Virginia Woman Screams Profanity at Pet Store Employee After Being Asked to Leave at Closing
VIRGINIA – What began as a routine store closing at a Petco in Virginia turned into a viral moment after a woman erupted in anger when asked to leave. The incident, captured on TikTok by a store employee, has since drawn widespread attention and sympathy for retail workers who often face such confrontations.
Customer Refused to Leave After Two Hours in Store
According to the employee’s post, the woman had already been inside the store for nearly two hours before closing time. When politely asked to leave, she demanded more time.
“Hey, ma’am. We’re closed now, so unfortunately, you’re going to have to leave,” the worker said in a calm tone. But the customer didn’t respond with the same courtesy.
@just_juliav Yeah safe to say I do not miss my retail job 😅 This woman would constantly come in and scream at us. She would be in the store for HOURS as well. This particular night she was already there for two hours prior and I had told her we were closing soon and she kept telling me to “wait a second wait a second” and then 15 minutes later I told her we were closed and this happened 🙂
Instead, she shouted, “Don’t yell at me, motherf—er. Don’t yell at me, motherf—er!” Her profanity-laced outburst continued as she loaded her cart and prepared to leave.
Profanity and Aggression Directed at Employee
The employee remained calm throughout the confrontation, repeatedly telling the woman there was no need to raise her voice. Despite this, the customer screamed loudly while bagging her items and pushing her cart toward the exit.
Before finally leaving, she made sure her frustration was clear, yelling profanities that the TikTok uploader later censored with playful cat noises.
A Pattern of Difficult Behavior
The worker revealed that this wasn’t the woman’s first outburst. In her caption, she noted: “This woman would constantly come in and scream at us. She would be in the store for hours as well. This particular night she was already there for two hours prior, and I had told her we were closing soon and she kept telling me to ‘wait a second.’”
The repeated behavior left employees dreading her visits, with the poster adding that it was a regular occurrence.
Online Reactions Highlight Retail Struggles
Social media users quickly chimed in, expressing support for the employee and frustration over how retail workers are often treated. One comment read, “Ain’t nothing in Petco worth enough to be shopping for 2 hours.” Another wrote, “I’ve always felt so bad for retail workers. That’s the one job people seem to think they can outright abuse.”
Others shared their own experiences, with one person admitting, “I still have nightmares from working retail.”
Broader Issue for Retail Employees
While this specific meltdown took place in Virginia, retail employees across the country know the stress of similar encounters. For many workers, patience and composure are a daily requirement, even in the face of hostility.
The viral video has sparked conversations about customer entitlement, employee safety, and the lack of respect often shown to those working in retail.
Have you ever faced a similar confrontation while working in retail? Share your story with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
