My friend (we'll call her jane) was caught shoplifting about 8 months ago. Jane used to frequent this store (Sephora) often and has acquired thousands of dollars of goods from this store over the past 5 or so years (both purchased and stolen). She is never going to shoplift again after the ordeal she went through, but she would really like to go back to sephora as a regular paying customer. The problem with that is that she is banned for life.
She understands that if she returns that she risks being arrested for trespassing, and would rather just not go back than be arrested again. However there are a lot of people who go in and out of this store, and she is not going to cause any trouble/bring attention to herself. What I am wondering is if they will really charge her with trespassing even if she goes back, or if they would only charge her with trespassing if she got caught shoplifting again (which she isn't going to do)? I told her to go when it's really busy, but she says that the LP officer will be there during those times and that she had seen him there a few times over the years so it's not likely that he won't be there.
If it helps at all, when she signed the ban form thing she signed with with a fake name. Not sure if that helps her or hinders her in this situation
She called the LP officer a few months ago (because she thought that her ban was only 3 months, but apparently it's for life). He told her to write a letter of apology and bring it to the manager, but it was out of the manager's hands- they would forward it to the "higher ups". He was very nice about it though, telling her that chances were good and that everyone makes mistakes. She is totally willing to do this but seriously doubts that the "higher ups" are going to give that letter the time of day.
The thing is that she can (and does) shop online, but it's a pain in the *** to buy things of this nature without trying them. There is actually another Sephora close by to her that she frequently shops at but they do not carry a particular brand that she needs (she is a professional ballerina and needs it for stage). They do have an amazing return policy but she feels really uncomfortable doing so many returns, even though they are completely legal and especially because she's not even supposed to be there- it would look suspicious and is worried the many (legal) returns she did would draw attention to her.
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Talkstotrees: She was my best friend since daycare (when we first met).
She signed a fake name?? Yah, that was a good idea. She sounds really sorry for what she did.
Poor little shoplifting ballerina.
She should be ashamed to show her face in that store anyways. She should either continue to shop online or find a store that will not remember that she is a thief.
Okay. I used to work in the Sephora corporate office. I know the VP of Loss Prevention. Former special ops guy. He doesn't mess around. You need to understand that Sephora sustains losses in the hundreds of thousands yearly on shoplifting (both internal and external). They take it VERY seriously.
That being said, yes, they will ban her for life. They know who she is. Every time she walks into the store, the greeter is on the headset with the person in the back-of-house, and they're watching her on the CCTV the whole time she's in the store. Chances are good that if they see her, they'll detain her and call the police. I've been in stores where the LP guy chased a shoplifter down the block and tackled the person. Truly, they don't mess around at Sephora when it comes to LP. Maybe she should shop at Ulta going forward.
"Jane" can try whatever "she" wants. "She" might be caught, "she" might not.
It's hard to imagine that there is something so precious that it can't be purchased at another store. I guess if "Jane" wants Sephora that badly, "she" can purchase it online.
I think "Jane" should be ashamed to show "her" face at Sephora. If it were me, I would slink out of Sephora and never go back. I would find another product, and then I wouldn't steal it.
I'm having a hard time feeling any sympathy for "Jane" -- I hope "she" learned "her" lesson.
Thank you 'Jane' for making us *good* patrons have higher prices because of people like you!!!
Your "friend" has to learn from her transgressions that there are consequences for what she did, even if she intends not to shoplift again. And yes, that means not getting to go in their stores.
If your "friend" stole things from my home, not only would your "friend" not be MY friend anymore, she would no longer be allowed in my home, no matter how sorry she was.
There are just some things that "sorry" will not fix. This is one of them. Your "friend" has a lot of growing up to do, still jonesin' after going into this store...
Hi Jane - you prob should have thought out the consequences before you shoplifted from a store you "need" to do business... please continue to frequent the store, they will indeed charge you and hopefully lock you up as you clearly haven't Learned your lesson yet - this whole post was about me me me - shameful!
Her picture is up in all of the stock rooms. When I worked retail we had pictures of convicted shoplifters in the stock room.
So, she signed with a FAKE name? She stole and shopped thousands of dollars there?
Bologna
She doesn't get to shop there anymore. Her poor pathetic professional ballerina butt is just going to have to shop online or go somewhere else.
boo hoo
L.
Your "friend" isn't owed any breaks, and from the sound of it she doesn't even deserve any more breaks.
It sounds like she was caught shoplifting and banned, but charges weren't actually pressed. If she goes in and is caught trying to game them, they WILL press charges for trespassing and they'll probably also press charges for shoplifting too. She already caught a break. They don't owe her any more.
Tell your friend to stick to online shopping for Sephora and deal with the "inconvenience."
Well.... I'm just wondering how much she DID shoplift over the last many years....
Even though she HAS purchased a bunch of stuff from there, I don't think the management really wants her back there at all.....
She made her bed..... now she gets to deal with the wrinkled sheets!
How could she even contemplate showing her face in the store she stole from? You would think she would be mortified. I suggest she find another brand of make-up like Estée Lauder or Clinique where she can try the product before purchasing then she won't have to make returns. Sounds like "Jane" continues to cost Sephora money by returning product she uses. I don't get it. If she needs certain stage makeup why is she returning it even if it is legal?
Wow, are we supposed to feel sorry for Jane and the ordeal SHE went through? It's not so much an ordeal, but a situation she is in due to her own actions. Nobody forced her to shoplift. I can't think of a single, honest person who has never shoplifted and has had to pay higher prices due to the Jane's of this world who would feel sorry for her.
She's a despicable person and doesn't deserve to be able to shop at Sephora again. Too bad if shopping online is inconvenient. She should have thought of that before she decided to become a thief!
You're kidding, right? She has shoplifted over a period of time (which costs every other customer a fortune because Sephora raises prices to cover losses), and SHE'S been through an "ordeal"???
She signed a fake name (so she committed fraud after she committed multiple thefts), and you are "not sure if that helps her or hinders her"???
And she's doing tons of returns and feels uncomfortable? Gee, I'd be more worried about all the work she's giving people and the fact that so many extra staff need to be hired to process the work she creates. Which, by the way, raises prices for everyone else.
Yes, they will charge her with trespassing because she is a habitual thief. She should find another career besides crime and ballet. She should go into therapy. No one would believe her that she's never going to shoplift again, because, well, she signed a paper with a fake name and even so, she doesn't want to abide by it.
I'm having a hard time believing this story is even really true.
Your friend is a narcissist. Why you would be friends with someone like that is beyond me.
eta
I have had friends that I had since childhood that turned into jerks and I dropped them like a hot potato. This story says a lot about you, in addition to what it says about her. Knowing someone since you were 4yo is not a good reason to stay friends.
I'm calling troll.
This question is ridiculous.
Sounds like your "friend" needs to grow up, follow the rules and learn to live with the consequences. If I was the store owner, you can bet I would make every effort to keep her out. She has a LOT of gall to think about going back...people like her make me sick. I have no sympathy for her and hope she at least has the decency to respect the wishes of the owner and stay out!
I detect narcissistic 'poor me' attitude all over this. She probably really wants to return to Sephora because it's easier to steel from them than some other places.
Now then, two of my kids are competitive performers: a competitive ballroom dancer and a competitive figure skater. I think the make up needs are rather similar. I never shop at Sephora for my kids stage make up needs.
Oh good God just shop somewhere else. You can buy makeup EVERYWHERE!
Welcome to mamapedia!!
Sorry - but I have no sympathy for "Jane". She did the crime - now she has to do the time. PERIOD. Why should she get special treatment? SHE STOLE from a company. Because of her THEFT - the store was most likely forced to raise its prices to compensate for the THEFT.
Does she have ANY remorse for her actions?
Has she compensated the company for her THEFT?
Why should the company allow her back in their store? She's a THIEF!!! She should be ashamed of herself and her actions. You state she's employed...but she still felt the need to STEAL!?!?!? LOVELY...just LOVELY (dripping sarcasm).
"Jane" needs to accept consequences of her actions. And if that means being banned for life - that's the consequences. Thems the breaks - as they say....
If she's a professional ballerina? I would think that the company she works for would provide the stage make up she needs. And if she's working? Why the heck could she not PAY for the stuff instead of STEALING IT?
It would be GREAT if Jane learned a lesson out of this mess. I hope that Jane gets HELP for her kleptomania behavior....Personally? I wouldn't want her in MY store. I don't have the time nor the resources to follow her around. So yeah - I would ban her for life....urgh. people who feel entitled to things to which they did not earn make me insane....
Tell your friend to grow up and deal with the consequences of her behavior.. I hope she is arrested for trying to go back in there. She has a problem and needs help regarding the kleptomania.
First of all, I don't think this is a real question and/or you're talking about yourself!! Having said that..... "Jane" is not going to stop stealing just because of one "ordeal." She's banned, move on!!
And why does she have so many "legal" returns? Why is she buying so much stuff only to return it?
None of this story makes sense. I'm thinking troll!!
I've no sympathy for people who do this. Apparently stealing was more important than doing what is right. So now, OH NO, 'she' has to shop online instead of in store. It is obvious she hasn't learned her lesson considering in spite of being banned for life she still frequents the store, albeit at a different location. She needs to start using her brain and doing what is right instead of what is right for her in the moment. Shop online and if she cannot do that well then she's got issues deeper than you've presented here.
As I'm sure you can tell shoplifters anger me because they effect everyone else. There's no reason to shoplift, ever, but some people just aren't smart enough to realize that. Ugh.
Um, your user name says it all..... "three times so sorry"? You were sorry that you had three kids?
Only a troll would use that sort of screen name. C'mon ladies, didn't any of you catch that?!
And what kind of friend would tell a person who is 'banned for life' from a store to 'go when it's really busy"? I mean, who does that? Shoplifting is for 12 year olds, not adults. Seriously-- this whole things sounds whacked.
What kind of shopping is she wanting to do?
Go in and get what she needs and leave or wander and look and try things out?
If she has a definite item she needs, a friend can go pick it up for her. If she just wants to look and try...then she needs to go to the smaller store. Some stores can also do in store calls to see if other locations have certain products, if she's looking for something specific and knows that one store doesn't carry it, she can ask a clerk to check if the other does carry the item. It may also be possible for her to have the item moved to her smaller store for pick up.
When I was a little girl I had a music box...open it up and a ballerina spins around and then reaches out and grabs your wallet.
She should shop elsewhere. All Sephora products are sold at other stores (except for the Sephora brand stuff).
I'm not buying this question either.
But, if it is true, I would comply with everything the store asked me to do and see what happens. If they don't lift the ban then that's the consequence of my actions.
A truly remorseful person would "get" that concept instead of whining about one store out of thousands where she cannot go (due to her own actions).
I would tell your friend to forget about going back to Sephora.
She stole hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise. I would ban her for life also. Has she made any reparations? Does she plan on returning any of the money back to the store to make up for the value stolen? If so, then Perhaps the management would give her the time of day. If she admits what she did, owns it and fixes it, takes responsibility for her actions (instead of lying and making excuses) THEN she might earn the privilege of walking back inside.
She has to now use what everyone uses: drug store, department stores or other boutique stores.
Or maybe her other friends could help her buy her ballerina cosmetics. But this really makes no sense. What happened to all the cosmetics she purchased/stole in the past 5 years? She doesn't remember the colors? Cosmetics are not a crayola factory. You pick a color, you stick with it. It's not that hard.
My make up lasts me months. I use 3-4 items. Your friend sounds like she has a shopping addiction problem. There are support groups for that (shoplifting/shopping addiction). But the BEST way to get rid of her emotional baggage is to confess it all to God and ask Him to help her. If she means it, He will. (John 14:6)
Hmmm, somethings not adding up in my book.
Stores keep track of people who return things often. Some times, these are buyer's remorse purchases, but sometimes the item being returned was stolen in the first place.
Regardless - a ban is a ban and unless she does want to be arrested for trespassing, she either needs to find another store (bad idea because she'll just steal from them) or shop online. If she has one particular item she likes, shopping online is the way to go.
Troll alert! Go back under your bridge!
But it did make for an entertaining "story" so I thank you.
I would say yes she could come back in if she allowed a store employee to accompany her, call it a personal shopper.
I think that most people who have shoplifted find it so easy to do it again without even thinking it through. I'm glad she's changed and is remorseful. If I had done something like that and been caught I'd expect to have been charged and never set foot in that store again.
One thing she can do, of course, is drive to another town where the staff do not know her. Then she probably would not be noticed.
