# Be careful what you wear when Christmas shopping **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 23, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326 "2009-12-23T15:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/21 "2009-12-23T18:32:31Z")
I used to run a sunglass store, and I usually wore blank dress pants, a black shirt and a tie. When we closed the store, I’d usually go to the TGI Friday’s down the road for dinner and a drink before going home. I learned never to wear the red tie on those nights- customers would come up while I was on the outside patio, smoking, with a beer in my hand, and ask me to seat them. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/22 "2009-12-23T18:52:33Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > Apparently, I was wearing what was perceived to be the Official Target Employee Uniform. After a while I got tired of saying, “Sorry, I don’t work here”, and left. I dunno, one could do well with this. Tell 'em that you’re having a two for one sale on whatever they ask for-like lawnmowers-if they say the magic word “tramcigam” at the check out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/23 "2009-12-23T19:04:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A couple weeks ago, an “angry looking” woman approached me in the grocery store. She asked me where the large cans of tomatoes were. I told her I didn’t work there. She scowled at me and said, “I never said you did, did I?”. > > I just walked away, dumbfounded. That’s awesome. When I was in college, doing some shopping at a small local grocery store. There was an old woman I used to see there sometimes, usually trying to involve the employees in chit-chat while they were stocking shelves. As I was standing in line at the deli, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around, and there was the little old lady. I waited for her to ask me something. She stared at my (new at the time) lip piercing, exclaimed, “Well, I never!” and walked away. It was hard not to laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/24 "2009-12-23T19:59:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A couple weeks ago, an “angry looking” woman approached me in the grocery store. She asked me where the large cans of tomatoes were. I told her I didn’t work there. She scowled at me and said, “I never said you did, did I?”. > > I just walked away, dumbfounded. I got this from a smoker once when they asked me for a light, I had said “sorry, I don’t smoke.” Now I don’t say anything but , No. And try to look annoyed. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/25 "2009-12-23T20:56:23Z")
I say, “I AM the light, my child. What you require is fire. And no, I do not carry fire with me.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/26 "2009-12-23T21:06:13Z")
Oh yeah, that totally happened to me once. At first, I was all, “why are you asking me?” Then I realized I was in a red sweater and khaki cords. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326/27 "2009-12-23T22:43:38Z")
I used to work at Target and I still have my employee nametag. Of course, I also have red shirts and khakis. I live only blocks from the Target I used to work for. It would be so easy to don the old uniform and nametag and mess with or help customers. I don’t know if that could get me in trouble with the law, however. Incidentally, I got a call from them a few months ago, about an upcoming performance review. When I told them I hadn’t worked there in three years, they mentioned that there must be three of me who work or worked there. I have a very common first and last name. I also have an old nametag from my first job at a one stop grocery/department store. I could pose as an employee there, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-careful-what-you-wear-when-christmas-shopping/522326.md?page=1)