On the Saturday before Christmas, I went to Wal-Mart with my mom to pick up some last-minute items. My watch battery had recently died, so I suggested that we look at the cheap watches in the jewelry department before leaving. While we were looking at the watches, my mom stopped to talk with some employees that she knows. My mom had worked at this particular Wal-Mart for ten years. She spoke to an associate and a Customer Service Manger that she's friends with. I also said hello to them, because they know me as well, and then I just waited for my mom next to our shopping cart.
I waited for about 10 minutes while my mom visited. I stood in the same spot, next to the cart, which was also next to the watch display. They were just the cheap watches ($7-$15) on a 4-way in the jewelry department. The watches were attached to large plastic cases. During the entire time my mom and I were by the watches, I only picked up one and put it right back. I was getting bored and noticed that the watches had different times on them. So I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket to check the real time, then put my phone back.
While I was waiting, an associate in the jewelry dept. Came up to me and said, "Are you finding everything ok?" I said yes, and explained that I was waiting for my mom. Then she walked away.
My mom finished her conversation and we went to the checkouts. As we left the checkout, my mom spoke to another friend who is also a CSM. We walked towards the exit and I saw the associate from the jewelry dept. And she smiled at me as I walked by. We reached the exit, a high traffic area on a Saturday, and someone came up to me saying, "Excuse me. Did you forget to pay something?" I was carrying my mom's bags and I was confused about who this woman even was (an LP person dressed in street clothes). I explained that they were my mom's bags. She said, "Not your mom. You. Did you take something without paying?" Then she points to the girl from the jewelry dept. And tells me that she saw me take a watch and put it in my pocket. I was shocked because I've never stolen anything in my life. I explained that I had checked the time on my cell phone and pulled my cell phone and keys out of my pocket.
The LP person's only response was, "Well she thought she saw you take a watch" and "We have a lot of theft problems." I told her I've worked in retail for 15 years and I know that you cannot just accuse someone of stealing unless you've physically seen them conceal something. She offered no apology of any kind.
There were other employees in the area where she confronted me as well as a lot of customers. This store is in a small town where I have lived my entire life and people in small towns gossip. My father works in city government and it's pretty safe to say that everyone in the city has at least heard of my family. I am in graduate school getting my masters in secondary education, and it's possible that I'll be applying for jobs in this geographical area next year. I don't need rumors that I'm a shoplifter going around. I was so caught off guard that I didn't really know how to respond to the situation at the time.
I don't know if I have any legal recourse in this situation because I wasn't charged with anything. I just know that they did not follow proper procedure at all. I am going to write a letter to the company and store, but I'm not sure what that will do. At the very least, I'd like an apology. I'm just looking for some advice or reactions from people that have had a similar experience.
Thanks.
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