To expand on that, it is an entirely rational conclusion on the store managers’ parts, that the whole thing has been planned as a feint to draw attention away from other persons in the store who had criminal intent. Another reason the impostors should have expected the cops to be called in.
Why are you posting here? Shouldn’t you be out picking up litter?
This was not their best prank, IMO: the Megastore prank was similar and far funnier.
As for me, I’d be inclined to shop at a store MORE if I saw something like this going on: it would add a little bit of wonder and coolness to my life, and I love it when that happens. If I worked at such a store, it’d make me very happy, whether I was security or just a floor-worker. (Consider the security guy in Cell Phone Symphony).
They broke no laws. They inconvenienced fewer people than would a single shrieking child in the store. The idea that they’re planning a massive heist is a sign that people have been watching too many blockbusters.
I wonder about folks who are so dour. It’s depressing.
Daniel
UncleBeer- I may not have sworn, but I think I might have bit a bit mean for MPSIMS, I though we were in the Pit.
**Why are you posting here? Shouldn’t you be out picking up litter?**Yes, I should.
I think the funniest thing they did was have Anton Chekov doing a reading at Barnes and Noble, and then sitting at a card table in a park autographing cheap paperbacks of “The Cherry Orchard.” (I mentioned that in a thread about libraries breaking copyright laws.) Those people who believed that it really was Anton Chekov? I wouldn’t say they were victimized. Once they realized that Chekov died 100 years ago, they would have learned at least that, and they got a classic work of literature to read.
The best thing was that while some really thought he was Chekov, another guy knew he couldn’t have been, and was indignantly trying inform the public.
I don’t understand how folks can think the management overreacted. These folks came in dressed verymuch like Best Buy employees. So, naturally, customers were asking them questions, as the pranksters expected. Of course, we know, because they told us, that these folks tried to be helpful. But the manager could not have known that. For all he knew they were giving advice such as, “Oh dear you don’t want to buy that XBOX for your son. Remember Columbine?”.
I mean seriously, 80 or so folks come into the store, obviously together, dresed alike, with absolutely no intention of buying anything and the manager is supposed to wait around and hope and pray that nothing happens? Was he supposed be all cool about it and only when something happens - mass theft, group sing-along, the Full Monty - is he supposed to call the cops?
Or…ask them to leave. Gosh.
There are two views here, completely incompatible with each other:
- It was funny.
- It was dangerous/rude/etc.
Neither side is going to convince the other to join them.
Let’s keep debating anyway! 
The Virgin stunt was better, as it had a goal other than standing around, and therefor had an possible ending other than kicking everybody out on threat of arrest. Dancing should be involved all the time.
I particularly liked this:
I like that cop.
Haven’t reached that one yet…nice.
Reminds me of a situation I faced in Chicago. I still had Michigan plates on my car, but had ordered Illinois plates. In fact, the new plates and the stickers for them resided in the trunk of my car…I was just being my usual procrastinating self and hadn’t put them on the car yet.
Well, one day in late June, I had to go out to the 'burbs for a research project for work. I had never been to this particular research facility before, so left extra early (with Chicago traffic, you never know)…and ended up getting there a good hour before the facility (located in a strip mall, above a bank) even opened.
So…I was bored. Got some breakfast from McDonald’s. Still bored. Then it hit me…my plates expired that weekend. Might as well get the new plates on. So I do so, and continue to wait in my car…now have about 20 minutes to wait…and I see two people across the parking lot, staring at me, talking on a phone, ducking behind a parked truck, peering out at me, etc.
All at once, it hits me. Bank parking lot. Changing license plates. People peering nervously at me. And just as what happened dawned on me…I see this cop car swing down the row of cars in front of me, wrap around, and park behind. I was like, “you little…” But, it wasn’t the swiftest move on my part, either…I totally own that part of it.
Cop comes up, I roll down window, explain to him that I was pretty sure I knew why he was there, and apologized profusely. He seemed not happy to be there…but wasn’t sure if he was upset at me, or upset at the people who called it in.
Actually, despite the fact that folks like UncleBeer are over-reacting to a very mild incident, this is one area where i think the Improv people got it wrong.
The story of the incident clearly states that store employees began asking the imposters to leave, and that many of them refused on the grounds that they were waiting for their girlfriends, or something similar.
I think, in cases like this, once a store employee asks you to leave, you should leave, or at very least ask that a manager be brought to confirm that they do, indeed, want you to leave the store.
Uncle Beer -you sound constipated.
Why not report them to the FTC for restraint of trade?
:rolleyes:
I find the whole thing mildly amusing–and even cheerful. The world needs more good hearted fun–I see no “victims” here, and I see no “bullies”.
I’d like to think that this improv bit was also a rather savage satirical comment on our culture today and the love of Money we have, but even that weighs the whole thing down too much. Suffice to say that if I ever get to be a part of this, as participant or spectator, I will enjoy it thoroughly.
The rest of you are old poops.
Now that I agree with. The prank was just lacking. I doubt Best Buy are annoyed, this isn’t exactly negative publicity. Some of the other pranks listed were much better.
It doesn’t matter. I have the generic employees face. Either that or the average person can see I am a doper and therefore smarter than they are. I get stopped all the time in every store I go to for directions, questions about products all kinds of stuff.
Back when I was still a working technician I would wear my uniform home, and change there. I have stopped on my way home at Target (Corporate color = RED) wearing my uniform shirt and pants. I finally had to stop doing that as I could not get any shopping done due to all the people stopping to ask me where things were in the store. :smack:
Now see, I can’t stand Best Buy. Not enough to actively rant about them, but just the right amount to avoid them if I even remotely needed something from that kind of store. However, with that said, if I’d seen something like this as I passed by (with one of these located in a strip mall type setting) on my way to somewhere else, with almost hundreds of identically dressed folks streaming in, I would have undoubtedly stopped. And if the employees there had played along with the joke, I’d definitely part with some hard-earned cash for their good attitudes (and this is said as one of the underlings would might be ‘hurt’ from such a prank). I mean, that would notch them way up to human in my eyes. Or what LHoD said.
Yet of course, I’m just one person. ::: shrug :::
Oh, and here’s a question to those who’ve opined much about the matching attire… What is done when a youth group (who theoretically could all dress the same on an outting to sing at the local Charity Event) stops by to kill time along the way during the trip? 'Cause they don’t perform until 2:00 and they’ve already terrorized The Golden Corral. You know damn well that pretty nigh not many are going to purchase much, but they ALL APPEAR TO BE DRONES OF SAID BOX STORE! Then what’re ya gonna do? What are their motives and how does one prevent this disruptment?? 
Looks the same to me. Plus still amusing enough and something I’d be thrilled to witness, in any capacity.
Ditto. Put me somewhere between slightly amused and slightly annoyed by the whole thing.
I agree: you’ve put your finger on a big part of why I don’t think this was one of their best missions. When asked to leave, they shoulda left, not moved to another part of the store and kept up the shenanigans.
Still not a big deal, but it’s poor form on their part. Other pranks? Much funnier.
Daniel
You must lead an extremely dull life if you find this amusing.
So 80 people disguised themselves as employees of the store, entered, stood around, and refused to leave.
It’s not a tragedy or a crime, but it’s not all that funny or creative either. Obviously they had an impact on the store’s conducting it’s business, and they refused to leave until cops came, which means they used up law enforcement resources.
I guess I’d be a bit more sympathetic if it was a better prank, but it’s actually pretty lame. And creating difficulties for the store management is a bit dickish.
This kind of thing is appropriate in a public place, but not in a place of business, where they’re obviously costing the owners money. And at very least, they could have done something interesting or funny.
Most people who try to do things like this seem to actually be much less clever than they think they are.