Yeah I do all my scanning first and bagging after I pay. Easier to Tetris my bags too. It’s also because I always put my bags in my basket and I can’t get to them until it’s empty anyways.
This is going to sound crazy, and there's an SNL comedy skit of me talking to a therapist in here somewhere, but I am legit a target by secret shoppers - mostly at Safeway and Superstore. They're organized-ish, communicate with iPods to come at you from two angles, often in their 20s/early 30s, almost always male, not the best hygiene - frankly the type I'd suspect is up to no good.
There's the type who has a box of crackers or bag of coffee to put back on the shelf right where you're standing; the guy who thinks he's Jason F'n Bourne and tails you around the store, always stopping when you turn around to pretend to be looking at something; or the stoned dude who just walks the perimeter of the store over and over and over and doesn't give a toot about anything.
I don't know what it is about me, I am big--like 6'6 265lbs--I have deep set eyes, a 5 o'clock shadow at noon . . . I guess I look like a thief? Doesn't matter if I'm wearing a hoodie or vest, shorts and t-shirt, full-on -30 Arctic ware.
These guys were pointed out to me by my mom some time ago when I had to move in with her, and it became a joke as she followed me around the store watching people watch me (who walked with canes the the time). But now that I am more independent and on my own, I can't help but notice them, and have developed an uncanny knack for spotting them. And I hate it. I don't even like putting my phone back in my pocket for fear of being tackled. I've developed a complex. I won't even grab a basket cause it makes it worse. Giant-ass shopping buggies now.
The most serious one I witnessed was at Winners where two natives filled up shopping baskets with suspicious things.
Would the story have lost meaning without including this information? Sometimes it can matter (asking the public to watch for a suspect at large). Other times it just furthers stereotypes that cause the law abiders in that group to suffer unduly.
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Would the story have lost meaning without including this information? Sometimes it can matter (asking the public to watch for a suspect at large). Other times it just furthers stereotypes that cause the law abiders in that group to suffer unduly.
I knew someone would catch that one the second I read it. Just surprised it isn't 400 posts arguing about it yet.
If he did say asians though my spidey senses would question the validity of the story immediately. Ya, I doubt that happened.
Would the story have lost meaning without including this information? Sometimes it can matter (asking the public to watch for a suspect at large). Other times it just furthers stereotypes that cause the law abiders in that group to suffer unduly.
He did say they pulled the racist card when approached by security. Maybe not saying which race would avoid hurt feelings but then how would you word it?
He did say they pulled the racist card when approached by security. Maybe not saying which race would avoid hurt feelings but then how would you word it?
if you replace “natives” with “people” you lose nothing of value in the story
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Four suspects are in custody after shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of retail and leading police officers in a high-speed chase in a stolen U-Haul van that caused a massive traffic jam on Florida's Turnpike.
Before the chase, the suspects set out to a Kohl's in Homestead — Mekal Tarashi Wilson and Shuneka Oreatha Gordon walked through the store and acted as lookouts while Jermaal Calvin Stennett and Norbert Alphonso Baugh grabbed shopping carts, a police report said.
Concealing their identities with face masks, Stennett and Baugh started placing everything from sneakers to pants to socks inside the carts, police said. They stole about $2,500 worth of merchandise.
Geographically, the east village superstore is closest for me. I purposefully drive 15 minutes out of the way to the next closest one in order to avoid that area. Just gross.
Would the story have lost meaning without including this information? Sometimes it can matter (asking the public to watch for a suspect at large). Other times it just furthers stereotypes that cause the law abiders in that group to suffer unduly.
It does because the part I didn't linger on and was stuck in my mind was intense bullying on the security guard about being a racist and a lot of expletives about what you would expect. They were awful to him, spitting in his face, and basically shouting at other customers that the guard mistreating them because he was a racist against natives, etc. The old security guard backed down and tried to avoid eye contact with other shoppers who were staring or maybe even judging. He watched them from afar until they got near the exits and bulldozed their way out. I suppose it could be any minority but the nature of the accusation and who the thieves were does carry more weight in my mind due to situation in Canada. Would you have been so quick to reply if I had mentioned it was any other group like homeless or Germans? There is more weight there to me because of the accusation and the situation all the shoppers witnessed. All the thanks you got shows how quick people can be to judge when the situation involves this sort of thing.
There's plenty of stories in the other direction from the same downtown Winners of course. I remember a Caucasian guy bullying the visible minority staff about not being real Canadians and trying to commit theft as well.
Last edited by Hack&Lube; 11-27-2023 at 11:01 PM.
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Geographically, the east village superstore is closest for me. I purposefully drive 15 minutes out of the way to the next closest one in order to avoid that area. Just gross.
I was there when a (unnamed type of individual because that is only advancing stereotypes) pulled the fire alarm and the staff had the close the store and send everyone home and refused to check anyone out. One lady there was in tears because she said she had no food at home and couldn't wait and also couldn't go back empty handed. They had no sympathy and said their rules said they had to close the store for 30 minutes to an hour to deal with the fire alarm protocols and maybe wait for the FD. Downtown has just been a mess since the opioid epidemic coupled with the pandemic. I've gone back to my car in the East Village Superstore parkade to find a guy sleeping in the stall next to it. Be careful while you are down there since there are no security patrols. When leaving the parkade I often see groups of unnamed demographics waiting for the door to open so they can sneak down into the parkade.
That said I did have a positive experience at the store if you can call it that. A guy said hello to me, explained he was a bum at the drop-in-center, and asked if I could buy him some yogurt. It was yogurt, not alcohol or junk food. It was $3, and he just straight up told the truth. I was more than happy to buy it for him. The guy was so grateful and made me feel great for helping him out. He said the drop-in-center is a really rough place and it's like East Hastings but indoors.
The other day, a few blocks away at the red light near Teatro a guy actually ran out with the squeegee and washed my windows like it was the 90s. I felt awkward since I don't carry cash anymore when everything is digital but at least he's trying and not just walking up and down the cars at intersections.
It does because the part I didn't linger on and was stuck in my mind was intense bullying on the security guard about being a racist and a lot of expletives about what you would expect. They were awful to him, spitting in his face, and basically shouting at other customers that the guard mistreating them because he was a racist against natives, etc. The old security guard backed down and tried to avoid eye contact with other shoppers who were staring or maybe even judging. He watched them from afar until they got near the exits and bulldozed their way out. I suppose it could be any minority but the nature of the accusation and who the thieves were does carry more weight in my mind due to situation in Canada. Would you have been so quick to reply if I had mentioned it was any other group like homeless or Germans? There is more weight there to me because of the accusation and the situation all the shoppers witnessed. All the thanks you got shows how quick people can be to judge when the situation involves this sort of thing.
There's plenty of stories in the other direction from the same downtown Winners of course. I remember a Caucasian guy bullying the visible minority staff about not being real Canadians and trying to commit theft as well.
I think he was just asking you a question
EDIT: though reading it back now I’m even more confused why them spitting at him made it even more necessary to indicate they were native or what “the situation in Canada” is…
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack&Lube
I was there when a (unnamed type of individual because that is only advancing stereotypes) pulled the fire alarm … When leaving the parkade I often see groups of unnamed demographics waiting for the door to open so they can sneak down into the parkade.
“someone” … “people”
It doesn’t matter that much but making a stink about something so easy is weird.
Last edited by PepsiFree; 11-28-2023 at 06:38 AM.
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Four suspects are in custody after shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of retail and leading police officers in a high-speed chase in a stolen U-Haul van that caused a massive traffic jam on Florida's Turnpike.
Before the chase, the suspects set out to a Kohl's in Homestead — Mekal Tarashi Wilson and Shuneka Oreatha Gordon walked through the store and acted as lookouts while Jermaal Calvin Stennett and Norbert Alphonso Baugh grabbed shopping carts, a police report said.
Concealing their identities with face masks, Stennett and Baugh started placing everything from sneakers to pants to socks inside the carts, police said. They stole about $2,500 worth of merchandise.
Holy. Hell.
That is insane.
What annoys me is that, steal a bunch of stuff no problem, off you go, thats someone else's problem. Touch a Cop though and its like they mobilize the army.
An ounce of prevention, something, something.
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This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Four suspects are in custody after shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of retail and leading police officers in a high-speed chase in a stolen U-Haul van that caused a massive traffic jam on Florida's Turnpike.
Before the chase, the suspects set out to a Kohl's in Homestead — Mekal Tarashi Wilson and Shuneka Oreatha Gordon walked through the store and acted as lookouts while Jermaal Calvin Stennett and Norbert Alphonso Baugh grabbed shopping carts, a police report said.
Concealing their identities with face masks, Stennett and Baugh started placing everything from sneakers to pants to socks inside the carts, police said. They stole about $2,500 worth of merchandise.
If that doesn't rate an America #### Yeah, nothing does.
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Four suspects are in custody after shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of retail and leading police officers in a high-speed chase in a stolen U-Haul van that caused a massive traffic jam on Florida's Turnpike.
Before the chase, the suspects set out to a Kohl's in Homestead — Mekal Tarashi Wilson and Shuneka Oreatha Gordon walked through the store and acted as lookouts while Jermaal Calvin Stennett and Norbert Alphonso Baugh grabbed shopping carts, a police report said.
Concealing their identities with face masks, Stennett and Baugh started placing everything from sneakers to pants to socks inside the carts, police said. They stole about $2,500 worth of merchandise.
Am I the only one feeling sad not to have seen a Blues Brothers style police car pile up?
I almost never use self checkouts. I like people and enjoy greeting the cashier, as brief an encounter as it is. Also, I’m generally not in a hurry and want to support people’s employment.
This is a million per cent why I like self-checkouts.
Waiting in line behind a retired boomer who isn't in a hurry and enjoys greeting the cashier. That's grocery-shopping hell for me. Standing in line while some old guy slowly chats up the 19-year-old check-out girl? Kill me.
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This is a million per cent why I like self-checkouts.
Waiting in line behind a retired boomer who isn't in a hurry and enjoys greeting the cashier. That's grocery-shopping hell for me. Standing in line while some old guy slowly chats up the 19-year-old check-out girl? Kill me.
Slow down, enjoy life. I’m a boomer but don’t chat up the check-out cashier. I smile, greet, bag and move on. To each his own.
