going out lifting today and just thought i’d share some tips, just in case someone can find any of it to be useful! <3
i always dress up slightly more than i normally would. nothing too fancy as i don’t want to stand out too much, but definitely not wearing sweatpants or leggings. and dress weather appropriate!!! just use your intuition
i put on natural makeup just to look presentable. if i’m lifting from a makeup store, i’ll do a little extra to make it look like i do makeup often and intend on buying it
if it’s a store location i’ve never been to before, i’ll google the location and look at the photos of the interior. most businesses have these, and most will show the ceilings enough to where you can see the cameras, so i can figure out how risky it is and where blind spots will be
also on google, it will tell you how busy the store is at each hour of the day, this is a good way to ensure you go when it’s busier
most of the time i bring a ~medium~ sized purse. if a purse is too big i feel like it looks too obvious that i’m planning to lift. i also make sure my bag matches my outfit well. this probably isn’t necessary but i just think it makes me look more put together and inconspicuous lol
i always just smile at the workers when i walk in, nothing more. talking to them isn’t necessary in my opinion, unless of course they say something to you besides “hi” or “welcome”. just talk to them normally. they should have no reason to suspect you the moment you walk inside.
if i’m getting CS’d a lot, i will automatically assume someone is onto me. in which case i will put a few items back and buy the rest, or just put everything back and leave. always better to leave with nothing than to get caught
i think this is an obvious one, but i’ll say it anyways. don’t immediately go towards the item(s) you’re planning on lifting. browse around the store, pick things up, decide against them. i like to make it appear that i’m “just looking”. i also try to have a product in mind that i know the store doesn’t carry, so I can ask an SA about it. i think that makes it look less suspicious when i leave the store “empty handed” ;)
i usually wait a month to go back to any store i lifted from, but that’s being on the safe side. i wouldn’t go back any sooner than 2 weeks tho. if i go back sooner than a month, i try to make myself look very different from how i looked the last time i was there. i’m pretty good at remembering what i wore last time, but if you’re not, take a picture of yourself and put it in your notes app with the date and what store you went to
that’s everything my little brain can think of right now, i hope this was helpful to someone or at least gave you a little refresher. i’m heading out now, so wish me luck! happy lifting <3