I have to say there is no excuse for being rude to customers.

Here is how it could have been handled.

Cutomer walks in 5 minutes to closing:

Welcome to Lane Bryant. Can I help you find anything?

Customer responds yes/no

Clerk helps customer to fitting room adding with tact and a smile: We will be closing in 5 minutes. If there is anything I can do to expedite your purchase please let me know.

THIS GIVES THE CUSTOMER A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT THE EMPLYEES INTEND TO CLOSE THE STORE IN 5 MINUTES AND THAT SHE NEEDS TO BE QUICK.

Now, lets assume that the customer enters the dressing room and does NOT expedite her purchase but instead begins to go beyond the alloted 5 minutes. Maybe the customer begins to take advantage running from the fitting room to the sales room picking up extra items to try on.

Clerk:

Ma'am. Excuse me. We are now closed. Please make your purchase at the front counter.

THIS LETS THE CUSTOMER KNOW THAT THE STORE IS NOW CLOSED. EVEN IF SHE DID NOT FIND WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER TIME IS NOW UP. THE CUSTOMER WILL EITHER PAY FOR A FEW ITEMS OR LEAVE.

However, that is not what happened here. Yes, this customer came into the store a few minutes before closing but that is because the door was open and the store was still open!

The clerk was nasty. Xmas is not an excuse to treat customers with such rudeness. And, as this customer said- as she was leaving Lane Bryant the loudspeaker announced the mall would be closing in 5 minutes. That means this customer was well within her right to be in that store!