Previously I had asked for some opinions on how to handle a situation with a store clerk clearly stealing from his company, fellow employees and patrons. Here’s a bit of a follow-up on what has taken place since then.
The day after I wrote the previous post, I went back to the store as I normally would have. While going through the line I grabbed a business card off the counter for the store manager. When I got to the counter to pay, I pulled out a twenty dollar bill forcing the cashier to ring up the transaction and make change. I took my change, left no tip and headed in to work. A couple hours later I dialed the managers number.
I explained to the manager what I had seen and sympathized with her about the difficult situation that I know she’s in. She thanked me profusely and requested that I remain a regular customer. She said that she had been concerned that something fishy was going on with the money but that she never would have guessed that it was the specific employee that I had mentioned. I think much of her shock comes from the fact that this person is NOT some snot-nosed teenager, but is in his late 30s/early 40s and should obviously know better. She assured me that she would take care of the situation by doing the following:
1. Watch him like a hawk
2. Take him off the register
3. Relieve him of his job
It just so happened that I was unable to visit the store for the next 2 or 3 days. When I did go back for the first time, I must admit that I was a little apprehensive. If she had given the guy a “talking to”, there is a very real possibility that he put 2 and 2 together to figure out that it was me that called. Not that I should care. I did NOTHING wrong. But still.
When I walked in, everything was the same as the previous time I had been in there. Our thieving cashier was standing behind the register just like before. The manager was nowhere in sight. So, as far as I can tell, my call to them was a complete waste of time. They have apparently done nothing about the situation.
So at this point I have basically decided that I will give up my minor convenience of being able to whisk my way through the line and instead I’ll wait patiently to pay with my $10 or $20 to force him to make change. I’ll watch the register to make sure he rings it up and I’ll take my receipt and all my change and walk away.
The idea of calling their corporate office had run through my mind. Do you think it’s worth my time?
Well, blogging and a little linkbait would have helped get attention of corporate if you would have mentioned the company name (kinda like I did with GameCrazy).
If you wanna keep going to that location, see if you can recreate the act by doing what you did before. Maybe the manager is going to watch him for a week or two (or four or eight or never).
I told you so. Phone call is useless. You have to call them out on the situation right when it happens. Refer to my previous post…
Good lord, no. You have, at this point, gone above and beyond and done exactly what you had to. What happens now is that you can go about your business guilt free regardless of what happens.
Kicking him in the sack aside, the best solution is to vote with your wallet. If anything, I would call that manager back and tell her that you saw him back on the register and that you do not like giving your business to thieves. Then, bail.
I am sure there is another Capriotti’s or Chipoodle close by.
I believe you did your duty and what the manager does now is up to them. You have no need to keep pushing the issue as there may be a more complex story you don't know about.
Like I said before as a manager, there is only so much that can be done. You were good enough to call and now it is up them to take the next step not you. I say keep paying the way you always have why should you have to change anything? Besides if he keeps doing it and you keep seeing it then you know the manager doesn't give two shits and that's not your problem. Go Americans in the Tour De France, lets make it 9 in a row!!