Dallas woman says she noticed a man at Target circling her back. Then she realized he was a ‘store walker’: ‘dressed like everybody else’

A Dallas resident named Teash, who posts on TikTok under the handle Everything Teash, recently found herself in a game of cat and mouse while shopping at a local Target. She went in with a goal, but when she decided to check out some makeup, she realized she had a tail. Turns out, a store walker, also known as a floor walker, was apparently keeping an eye on her.

Teash detailed her experience in a video. She said, “I just came to the store, walked right in to go get what I needed. On my way out, I was like, you know what? I wanna go look at Elf’s lip stain. But then I was like, this guy is walking past me, store walker, but dressed like everybody else. And then I hear his radio go off. He tried to turn it down.” As he walked down the same aisle, she heard him mention a brightly colored shirt. Guess what Teash was wearing?

Teash noted, “I wasn’t in there doing anything, I promise. So I was like, I think he following me. Went over to the makeup area, and I was like, oh, they don’t have it here. Cool. I see him circle back around.” She then decided to test this. “So I went to the cashier, check me out, I’m good. I turn around, there he is with his back, walking down the aisle. I said, ‘this just don’t sit right with me.’”

It was time to turn the tables

Teash decided that she wasn’t going to just let it slide. She recounted, “So then I started following him. I grab my stuff, and then I started following him. Then, when I got close, I was like, ‘what you doing? Cause now the both of us about to do your job. What are you doing?’” She stated that he then looked at her, put his finger on his lips, and shushed her. With a great deal of humor, she concluded, “Oh, it wasn’t me. It wasn’t me.”

TikTok came alive with stories about how users dealt with people following them in stores. First there was the contingent who chose passive confrontations. One user suggested, “I start asking a million questions. You wanna work, let’s earn that check boo.” Another person commented, “I walk them through the whole store. Let’s get these steps in.” 

Then there was the group, who, like Teash, grabbed the bull by the horns. A TikToker wrote, “I say really loud CAN I HELP YOU I SEE YOU FOLLOWING ME.” Other confrontational comments included, “I ask them carry my bags,” “Who we following,” “You looking for me!?!,” “So you like following, huh?!”

The TikTokers who were proactive noted that they really enjoyed themselves. Others were inspired. One noted,  “I love the pettiness cause I got the time today.” Another joked, “if you’re gonna follow me, can we at least hold hands?”

Target has not commented on the video.

A floor walker actually exists for customer service

A floor walker is described by AAOC as a central part of retail operations. According to the organization, these individuals are supposed to be the face of the store, exuding authority and service to create an inviting atmosphere. They act as a bridge between management and staff, monitoring performance and ensuring the store remains organized. However, the reality on the ground often feels very different for customers.

Reports from The Sun highlight that this practice has faced significant criticism, particularly regarding allegations of racial profiling. Many shoppers have pointed out that these undercover employees seem to target people based on personal biases rather than legitimate suspicious behavior. 

One shopper even claimed they were stopped simply because of their tattoos. Another influencer, Shug, gained attention for posting videos where he and a friend followed a man they believed to be a floor walker at a Walmart, mimicking his every move to make the point clear.

Recently, the staff of Zara, in Washington state chased a person they thought was a shoplifter but wasn’t. Now, in South Carolina, the African American community is calling for a boycott of discriminatory businesses. The trigger was the acquittal of a South Carolina store owner who allegedly killed a teen after accusing him of shoplifting.