I’m a Dutchie who just moved back to the Netherlands after many years abroad, and I had a really weird experience in a big AH store.
So I was doing my shopping and noticed this woman kind of following me around and watching me the whole time. She wasn’t wearing a name tag or anything, just normal clothes. At first I thought it was coincidence, just another customer walking around the same aisles. But it started to feel off. She didn’t even have a basket or anything with her.
Anyway, I kept shopping, picked my usual items, scanned everything myself, placed them in my basket and paid. When I scanned my receipt and walked through the gates, she was also walking behind me. And literally right after I passed the gates, I got stopped by multiple people. They asked me to show my receipt, show everything I bought, and started checking all my items.
There were like 7 people around me, all in regular clothes, no name tags. Then eventually an actual employee in a blue AH shirt came over and stood there too, I I guess I didn't get scammed or anything. I had no idea what was going on. They told me my behavior in the store was “suspicious” and that’s why they were checking me. Meanwhile, there wasn’t even a random check/steekproef when I was scanning my groceries.
In the end, they checked my bag, they really took everything out, including my private belongings. Everything was correct and paid for. Then they just said something like “now you’re free to go.” Not a single apology.
I felt pretty fucking humiliated. Is this normal now? That they have people in plain clothes following you around, then stopping you and checking your stuff in front of everyone because you looked "suspicious" and then don't even apologize but let you go as if you're the biggest criminal. How is this even allowed?