her rolling her eyes and making faces on the other end of the phone.She asked me what I expected her to do about it.I calmly told her that I would call a meeting with all the staff,explain the issue,and ask everyone to be a little more relaxed,not intrude on peoples personal space,don't make them feel guilty for browsing, don't make their children feel like they are doing something wrong,and about to get in trouble.The response I got was,"I believe you are paranoid or you were acting suspiciously".It came with the most smart a** hateful child like tone.After talking with my son and GF,we have decided not to return to that particular store.I thought about calling the corporate office,but I really have my doubts about it doing any good, considering the managers child like attitude.I absolutely refuse to be violated or have someone try to intimidate me in any place.OK rant over.Just needed a little vent time.Thanks for listening to me whine.Oh did I mention the manager hung up on me like a PO'd teenaged girlfriend?