Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

My dad was Scottish.

Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP

You definitely should get more satisfaction than just a $50 gift card.

At the risk of being self-iindulgent, give a read to posts #26 and 28 of this thread, and modify them for your situation: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...1&page=2&pp=15

There is a difference here, namely that you may actually have grounds for litigation. I don't know if I'd ultimately take it that far, but I'd be going for the jugular here, including the fate of some of those employees, a nice letter of apology and a check with more digits than the value of that gift card. I wouldn't let this slide: others shouldn't be subjected to this sort of treatment, and the staff at the store deserve a lesson in how to use better judgment in these situations.

Originally Posted by Rete

You can do whatever you wish. It is your right.

You asked how we would feel in the same situation. Simple, I would be angry and upset but would still have emptied my pockets immediately rather than continue on as you did. Especially in light of the fact that I had very important business on the outside of the school to attend to. But that's me, I prioritize.

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

If I had been in the same situation and knew of my innocence about the accusations, I would have demanded that all this took place in the public area of the store, in front of other shoppers. This would cause maximum embarrassment to the staff and management at the store and make an impression on other shoppers (who can make their own conclusions about whether they wish to shop there in the future).


NC Penguin

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

If I had been in the same situation and knew of my innocence about the accusations, I would have demanded that all this took place in the public area of the store, in front of other shoppers. This would cause maximum embarrassment to the staff and management at the store and make an impression on other shoppers (who can make their own conclusions about whether they wish to shop there in the future).


NC Penguin

Originally Posted by TruBrit

i'm not so sure how i'd have reacted. it's quite easy for us to say after the event and after now knowing our rights. bearing in mind the op has not been in this country for long and may not have been aware of the policy regarding shoplifting. i certainly didn't know my rights either here or in the uk about shoplifting..lol it's not something i am in the habit of doing

Originally Posted by texas_ranger

Totally agree with you there.
As I see it, I have a number of different options
1) Let it Lie - I am now in a position where I can take the moral high-ground and ensure this does not happen again to an unsuspecting shopper in that store or even in the region/area. Take the $50 and forget all about it.
2) Go for the Jugular - I can take the selfish option and try to milk as much from them as possible, escalating where necessary. Letting everyone know what happened, including publicising the matter in the local press.

Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP

And if you seriously intend the legal option, I'd also refrain from talking about it further here in public posts, at least until you know where things are headed.

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Always amazes me what people are willing to divulge on a public forum. As you know but a lot of others don't seem to...is that most/all...medium/large companies and Gov. agencies monitor sites like this. .

Originally Posted by Manc

no they don't. It was me that grassed you up to Fox.

Originally Posted by texas_ranger

A wee story about my shopping experience today (Whilst the material facts are exact, some of the more touchy feely parts have been deliberately hammed up to pander to the litagious society that is the US! :

Shopping:
I visited a big chain supermarket store on Tue 19th December.
I was wearing my usual business formal attire - shirt, black trousers, black Italian leather shoes. I had on my blue woollen duffle coat as it was raining and cold outside. I was glad I had the coat after the ordeal I was to go through.
I had stopped off as we were early for an appointment at the medical institute and as I was looking for a specific office product which I required to complete a business task.
I entered via the 'non-food' entrance (to the left of the store as you look at the front).
I browsed for about 10 minutes in the stationary aisles, and could not find what I was looking for.
On the way out, my wife called to ask me to hurry up as she was anxious about her appointment at the hospital to have her pre-natal scan (8 weeks pregnancy). She also had a full bladder (a pre-requisite of the first pre-natal scan).
I did not want to hold her up.
On the way past a display, I noticed a product I thought I would like to purchase as an Impulse buy. As I was in a hurry and could not see a free manned checkout, so I checked out at the self check-out at 11:08. I paid cash for the 1 item purchased and the total was $9.52.
I proceeded to leave the store. I did not bag the item, as I was going to unbox it there and then.

The Apprehension:
I was apprehended as I was about to exit the store by a Male - Elderly (in his 60's) caucasian - blue uniform - 5'5" - 5'7"('the greeter'). As I was unwrapping the purchase as I left the store, I was not truly sure it was me he had said "excuse me, Sir" to, until my path was blocked by the man.
He asked to see my receipt for the purchased goods. I duly obliged.
He then mentioned that the alarm had sounded (it had not) and asked if I minded stepping through the detector again. I did this, and the alarm did not go off, either when I went through again, or when he took the items I had paid for and went through the detector with them in his hand.
I was then asked if I had anything else in my pockets that had not been paid for.
I was taken aback, but firmly and politely said that I had nothing else.
He then called 'the supervisor' over. I stood and waited. During this time, I called my wife to tell her to go on to her appointment as she was already late (the appointment was at 11.30 but she was due to be there at 11.15). I didn't know how I was going to get over to the hospital as we had traveled together (she had collected me from work).
By this time I was worried and anxious, and there were several people gathered around who had stopped and were watching intently as I was being guarded.
The supervisor arrived. He was Male - Early 40's - possibly afro-american / hispanic - short 5'1"-5'4".

Escalation:
'The Greeter' asked if I could empty my pockets to prove I had nothing else. I asked why, and he stated that he believed I had something in my right jacket pocket.
I mentioned that I was in a hurry, that my wife was parked out at the front of the store, and that we had an appointment at the hospital to have a neo-natal scan at 8 weeks over at the hospital (about 0.5 miles from the store).

The Humiliation:
He then mentioned that one of his colleagues had seen me putting something in my pocket, and asked me to empty my pockets - at the front of the store and in front of the gathered crowd. I declined to do this in public, as I felt
embarrased and humiliated.
Another colleague (the assistant manager) was summoned. She was late 30's/Early 40's caucasian - 5'5" to 5'7" and she told me to follow her to "the office". Again, wishing to not further attract attention, and in an attempt to clear my good name, I reluctantly agreed to accompany 'the greeter', 'the supervisor' and 'the Assistant Manager' to a back office, as it appeared to be the only way that I would be allowed to leave the store.

The Humiliation continues:
I was escorted past all of the store checkouts from one end of the building to the other, with one member of staff on my left, one on my right, and one behind me. Everyone at the store (including the checkout staff) stopped to see what was going on. I tried to make myself as unobvious as possible, but it is difficult to fade into the background when you are being escorted by 3 staff members.

The Security Office:
I entered the small security room at the front of the store. It was unkept and uninviting. I felt the situation was very confrontational from the part of the employees. There were 3 of them directly in front of me, standing in front of the doorway.
I worried about the personal safety of the staff had it been someone other than me that they were dealing with. Had I been a drug-crazed shoplifter carrying a weapon, the situation may have been extremely different for all of them.
I was again asked to empty my pockets.
I suggested that the Police should be called, but due to the fact that I was closed in a small room with 3 strangers, I was in hurry to get back to my wife, and I was embarrassed and wishing to clear my name and regain my standing as soon as possible, I again reluctantly agreed to comply with their demands.
I emptied the contents of all of my pockets onto a garden bench in the security office. I removed a black woollen hat from my right hand jacket pocket, some old receipts and a packet of M&M's purchased from a gas station on the way from my left jacket pocket. I removed a disposable pen, some small pieces of paper and a few dollar notes from my left trouser pocket, 2 cellphones from my right pocket (my company cellphone and my personal cellphone. The shirt I had on did not have a breast pocket. I removed my wallet from my rear trouser pocket. I removed my jacket and stood with my pockets hanging from the trousers.

Innocent!
I felt I had proven my innocence. I started to put my possesions back in my pockets.
I asked if they were happy that I had not stolen anything. I did not get a clear reply.
I asked what would be done about the colleague who said they had seen me putting something in my pocket. I did not receive an answer.
I asked if I looked like a shoplifter. The assistant manager said "What does a shoplifter look like?".
I asked for an apology, and was told in a very condecending and unconvincing manner "Sorry about that".
I asked for a written apology. I did not receive an answer.
I asked if I was free to go. The assistant manager shrugged her shoulders and said "I suppose so".

I left the office, and proceeded to exit the store. More people were outside and stopped to look at me exiting the security room.
As I walked over the parking lot, I called my wife and broke down in tears. Inside my masculine exterior lives a very sensitive soul.
I was angry about missing such an important event in our lives. I was humiliated. I was lonely.
I started to walk to the Hospital, over the parking lot, over the wet grass beside the highway, until I reached the hospital. As I had never been there before, I again called my wife to ask where the office was. I could not reach her (she was having her ultrasuond at that time).

I eventually arrived at the offices at the hospital. I was emotionally drained. I was physically tired (I'm not used to walking such long distances now that I'm in the USofA). I was wet through. I was glad to see my wife and son.

The Follow Up:
I Called Tue afternoon to speak to the Store Manager
We had 10 minute call - I explained what had happened, how it made me feel etc..
He agreed that he felt that was "not right".
He said he would look into it, speak to the people in question (he asked me to describe the individuals involved and seemed to be curiously pre-occupied with the race of people involved). He said he would get back to me on my cellphone. I left my details.

The Peace Offering:
The Manager called back 16:15 same day.
Said that his employees had not acted properly, he apologised, he explained his background and values, and offered a $50 gift card as compensation. I said I would need to discuss this over with my wife, and that I would come into the store personally to discuss the matter further with him.

Advice:
I called a lawyer to ask for some legal advice regarding the situation. I explained the story, and they said they would call me back.

See you in court!


Watch this space for further developments.....

C