On February 26, I visited Macy's Palm Beach Gardens in order to purchase a Fossil purse I had seen in the store during a prior visit. Upon arrival, the purse I wanted was not available. There was another one, more expensive, that I also liked. I thought, if I will pay more for a different purse, let me see other brands and see if there is another one that I like more. As I approached the Coach isle, I was approached by the saleswoman, who asked me if she could help me. At the same time she asked the question, she attempted to take the Fossil purse from my hand. I replied that I was still deciding which brand to buy. She informed me that the Fossil section was the other way and again attempted to take purse from me. I repeated that I was still choosing. I knew where the Fossil section was. She appeared annoyed. I continued walking to the Coach section. She followed me, got inside the Coach isle, whispered something to the other saleswoman and both stared at me. After looking at the purses, I moved to the Michael Kors section. She moved into the Michael Kors isled, whispered something to a third saleswoman, who very rudely asked me "How are you". I replied "I'm fine thanks! ” Then I looked again and asked: "Is there a problem here? I'm not sure what's happening. She (the first saleswoman) has been following me all around. Now, you." They both denied that they were following me. I moved into another saleswoman and bought the Fossil purse, as planned. At that time, I was almost crying and shaking.
I have never been treated as I’m a thief. I'm an honest, educated, gainfully employed, productive member of the society, and have never felt that way before. I was planning to buy some shoes to go with the purse; however, I felt so humiliated and thought all saleswomen were looking at me and thinking that I was going to still something. I left Macy's never to buy there again. Once I had to leave the mall, I had to go back to the parking lot outside Macy's. I had to sit outside and prepare to go inside again. I felt so horrible, discriminated and humiliated that I couldn't go inside to look for the manager and make my complaint in person. I know they have to do loss prevention, but there are polite ways to do it. It's all about proper training and customer service. This is a high end mall and I can’t believe that they do it with all the customers. Was it because I’m an immigrant? Was it because I had a shopping bag from another store and she feared I was going to shoplift? Isn’t it true that if I bought in other stores, I’m more likely to afford to buy at your store too? I was shopping for my birthday month that day and Macy’s happened to be the most popular store I shopped that day. And that’s where I was singled out and humiliated. I hope no one has to go through what I went through on that day. I believe it is Macy’s responsibility to train their staff and provide good customer service to their clients.
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