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Bedbugs shut Hollister store in SoHo
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bugbuster
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 11:20:13
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Makes you think twice about buying clothes...anywhere!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/hollister-bedbug-infestat_n_632200.html
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MyWorstFear
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 12:43:16
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I wonder how many people who purchased things there, or just went in and tried on clothes in a dressing room, came home with bed bugs and still are clueless as to what awaits them in the near future. Also, all the people who worked there could have brought them home as well, since apparently they have to change into Hollister clothes while working and the bugs could have made their way into their "real" clothes.
The store claims that they plan to reopen in a couple of days, which we all know will be way too soon to be able to say that all the bugs are dead! It disgusts me that the management knew about the problem for at least 3 weeks before they finally decided to do something thus exposing thousands of people to the bed bugs! -
buggyinsocal
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 14:46:48
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The store claims that they plan to reopen in a couple of days, which we all know will be way too soon to be able to say that all the bugs are dead!
Not necessarily.
If the store opted for heat treatment or Vikane (although I'm guessing the store isn't a stand alone store, so Vikane probably isn't an option), it is possible to eradicate all the bugs in a single day. Chemical pesticide treatments take multiple treatments, but heat and Vikane generally do work in a single treatment.
I'm not saying that the store necessarily went with a one time treatment method, but I do think it's true that businesses are slightly more likely than residents to use them.
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cctie
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 17:06:06
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This is all the more reason to either be very wary about where you shop, but also to consider washing and hot drying everything that you buy new. A few years ago, there was also an infestation of the Ralph Lauren studio on Madison Ave.
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bugnut
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 18:04:30
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Wow - I am NEVER shopping again! When I order stuff online, I packtite it before I try it on!
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 18:05:19
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What in heck is this "exoskeleton" thing on the picture on the right? AFAIK, it's not BB related.
http://mobile.gothamist.com/2010/07/01/bedbugs_shut_down_hollister_store_i.php
That does not mean there were no BB in the store. This was bound to happen eventually, and I suspect that some retailers have been prepping for it (example: Macy's has caulked behind the fitting room benches in the Herald Sq. basement men's fitting room. A Starbucks I sometimes visited replaced their banquettes and soft chairs with hard benches and steel chairs. And the gaps between tables and bases are caulked.).I wonder if stores will someday ask "would you like that packtighted?". Meanwhile, I try to keep my purchases bagged, toss packaging ASAP and try to dry my stuff before use (while Mrs. L rolls her eyes).
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bugnut
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 18:07:27
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OK no more Starbuck either -or movies - or restaurants. "Dining is the new dining out" - or it that the bedbug motto?
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 18:57:13
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bugnut - 46 minutes ago »
OK no more Starbuck either -or movies - or restaurants. "Dining is the new dining out" - or it that the bedbug motto?So, the other day, I noticed in the deli where I buy my morning coffee & muffin: Cashier arrives, stashes her coat under the counter…next to the stack of paper bags. Now, suppose her home has BB.
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MyWorstFear
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 20:19:34
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Buggy, you're absolutely right about Vikane and Thermal, but since neither of those were mentioned in the article, I just assumed they were going the PCO route. This is NYC and there aren't very many
"stand alone" stores as pretty much everything is "attached" to another building.Cilecto, I had to laugh imagining you with flashlight checking out the newly caulked fitting room benches!!!
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 20:47:10
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A Manhattan store could conceivably do thermal. Inventory could be taken offsite and Vikaned. It would gross out customers if they were to discover dead bugs in their stuff, though.
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bushbugg
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Jul 1 2010 21:59:12
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Yeah, I really fear that a business that depends on keeping the store open and people buying has very small incentive to do an extermination properly. Worse, Im afraid for their staff; they might all be fired if management gets the idea theyre bringing the bugs back with them...
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 0:28:10
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And the store will probably pay some company to dispose of the inventory, but they, in turn, will probably sell it off the truck to some knowing or unsuspecting schm**k, and it will end up in some retail outlet and in someone's home.
Also, bear in mind that virtually everything you purchase today was made in countries poorer than the USA, Canada, the EU, etc. Places that have BB, but not necessarily effective tools to eradicate. Where the workers may well not be paid enough to eradicate effectively. Where they may be recent migrants from elsewhere and have not settled in enough to be able to organize to eradicate. Who may not have enough time in their week to eradicate. Anything you buy new, can still harbor BB.
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 0:49:27
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Folks -- Buckle up, sit down, and enjoy the ride .. You have not seen anything yet.
As I mentioned a year ago about a friend who owned a bakery ("bed bugs like cake"). A bed bug was found on the arm of a bakery worker in the store. As it turned out, after an inspection in the 4 apartments upstairs, all 4 residents had bed bugs for 3 years and never told the landlord (my friend).
I walk around Manhattan & Brooklyn and see victims everywhere!!
I treated a few apartments in one building in Brooklyn and after the management had papers drafted from an attorney (tenant would not provide access to the apartment) I was then given access to the suspected source ... Well not only did this guy have bugs for years .. he worked in a local supermarket and was definitely bringing bugs to work. This guy could not leave his apartment without taking them with him.
THE WALLS WERE MOVING!! And it looked as though a massacre took place inside. I pulled the corner of his blanket away to expose the mattress (maybe an 8x8 inch section) and was looking at 100 plus bugs just in that one spot. I walked into a dark apartment and didn't even need the lights or my flashlight to see the bugs crawling all over the walls in every room.
Anyone care for some bed bugs with that box of fruit loops?
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cctie
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 1:44:04
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... The morbid joy. The horror. Was the supermarket worker not having any reactions to the bed bugs? And even if he didn't, how does he bear to sleep in those conditions?
Inspired by the news of the retail store closing, I've been looking up stories of other places reported to have bed bugs in the city area. It seems like a few movie theaters have had run-ins with bed bugs.. including the Brooklyn Sheepshead Bay theater, one in Park Slope, and another in Union Square. Looks like I'll have to wait for Toy Story 3 to come out on dvd...
A few train stations have also been discovered to have bed bugs around the wooden benches.
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bushbugg
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 2:19:55
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You guys think thats gross? There was a fire here, in a 'factory' where mattresses were being 're-covered' and resold. ICK!
http://bushwickbk.com/2010/06/28/burned-factory-sold-thrown-out-mattresses/ -
bugkillller
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 2:25:34
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wow this is crazy , i was just shoppinq at hollister a month ago on soho ! holy shit , come to think of it i've been shoppinq there for years =/
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mcsmcs
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 7:22:46
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Killerqueen: Ok, gross. Gross, gross. I may not want to go food shopping after this. That little backyardgarden I have going had better start working harder, and I should probably plant some wheat and buy some chickens, huh?
Maybe in a supermarket it would be harder to actually pick them up. Luckily high prices have already driven me out of the movie theaters....and Hollister is out of my price range.
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 8:39:50
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bushbugg - 6 hours ago »
You guys think thats gross? There was a fire here, in a 'factory' where mattresses were being 're-covered' and resold. ICK!
http://bushwickbk.com/2010/06/28/burned-factory-sold-thrown-out-mattresses/We call that "thermal".
These mattresses can be found in neighborhood shops all over town. This is why mattreses have those "under penalty of law" tags. They indicate where the item was made and if it contains used material.
Used mattresses were well noted culprits from "day 1". The good thing about the Hollister incident is that mire people will be aware that BB don't just get transmitted via "the usual suspects".
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 14:11:43
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This Hollister situation makes absolutely no sense to me.
First off, the chance a retail store has a bed bug infestation is remote at best. No one sleeps there (supposedly) and in a retail store, no one even sits still long enough for the bugs to feed. At least in an office people sit at their desk for long periods of time and that at least provides a chance for bugs to feed. In a retail store, when do they feed?
Secondly, as stated in another thread, the picture posted by the one article doesn't look like bed bug.
This sounds like complete overreaction and hysteria. The employees were reporting bed bug bites for weeks prior? Where were they being bitten? Folding clothes? Highly doubtful. It sounds like a bunch of people who are uneducated about bed bugs reading about the "bed bug epidemic" and attributing unexplained bites to bed bugs. I would be completely amazed to learn there was a confirmed bed bug infestation in this store.
The four scenarios I see are:
1. Somebody found a bug that walked off of someone's personal belongings and hysteria ensued. No "infestation" ever existed.
2. Somebody planted the bugs. I've been waiting for bed bug terrorism to pop-up. What a better way to screw a company or hotel by carrying around a bunch of bed bugs and releasing them in compromising places. Aggravated employee?
3. If there is an apartment above the store maybe there is a problem there and some bugs made their way down? It's possible as I've seen apartments above stores create problems for the store.
4. Somebody returned an article of clothing that had bugs on it. Again, this is possible but I wouldn't call it an infestation as I don't see the bugs reproducing well in this situation.Whatever the story is, I'd love to see proof of a bed bug infestation. I'd be happy to eat my words.
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 14:18:45
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Jeff, you make some good points. An infested shop floor seems less likely than a lot of locations. (That said, people do return items and bed bugs could easily come into the store via this route. I am not sure what they'd do once in the store.)
However, every business has a staff break room and that would be a likely place for an infestation to occur. There are usually comfortable chairs, a table and chairs, and often lockers.
One local supermarket had bed bugs -- and the break room was apparently the ground zero in that case. That could happen in any store.
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Just use the easy button
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 14:26:53
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Nobugsonme - 3 minutes ago »
Jeff, you make some good points. An infested shop floor seems less likely than a lot of locations. (That said, people do return items and bed bugs could easily come into the store via this route. I am not sure what they'd do once in the store.)
However, every business has a staff break room and that would be a likely place for an infestation to occur. There are usually comfortable chairs, a table and chairs, and often lockers.
One local supermarket had bed bugs -- and this was apparently the ground zero in that case. That could happen in any store.I agree! It is very possible for any establishment to have bed bugs. They do have employees, who may or may not have bed bugs at home. It can all be very likely. Although I never had bed bugs and wish to never have them, I won't isolate myself from the world. The only way I see to not have bed bugs is to be the only person living in a stand alone building, and never leaving my home. Whats next Bed bugs in produce market?
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 15:53:29
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The breakroom would be the most likely place to have an "infestation" and anything is possible and as I said, I'd be happy to eat my words. Something just isn't sitting right with me.
I've seen bed bugs in offices and other places many times so I don't want people to think that I don't think this is possible. It could be all unconfirmed reporting but something isn't sticking together.
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 16:52:31
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The firm has now apparently searched its other NYC stores (apparently using k9s), and the South Street Seaport Abercrombie and Fitch location has now also been closed. (Details here.)
The Fifth Ave. A&F store got a clean bill of health.
I for one would LOVE to know which dog sniffing firm was being used.
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mcsmcs
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 17:06:13
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Personally, I think you should be able to purchase a bed bug rider on your home/apartment insurance.
OT, but in general, about the spread of BBs and effect on the world.
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 17:13:46
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mcsmcs,
I wish you could.
On the other hand, I understand you can't get flood insurance in Brooklyn. If insurers aren't willing to risk the odds of a flood in Park Slope, they surely aren't going to like the odds on bed bugs.
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cilecto
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 18:40:07
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> I for one would LOVE to know which dog sniffing firm was being used.
Careful, "dog sniffing firm" is probably someone's trademark.
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Just use the easy button
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 18:46:14
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Nobugsonme - 1 hour ago »
The firm has now apparently searched its other NYC stores (apparently using k9s), and the South Street Seaport Abercrombie and Fitch location has now also been closed. (Details here.)
The Fifth Ave. A&F store got a clean bill of health.
I for one would LOVE to know which dog sniffing firm was being used.You and me both! Every time I walk into these stores the first thing I smell is cologne & perfume! I couldn't imagine a K9 successfully inspecting these stores with such power fragrances in the air. That being said I would love to know who did the inspection, and if my hunch is correct they just wasted their money using that company.
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Fri Jul 2 2010 20:00:31
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cilecto - 1 hour ago »
Careful, "dog sniffing firm" is probably someone's trademark.
LOL! Actually, "dog sniffing firm" would be a really bad TM. It sounds like the dogs are the ones being sniffed.
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MyWorstFear
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 20:49:06
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mcsmcs - 3 hours ago »
Personally, I think you should be able to purchase a bed bug rider on your home/apartment insurance.
OT, but in general, about the spread of BBs and effect on the world.Bed bugs fall under the "vermin" category and homeowners insurance doesn't cover vermin
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mcsmcs
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 21:00:17
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MyWorstFear - 10 minutes ago »
mcsmcs - 3 hours ago »
Personally, I think you should be able to purchase a bed bug rider on your home/apartment insurance.
OT, but in general, about the spread of BBs and effect on the world.Bed bugs fall under the "vermin" category and homeowners insurance doesn't cover vermin
Hence the rider..... But no ins. company would be dumb enough to sell a BB (or vermin!) rider in this day and age.
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DeedleBeetle
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Fri Jul 2 2010 21:19:08
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mcsmcs - 13 hours ago »
Killerqueen: Ok, gross. Gross, gross. I may not want to go food shopping after this. That little backyardgarden I have going had better start working harder, and I should probably plant some wheat and buy some chickens, huh?ohhh noooo...you sound like me. if i could be completely self-sufficient, i would love it!...i want to keep some chickens and ducks on the terrace and on the roof like they used to do in Egypt until recently. i can grow tomatos and lettuce and cabbages and stringbeans on the terrace as well. herbs on the window sill boxes.
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mcsmcs
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Fri Jul 2 2010 21:42:55
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Deedle: I want chickens in the worst way, but currently my living situation prevents that. (Okay, I am living with my parents to finish saving up my down payment for a condo. My mother would never go for it - although my father would - and something tells me a condo association wouldn't either!).
Self sufficiency all the way!
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bugnut
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jul 2 2010 23:22:53
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Jeff -
I see that that 2 stores were closed- Hollister in Soho and Abercrombie & Fitch in South Street. Now I know they are losing a bundle when their doors are shuttered, so there must be something to it - maybe a supplier to both stores had a bad infestation they passed along? Any way you can find out what really happened?
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 3 2010 11:01:53
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Could I? Maybe, but not without making a bunch of calls and it's a holiday weekend.
The only person who knows the truth is the company who's treating the "infestation" and I'm not sure who that is. Even then, I still don't know how much I would trust the information. I've seen pest control companies tell office managers they have serious problems and then I can't find a shred of evidence anywhere and I've seen pest control companies say there is no issue and there are a 100 bugs on the desk chair of the person complaining.
If I hear anything that I'm not sworn to secrecy on, I will be sure to let everyone know.
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bugnut
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 3 2010 13:00:48
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Awesome Jeff - Knowledge is Power!
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oldtimer
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 3 2010 20:23:07
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Lol ... The industry is something else huh Jeff?
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Sat Jul 3 2010 22:56:08
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You know as well as I do Killer. Some are definitely jokes and NYC has more than it's fair share. There are good ones out there, you just gotta be careful.
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Sat Jul 3 2010 23:00:25
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Yes!!! Reminds me of a college that tuned up 1 or 2 bugs in a class room .. but after the K9 sweep 21 rooms were infested ... lol
Believe that one ... and I'm the guy in the Hawaiian shorts and flip flops greeting the guest as the store in soho is now back open
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Sun Jul 4 2010 0:13:22
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KillerQueen - 1 hour ago »
Yes!!! Reminds me of a college that tuned up 1 or 2 bugs in a class room .. but after the K9 sweep 21 rooms were infested ... lol
Believe that one ... and I'm the guy in the Hawaiian shorts and flip flops greeting the guest as the store in soho is now back openYeah they do put on a nice horse and pony show! Its a shame that such a big company like that is deceiving these corporations, by using this "trained" K9
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Just use the easy button - 3 hours ago »
Yeah they do put on a nice horse and pony show! Its a shame that such a big company like that is deceiving these corporations, by using this "trained" K9What company is deceiving which corporations?
I hear Jeff expressing skepticism about the story we're getting in the media.
But I don't think it's safe to make any assumptions at this point about any of the firms involved (and I am not sure who is involved).
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Sun Jul 4 2010 5:34:03
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Nobugsonme - 1 hour ago »
Just use the easy button - 3 hours ago »
Yeah they do put on a nice horse and pony show! Its a shame that such a big company like that is deceiving these corporations, by using this "trained" K9What company is deceiving which corporations?
I hear Jeff expressing skepticism about the story we're getting in the media.
But I don't think it's safe to make any assumptions at this point about any of the firms involved (and I am not sure who is involved).Killerqueen knows who I am talking about
no need to mention any names! Its just know throughout the industry, that their dogs are not that trained. Nobugs I guarantee if you call them and sound like a frantic customer, their k9 will most certainly find bed bugs in your apt, and in every room!< ^ > (•¿•) < ^ >
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Sun Jul 4 2010 12:29:57
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Yeah ...... I don't know of any company responsible (no mention of any names) for the inspections. I just find it hard to believe. =)
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cilecto
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Sun Jul 4 2010 12:36:23
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KillerQueen - 13 hours ago »
Yes!!! Reminds me of a college that tuned up 1 or 2 bugs in a class room .. but after the K9 sweep 21 rooms were infested ... lol
Believe that one ... and I'm the guy in the Hawaiian shorts and flip flops greeting the guest as the store in soho is now back openWill the greeters' newest accessory be a beagle?
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Sun Jul 4 2010 12:49:09
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cilecto - 12 minutes ago »
KillerQueen - 13 hours ago »
Yes!!! Reminds me of a college that tuned up 1 or 2 bugs in a class room .. but after the K9 sweep 21 rooms were infested ... lol
Believe that one ... and I'm the guy in the Hawaiian shorts and flip flops greeting the guest as the store in soho is now back openWill the greeters' newest accessory be a beagle?
OLD SKOOL = Phenolphthalein Blood Test Kit & A Flash Light.
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cilecto
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Sun Jul 4 2010 13:04:46
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KillerQueen - 16 hours ago »
Lol ... The industry is something else huh Jeff?The Pest Management Association is professionals working to protect health and property. They are all that stands between us and infestation or poisoning ourselves by amateur overapplication of chemicals. Are you insinuating that this is not so? Those are nice legs, Mr. Queen. We'd hate to see anything bad happen to them.…
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Sun Jul 4 2010 13:07:29
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You know something ... what really gets me boiling is that after a false positive from a K9 ... companies do treatments for bugs that are not there and then ... they look like hero's that came to the rescue and solved a bed bug problem that never existed in the first place.
I must be doing something wrong! My son will be the next hero in the fight against Bed Bugs.
This morning he was doing his random bed bug inspections throughout the house, flashlight and butterfly net in hand (he's only 3 1/2). He then tells me there is a Bed Bug under the stove. I'm joking with him and telling him .... son bed bugs don't like to hide in places like that. He was insistent that I move the stove and get the bed bug out from under the stove in the kitchen.
Well I move the stove and find a green bed bug from the old bed bug electronic game (you bedbugger's know the one) He either planted it there to impress me .. or he's a damn good inspector because that game has not been out for play time in three months.
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loubugs
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Sun Jul 4 2010 14:03:41
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It's interesting that the image posted of a bed bug shed skin wasn't a shed skin. Although there is a note that one employee found a bed bug and a shed skin on a piece of clothing that she had found on a piece of clothing that she was to wear and had brought home. There are other stories that bugs were found and people (employees) had multiple bites. I don't have personal knowledge if bed bugs had really been seen and collected. Now any perceived bites or bite-like reactions are attributed to bed bugs. I spoke to an entomologist from one company who had been given some sweaters to review, but the dog was used to sniff the sweaters. Don't know if the dog alert was positive would the sweaters be visually examined. If the employees have a locker room or a place where their personal belongings are kept during the day and where bugs if brought in from home could stay and also crawl about. If an employee(s) could bring them from home, leave clothes on and not put anything in a locker or in a closet and begin working where bugs could crawl off and harbor in clothing on the racks or on display counters, then this is one way. Patrons of the store could also bring bed bugs on their person and the same scenario could happen. One story I read quotes an employee, I believe, as attributing the bugs to patrons who returned clothing because you don't know how much of a slob they are at home. Obviously sloppiness has nothing to do with getting bed bugs, but will make more difficult to get rid of them. Also don't know of the buildings and if there are people who live in apartments above the stores. I guess the story isn't finished yet, we'll be hearing more.
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Just use the easy button - 9 hours ago »
Killerqueen knows who I am talking about
no need to mention any names! Its just know throughout the industry, that their dogs are not that trained. Nobugs I guarantee if you call them and sound like a frantic customer, their k9 will most certainly find bed bugs in your apt, and in every room!
Hi Just use,
I don't doubt there are firms like this.
My concern is that in the context of this thread, it looks like you are talking about the dog firm involved in the Hollister/A&F case. If not, you need to be clear about that.
I would also be wary of stating something was "known throughout the industry," especially if it's something you've heard only secondhand.
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jul 4 2010 14:55:18
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loubugs - 48 minutes ago »
It's interesting that the image posted of a bed bug shed skin wasn't a shed skin. Although there is a note that one employee found a bed bug and a shed skin on a piece of clothing that she had found on a piece of clothing that she was to wear and had brought home.It's worth noting that the image of the shed skin was sent from an employee to a blog (Gothamist). It was not submitted by the company as evidence of the infestation.
It is fully possible to have bed bugs, but for someone present who is not educated in identifying them to submit something which is not a bed bug as evidence.
I am not saying this is evidence the company definitely has bed bugs or that I would not like to hear more about what was found, but I don't think you can look at the Gothamist piece, as some folks seem to be doing (though I'm not referring to you, Lou), and take that as evidence that there were no bed bugs present, that the team inspecting was not competent, etc.
As I said to Just use, I have no doubt there are incompetent dog teams out there (and in NYC), but there are also competent ones. Unless someone here knows a lot more about the case (in which case, please email me, I can keep a secret!), I don't think it's safe to judge at this point.
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DeedleBeetle
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jul 4 2010 15:50:08
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Right...it really goes to the reliability of the person(s) making the various reports to the Gothamist and the other sources which are primarily, as far as i can tell, Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
The alleged employee who turned in the shed skin is basically saying "look what i am in possession of, i believe it's evidence of bed bug infestation, this evidence came from my workplace, therefore my place of work has bed bug infestation. The logic in this is so faulty that i'm sure i don't have to explain it. But basically, being in possession of something doesn't give any information about how, where, when by whom it was obtained, collected, and the method of collection and whether it's in the same condition it was at the time of the collection. This person, who probably is not a specialist on identification of insects is really not a reliable source for a definitive decision on whether this thing is part of a bed bug; and it appears that it probably is not, but that doesn't mean other evidence of bbs doesn't exist, as NoBugs said.
But then according to Huffington Post, "A spokesman confirmed the outbreak, but said that the bedbugs were only "affecting certain isolated areas of the store." But we're not told who this spokesperson is or even for what entity the person is speaking. Is the spokesperson for the store? For the employees generally, for the particular employee who reported it to the Gothamist? We can decide to assume it's on behalf of the store, right? But then Huffington says in the very next paragraph: "Not true, says a store source."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/hollister-bedbug-infestat_n_632200.html
Huh? Wha?
While it's not clear who this 'spokesman" was it looks like Huffington Post was relying on a report by the Wall Street Journal which relied on some statement made to it, the source of which is not explained: "Hollister said its flagship store in Manhattan was closed Wednesday because the bedbugs were "affecting certain isolated areas of the store," the Wall Street Journal reported."
The Gothamist reported that ". . . one employee described as 'a massive bedbug outbreak'. . .
Then the Gothamist state: "And according to our source, who spoke on condition of anonymity . . ."We can't be sure whether the "one employee" and the "our source" are the same individual or distinct.
Basically, the whole story is rife with weaknesses in logic and lack of reliable sources and solid journalism. It's certainly sensational and of course, we're interested to know and learn more about this situation.
If these are all the sources for the story that we have, then i agree with LouBugs that there is a great deal more we need to know before we can even begin to say whether the store is truly suffering an infestation of bbs, and if so, to detect the source(s) of the infestation.
Were any other bugs or pieces of bugs recovered and what is the chain of custody of those bugs or pieces; were any of the living places of the employees inspected for bbs and were the infestations there any older and more established than the store; can the age of a bb infestation be established forensically? (i'm thinking about how they establish the time of death by studying the flies).
Apparently bites were reported by several employees but we are all in agreement here (unless, again, there is some way we don't know about to forensically establish what is a bed bug skin reaction and what is not) that diagnosis by studying a skin reaction is not conclusive to either rule out or rule in bb.
It seems entirely possible that many of the employees already had bed bugs at their homes and that the one thing that these employees have in common is that they work at this establishment.
I'll also be very interested to see what other evidence exists. When the complaint (if any) is filed... we can know more or less what is being alleged. But only discovery (depositions or interrogatories) will really reveal what other evidence exists.
Will be a good case to follow.
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Just use the easy button
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Joined: Jul '10
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jul 4 2010 20:56:40
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Nobugsonme - 6 hours ago »
Just use the easy button - 9 hours ago »
Killerqueen knows who I am talking about no need to mention any names! Its just know throughout the industry, that their dogs are not that trained. Nobugs I guarantee if you call them and sound like a frantic customer, their k9 will most certainly find bed bugs in your apt, and in every room!
Hi Just use,
I don't doubt there are firms like this.
My concern is that in the context of this thread, it looks like you are talking about the dog firm involved in the Hollister/A&F case. If not, you need to be clear about that.
I would also be wary of stating something was "known throughout the industry," especially if it's something you've heard only secondhand.I am assuming that is the firm its only speculation. I replied to killer queen's comment about the infestation in John Jay. I have seen the firms dog in action and outright just wanted to shoot myself in disbelief! I havn't mention any firms or names. Im not here to slander a company or what not.
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mcsmcs
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jul 4 2010 22:49:27
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Deedle: I can hear the lawyer (in a good way!) in that post! Remind me to find you if I ever need a lawyer.
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dieBB...DIE
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Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 41offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jul 4 2010 23:53:43
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http://bedbugger.com/2010/07/02/bed-bugs-close-second-abercrombie-fitch-store-in-new-york/
Another one of their stores was closed as well....I think I'm going to boycott the brand all together
(sorry if someone else already posted this, there were too many posts to go through)
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