I saw this story on the local news, about two men who are walking into Staples stores with bolt-cutters and brazenly emptying out whole cases of cameras while shoppers browse and employees mill around nearby. The police commissioner Channel 7 interviewed said the sheer brazenness of the crime surprised him, but anyone who has ever been to any of these big box stores knows the employees avoid customers like the plague.

I mean, it can't just be me and my friend, Robert, can it?  Maybe hot little hipsters get prompt and courteous service at Best Buy and Circuit City, but grizzled old has-beens have to fend for themselves?  I sure never have had any luck getting fast and friendly service there, myself.  

In fact, the last time I was in a Best Buy, I had to hunt some help down.  It's not like they can pretend they don't work there, since their royal blue jerseys kind of give them away.  And it's not like there's ever any shortage of employees milling around.  But if my experience can be trusted, they generally won't approach you of their own free will. 

When they see you coming, first they scatter, then regroup.  They tend to gang up at certain designated loafing stations, where they glare at you threateningly as you approach, so that it almost seems like you're looking for trouble, not simply assistance, if you do. 

Either that, or they're all ganged up playing video games or doing something seemingly much more fun and interesting than helping customers.  They smile and laugh with each other, but when they see you their expressions turn immediately sullen and somber.  And as you approach you have a little pang of guilt at interrupting their fun.  I mean, how much do they get paid there, anyway?  Aren't they entitled to a little fun?

But there's a point at which the avoidance of customers becomes more work than just pointing them in the right direction.  When I taught high school (which I did not do for long) I was always amazed at the resourcefulness, dedication, and sheer energy my students put into avoiding doing the simple tasks their teachers had assigned them. 

I have gotten good service at big box stores, but it's definitely the exception, not the rule.  Anyone surprised that you could go right into a Staples or a Best Buy with bolt cutters and walk away with four grand in cameras has been getting a lot better service at these stores than me, that's for sure.