Daylight Robbery

I used to work in a perfume and makeup shop. An old woman walked in and spent some time in the store and then left with a Chanel lipstick that she didn’t pay for. The security guy immediately went after her:

Security: “Ma’am! That’s stealing! You need to pay for that, or we’ll be calling the police!”

Woman: *Walking back in and shouting.* “How rude! I was just checking it in the light! How dare you accuse me of stealing! Call your manager over, right now!”

The manager came down, and the woman explained to her:

Woman: “I just wanted to see the color of the lipstick in the daylight! That’s why I walked out! The security guard harassed me! I want compensation!”

Manager: “I’d like to apologize on behalf of the store and our security personnel, ma’am. The guard has obviously made a mistake.”

Did I mention our manager is a customer-appeasing coward? I am so close to losing my s***, but I remain calm-sounding when I interrupt and ask the customer:

Me: “Ma’am, why didn’t you just use the tester and disposable applicators to apply some in the store, then walk out into the daylight instead of taking the entire tube?”

Woman: *Scowling at me.* “I told you, I just wanted to see what the whole tube looked like outside!”

Me: “So you took an unpaid for product outside the store, and you think the security guard is in the wrong—”

Manager: “—That’s enough, [My Name].” *To the customer.* “Now, how can we make this right, ma’am?”

I stormed into the back so that I wouldn’t lose my s*** over seeing my manager give that smug b**** everything she asked for. The manager tried to write me up over it. I said I would only sign it if the write-up could also be considered as documented evidence to be reviewed the next time the district manager comes down hard on us about the much higher shoplifting rates our store seems to be experiencing compared to all the other stores.

The write-up never happened. I still told the district manager about it, who was not happy to hear what I had to say…