Your Dolls and Security Officers-ever a problem?

auska-chan and I carried our msd's around the giant ikea store for the whole day and the only problem I had was that my arm kinda hurt at the end of the day. ^_^

 

i dont think the mall cops could do anything about dolls if they tried.
our mall cops ride around on segways and wear helmets. i'm not joking.
the security at my mall is such a joke. my dad (who's a firefighter/emt in town) gets more calls to the mall than anywhere else because as soon as the mall cops "catch" someone, they call 911. yay for wasting town resources because you dont know how to do you jobs! (i'm not bitter. really i'm not.)

 

A meet-up I was at a couple weeks ago at a mall was approached by security officers on segways. They wanted to know if we had a permit to meet there and we didn't know we needed one- people had been hosting meet-ups there for well over a year without problems. To my understanding, they weren't exactly fond of the size of our group, and didn't really like that we were taking pictures. They were also worried that we were selling things, which we weren't (there was a swap going, but that was it). Luckily everything was sorted out, just now we have a few more restrictions than we did before and cannot meet there if we have a very large group coming.

 

oh yeah, they HATE when you take pictures.

 

well personally the only time i have seen mall security was when they accidentally knocked my friend down and she twisted her ankle.(they insisted she slipped on water) but that was a year ago and i have taken my dolls to the mall before. all 4 of them sometimes in a stroller, but usually just one and i have never had any trouble in stores. as for telling the cashier, it never hurts to ask, but my Irukandji has his online receipt, a picture of him and a note to thieves inside his torso if i get any trouble. but im just paranoid.

 

Surprisingly, US Capitol security hasn't had a problem with my babies (since I go there when I'm bored and more often than not at least one is lurking in my backpack, lol). I just had to explain that they're made of polyurethane resin and that eye putty is as dangerous as Play-doh (since Alec's headcap had popped off), and I was fine. Really, they were more worried about the bar of soap in my jacket pocket. xD

 

I wouldn't expect a problem with most mall boutique stores, as they are pretty small and, yes, any salesperson worth her salt will know immediately that that BJD did not come from this store. However, when it comes to large stores, a la Walmart, not to mention a second-hand store where the inventory is pretty much random, I could definitely believe it might happen. I worked in a pretty small Michaels last year, and I knew that store really well. But still, there were things I'd pick up during the daily tidy and not know where to put them away, and every now and then when I was on cash a customer would come through with something and I'd go "oh, now isn't that cute/useful/spiffy! I didn't know we had those!" Because I'm a trusting person, and because even when I'm working soul-sucking retail jobs I try to keep myself mentally alert, and just because I'm not below average with my eye for detail, I don't think I would make the mistake of thinking Michaels or Walmart or Toys R Us or Ikea sold BJDs...but if I was a tired, bitter, jaded person who had dealt with too many shoplifters to have any patience left? If I had ended up in retail not as a stop-gap while I finished university, but because I lacked the vision or drive to find another career? If I was just kind of...detail-challenged? Just think how often, even after we explain to people about the detailed sculpting and the quality materials and the delicate paint jobs, those close to us say "but it still doesn't seem like it should be worth $xxx!" Is it really so unrealistic that someone who's not paying that much attention could imagine that the dolls were on a par with some of the other items their store sells?


As for the security guard issue, on the whole I find that dolls are the opposite of those qualities that draw fire. Not being a teen and rarely going to the mall these days (let alone with my resin!kidz in tow), I can't give any direct comment on the OP's situation, but I have a pertinent anecdote: in my city, the Canada Day celebrations have been cracked down on more and more harshly by the police in recent years--we're talking illegal search and seizure of alcohol, as well as general intimidation, marching everyone off public buses to search them, etc. A couple years ago my boyfriend was on his way through the downtown area on his way to a private party at someone's residence, and the police confiscated and destroyed the alcohol he was quite legitimately carrying, not even waiting to see if he would break the law by drinking in the street. So last year when I said I was bringing my dolls with me to see the fireworks, he was very anxious for their safety. However, in the process of picking up the friends who were coming downtown with us, my sister and I passed through two or three police checkpoints and were waved on quickly every time--I can only imagine because most police officers (who I suppose may be substantially different from security guards) see "girls with dolls" and think "probably not doing anything illegal."

 

Haha.. I agree with not trusting security in places where security is kind of a wanker.

On my side though.. I don't go anywhere (besides work) without one of my boys. They go to school and shopping with me and to movies. I've never had problems with security. They really can't do anything to be honest.. xD the cops at my closest mall asked -me- what had happened when a car stopped infront of my friends and I.. and kid jumped out of the trunk and then another car came behind them all "GET THE FXCK BACK IN THERE D: <" and the kid jumped in, car sped off, and the other one chased. And I standing there all "what just happened?".. needless to say the Security-Cops didn't know either lol

 

I'm a bit worried about airport security here in the UK: has anyone got any experience of dolls in hand luggage? Just a little, 20cm one :P I see posts about the USA, but in England we're especially mental aboout hand luggage nowadays, plus I'll be flying through UAE...

 

I've been to a few mall meetups before. We never really had a problem with security. We were asked to move once because we were sitting down on the floor, and that was considered a fire hazard, but other than that, my experiences have been pretty positive.

Though, it also depends on where you are. The major local mall closest to myself (which I've never brought my dolls to) once kicked out a group of old ladies of the Red Hat Society thinking they were terrorists because ...they were all wearing red hats.

No, no- never mind the fact that they were all nice old ladies. They were all wearing red hats, they must be terrorists. >.>

The mall management later invited the local Red Hat Society members back to issue a public apology.

 

I lolled so hard xD

Yes we must be teenage criminals !

anyway, I can't see it beeing a problem in our mall as thers even a Build A Bear shop so you got lots of kids running around with bears. but yeah, its a known fact that taking pictures in a mall is a 'no no' ,you should be safe as long as you don't start taking pictures.
atleast thats over here >_>;

 

Well, I actually work at the mall. So I know most of the mall cops. And if I didn't, telling them I work there would get them to lighten up anyways.

It's the shoppers I'd be more concerned about. We don't have the friendliest crowd at my mall.

So, while I might bring my doll to work and leave her in the back room or behind the cash register, I'd have to be feeling really bold to actually walk around the mall with her.

 

Wow weird. I've never even noticed mall security at our malls though I know it must be there.. I can't imagine getting harassed for carrying around a doll... I would probably do it.

 

I work at the same mall at Cat up there *points* and my boy has come to work with me as well as been carried around while I was shopping. The security guards here heard me jabbering about him happily (I work the info booth, and they hang out here a lot) so when I brought him in, it was no big shocker.

And when I've carried him around--mind you, it WAS a Wednesday, which everyone knows is not exactly an superbusy mall day, I've gotten a lot of interest in him. I had a few stop and ask about him, which surprised me, cause he was in his old Harem Boy getup. *laughs* Now he's in his Kimono, so I think he's more "approachable"?

He's coming to work again with me next week, since he may or may not go to Katsucon, and I wanna spend time with me so he won't get lonely.

But yeah. Security generally likes him, 'cept one fellow that calls him creepy/satan. >> Another guy asks for updates on him a lot. Pretty funny, really.

 

I've never had problems with mall security, but a customer in Michaels thought I was trying to steal Rem when I carried her out. |D I had brought her to find some accessories, and wound up with a few msd-sized doll stands for my group, and some msd-sized glasses. ^o^ Her reaction when I told her the price of my girl (And that she's on the 'cheaper' end of the scale) shocked her enough that I was able to make a smooth retreat to the bus stop.

 

Our local mall has this really odd rule. In fact, when I first heard it I thought it was a myth. Apparently, in out mall, you are not allowed to be in a group larger than five, families not included. I think it only applies to groups of rowdy people, as I've never seen it happen to most groups way larger than five. However, I've always avoided having any sort of doll meet-up there.

Maybe some other malls have this obscure rule, and that contributes to some peoples problems? *shrug*

 

I've read alot of stuff here about security stuff. Mostly about the malls, luckily my malls aren't a problem, you rarely see a mall cop... (of course I just go to the very tiny mall usually XD The tiny Waldenbooks bookstore usually has more than the three-story Borders at my bigger mall actually ) mall cops here just mean, old guys who make sure nobody uses skate-boards, tries messing with the Bass Pro Shop display stuff, and very rarely, helping young kiddies find their parents. My mall isn't even a mile long I think. XD No upstairs either.

I have taken them to the mall though, the mall cops didn't seem to care, even if it was a crowd of mostly gothic Twilight fans with dolls at night skipping down the hall. XD The only thing they said to was "Hey, don't put your quaters in the rides, we already turned them off"

Hopefully bringing a doll through an airport will be easy too. ^^;;

 

Seifer travelled with me to Ohio and then California last year. Going through Newark, he got his butt swiped on the way in to test see if he was explosive. (Yes. Butt. I had to ask what the pad was made of and tell him about oil harming the doll but he promised there was nothing on it that would harm him.

On the way back from California, (had no problem getting *to* CA) I got stopped. I had to take the entire contents of my backpack (He was in three carefully wrapped pieces) out of my backpack and let them scan each one and the bag without my other stuff in it.

Yet someone who was travelling with me who'd bought an MSD doll got through okay. And I had absolutely no problem going back to Newark and then Birmingham.

I'm ordering a double carrier for my big boys when I go over to the USA this year, since this time I want to take two of them, and leaving them both in tact. Maybe they'll get through easier, maybe they won't. I'll just tell the guys who scan stuff what's in there first. (If I'm awake enough)

 

Ehehehe..... 3 college girls running around with 4 dolls.
Posing them on the display pillars we have, the campus security guard comes in and says,"Aren't you all alittle to old to be playing with dolls?"
He's not a rude guy, [at least when I see him] I think he has kids of his own.

 

Our mall can be pretty crazy. (Kicking out a group for the gang activity of wearing green lantern t-shirts to the superman movie release) although they have no issue with me showing up in fairly random costumes from premieres and comic-book things.
I've taken my boy several times, to many places, and the only place that gave me any trouble was universal who said he could be hiding a weapon. Needless to say a little stripping and poping off the headcap and manipulating so they could see his "dangerous innards" and indirectly his penis, and I was being waived along.
Some places have gathering rules, and many stores have big things with photos being taken in or around them, (espically larger international chain stores) other than that, go for it, the worst they can do is ask you to put the doll away, and with the numbe of people i see toting dogs in baby carriers, I really don't see me carrying a BJD as an issue.