I know we are in a down economy, I know that people have to make ends meet but I cannot get my head around stealing books. I mean why? Why would you do that. Get in the queue at the library, don't come to a small business and steal the inventory. Of course this person isn't going to steal from a chain, they have cameras everywhere and they prosecute shoplifters. We are booksellers not store detectives I have no authority to challenge a customer even though I followed said customer to the cash desk and the book was still in evidence and suddenly it wasn't. I even asked if that customer was ready to buy the book I'd seen in a hand only moments earlier. I was told that the book had already been put back. Did I say 'liar' of course not. The thing that gets me is that I can't prove anything was stolen, bookfairs mean our inventory is spread all over the valley at the moment.
Makes me mad.
Also makes me miss our manager at the local newsagents in Storrington. She watched a kid thieving with such sleight of hand that we two at the counter knew he was taking stuff but couldn't catch him in the act. She had the security camera footage and she had a temper. She came flying down from the upstairs flat, grabbed the kid by his ankles and shook and you would not believe how much stock fell out. Then she righted him, told him he was 'barred' and his mother would be seeing the footage along with the local policeman if he dared set foot in the shop again. He never did.
Of course that wouldn't work for the bookstore because we are welcoming in honest fellow bookworms...
No comments:
Post a Comment