GainesvilleMoms.com

I was in a little store in Ocala the other day and both of my children were so wonderfully great that we stopped by the toy section and let them pick something. My daughter had pick a baby, the only one there and she played with it and carried the whole time we were there and she decided that she was going to buy it with her own money. A lady came by with her much older daughter, maybe 10-12, and, I assume, were looking for a gift for someone. I had heard her say a couple times "That doll would be perfect but that little girl has it." She hung around "looking" for about 15 minutes. My daughter had saw something she wanted to look at, it was actually a doll house to put the doll in. It was up on the shelf so she put down the doll to get it, I saw she was having a little trouble so I helped. When we turned around to get the doll the lady had snatched it up and took off! By the time we noticed, she was in line checking out! I couldn't believe it! My daughter was upset and almost cried, I was so furious, I didn't know what to do. By the time I had made it to the front the lady was already gone! Have you ever had this happen to you?

I'm afraid I would have been very rude. This would have angered me so badly. In fact, reading your post made me angry!!! What a rude lady!! I can't believe someone would actually do that!! I'm sorry I have no advice, I'm sure the way I would have handled it would have been politically incorrect because I would probably have chased it down and snatched it back....security would probably have been called

I've heard of people doing that at CHristmas over hot items and I actually saw a melee once at a Pic in Save many, many years ago. I tell you I would have hated to be in your shoes. It would have been hard for me to be non-confrontational but you have your daughter there with you so what can you do? Besides, she knew she did wrong as she high tailed it out of the store.


There are a lot of mean, nasty people in this world unfortunately with no heart. When I was in my late teens/early twenties I worked at Kmart in layaway so wherever I went people just assumed I was the store clerk there, red vest or no red vest. Once in Toys R Us, some man grabbed me while I was with my mom and was screaming at me about some item not being in stock and unfair advertising. My mother went unglued. "You don't touch my daughter, mister! SHe doesn't work here and even if she did, you don't grab strangers and yell at them." So maybe there is just something in the air in Toys R Us that makes customers act out.

It really is hard to believe that there are people out there like this...especially when I'm so perfect

Hubby and I usually go shopping on Black Friday. A few years back we were waiting outside of Best Buy. We were like 10th in line to get in because we had gotten there at something like 3am. Well, this woman walks up about 1/2 hour before the store opens. She was angry that the line was so long and that even though she got there before the doors opened, she wouldn't have a good spot in line. So, she decides instead of getting in line behind everyone, she would get in behind the first few people in line and snake the line the opposite direction.

You really have to wonder what these people's issues are!

I also "did my time in retail" in my youth and I was always amazed by the extreme anger the religious season brought out in people. Were they upset that there were starving people in the world that would never have a warm meal on Christmas Day let alone a gift and a hug from a loved one? No, they chose to get mad over not getting the last tickle me Elmo doll, or having to wait 10 minutes in line (really what do you expect on Christmas eve-no lines)? I always laughed at them and imagined them sitting in church praying for everyone else on Sunday. Yes, working in retail you see the ugly side of the season and the people “celebrating” it .

I'm afraid me and and that lady would have been in a tangle or jail one. Oddly enough, I was at a yard sale(my addiction)this past Friday. I was the 1st one there and I had found a many great items. One being this cool "Scoop" tractor that the wheels some off and go back on, anyways, I picked it and a few other items up. My hands were pretty full when this other "customer" walked up, she suggested I asked the "cashier" if I could place them in a pile while I continued to shop. Being I knew the "cashier",I did just that. Just as I turned my back, my friend whom I was w/ said " Isn't that your stuff"? I turned to find that lady who was so full of suggestions, in my pile w/ my "Scoop".OMG! I was not happy, and I told her about it, she used the old "I thought you had decided against it" excuse.(I guess that's why it was on the bottom of the pile) So then she began lingering around me. I finished looking and paid out, as I was putting one load in the car, this woman had gotten my "Scoop" again. But luckily the "cashier" had gotten to her before me, and was gathering it up. Then she proceeds to ask the cashier what I had paid for it, b/c she would be willing to pay more???

I've also had similiar incidents at the Goodwill, people in there don't hesitate to take something out of your buggy. And they will stalk you to see if you'll sit the item they want down. It's almost creepy!

What is w/ these folks? I guess it's just the economy and all, but even so, I'm standing my ground. Especially when it comes to my kids. But in your situation, all you can do now is pray for her. She will answer for it "10 fold" and karama never fails. Sadly though, your daughter is to little to understand it.

I wish I could say I was shocked by this but it seems that people are getting more and more toward this type of behavior and it is just sad. I cannot imagine what would drive anyone to do that and I hope I never have it happen in my presence as I would be the first to step in and likely make it a bit worse by calling attention to the actions, but at least maybe the lady would think twice about her behavior. Well, likely as not, no she wouldn't. People who do this are so self absorbed that there is likely nothing to make them see the problem. The world owes them something in their eyes. Had it been my daughter who was 'robbed' of her treasure, I think there is a good chance the police would have been called to pull me off that woman. Let me assure you, once I saw what she did, I wouldn't hesitate one sceond to march straight to her and either remove the doll from her cart or her hands and dare her to do one thing about it. I might have also questioned her upbringing and whether or not her parents were closely related, but in less polite terms.

This made me really mad too! I def would have acted fast and confronted the lady. Because your child is with you, you would have to use restraint, but there is nothing wrong with showing your children how to respectfully stand up for themselves and call out what is wrong. You may not have gotten the doll back but you would feel better by not letting her get away with such a nasty thing....to a child no less! To take a child's toy! AAAGGGHHH! I'm so sorry.

I think I may have forgotten restraint Mary

Oh mercy, can you imagine if a group of us gets together for Black Friday and this happens in front of us?!?! LOOK OUT!!! Maybe we should take up a collection for bail, just in case!! LOL

Michelle, you are so funny! You just crack me up! You know what was the worst part, she waited until I wasn't looking and had to of ran to the check out because when we looked around and I realized what had happened she was already at the check out! By the time I got up there, she was gone. Obviously she has done this before. I tell you, my blood was boiling and I know my face was red because I could feel the heat coming off! It's a good thing she did leave, I didn't want my children to see something like that.

Bail money or a safe word.

OK that is seroiusly awful. How rude of that mother to hang around, intentionally waiting for your daugter to put that doll down. And what a bad thing for her to teach her older daughter!

While I don't think it's ever very nice to snatch items that you know someone else had first, I can handle it a bit more when it happens between adults. Some people can sure be vicious! But taking something from a child!? Give me a break! I'm sure there were seveal other dolls in the store that would have worked just fine!

I hope your daughter was able find another toy she liked.

It's amazing how people can be that cruel to a child. Regardless that you were there, she took advantage of your daughter. Having a child herself is what makes it worse. How would she have liked it if someone did that to her child?