It doesn’t matter where you go, there will always be people who don’t seem to understand the concept “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.’ And these shoppers are calling out those exact individuals and how they dealt with them. Content has been edited for clarity.
Bad Sales Tactic
“About 19 years ago, I stopped at a bridal store to meet our daughter who was getting married. I was on my way home from work, wearing what I usually wore to work, jeans and a t-shirt. Our daughter was there already looking through a rack of clothes. She was also wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
When I joined her, a very well-dressed saleswoman came over, looked us up and down, and said, ‘Sale rack is over there.’
My daughter said politely, ‘I didn’t ask where the sale rack is.’
The woman looked at her and said, ‘We don’t take welfare checks.’
I asked, ‘Do you own the business?’
She said, ‘No.’
I smiled and said, ‘Good because I don’t think your employer will be in business long.’
She asked if that was a threat and I told her, ‘No, it is a prediction. A stupidly run business doesn’t stay in business long.’
They were closed four months later. When shops insult customers, people find out and don’t stop there.”
Ticked-Off Birthday Girl
“I had taken my wife shopping for her birthday. We’d been in the store for over an hour and we would browse and pick stuff out and head to the changing room. The three sales ladies that morning were fine with me sitting on the giant round sofa outside the changing room doors while my wife tried things on. One customer even commented to my wife that she wished her husband was like me and helped her shop for clothes.
Then the store manager showed up while my wife was trying things on and she approached me and said, ‘Excuse me, sir? You can’t just hang out back here by the changing rooms. It makes some ladies uncomfortable.’
As she was saying this, one of the salesladies tried to interrupt and explain how my wife was trying stuff on but the manager cut her off saying she was handling this. So I tried to explain to her how my wife was trying stuff on, but she ignored me and asked me to leave the changing area.
When my wife came out again, she came over to me and I explained what was going on. One of the salesladies even came over and apologized for her boss’s behavior. My wife was not a happy camper as we headed to the register where the manager spent several minutes ringing up the clothes we had decided to buy.
The manager looked up into my wife’s angry face and that’s when my wife ripped into her saying, ‘Thank you for trying to ruin a lovely birthday gift that my husband was kind enough to give me. Not only is he paying for all this but he happily helped me pick out and decide on everything we’re purchasing today. You can be sure that the email, letters, and phone calls I make to your corporate office about your treatment of us will reflect positively on your sales associates but very negatively on you and your behavior. Hopefully, your superiors will see to it that you get the proper training in retail sales that you so obviously lack. You could learn a lot from your sales associates!’
When the manager tried to say something in her own defense my wife cut her off saying, ‘Please don’t try to justify your ignorant actions. Just finish the sale before I change my mind about buying anything here.’
The manager wordlessly finished the sale and we left.
And my wife did send an email, and a letter, and made a phone call to praise the helpful sales staff and to complain about the manager. Her email and phone calls were returned seeking to discuss the event.”
Rude Lady Vs Mom
“On the weekends, we would go to Vinatown (Vietnamese community shopping). There was this little boutique I always wanted to go into but never had the time.
One day as my mom was getting her hair done, I decided to go in and take a look at all the pretty clothes and shoes they had from Vietnam.
As I was browsing, the shop owner ran over to me and said, ‘We only have certain sizes here. Nothing fit you in here.’
I just smiled politely, but I thought ‘how rude.’ I thanked her and left. I told my mom about what happened and of course, she wanted to go in there to ‘Check it out.’
I said, ‘I don’t want to buy anything from that woman.’
My mom walked in first and lo and behold, they were talking like old friends. The woman’s husband was my dad’s best friend back in Vietnam. Small world! She introduced me and that lady changed her whole attitude.
She said, ‘Oh, this your daughter? She was in here earlier. I didn’t think I had anything she might like but I can order for her special.’
When we finally left, my mom said, ‘I knew who she was before we went in there. She still a crazy lady.'”
Unsolicited Wedding Dress Recommendation
“Many years ago, I was in a bridal store. I was engaged long before I ever married. He was an incredible guy, very smart, and adored me, but looking back I wasn’t ready. I didn’t end up marrying until 32. I wanted to finish my education and was busy traveling and living abroad.
Well, at the time of my first engagement I was in my early 20s. My then-fiance was in Naval flight school. We met during my freshman year in college physics. He came from a very loving, close-knit family but had a difficult life in other ways. It was one of the things that drove him to study extremely hard and he excelled at math and physics. He always told me that his children wouldn’t go through what he and his sibling went through with a single mother who worked incredibly hard with no child support. He didn’t even have a bed and slept on the couch! We both worked really hard to have a better life for our future.
He was just a good-hearted, kind, simple country boy. I came from a horribly abusive background with a psychopathic sadistic father who tried to hurt me in every way up until he died. My then fiancé wanted to provide both of us with a great life.
Back at the bridal store, he was away at flight training and per his wishes, we decided on the traditional US Naval Officer wedding, where he’d wear his uniform, sword. Everything was extremely formal. I am very much a minimalist and wanted a dress that was very simple. Keep in mind this was the 80’s-big hair, poufy sleeves. It just wasn’t me.
I found a beautiful dress that was perfect-just a long sleeve, ivory duchess silk satin, small chapel train. Well, what I didn’t know was that there was a long train that was attached to the existing train. It was beyond anything I could have imagined and my veil would be the length of the train. As I looked at myself in the three-way mirror, talking to my friend who was agreeing how beautiful this would look as I came down the steps under the swords, etc.
I heard the salesperson say, ‘We’re going to cut the train down to about two feet.’
Both my friend and I looked at her and I asked, ‘Why ever would I want to do that? The dress is perfect! I love it!’
She said, ‘The veil and train are too long for you.’
I’m only 5’3 and was petite, however, this was not anything at all like Lady Di’s dress and before we even began looking at dresses, the salesperson asked what type of wedding it would be.
I had told her he was away temporarily at flight school but knew he’d love it on our wedding day. And I wanted to make him happy. Like any other bride, I wanted to look my best.
She said, ‘That is if he even finishes flight school.’
My friend and I walked out and I left my dream dress behind. I wanted that dress so much but wasn’t going to tolerate her unwelcome comments.
I was in tears. My friend encouraged me to look at other places. She insisted we go into this rinky-dink-looking bridal store in another area far away. I didn’t even want to go inside. This was a small store. They didn’t have much. I didn’t think they’d have anything I’d like but I went anyway.
My friend said, ‘Annie, this looks a lot like the dress you tried on at that last place.’
I agreed but had forgotten the details except for the attachable train which was nowhere to be found. I tried on this display dress. I was told it was no longer made and that this was a sample display that hardly anyone noticed as it was so plain and definitely not 80’s style. I tried it on in front of the mirrors and decided I’d have to settle as I wasn’t going back to that rude sales lady.
As I was getting ready to step out of the crinoline and dress, this new salesperson said, ‘Wait, there’s another piece. I will go and get it.’
It was that train still packaged. It was the same dress. As the salesperson had me spin and turn to attach it to what seemed to be 50 tiny loops she told me how pretty I was.
She told me how she thought this would be perfect for the type of wedding we planned. I agreed. And the best part was since it was a display model and discontinued it was MUCH less expensive than the other store. I had gotten my dress after all and at incredible savings off the exorbitant original price!
My then-fiance did finish naval flight training and we continued to plan the wedding when one day I literally sat up in bed and told myself, ‘You can’t do this. You’re too young.’
We already had the invitations chosen and ordered. I told my friends who told me to rethink things. I did. I loved him a lot but I just guess at the time I wasn’t ready. I returned the diamond in its box. It was a very surprising proposal he had planned for months. I remember how excited we both were telling everyone, except my father who actually hung up the phone.
After I handed him the ring, it hurt me horribly to see him hurt so much. We continued to talk for many years and I eventually married someone with whom I was madly in love. He was also married and was doing very well and seemed happy the last we spoke.
No, I never wore that dress and it is sealed and protected in a closet. To this day I think it is the most beautiful wedding dress ever.”
“Her Daughter Was Going To Be In A Beauty Pageant”
“I was shopping with my daughter at the mall. We were looking for a nice dress for her to attend a friend’s wedding. There was another mother and daughter in the same section of the store.
We overheard a sales associate ask them if they needed help. The mother said how her daughter was going to be in a beauty pageant and they weren’t sure what dress to buy.
The saleswoman said, ‘Who her?’ with a derogatory tone. ‘She’s going to be in a beauty pageant?’
The associate motioned to some formals up against the wall and said, ‘Any of those dresses over there will do for her.’
She then walked away.
My daughter and I were appalled. We looked at each other, smiled, and said almost unanimously, ‘Let’s go help!’
We walked over to them and said how excited we were about her daughter being in a pageant. My daughter asked the young girl her favorite color, and what style of dress she preferred and I talked with the mother about her budget for the occasion.
We spent about an hour and a half searching for the perfect dress for her figure, hair color and age appropriateness.
The mother thanked me and I said, ‘Oh, we’re not done! You still have plenty of money in your budget and we still have makeup, hose, jewelry, and shoes!’
So off we went, through the store, to find the perfect accessories. We did just that, with her budget still holding 30 dollars. The mother and daughter were thrilled. I told the mother to hang on to that extra money. I told her, with this type of dress, she must wear her hair up. It won’t look right if she doesn’t. Told her to go to any local hairdresser on the big day and use the leftover money to have them style her hair.
As we were parting ways, I handed the daughter a small box. I had snuck a purchase in while no one was watching. It was a little blue ceramic rose, that matched her dress. It was for the hairdresser to put in her hair when finished.
I gave my number to the mother in case she had any more questions.
I looked at my daughter and said, ‘Okay, let’s find you a dress.’
My daughter replied, ‘Yep, but we’re NOT asking for help!’
We both chuckled.
Two weeks later, I got a call from the mother. Her daughter had won the first alternate in the pageant. I was so happy for her.
Sometimes people just need a helping hand. Far be it for us to not help when we have the ability! Thank you for your question. Much love to you and your family.”
Cousin Shopping Day Gone Wrong
“It was a little upscale boutique. I was around 15 years old, and my cousin, who was grown and living on her own, was with me. We lived in a small Texas town, and the closest place to do any serious shopping was a 40-minute drive away. So we crammed as much as we could into trips to town because of gas money and everyone I knew saved as much as they could.
I was excited to go to town with my cousin. She was several years older than me, and she was pretty cool. She always told me all about her steamy dates with the guys. And we were really as close as sisters at that time. So we got dolled up in our Town clothes and put on a little makeup, and off we went. We talked about all kinds of things on the drive to Town and laughed a lot like we generally did. I was feeling pretty grown up that day. We ran some errands for my mom and then had lunch at a burger joint. After that, we decided to go and look for a birthday gift for my mom. At that time, she liked a perfume called Tabu, which was a little pricey for me, but I was hoping I could find a teeny tiny bottle and then get her some flowers too.
My cousin was all for shopping, and she remembered the name of a quaint little shop in an older part of town that her friends frequented. She wanted to take a look, so that was our first stop after lunch. We found the place, but for the life of me, I can’t remember the name of it. It was situated in a little plaza, with an ice cream shop next door. My cousin and I walked in, and a sales lady appeared as if by magic and greeted us and asked if she could help us. We said, no thanks, we just want to browse around, and told her that we were looking for a gift for my mom’s birthday.
She was sweet, and I asked her if she carried Tabu. She told me she did and to follow her. We went up to a locked glass case, and she pointed out the Tabu, which she had in a few different sizes. Even the smallest bottle was too expensive for me, and I told her I wanted to look around for a bit. The sales lady’s demeaner changed instantly, her sweet smile turned into pursed lips and she nodded her head and closed the glass door and pulled out the key, and walked away. I remember thinking, What the heck? So I walked over to my cousin and put my head near hers and whispered to her, ‘Let’s go.’
My cousin looked up at me with a big question mark all over her face, and the sales lady came striding over to us, where we were looking at a display of earrings.
‘Perhaps if you haven’t found anything satisfactory here at (name of the store), you might want to try the Walgreens down the street, or perhaps the Five and Dime,’ she said, snottily.
She didn’t even try to hide her disdain. My cousin and I were both taken aback, and pretty mortified too. Sure, we shopped at both of those places too, but we were looking for something special for my mom’s gift. Neither of us said a word but both of us were flushed red from indignation as we turned on our heels and walked out of the store. The sales lady stood in the window and watched as we got into the car and backed out of the parking space. My cousin and I had found our voices by then and were both fussing and carrying on about how rude that saleslady was. How we felt that she had more than insinuated that we were too trashy for her store. Sure we were small-town girls, but we knew how to act right, and we weren’t trashy either.
I don’t remember what I ended up getting my mom for her birthday. More than likely, my brothers and I pitched in and bought her something from all of us. I know I had my heart set on getting her some Tabu until that witch intimidated me so badly that I didn’t want to go into shops like hers anymore. Her words stayed with me for a long time. I don’t know why. I guess because I was a ‘country bumpkin.’ Life went on and I’ve run into some downright ugly rude people in my life, sometimes I am rude back, sometimes I treat them with all the sweetness I can muster. But I have never been run out of a store since that day my cousin and I went to Town.”
Too Many Shoes
“I was in a Payless shoe store. There was a nice sale on it. I came to the register with my three-year-old and five different pairs of sneakers and sandals for her.
A woman in line ahead of me with a little boy turned and angrily yelled at me, ‘Why are you buying her all those shoes! She doesn’t need all those shoes!’
I smiled at her and winked.
Then I told the cashier, ‘I’ll be right back. Think I’ll grab a couple more pair!’
The cashier looked as if she would fall over laughing. The lady in front snatched up her one box of shoes and her kid and huffed and puffed her way to the door. My smile got bigger.’
Sketchy Behavior
“Many years ago, as young and somewhat innocent young man, I had gone to a local menswear outfitter for some new swimwear for a forthcoming holiday. There was a display in the window with models wearing various swimming trunks and I liked an orange pair, so I entered the shop.
The assistant asked what I was looking for and I told him. He ushered me into a changing cubicle which was on the first floor of the shop and brought me several pairs of swim briefs. He closed the curtain while I changed into the orange ones and as I pulled them on, he opened the curtain and looked me up and down.
He then ran his fingers around the waist smoothing the material and proceeded to do the same with the leg openings.
This was all getting very personal. He then persuaded me to try on a blue pair. I realized at this point that his interest was more than in selling me some new swimwear and hastily decided to buy the orange briefs and beat a hasty retreat!”
A Boy In A Skirt
“So this happened in early December, my best friend and I went to Target to get some Christmas shopping done. We also bought a couple of skirts and some makeup for my friend also at the time, he was wearing a reindeer crop top and a rainbow skirt. While waiting in line, the lady behind us asked my friend what he was holding which was already a weird question.
My friend turned around and showed her the skirts because he’s super polite like that. The lady then asked who the skirts were for. Looking back I wish I had turned around and told her to mind her own business. But my friend said they were for him. By then, we both knew this lady obviously had a problem with him wearing the skirts.
I almost lunged at her. I probably would have if the boy who was standing behind the lady hadn’t said, ‘Why don’t you mind your business, lady.’
The lady screamed some more, pointed her middle finger at us, and left.”