How do you feel about people who walk around and hangout throughout various stores?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Even though I shop at various stores, I’ve noticed that younger people, especially high schoolers and college students, enjoy hanging out at Target, malls, outlets, etc. since I always notice groups of them walking around & hanging out (depending on the store)

However, I’m not sure how the employees feel about it, since I tend to browse and walk around as well (in between my shopping routine) but from what I’ve been told, as long as you don’t cause any issues and keep to yourself, then you’ll be fine (even though some employees may keep an eye on certain people/groups)

2

This has been going on since my long-dead parents were kids early last century. And probably before that.

If they’re not creating a nuisance and the place isn’t so crowded that their mere presence creates an obstruction, I don’t care in the slightest.

FTR, I don’t own or work in a retail store and never have. I suspect store owners, managers, and staffers have a less benign view.

3

Teenagers hanging out with their friends. Oh, noes. Gather thy clutching pearls, Ye Olde Folks, it’s happenin’ again … since the dawn of time.

4

In fact I thought this was no longer the case and the new fear was that teenagers are spending too much time alone in their rooms.

5

I think I’m a bit more unnerved by people who notice such a thing. Having managed several retail locations I’d be more concerned if young people STOPPED doing this.

6

Old ppl: “Teenagers are hanging around malls!”

Also old ppl: “Teenagers are glued to their screens hiding in their bedroom!”

Conclusion: Old people think teenage kids can pound sand. Teenagers think old people can pound sand. It’s the ciiiiircle of liiiiiiife.

7

Worked retail for all my 20s. If people aren’t making a scene you really don’t notice them and they are just another customer. People being loud, abusing merchandise, etc are the ones who stand out.

8

Yep. Not a new thing.
Young folks hang out with like young folks.

The problems happen when karen shows up asking to see the manager.

Guess who the manager thinks the problem really is?

9

One thing that does make me cringe is when I see young people riding around on the mobility scooters the stores provide. Often two scooters, with a group of kids around them. I mean, MAYBE there’s often two local teens who need a scooter to do their shopping and their friends come for support but maybe not…

10

Well, some one is not minding their Store floor very well.
Harrumph “I wanna see the manager!”

That right there is a good reason to tell a person of authority what’s happening.
Doesn’t mean you should hang around jeering or recording. Tell someone and walk away.

11

If memory serves, the OP is actually fairly young – ISTR them posting about their experiences in college a couple of years ago.

12

I remember, some years back, stores trying to discourage teenage loiterers by playing an annoying high-pitched whine that most adults can’t hear.

It worked about as well as you’d expect.

13

I’d rather go into a store that has a bunch of people in it than an empty one. I suspect most people feel the same, consciously or not, and storeowners know it. Having some people hanging around inside a store is like how street musicians put some of their own cash in their hat to “prime the pump”.

14

Some places also discourage loiterers by playing classical music.

15

Kids have always hung around stores. The types of stores have changed. Back in the dark ages when I grew up, there was a store across from school called appropriately, The School Store. Sold candy, etc. Kids hung around there. When we outgrew The School Store, we went to the indoor mall. Very few indoor malls at least in my area. Target, WalMart are the closest thing. As long as they are not making trouble or stealing or loud or throwing cartons of apple juice on the floor, let them be.

16

Just checking that this isn’t a zombie thread from 1985.

Seriously, I didn’t know kids just hang out in stores anymore.

17

Mallrats

18

my guess is that the owners are cool with that … you need to be IN the store to make (an eventual impulse) purchase. That is the whole concept of Trade / In Store Marketing … getting people who are within the shop to spend money. People outside the store wont …

(ignoring e-commerce)

not sure how they would discriminate between loiterers and genuine shoppers

19

We need to look into who’s spending the money in any particular store.

Follow the money. That will tell you what a store will tolerate.
I hung out and yes played in Toy r Us stores as a young un.
I’m sure no one wants to clean up after kids in stores. But, hey it’s s job and kids want toys. A little mess goes with the territory.
A 6yo in a make up store. Maybe they’d rather you not allow that, parent.

So, yeah. Some kids messing about in appropriate stores is fine.

20

You just have to read your clientele, I guess.

Ca. 1990, I dated a man who owned a record store, and if closing time was approaching or he had customers who were suspicious to him, he would put on classical music (first time I’d heard of this being done!) and it never failed to amaze him who some of the people were who knew what it was.