From BAU_Newsie-187, TalesFromRetail

I work at a large US national department store as the intimates (self explanatory) and accessories (purses, scarves, sunglasses, gloves, etc) supervisor.

This story occurred about a year and a half ago. I will be bau_newsie-187, accompanying customer will be AC, Suicidal Customer will be SC and my manager will be M.

It was around 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. I was scheduled to get off at five and then I would have the weekend off, as supervisors get ever other weekend off at my store. I just had to finish up a bit of fitting room recovery, nothing too bad. In walks SC and AC. Both are middle age women. I could tell AC looked frazzled and that there was obviously something wrong with SC.

AC: I'm just going to go look at some bras, on? You can try on the jeans in here.

SC: "But. . .but I need you. What if something goes wrong? What will I do? (Near hyperventilating already by this point).

AC: Nothing will go wrong!

SC: Don't leave me!

AC: I'll be back.

She then walked out of the fitting room alcove. I decided to stay in there, fixing up the other fitting room, taking off the paper backing off of "recycled" intimates hangers so that they can be used for other bras, etc. Alarm bells were starting to toll in my brain.

Sure enough, it isn't long before I hear shuffling and moaning and a pounding noise, like she was hitting the wall. Then I hear:

SC: Damn oh damn! Why me! Why me!

Bau_newsie-187: What's wrong, mam?

She doesn't answer me as more moaning occurs, now mixed with sounds of crying. I step out of the fitting room alcove to look for AC. I couldn't find her and was about to call my manager because I was getting a really bad feeling about the situation. Before I could though:

SC: These pants don't fit, I hate myself! I hate myself! I'm going to kill myself!

By this time, SC is screaming seemingly at the top of her lungs. Customers are stopping what they are doing and rushing over. Coworkers are also coming from other departments. My manager was up at front and intimates is in the back of the store. I tried to call her. There hadn't been a radio available that day. Take note, the phones in the department don't dial out for some strange reason of which I do not know.

Bau_Newsie-187: Manager, uh... please get over here!

M: What's wro---

She suddenly hears the customer still screaming that she going to kill herself. She immediately hangs up and runs to intimates.

By now, a large group of people are standing around, thankfully someone with a cell phone is calling 911. There is also a customer who's a nurse who is trying to talk to SC (who had locked herself in the fitting room). I just remember feeling helpless and several of the customers were starting to scream AT ME saying I wasn't doing anything and so forth. The customer who was a nurse basically told them to shut the hell up.

AC is nowhere to be found.

SC was being so loud that people in the front of the large store and associates who were on the DOCK were running over to the department. Thankfully the customer who was calling 911, gave my manager her cellphone and she was able to fill in particulars.

A few minutes later, the police, no less than 12!!! Show up and were able to get into the door (we weren't allowed to for some strange reason- you'd think someone threatening suicide would void that rule, but I digress). Then SC was escorted out and we later heard she was committed involuntarily to the hospital ( not a surprise).

Oh and the ever helpful AC didn't show up until after the police got there, despite hearing her. We never did figure out where she was.

I ended up leaving about 2 hours after my scheduled leaving time. I was so shaken and just had to sit in my car for awhile because of it. I have wondered since then whatever came of SC and why AC was so unhelpful. I feel bad for SC.

--BAU_Newsie-187