Obnoxious yes, but we really do need thicker skins folks.

Time to start working out a bit.

There is definitely room for a complaint here. Probably no demand for recourse (don't expect Penneys to give you gift cards to appease you) but definitely, this rude imbicile should be reported to management.

I think this would be the lamest complaint ever. Who cares if some JC Pennny employee thinks you're fat?

I don't think there is a NEED to complaint. But if you can milk a coupon or free stuff, go for it. I recomment you use the word 'embarrassed' 'shocked' and 'outraged'.

technically you are overweight and borderline obese...not to say that wasn't extremely rude, but my guess is jc penney hires idiots, and idiots say idiotic things.

If it offended you, why not complain? Couldn't hurt anything.

I say definitely complain, but I agree with @AD8BC, don't hold your breath for any compensation.

I think the shit feeling isn't from the comment, but from the comfort with his own body.

@210 lbs. and 5'11, it's very likely the BMI is way past the obease scale. I know I'm somewhat borderline at 6'0 and 180 lbs.

If someone came up to me and said I was a little fat. I'd accept it. If someone came up to me and said I was really fat, I shrug it off, because I know where I stand.

@FilthyHarry: I'm gonna go with FilthyHarry on this one. It's not like complaining is going to take your embarrassment any farther, mine as well try to milk it for what it's worth and shruf it off.

It seems like so much resentment could have been prevented if he'd have had the presence of mind just to say "fuck off."

@rainmkr: Exactly. Can't anyone hear something that doesn't rub them exactly the right way and just get on with their lives anymore?

@NardoNardo123 (and everyone else who is going to pick on this guy's for his supposed weight problem): It is rude to point out someone's physical flaws, even if they are a public figure. That seems to be easily forgotten in the anonymity of the internet, but it is still as true as it was in grade school.

Brooks brothers did the same thing to me. Note im 5'10" 190lbs.

Were walking around the store, 1 associate asked if i needed any help and we said no.

We walk in to a different part of the store and were looking at this certain collection of clothes and were asked "do you know what this line of clothing is called?"

we reply "no we do not"

BB associate says "its blah blah collection and its meant for skinny people" and then she walked away.

Stunned we left the store and sent an email to brooks brothers, upon which we received a reply saying that the store manager would like to talk to me. I replied with my phone # and never received a call back.... i guess brooks brothers doesnt "take my complaint seriously"

One note to add to this is I have many brooks brothers button up shirts and they fit my neck and arms perfectly, however the body of the shirt is way blousy and im left with a lot of excess fabric around my waist... I think i need to try their slim fit line...

post pics, we know you are lying about your weight.

@NardoNardo123: 5'11 and 210 is NOT obessed by any scale, especially with a size 38 waist.

@NardoNardo123: Sorry, but you can be 5'11, 210lbs, with a 38 waist and a Large shirt and not be borderline obese.

That's pretty much the same size I am, and I'm a very health-conscious, and in shape individual. I'm far from a twig, but I'd also be horribly insulted if I were told to shop in big and tall.

At my heaviest last year, I was 5'0" and 170 lbs (definitely obese by BMI), but I was never over a size 12. Should I feel insulted, now I'm 146 lbs and a size 8 that Lane Bryant (min size 14) sends me mailings or should I just throw them out with the rest of the junk mail?

I think, in this case, however, the employee was quite rude in dispensing unwanted information. The customer said they didn't need help, he didn't ask where the big and tall section was. It's like asking a woman if she's pregnant and finding out she's not... ouch.

@NardoNardo123: While he (and I - 6' 215 pounds) are "technically" overweight - there is a BIG difference between wearing an XL T-Shirt or 38" jeans and needing to shop in the "Big & Tall" section. Otherwise 90% of US stores would be "Big & Tall" sections...

@mdkiff: definatly. the question is, does this person LIKE JC Penny enough to let the managment know that they have an employee who could be losing them sales. If it had been said to an employee, the store probably would have kicked the customer out. If they aren't notified, it generally won't get corrected.

I'd be perturbed to discover though that this person asked for a specific recourse. That would be overstepping.

i blame this all on h&m. have you ever tried clothes on in there? goddamn twig europeans.

Lemme guess....the employee was 5'1" tall. CASE CLOSED!!!!

I think the problem is that the employee asked if he needed help, and he didn't. Then the employee assumed that he knew better than the customer and directed him to the clothing that he thought was most appropriate for the customer. For all the employee knew, the man was shopping for his brother, or for a friend. What if the man had been shopping for a dress for his wife, would the employee have walked up to him and said "excuse me but the men's section is over there"? I don't necessarily think he should get a lot of free goodies out of this, but the store should know that their employees might need to be trained on how to properly help customers.

@urban_ninjya:
Actually, far from being "way past" - he's borderline, the first 'obesity chart' I found says that for 5'11 the tipping point is 215lbs. So yeah, he's in the ballpark, but again, technical obesity is not=Big/Tall section.

The clerk wasn't being rude or offending. He was just trying to help by pointing you to, what he thought was, the right section.

What happened to the days when you could be referred to as "Big Guy" and not take offense?

Definately should complain, sending you to Big and Tall was not helpful, it was rude and ignorant.

I was in a store once looking for clothes for my daughter who is 5'1" and around 130#. (I am on the plus size). I was looking at petite clothes, in fact the whole store was for petites, and the sales rep comes over to me and says, "There is nothing over size 14 in this store", with a voice that implied, get out you are too fat to shop here.

That day, I spent my cash at another store and haven't been back since. It is unreasonable to treat people like that.

@NardoNardo123: Borderline Obese? Are you stupid and trying to be insulting or are you just ignorant of the words you use?

I would've told him that I like my clothes short and tight - it cranks up my sexiness factor! Then, I would've pointed out that Gap Kids is a few doors down, he might be interested in the new spring collection.

*Seriously, I wouldn't sweat it. JCP employees are so NOT known for intellectual (or social) acuity.*

Hey Brandon! It absolutely was a deliberate insult. Next time, tell him to go fuck himself. Definitely write a letter - with the person's name if possible, and include the date and time. JC Penny doesn't want people like that working there any more than you do.

Is it too late to add to Ben's Reader's Digest story? This is pretty lame. Complaining because an employee was trying to be helpful? Maybe they should get rid of "Big and Tall" sections, if the mere thought of shopping in one is embarrassing. Maybe they could rebrand it "Super Terrific Clothing Section" or something.

If the OP is clearly not obese, and I take him at his word, then what is there to be embarrassed about?

Geez.

" stunned faces of other customers"
That tells me public slander What if it was a Caucasian employee and a minority customer the race card would be played and lawsuit time.
Me id tell him to get his manager and demand disciplinary action be taken up to and including termination. If not satisfied call cooperate or "E.E.C.B."

What would be the complaint? Low self esteem?

@Diet-Orange-Soda: Yes he was. The customer didn't ask if they had larger clothes or ask for help, in fact he specifically said he didn't need help. The clerk offered unsolicited advice based on the guy's weight... it's not on, and if it had been me I would have let him have it.

Bad call on the salesman's part. Say something to the manager, but that's about the extent.

Comparing myself to Brandon, I'm shorter, a little heavier, and I wear 36" pants with a belt. I'm guessing (no offense intended) that Brandon is somewhat rounder to fill out 38s at his height, and likely that's what the salesman was looking at. I'm sure he only meant to be helpful, but it was NOT something he should have volunteered unless asked.

JC Penny is turning into a rich mans walmart. The only thing I get there are White T Shirts because they stock a very good brand, and underwear for the same reason. They sell the white shirts marked with T (for tall) in with the normal shirts. Not in the "Big and Tall" section.

I'm 6'3 and have only one time shopped in a Big and Tall store, in fact it was at the Big and Tall store as a matter of fact. When I went in there EVERYTHING was way over sized for me. I bought a Tie and dress shirt, and the dress shirt is way too big. I just have a 17.5 neck and most stores, like JC penny only stock up to 17. I did find a new store that stocks normal size dress shirts that are size 18 neck and are extremely comfortable, and they are NOT in the big and tall section.

This employee was rude, and I would have made a HUGE scene there. But then again I'm a jack ass and only go to best buy if its a really good sale, gift card, or if I want to start crap with geek squad and the warranty counters for my friends who have the service plans through best buy. Its fun :)

The first time I ever went to Saks, I was with my best friend, a very tall guy. A saleslady immediately came over to us, looked us up and down. She told ME that "The working girl clothes are over THERE," implying hopefully not prostitution, but the cheaper clothes since I OBVIOUSLY couldn't afford anything else. She then turned to my friend and informed him that nothing in the store would fit him.

I've not been back since.

@backbroken: Because there is a difference between being slightly overweight and being a big fat fucking mess who needs to wear 80 inch pants. Implying I am the latter, not the former would piss me off too.

Calling the customer fat [which didn't happen] is an insult. Advising the customer of another area of the store to browse could be construed as a reasonable attempt to provide useful information.

If the poster has (admits to) a 38" waist, is it reasonable that the clerk could have slightly over-estimated his waist at 40"? Perhaps pants with a 40" waist are stocked in the Big & Tall area, not the regular men's clothing.

In this case, the clerks comments are perfectly appropriate and meant to help guide the customer to an area of the store where he'd find merchandise in his size.

I say the clerk gets a pass, unless his tone was such to indicate his comment was something other than a well-meaning attempt to be helpful.

If one goes through life looking for instances to be offended, one will easily find them.

@NardoNardo123: Let me guess: You're using a BMI chart to make this ridiculous assertion, right? For all you know this guy is built like an NFL linebacker and it's all muscle, in which case 210 is a perfectly reasonable weight. (And in which case I'd like to see you call him "borderline obese" to his face.)

But even if he weighs 400 pounds it's totally uncalled for to direct him to the big and tall section. For all the salesjerk knows the customer is buying a gift for a relative (or his boyfriend). Or is in the middle of a diet and dreaming of the day he can wear certain clothes.

In any case, a complaint is definitely justified. Whether it has any effect on the buffoon of a salesclown is another matter.

No offense but 5'11" and 210 is fat. You'd probably find better fitting clothes in big and tall. No need to get your no doubt large panties in a bunch.

I've had a similar problem. I'm a size 14 but I was shopping for a gift for my friend (petite height and size small) and a J.Jill salesperson told me to go to the other side of the store for clothes in my size. I told her that I was shopping for a gift for my friend and that I would get it at somewhere else. It didn't faze her one bit. I just left and haven't been back.

@cmdr.sass: Nice one troll.

Do you have a reason to complain? No. NO! I repeat - NOOOOOO!

I could understand if it went something like:
"Hi can I help you?"
"No."
"Ok, because I just noticed you are too fat for this section, why don't you try over there?"

Instead, he offered to help and gave out some information which may or may not have been useful. Sure he overestimated your waist size, but it is not like he started screaming, "FATTY THE FATTY SECTION IS OVER THERE FATTY."

I have long hair and there have been times I'm standing cluelessly in the men's section and a sales person will come up(from behind) and say, "Excuse me miss, the ladies section is over there." Should I complain?

Now this leads me to two things:

First: This is newsworthy? Seriously. Surely someone must have visited Best Buy or another big box store and didn't get worshipped upon walking in.

Second: I have a feeling that if you were looking for the big and tall section and the guy did not point it out you would be here complaining about how poor customer service is.

Consumers, please, get a life!

I would look at this as a potential training issue. It honestly doesn't matter if Jabba the Hutt slithers in and starts looking at size 32 dress pants that he's clearly not going to fit in without lubricant and a crew of thousands. The most you do is walk over and ask, "How can I help you?"

If the question is, "Do you have this in a size 320?" then you direct him appropriately. If it's, "I'm shopping for a gift for my brother, who is but a fraction of my weight, and he wears pants." then you help him from there. When you as a salesperson assume, you run the risk of offending someone needlessly.

BTW, I am a bit on the obese side, 6' and about 215. I've never had to even consider shopping in a "Big and Tall".

@SkokieGuy: FYI: Just looked on the Penneys site and the smallest size waist in Big section is 46". The section is for BIG guys, not big guys...

I admit I lean towards the heavier side of the scale. But god forbid I want to shop where "regular" "normal" people shop. For all the sales person knows the shopper could have been buying a gift. I don't think the issue here has anything to do with being fat an uncomfortable about it. I think this has to do with an employee having no tact and offering assistance to someone who did not need assistance. I wouldn't expect anything for your complaint but I'd let a manager know. Who died and made Jcpenney employees the fat police?