So they allow the workers to do shopping during work hours?: Employee caught shopping at Burlington

Photo byRafapress/Shutterstock @kaliforniak1tty/Tiktok

This woman confronted a Burlington worker for taking all of the viral Hello Kitty blankets before customers could get them. You won’t believe how she reacted.

Hello Kitty has stood the test of time as a go-to fashion icon, ranging from the printed, glittery T-shirts you sported in your youth to partnerships with high-end labels such as Blumarine and sports brands like Puma and Nike.

The character of Hello Kitty made her debut in the 1970s through an animated show by Yuko Shimizu. As merchandise featuring Hello Kitty began to appear, she quickly became a '90s must-have for enthusiasts across the age spectrum, from young children to mature adults.

Hello Kitty craze continues

Hello Kitty has made a comeback, becoming a fashion trendsetter again last year, with stars like Kim Kardashian, North West, Saweetie, and Dua Lipa sporting her designs, as reported by Teen Vogue.

Her popularity has extended beyond just clothes. Hello Kitty is enjoying a moment similar to Rae Dunn's (the brand known for its quirky product placements), partly due to collectors on TikTok showcasing their merchandise.

Like other popular brands such as Rae Dunn and Stanley Cups, fans are lining up outside stores like T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Burlington Coat Factory, hoping to be the first to purchase Hello Kitty items at a retail price before the resellers do.

A Redditor mentioned paying $100 for a blanket from a reseller, which is more than the original price, leading some to suspect she may have been duped into purchasing a counterfeit.

The customer from Burlington wasn't willing to shell out an inflated price from a reseller, so she was keen to arrive at her nearest Burlington early to quickly grab the Hello Kitty blankets.

However, upon her arrival, she encountered a disappointing twist—a worker had already claimed all the blankets before any customers had the opportunity to view them.

Burlington workers hiding Hello Kitty blankets?

In the viral video that has more than 1.4 million views, @kaliforniak1tty explains that she fully expected to be able to get a blanket since the manager let her in the store a few minutes early to grab them.

But the employees were already standing in the aisle when the store opened.

“As soon as they realized the manager let us in, they grabbed the blankets and headed to the checkout,” @kaliforniak1tty says.

In the footage, @kaliforniak1tty is observed conversing with an employee regarding the injustice of exploiting their employment to stockpile blankets. It seems this problem has been previously reported to the manager, Letty.

“She took them as soon as it turned 9 o’clock. It doesn’t give your customers a chance. And Letty has been telling you guys,” @kaliforniak1tty tells the worker.

The Burlington worker argues that she was not at fault and that @kaliforniak1tty had the same opportunity to secure the blankets, albeit eventually relenting.

“Okay, you want to just take the f*cking blankets? So f*cking annoying,” the employee says as she storms off. “Over some stupid blankets".

How to find the viral Hello Kitty blanket

Now, if you want to get your hands on a Hello Kitty blanket with less hassle, they’re available directly on the Sanrio website, Target, and Walmart.

Viewers had a lot to say in @kaliforniak1tty’s comments section.

“Isn’t there a policy no shopping while on the clock,” the top comment read.

“And this is probably why my Burlington never has ANNNYYYY,” a person said.

“When I worked at TJMAXX you couldn’t even shop the same day you where clocked in to give customers a full chance lol,” another explained.

“They also hide items in the store so they can purchase them on their break or the end of their shift,” a viewer shared.