Sunday, March 28, 2010

A note on theft...sorry if this disturbs anyone.

I own a bead shop, its a very nice bead shop! Its probably the best shop this side of the border, many customers have told us.
We have very fair prices, we are bright, clean, and neat.
We have tons of sample to inspire you, we have great service.

However, some customers like to take advantage of our wonderful shop .
When I find that something has been stolen, I take this very personnally.
Its all MY stuff until you have paid for it.
We are not some giant conglomerate like Walmart, we are a personal shop, all the merchandise and samples belong to ME. You are stealing from ME.

(any in case anyone wonders why I do this, run a bead shop, its not because its a wonderful life, although some days it is. I have a son with Special Needs who needs to be taken care of when he is an adult, this shop will hopefully allow me to provide a home for him one day. So you are also stealing from David as well. I will use the pity card when necessary.)

My staff also feel responsible when items are stolen. They are all such wonderful ladies, how can you do this to them ?

Would you believe we often have samples stolen ?, even though everything is either tied down or pinned. We use those samples as inspiration, people like to see them! so those theives are also taking from my customers.

If you have received less than stellar service, just let me know, don't steal as a payback. If your "friend" who is with you steals something as a joke, let them know its disgusting and don't bring them back.

We have cameras in the store, and we watch the monitors. We ask you to use a shopping basket and keep your handbag closed so you can feel comfortable in the store and not think we are suspicious.

While I am on a tear here, just a quick note about returning items to the store. Returns are a privilege, not a right. Don't expect us to spend ages helping you choose beads for a project and you return the lot a few days later. We feel taken advantage of. Please choose your beads carefully.From now on, all returns are at the discretion of the manager, or me.

I don't expect to have offended anyone here except the guilty.
Cathy

4 comments:

  1. I HATE this. Being a consumer that would love to have your shop near me, I just don't understand theft. People that steal in beadshops don't do it because the don't have money, they have a problem that they need to get help for. If they don't have fear of God, then they SHOULD have fear of KARMA!!

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  2. I'm so sorry to read this. I hope the person read it and at least had a few bad moments. It's not bread which must be stolen if someone is starving. Hopefully, it won't happen again. I wish you much success with your shop. Regards, Tundrus from Budapest,Hungary

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  3. Shame on those people who have no conscience at all regarding other people's property! As a mother of a couple "special needs" children myself, I know how precious they are and how I want to provide for them. Two of my four girls work at a grocery store and they are always amazed at how stupid people are trying to shoplift, cameras on and all! They have had to call police on several occasions but still feel "violated" in those situations! I hope you will be able to find the culprit(s) or at least I hope they turn themselves in (although, highly unlikely!)
    All the best to you!

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  4. I too have had samples stolen from displays at bead shows. It is so demoralizing to think that fellow beaders would stoop so low. I just fail to understand the line of thinking that leads to this behaviour.

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