Management Issues at Lane Bryant

Monica,
Having worked in retail you should know not to go into a store
minutes before store closing on Christmas eve nonetheless and expect
to try on clothes LESS than 5 minutes before closing. It's Christmas
eve why didn't you come in earlier or for that matter the 23rd. I
think it was inconsiderate of you to want to make the employees wait
on you to finish whatever it was you doing. You weren't shopping for a
present you needed the next day you were shopping for yourself not it
made much difference except for the fact you could have shopped at any
time for yourself. Those employees wanted to go home on time and relax
after I'm sure was a crazy day and to make them wait on you was rude.
You should not be compensated in fact you apologize to them.

i think its funny how older women such as yourself have no problem
keeping a store like lane bryant open on such a day.

you feel no need to think about others... went into a store on x-mass
eve and 5 mins till closing decided to try on jeans and grab your
bras. are you really that selfish that on a day like that you would
think they would rather serve you than spend it with their families.
its not like your wouldn't be able to buy your jeans the day after
x-mass.

Please get over your self and and have a good day!

:D

Why should you be compenstated, you did not buy anything at all.

I don't exactly condone the attitude of the employees, but understand
that it was near closing on Christmas Eve, and some of these people
probably wanted to go home and spend some kind of time with their
families...not remaining cooped up at work past their shift helping
people who decide to shop a few minutes before closing time. I know
I'd be irate about this too. Also, is there any reason why you just
had to be in the store five minutes before closing on Christmas Eve?
It's not like there'd never be another sale in the store (heck, LB
probably has after-Christmas sales and New Years' sales like most
other stores).

To be concise, I place one part blame on the employees and two parts
blame on you. The employees were not one hundred percent professional,
but you should not have been waltzing in so close to closing time and
expecting stellar, cheerful service. As someone who has worked retail,
you of all people should know how lame it is to have someone do what
you did.

The fault was mostly your own for choosing a lousy time to shop.

i think that if you are telling the unvarnished truth then they are
guilty at best of being tactless. five minutes or even ten is not
enough time to try on clothes. you need to get to the store earlier.
they could have been more polite, but so could you, because showing up
so close to closing is rude, too. again, this is dependant on
trusting that you aren't putting a positive spin on your side of the
story and a negative one on theirs. just go earlier next time. on a
sidenote, please thank your husband for his service, as an american i
truly appreciate what he and the other troops are doing.

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!

If the employee indeed spoke to you that way, he/she could have
been a bit more professional about it. But I have to agree with
others, it was the holidays and no one wants to be held up later than
they are scheduled to be, I know that really angers me as I also would
like to come home to my family. Unfortunately, there are few employers
who go beyond and schedule extra staff & hours to compensate a
busy day,which they probably had 5-10 minutes to clock out after
closing.

I can't understand why the mall announcement also angered you, it
seemed professional and its basically a requirement anywhere you go to
make a pre-closing announcement. As a shopper I'd appreciate being
told when the store closes in a professional matter, rather than being
screamed at and rushed.

I've worked Christmas Eve many a time, and it's mostly hell. I work it
cuz I don't want to work New Year's Day; I have to work one or the
other and I choose to have NYD off. Anyway, the reason it's hellish is
cuz of people like you, who think they have every right to stroll into
the shop just before closing time and do a big shop. That's just pure
selfishness and shows zero regard for us who just want to get home to
our friends/family.

I'm sorry you were alone at Christmas; however, that doesn't give you
the right to ruin other people's Christmases. Next time, volunteer at
a soup kitchen or animal shelter; as well as taking your mind off the
loneliness, it should also help you ditch that "me me me"
attitude you seem to have.

I have a feeling that when inconsiderate customers like you say you
will never shop at their store again they breath a sigh of relief.

Retail is a hard business. People who work in a store have every right
to go home at a decent hour. They didn't know you could do all your
shopping in 5 minutes and frankly, I don't believe you can.

In any case, try and put yourself in their shoes. Maybe you could shop
in 5 minutes but that would not leave them enough time to ring you up,
bag your purchases and get you out the door by their quitting time.

Now are you willing to pay them overtime? Because I guarantee their
employer isn't. OT has to be approved beforehand. So from the
salesperson's point of view you are asking them to work for free just
to satisfy your selfish needs.

People like you make people in retail cranky. Stop spoiling it for the
rest of us more considerate shoppers.

5 minutes before closing on Christmas Eve you waltz in expecting to
try on clothes? How incredibly selfish can you be? You cannot try on
that many items and be out in 5 minutes. Did it not occur to you, for
whatever reason, that those retail workers wanted to get home on
Christmas Eve to their families?

Buy yourself some compassion and common sense rather than clothes next
time.

I'm sorry, but I cannot side with you on this issue. It's Christmas
Eve. The workers I'm sure have a VERY busy day. They want to get
home to spend time with loved ones. They do not want to be stuck at
the store after hours because of a last minute customer taking their
sweet time. I'm sure you can understand this, since you are in retail
management (or so you claim).

Next time, don't wait until 5 minutes until closing. You have no one
to blame for this but yourself.

I feel that the manager could have told you a little more nicely that
they were closing soon. I've told my customers politely the same thing
when I see them heading into the fitting room with an armful of
clothing. Usually, people appreciate being told because they don't
seem to listen to the overhead announcements and don't realize just
how close to closing we actually are.

To be honest, I secretly dislike any person I see coming into the
store at 10 or 5 to closing, unless they are making something like a
bill payment. I try my hardest to not show it, since we are still
open. People in the area KNOW that we close at 9, just like the mall
does. The people I despise even more are the ones that go upstairs and
attempt to buy large appliances or large electronics. You just can't
do that in 5 minutes; it's not nice...it's rude and most people know
it. If you have such a major purchase, come back the next day when the
associates will actually care about it. (Because most of them have
been there 8 to 10 hours and just want to get you out the door)

It's really really hard sometimes after a loooong shift not to want to
scream and rant at people that come waltzing in so close to closing. I
wonder sometimes if people do it on purpose and I know that some
might.

If the manager was actually rude to you, think about maybe what she
had to deal with all day. You said you worked in retail. There are
days when you've probably felt the same way as the manager in your
letter. Christmas Eve shopping is usually very busy and hectic. She
was probably there all day. Then, a customer comes in so close to
closing and wants to try on things after they already spent time
recovering and cleaning out the fitting room...must have been the last
straw for her. She was probably tired and wanting to just go home and
be with family.

Anyhow, good luck and hopefully they respond to you in some way.

Also, by letting her stay late, they would have to deal with people
who were wandering around coming in and potentially causing them to
stay even later. You can't lock up when there is someone in the store,
and from personal experience, even if a customer walks in and you tell
them you're closed, doesn't mean they will listen to you and leave.
That has happened to me more than once.

It's Christmas Eve people want to leave to get home and just because
evidently you had no place to be does not mean that the LB employees
did not.
You knew it was close to closing time yet you still thought you would
try on a few pairs of jeans instead.

Being in retail why couldn't you be considerate to them knowing it was
Christmas Eve and they wanted to get out of there?

Sorry but I have to side with them on this one...had it been any other
evening maybe not...but Christmas Eve most people have places to go.

I think the manager was in the wrong. I'm sorry but when you work in
retail/restaurants, you have to take into account that you may have
customers in your business a few minutes past closing. As far as
compensation, I'm not sure what the letter writer is expecting (free
clothes for a year?) but I'm thinking something along the lines of a
"10 percent off your next purchase coupon" and a letter of
apology. BUT, since the letter writer is too embarassed to go there
anymore, the coupon would be worthless.

The major mall retailers I worked for years ago, they could'nt count
registers until every customer was out of the store and the gates were
down and the entire mall was closed. This is to prevent a robbery
from occuring and to ring up the purchases of any straggling
customers. At this one retailer I was employed with, I was a fitting
room attendant, and we had to let people try on things even 2 min
before closing. We just sort of hurried them up to get them out, but
let them try on something.

All I can say is that I hope this gets their attention, because even
on christmas eve, they still have to follow procedure.

I had the same thing happen to me. It was 10 minutes before the mall
was closing, and I was hungry so I went for a pretzel. The employees
at Auntie Annes had a bunch of fresh ones in the warmer, but they told
me "Sorry, the drawer is already cashed out, we cant sell one to
you".

I filed a complaint with the mall customer service, and I got a gift
certificate.

It is most likely within their lease policy that they have to be open
during mall hours, and if they were counting drawers and rushing you
at closing time, file a complaint with the mall as they were not
"open" when they were supposed to be.

Let the flames begin.

I am one of those people who can try on a pair of pants and determine
a) whether it fits and b) whether I want to buy it in five minutes.

I also know what size bra I wear and I don't need to try it on.

No customer deserves to be treated rudely. I don't care whether it's
Christmas Eve or not. If the store was open for five minutes, they
were open. And all the rolling of eyes doesn't make the time click by
faster. I totally get that the employees wanted to get home too, but
that doesn't mean it has to be at the expense of a customer.

I somehow doubt that the OP would have got the replies she did if this
happened to her on February evening.

They probably have not contacted you because your complaint is so
ridiculous! Why are you so insensitive to those who want to go home
to be with their families on a major holiday?

It doesn't take five minutes to try on clothes and check out, either,
and if you truly worked in retail (which I highly doubt you do because
you would otherwise be familiar with issues such as overtime,
time-delay locks on the safes, and so on), you would know this.

Yes, maybe they could have been more friendly, but they owe you
NOTHING--your claim is completely ludicrous and I'd be surprised if
they even gave you a $5 voucher for your "troubles".

What earthly good would compensation do you if you are never going to
shop there again? Are you expecting some sort of gift card or an
outright cash settlement?

Plan ahead for your shopping in the future, there is no excuse to be
shopping so close to closing and still expect to try on clothes. Lack
of planning on your part does not make an emergency on the stores
part.

Since you have sooo many years experience in retail did it ever occur
to you that the corporation may take a very firm stance with staff in
regards to overtime or staying open late?

You have no "issue" with corporate which is why they haven't
contacted you. You are nothing more than another self absorbed,
entitled shopper who thinks the staff should stay open late, just for
them on Christmas Eve. I think you have big brass ones for thinking
your are deserving or more attention and compensation.

You asked what time they closed and they told you "5
minutes" and in your mind you thought you could select four bras
and try on two pair of jeans, make a decision and check-out within
that period of time? On Christas Eve, no less? And if you are truly a
veteran of retail management, then you know that hearing the drawers
being counted means that the store is about to close. You weren't
asked to leave the store 5 minutes before they closed - - you entered
the store at closing time, were reminded they were about the close and
told you needed to make a decision on your purchases and proceed to
the register.

You are not due any form of compensation or an apology nor should the
manager be repremanded - - and you should be embarrassed to go back to
the store after this display of rudeness on your part.

What sort of compensation are you looking for? Bad service does not
mean the store owes you anything except an apology. You are
embarrassed to go back there but could be enticed to through a bribe,
I mean compensation?

This must really be upsetting you, it's been over a month and the DM
hasn't gotten back to you so you're trying other avenues. Sometimes
it's best just to let things go.

Try and be more considerate in the future and you'll be surprised how
the level of service improves. Good luck...

Oh my, I hope this letter is a joke! First off, it is Christmas Eve,
you need to have more consideration. When told that the store would be
closing in 5 minutes, I would have left and come back another time.
The staff wants to get home to family and friends and not spend time
with some inconsiderate customer on Christmas Eve. Think next time
you enter a store that late!

Oh great. Another self absorbed shopper who thinks that the world
revolves around them. Get over yourself.

I think it's another one of those fake letters. Pushes all the right
buttons just so, know what I mean? Soared straight to number one, came
out of nowhere. I'd rather not be supporting this kind of thing, but
just like the rest of you, I couldn't help myself.

Agree with everyone else. You did not have time and you could always
try those on at home and do a return. If you have been in retail for
as long as you say you have why the attitude from you on Christmas
Eve.

Quit playing. You know darn well that it takes more than 5 minutes to
disrobe, try on new clothing, get dressed, put new clothing back on
hangers and either make your way to the register to pay for your
mechandise or to walk out of the door and not buy anything.

And you're honestly surprised that you received an attitude for
walking into a store 5 minutes prior to closing to try on clothing on
CHRISTMAS EVE? Come on now.

Now that you mentioned it, how should you be compensated for this? How
much is this incident worth?

I dunno about anyone else, but I think given the current incident in
Chicago w/ Lane Bryant, maybe it would be better served to have waited
for this letter to be made public.

If I was working on Christmas Eve I would want to get out of there
ASAP! It's not at all rude to say to a customer to make a decision
soon. It would be rude however to continue trying on clothes when it's
closing time. The manager should've been a little nicer, but you
should've been more considerate.

They could have been nicer, I agree with that, however let me give you
a visual as to what does happen when they allow one customer to stay a
bit longer. This does not mean that you specifically would have done
this, but it does happen and chances are they didn't want to risk it,
especially on Christmas Eve. And I'm sure you've seen it yourself in
your own job.

The customer just needs yet an additional few minutes, to grab yet
one more item after trying them on, because the one they grabbed was
wrong. The employees have to hold the drawer opened longer,
distractions are now happening, others see a customer in there and
also want to come in, and mistakes are made. Money doesn't prove out,
the employees wind up staying even longer. That mom employee that has
to pick up her child so she can see them on Christmas Eve is not going
to be very happy if those plans are ruined. Not that it's the
customers concern or anything. The employee may get reprimanded for
helping you stay and winds up having to hang up those clothes that
were just tried on because why? Well, she wasn't going to be rude and
ask YOU to do it. And maybe you would have offered, but they don't
know that. Five minutes turns into an enternity at closing time. Now
you may not be one to do that, and maybe you are one who is fast, and
maybe on a regular store night they would have permitted it.
But.......I've been there myself while helping a customer at the last
minute, and have experienced the things that are supposed to be small
that wind up being a disaster.

I'm going to take you word that there were eyes rolled and otherwise
inappropriate attitude given by the manager. I have no reason to
doubt this. It's not acceptable to give a customer this kind of
attitude.

However, "You need to make a decision we are closing in a
few" is not over time line. You were simply being information
that the store was closing.

I've been in plenty of stores where they make these sort of
announcements. True, the store will try to accommodate existing
customers for a few extra minutes, but it's not reasonable to expect
more than a few minutes.

What gets me if that you state that you deserve compensation ("I
should be compensated"). Yet, when others raised this being
unfair, you tried to deny it. Either you believe that you need to be
compensated for the rudeness or you don't.

In the end, I can't see why this embarrassed you or traumatized you.
They were a bit rude. If this caused you as much grief as your letter
implies, then there's more to this story than you're telling. Looking
at your posts, below, it sounds like you were lonely and stressed.
Understandable. But this puts you in an excellent position to have
compassion for others.

In the end, is this really a complaint about you not being able to
fully take advantage of a sale? A complaint about you feeling lonely
and wanting others to "help" you with that? A complaint
about store hours policy? What?

Lastly, the mall was closing. If the mall is closing, the store needs
to close. Any manager that's required to clear out customers for the
mall to close is, I'm afraid, going to be a little pushy.

Doesn't excuse rudeness, but I'm not sure that you were treated as
poorly as we're being lead to believe.

1. Head for the racks to grab more clothing and then 2. head for the
dressing room. That takes a lot of nerve. I suppose you were hopkng
to be done trying on the clothes and your purchase by, what, 10
minutes after closing? And then I get to cash my drawer out by 15
minutes after closing. I have never worked retail, but if someone did
this on my time (ie after closing) I would be extremely upset.

I don't care if your were going to buy $2000 worth of clothing if I am
the employee. Maybe the owner, but not the employee.

The employee's statement "You need to make a decision we are
closing in a few," was perfect. That person DID NOT tell you to
leave the store. She essentially told you, "pick out what you
want and head to the register." But you weren't prepared to do
that, because you hadn't tried the stuff on. Problem.

There isn't time to buy the stuff AND try it on. Either buy it
without trying it on, or come back another time, because we're going
home. Everything has to come to an end. Tomorrow is another day.
The customer isn't always right.

Lane Bryant and its employees owe you nothing. If you feel
embarrassed, you should. You could recover by going back to the store
and apologizing for your lack of understanding. Otherwise pick anothr
place to shop, one where the employees don't mind working on their own
time.

The very end where you feel you should be compensated for bad manners?
Why? If I was compensated for each time I experienced bad manners in
a retail environment, I could quit my job and live off that
compensation, and then some.

Find another retail shop that will accommodate your size. Lane Bryant
can't be the only place. Life is full of "non-compensated"
options!

If I were the employees I would have let her try on the pants and
bras, and then when she went to the register rang everything up at
full price and informed her that since it was past closing time the
sale was over.

where the manager told you to leave the store (as Bella pointed out).
What I DO see is a very self-absorbed customer who showed up just
before closing on Christmas Eve, insisted to try on clothes in those
five minutes, stormed out buying nothing and then indignantly writes a
letter to corporate complaining about the reaction to her own
ignorance.

You say your intent was to spend $200+ in that store, but the fact
that you stormed out without buying anything at all shows the staff
that what they likely suspected was your intention all along was right
on the money. Just another Lookie Lu.

I still don't get why they would tell you 5 minutes (and again, on the
eve of a major holiday) and you somethow thought it would be alright
to make this last minute dash to do some major shopping.

And this wasnt even just about the store, this was the WHOLE MALL that
was closing. Its very likely that the management and security would
have been on them to get out quickly as well so that the mall staff
could go home too.

Add to that the fact that during the holiday season there tends to be
more cash in the registers and more desperate people around. Their
security measures are probably through the roof at that point. A
customer who waltzes in 5 minutes to closing time and wants to try
things on is (and should be) looked at with suspicion.

If you have been in retail as long as you say, would you not have had
some empathy for employees who would like to go home to their families
instead of waiting for you to fool around in the dressing room? I
mean, really! Would you not have been fuming at the register thinking
"How Rude!" if that had happened to you?

You certainly don't deserve to be comped for this and as for the being
embarassed - yeah! I'd be embarassed to go in there too after
behaving like this. Believe it or not, Monica, there is a world and
life outside your existence.

Perhaps you should stick to online shopping - then you can leisurely
browse 24/7 with no "rude" responses.

I don't think I would be able to grab some bras and be able to also
try on pants all in 5 minutes. I'd feel too hurried. And why did you
wait until the last minute to do this shopping?

I'm taking a somewhat different approach to this letter. (So please
don't flame me everyone! Ha ha...) I understand it was Christmas Eve,
and I understand the store was closing; however, the store was still
open, albeit five minutes. The customer had the right
to be in there. But the problem I have is with this line:
""You need to make a decision we are closing in a few."
The manager didn't tell the OP to leave; she told the OP to make a
decision as they were closing. It's a little different.

I don't have a problem with employees telling customers that they are
closing, and as a former retail employee I don't have a problem with
telling customers "sorry we're closed." However, there's a
nice way to do and a rude way. If the OP is correct, it sounds like
the manager did it the rude way.

I'm not letting the OP completely off the hook, though. It was five
minutes on Christmas Eve; why she waited until then to do her shopping
is beyond me, considering the mall was probably open earlier in the
morning. And while I think corporate needs to know one of their stores
was closing early (if only by a few minutes), I don't think she is due
any compensation for this.

This was Christmas Eve, not just any old day of the week. These people
were probably anxious to spend the holiday with loved ones, not
waiting for a last-minute shopper to fiddle around in the dressing
room. While the manager should have hidden her frustration with your
rudeness, she was probably exhausted from a long day. If you have
truly been in her position, then you should know better than to expect
them to joyfully give up holiday time to wait on you after hours.

"At that point I was told 5 minutes. Great enough time to grab a
few bras and try on my jeans. I know my bra size and knew where the
ones I wanted were so I quickly went through one rack pulling out 3
bras and headed to another to get one more that I had seen a few days
prior."
Certainly you must realize that it would take more than 5 minutes to
undress, try on the jeans and then put on your own clothing. And all
this after you "grabbed" other merchandise. THEN it all had
to be rang into the register.
The manager had no way of knowing you only wanted to try on the
jeans. she probably thought you were trying on jeans and bras. By the
time... "So I looked at her and asked "OK, Can I just
quickly try these jeans on?" it was too late. She was in the
right to say it was closing time. She could have handled it better by
replying without using a frustrated tone. I am sure those associates
were tired and wanted to get home to their families on Christmas Eve.
I think that desire fueled her impatience. Your reaction only made the
situation worse and it all snowballed.
"I am embarrassed to even go to the store anymore" You can
walk into that store and become one of their favorite customers.
I suggest you rewrite the letter and leave out the demand for
compensation and the fact that you have been in retail management.
That fact really doesn't matter and you want the letter to remin
focused on the issue.

I have had manager experience, and I think that she was right in
letting you know that they were closing, although I personally would
have found a more polite way to put it. Many stores do this. Sometimes
either they want to let the employees go home, or security issues.

Either way, you said it yourself that you came in 5 minutes before
closing, and you were also aware that it was christmas eve. I dont
know what your family does, but I know that my extended family (that i
see once a year) gathers for a xmas eve dinner, and I have a
considerable drive to make - Just using myself as an example saying
that xmas eve is a day when most families gather. People DO have
places to go after work, and being in retail I would think you could
show a little empathy for those working during the holidays.

And how should you be compensated for this, by the way?

First of all your letter could have been shorter, we dont need to know
all of the details of your life. Secondly, people in retail would
like to get home to their families, they have to work long, hard hours
dealing with inconsiderate people such as yourself.

I don't see management issues here. I see inconsiderate shopper
issues.

Why are you embarrassed to go back to the store? Because you were
asked to hurry up, or because you know that you were being
inconsiderate and feel a little guilty? Like other posters have said,
working in retail doesn't give you a right to commit some of the acts
that retail people hate the most. If anything, you should go out of
your way not to inconvenience anyone else, especially on Christmas
eve.
If this is the only Lane Bryant store close to you, you should be
begging *them* for forgiveness. Send that manager an apology.

I have worked a lot of retail, and as a manager as well. With the
amount of divorced parents and such, many people celebrate on
Christmas Eve, and not everyone who asks for it will get it off, and
they all want to go home. They get paid poorly, as most of them are
temporary and will lose their jobs soon after anyways. While this is
no excuse to treat you poorly, I know that feeling all too well of
someone who walks in right before close and tries things on. And pays
no regard to the mall hours or the fact that it is Christmas Eve.
There are no issues here. They were closing and you chose to try and
push the limits on the worst day of all.

The manager handled it badly, that's for sure. I've worked in retail,
also, and there's certainly a right way and a wrong way to say
things.

HOWEVER...

I think the only thing worse than trying on clothes 5 minutes before
closing on Christmas Eve and then asking for compensation, is writing
to the DM on CHRISTMAS DAY. It's not that serious, really. Next
year, try not to let yourself get worked up to the point of having it
consume your holiday.

You're kidding right? It was five minutes before closing on Christmas
Eve and you wanted to continue to shop and try on clothes? How rude!

I'm sorry you feel that you were treated rudely, but your behavior was
very inconsiderate - they tell you that they are closing in 5 minutes,
so in response you go and grab even MORE things to try on?

I have also worked in retail, fast food, fine dining, etc. However,
rather than feeling that that entitles me to behave however I want, I
instead treat those employees as I know I would like to be treated if
I were the one working. It was Christmas Eve, it was 5 minutes before
closing, and they wanted to get home to their families.

The manager should have been more courteous in her handling of the
matter, but I don't think she was wrong in telling you that you needed
to cut your shopping spree short.

Compensation for what?

I would pretty much expect to get hustled out if I showed up at a
store right before closing on Christmas Eve. A month of insane hours
and insane demands will do that to people. Especially for the money
that the salesclerks I've known make.

But okay, I have a much greater tolerance for that sort of thing than
do a lot of people, I'm in the minority that think it's indefensible
to go into a store right before closing if you can't just go straight
to the exact thing you want and head for the register, and I'm sure
you were stressed and tired too after having just finished another
15-hour shift or whatever at your own store.

I agree absolutely that if they said you'd get a call back you should
have gotten a call back. But I don't see where the manager deserves a
reprimand rather than a heads-up about your complaint, and I
definitely don't think you deserve compensation for being asked to
finish up so that everybody could get home on time and catch a couple
of hours of sleep before meeting any social and family obligations
they had the next day.

Good luck with your boycott.