Never a Dull Day [DP Store]

[digitalpress]

PREFACE: Sorry for the lack of tales of late. I have one for almost every day but I really don't like doing it on myspace.com. Until we get our own blogging system up and running, that's where they're getting posted in this limited quantity. Deal with it just a little bit longer, please - we're getting really close, I promise!

This guy. A regular customer. A really BIG guy and there's something not quite right about him. He doesn't talk, he doesn't make eye contact, he skulks about the store moving slowly through almost eve...

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[daywalker2k2]

Hey i read that..that was funny stuff lol..may i ask what game was it???

[slip81]

I love weird customer stories. I work in a mall bookstore so I can relate, and I couldn't even begin to try and describe all the gems I've encountered.

[jcalder8]

I actually find that kinda a sad story.

[TonyTheTiger]

I feel for people like that. I've met a couple myself. They aren't out to do bad by anyone but I guess when they're relatively large adults they can come off as...well...ever read "Of Mice and Men"? So it definitely puts you on your toes.

[SpaceHarrier]

Interesting character.

I saw plenty of odd stuff while working in loss prevention at a retail store. Ever see a tweaker come in to the store in their pajamas (complete with fuzzy slippers) 5 minutes prior to store closing?

It's like watching videotape footage of a pigeon on fast forward

The way you described it: This guy just sounds sort of socially awkward, probably not a bad guy. You could always just "customer service" him when/if he comes back. If he has mal-intent, asking him if he needs help will likely make him too nervous to do anything.. Seriously though, it would have gone in his pocket after he spent all that time pondering the concealment - if he intented to shoplift, amirite?

[Porksta]

This happens all the time where I work. The last day of the month is 50% off store wide, so a few days beforehand people hide the stuff they want to buy. They then arrive as the store opens and shoot to the hiding spot to pull out their items.

While we are talking about dumb customers, one guy decided to bring a vinyl price guide to the store, where he promptly grabbed a stack of records, sat down, and started looking at their values.

[Poofta!]

I actually find that kinda a sad story.

me too, i dont wanna call him anything hes not, but honestly, in all likelyhood he may have a learning disability or other type of disorder.

at least hes an honest guy... buying stuff and not stealing it etc. ive been hiding stuff in store shelves for years when i intend to pick it up later (or just shop around the mall first).

[digitalpress]

You could always just "customer service" him when/if he comes back. If he has mal-intent, asking him if he needs help will likely make him too nervous to do anything.. Seriously though, it would have gone in his pocket after he spent all that time pondering the concealment - if he intented to shoplift, amirite?

AAAAAH! I've already tried to talk to this guy. He doesn't like it. When I ask "would you like a bag for that" it's like sunlight on a vampire. So I try to keep the conversation to a minimum.

I don't think he's a thief, though I SO hate being fooled by "regulars" (as I have been before) that I'm extra suspicious when a red flag like this is raised.

[boatofcar]

Can someone please copy and paste this so I can read it at my Myspace-blocked workplace?

[tom]

we used to buy our favorite cheese, and when's one pack left in the store my ex would hide that last pack behind the other cheese so 'no-one else would find it'. Of course, it'll be gone by next week.

[SpaceHarrier]

AAAAAH! I've already tried to talk to this guy. He doesn't like it. When I ask "would you like a bag for that" it's like sunlight on a vampire. So I try to keep the conversation to a minimum.

I don't think he's a thief, though I SO hate being fooled by "regulars" (as I have been before) that I'm extra suspicious when a red flag like this is raised.

haha, figures I guess...

It makes me wonder though, how much inventory is secretely packed into crevices and covertly sandwiched between displays in your store? With clientele having these sorts of shopping habits, I'd imagine a store such as yours is like an old acorn tree infested with woodpeckers..

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii158/ayumifanatic/DigitalPressesMissingGamesLOL.jpg
Just tryin to make you paranoid, hehe..

[digitalpress]

It makes me wonder though, how much inventory is secretely packed into crevices and covertly sandwiched between displays in your store?

Most likely none.

I'm pretty anal about things. When something is out of place, I notice. I tend to check extra-carefully in areas where things have been stolen in the past. I watch people who are in the store's "blind spots". That said, This guy DID find a place I hadn't thought to check before.

Which made me check all of the other places I might not have checked before. All I found were several clumps of dust, a penny, and what appeared to be an old Tootsie Roll.

[stimmyjimmel]

hate to say it but this guy sounds similar to myself

I have social phobia disorder so talking to people scares the crap outta me though in my case it doesnt go that far.

[Buyatari]

Which made me check all of the other places I might not have checked before. All I found were several clumps of dust, a penny, and what appeared to be an old Tootsie Roll.

Dammit!

I was saving that Tootsie roll for the next NAVA!

[p_b]

Can someone please copy and paste this so I can read it at my Myspace-blocked workplace?

I don't know what Joe's policy on this is, is this ok or not?

I'll send you the text by PM, so at least you can read it :)

[GrandAmChandler]

Oh man I have to know what game is worth hiding!

[kainemaxwell]

Which made me check all of the other places I might not have checked before. All I found were several clumps of dust, a penny, and what appeared to be an old Tootsie Roll.

You're lucky. When I worked at FYE customers would always leave interesting items behind in the bins for the listening machines, or elsewhere. Best ones including a half-eaten hot dog (which an employee ate on a bet), one of those "Does God love you" pamphlets, and a used condom.

[The 1 2 P]

People still do this is stores today. I see it all the time in Best Buy, among other places.

[The Shawn]

Yeah, I know someone like that. Not dishonest by any means just really afraid of social interaction. He would rather hide something than have to speak to someone about holding it for a few hours? Next time sneak up behind him and shout WOOGA,WOOGA,WOOGA! at him and see what he does.:eek 2:

[killersquirel]

Most likely none.

I'm pretty anal about things. When something is out of place, I notice. I tend to check extra-carefully in areas where things have been stolen in the past. I watch people who are in the store's "blind spots". That said, This guy DID find a place I hadn't thought to check before.

Which made me check all of the other places I might not have checked before. All I found were several clumps of dust, a penny, and what appeared to be an old Tootsie Roll.

That's no Tootsie Roll.

-mike

[k8track]

Good story. I do that all the time with milk.

No one thinks to look behind the Garanimals.

[mailman187666]

I used to know somebody that sounds exactly like this. Whether or not they are actually alike, I'm not sure, but the guy I used to know was autistic. He was HUGE, maybe in his mid to late 20s at the time, and would display this sort of behavior. Your guy may not be autistic, but if he asked you "can I get later?" sounds to me that he could have some kind of disability. It could be something more than just being shy. If he's not set off your radar before this, I wouldn't be too worried. I could see why you'd want to just make extra sure nothing was going on though.

[Tempest]

Some people are just socially awkward and not good with face to face conversations (I think many of us here can relate to that). While I've never done anything like this, I'm sure I've done some odd things in the past that seemed perfectly logical to me at the time. Still, you've got to watch those kind of people, just in case...

Like SpaceHarrier said, I've seen lots of odd things when I worked retail. I ran the garden center at a K-Mart when I was in college, and since it was one of only two ways out of the store, I got to know our security person very well. Whenever she would tell me to watch for someone she thought would try and sneak out the door, it was always one of the last people I would have suspected (usually high school age girls oddly enough). As it turns out, usually the big scary guys that wore trenchcoats in the middle of the summer were just weirdos, not thieves.

Tempest

[otaku]

wow that is a sad story. People definetly do this though but this guy makes me sad. Sounds like he needs some help. As for weird customers bookstores definetly seem to attract them...

[Famidrive-16]

Give the man a break. It's not everyday you come across a copy of Awesome Possum in the wild. He was smart to keep it from the unsuspecting eyes.

[Buyatari]

and a used condom. I was pretty anal about things at the store too.

Uhh huh..

[SegaAges]

Can someone please copy and paste this so I can read it at my Myspace-blocked workplace?

QFE

who was sending the pm.

i have myspace and youtube blocked at work

[Famidrive-16]

This guy. A regular customer. A really BIG guy and there's something not quite right about him. He doesn't talk, he doesn't make eye contact, he skulks about the store moving slowly through almost everything and yet touching almost nothing... comes back again today.

He does his usual routine. looks at everything, says nothing. Walks all over the place. He always buys something so I've never been suspicious. He's been "off the radar". Until today.

Today, he ducks behind a blind spot. I always notice when someone does that, but when he does that for a few minutes I walk near that area and go into watch mode.

He's just squatting there. Squatting for a long time, Maybe 3, 4 minutes.

Finally he makes "his move". He shoves something between the wall and a display case, which prompts me to ask him "What do you think you're doing?":

For the first time maybe ever, he makes eye contact with me.

"Ca.. i.. ge.. lady?"

He's mumbling, so I really missed that. "What?" I ask bluntly.

"Can I get later?"

My brain sucks but I actually processed this pretty quickly. He was trying to hide this box in the store because he didn't want anyone to grab it before he came back later when he had money.

I explained that we can hold things, all he needs to do is ask. I have a feeling this alone is a problem for him and I feel bad about that. Then I asked him about the game that he had in his hand a second ago (I have cat-like reflexes to thiefly activities) and was no longer visible.

He reaches behind that hiding spot again and produces the game, then skulks back where it belongs and puts it back. Thief or extremely shy guy? Well, he *did* come back later that night to pick up the item he had attempted to hide away.

You can't make this stuff up.

[Apollo]

Which made me check all of the other places I might not have checked before. All I found were several clumps of dust, a penny, and what appeared to be an old Tootsie Roll.

I guess this means you haven't found Politika in your store yet?

[demen999]

Thats awesome. I always feel like I'm on the spotlight when I go in with my son and he starts yelling daddy this one daddy this one! I know you've seen me there and once gave me this odd look, like umm you ok over there. Hahaha.
At least you got good eyes for that stuff, most are totally oblivious, even if it was harmless.

[SegaAges]

I was like that in high school myself. Very shy. Never talked to anybody but my games.

At least he came back and did buy the game.

Unfortunately now, I talk way more than I used to, so I went from being a quite suspicious guy, to being a talkative suspicious guy. Whatever.

What game was it?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Barbie Horse Adventures?

[fpbrush]

I do feel pretty bad for the guy... everyone's felt shy or awkward in some situation, seems like more of an ongoing thing with him.

Though I too am curious about what game it was !

[p_b]

QFE

who was sending the pm.

i have myspace and youtube blocked at work

I did,but I guess you've been at home now?

[SegaAges]

I did,but I guess you've been at home now?

I have, but I am normally on dp while i work (the joy of having a weeks worth of work done in a day).

[demen999]

^^ I want your job. Cmon lets trade.

[MASTERWEEDO]

kinda sounds like something my brother would do, except he loves to talk to people, about sports. my brother is 26, mentally retarded with a severe sezuire disorder, mentally he is like 6-8 years old. he knows his disability and takes full advantage of it(like you wouldnt). but he has been known to steal things. if he goes into a store and noone is at the register, he walks out with the dr. pepper without paying(had to deal with this quite a few times a few years ago). interestingly if you catch him doind something like that he just screams that you scared him and begins rambling about ramdom sports, regardless of what you say to him, which has lead to interesting conversations when i decide to ramble about random things as well.

[Fuyukaze]

maybe learning what types of games he's into would help make a good ice breaker? or, maybe he's just casing the joint and too nervious to talk to people......

[MachineGex]

We gotta know what game it was? When I save games I want to buy later, I usually mark them by going around the corner and....um.....ah..... never mind.

[c0ldb33r]

This story is sad.

Do you think you'll ever see the guy again?

[digitalpress]

This story is sad.

Do you think you'll ever see the guy again?

He's already been back. He wasn't banned or even interrogated. I told him all he had to do was ask and we could hold things for him at the counter. The worst treatment this anonymous customer has received is being mentioned here.

Why wouldn't he return?

[c0ldb33r]

He's already been back. He wasn't banned or even interrogated. I told him all he had to do was ask and we could hold things for him at the counter. The worst treatment this anonymous customer has received is being mentioned here.

Why wouldn't he return?
Maybe I'm wrong, but he definitely sounds like he's got some sort of mental issues, probably doesn't have a really strong understanding of etiquette, didn't understand he could just ask to have the game held for a little while, maybe didn't understand that skulking around in the corner makes you look guilty, etc...

I'm not saying he was mistreated in any way. I'm just saying that the situation probably caused him a lot of stress based solely on his lack of understanding and appreciation for the situation. I'm glad to hear he's been back though - that makes me happy :D

[zektor]

I need a job, you need a security guard. I am a bonded security guard :)

[rbudrick]

I remember when I was 8 or 10 I went to Ames Department store and went to the toy aisle where the stuffed Ewoks were. Wicket and others were the size of a medium-sized teddy bear, and were boxed, though the boxes were formed in a way where the front was open, but the doll was strapped into the rest of the box. The baby Ewoks were not boxed. So, I shoved a baby Ewok behind a larger Wickett doll, as in behind Wickett, but inside the box. Then I left the store giggling that some kid was going to be so happy he got the OMG rare bonus Ewok. In hindsight, I know it wasn't stealing, but making someone else steal unwittingly. Ithink I just thought it was funny back then. Very douchy in retrospect. What a dick, huh? Yeah, I did some weird things as a kid. Now I wonder if the clerk noticed Wicket looked a little odd and got the customer who bought him in trouble. The world will never know.

-Rob