I decided to check out The Paper Store today while shopping at the Maine Mall with my girlfriend. I recently had a birthday and was in search of some thank you cards. Upon entering the store I was pleasantly surprised with the wide selection of cards, gifts, toys etc. I had never visited the store before and was excited to see so many items. I walked back toward the card selection and, after searching for a few minutes, asked an employee for help finding thanks you notes sold in packages rather than individually. After being led to the selection, I took my time picking out two boxes of cards I found suitable. As I rounded the corner of the stand, I noticed various journals with prompts and stopped to look closer. In doing this, I tucked the two boxes of thank you notes I was planning to buy under my arm while holding my wallet in my left hand and the journal I was looking at in my right. Almost immediately a male employee who had not spoken to me at all during my visit startled me from behind asking if I was finding everything okay. I turned around quickly and stated that I was finding everything I needed quite fine, including the two boxes of cards under my arm. I had already been greeted by a different employee when I entered and subsequently interacted with another in my search for the thank you notes. This left me slightly puzzled as to why he had sought me out, considering there were multiple other customers in the store pursuing the selection. I felt as though I had been singled out. I assumed he was just being friendly and went back to looking at the journal, when he then asked me if he could hold my cards at the register. The only time I have ever been asked if an employee at an establishment could hold my items at the register was when I have been clothing shopping and my hands appeared overly full. Never have I had this occur at a small retail shop. I was shocked and offended. I was certainly not the only customer in the store, why was I approached and asked if the items I was clearly intending on purchasing be held at the register? I immediately felt as though he was suspicious of me. I handed him the items and found my girlfriend in another aisle and discussed what had occurred. We decided it was best to give our business to Papyrus and exited the store. I was never intending to steal $9.99 thank you notes. I work in customer service and am not a thief of any kind. This incident made me incredibly uncomfortable and I will not be returning in the foreseeable future. ~Camille
gift shop
clothing store
greeting card shop
jewelry store
toy store