Sydney Bookstore Drops Statement After Being Used As Training Ground By Wannabe Pick-up Artists
"We apologise to any of our customers who have been approached in the store or had the negative experience of someone trying 'pick-up' techniques with them," Kinokuniya Sydney said in a statement.
Kinokuniya Sydney has issued a statement after staff discovered that the beloved store was being used as a training ground by “a dating coach company.”
Word that the store was being used in this way first began to spread on Twitter back on January 18, when writer and journalist Chloe Sargeant shared a story of being approached by a man who tried some “classic The Game pickup artists lines.”
today a dude tried some classic ‘the game’ pickup artist lines on me at a bookstore, andstarted out w ‘can you help me with a recommendation, what was your fave book of 2019’. so i said @clementine_ford’s fight like a girl. he looked a bit flustered but persevered
— chloe sargeant (@chlosarge) January 18, 2020
and was like oh no i meant fiction! so i said the power by @NaomiAllthenews and when i explained what it was about he was like ‘oh… uh. too scary for me. thanks anyway!’ and scurried away. game recognise game i guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— chloe sargeant (@chlosarge) January 18, 2020
Now, Kinokuniya staff have confirmed that they have identified the dating company in question, and have “requested” the company not enter the shop again.
In a long statement, staff have apologised to those affected, and have stressed that the safety of customers is their highest priority.
Read the full statement here:
It has come to our attention that a dating coaching company has been using our store to give their clients practical experience, much to our dismay. We apologise to any of our customers who have been approached in the store or had the negative experience of someone trying “pick-up” techniques with them. And to anyone who has felt harassed we offer our deepest apologies. We have contacted the company we know is involved and requested they not enter the store again.
And to any other social coaching companies who might be considering using Kinokuniya for your clients’ practice runs, we say don’t come in. Our staff and security have all been made aware that this has been happening and are on the lookout for anyone who is receiving unsolicited and unwanted attention. Please do let a staff member know if you are approached in the store in a way that makes you uncomfortable. That said, the bookstore should be a place for discussion and we don’t want to discourage organic communications from taking place! Please come in, enjoy the books and the ideas, and enjoy sharing the space with other booklovers!
From,
Kinokuniya Management
Lead image: Kinokuniya Facebook