Being Neighborly | A store manager who refused to make a sale
Posted on June 26th, 2026 By: Marsha Hart
Link: Gig Harbor NOW - Community Column Article
As Taryn Thibaut scanned items at a self-checkout register at the Safeway on Point Fosdick Drive on June 4, she overheard a store employee trying to talk another customer out of a purchase.
The customer was trying to buy a large amount of gift cards. That was a red flag for Safeway manager TJ Faulkner.
Instead of ringing up the purchase and carrying on with his night, Faulkner patiently explained to the gentleman that scammers often ask their targets to buy thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, in exchange for the promise of an even larger payout later. The payout, of course, never happens.
That’s exactly what happened to this customer. A scammer told him that if he bought $100,000 worth of gift cards, $152 million would be deposited into his bank account.
“I heard TJ asking him questions, and I heard TJ say ‘Don’t you think this is probably too good to be true?’ But the man seemed like he felt that he should be doing it,” Thibaut said.
Thibaut joined the efforts to convince the customer, who appeared to be in his 70s, that he was being scammed. He had already purchased cards worth several thousand dollars from other stores.
“TJ kept peppering him with questions, and I finally heard him say, ‘I’m going to have to decline the transaction. Please don’t give these people any more money,’ ” Thibaut said.
Thibaut was impressed with Faulkner’s handling of the situation.
“Watching him, it looked like it felt natural to him, and he was being a genuinely good citizen” she said. “I stopped and told TJ, ‘Good job to stop this from happening.’ He may have had training, but there are lots of people who don’t care to do the right thing. TJ looks to be in his 20s, and we hear a lot about that generation not caring or contributing, and he definitely showed up when it mattered.”
Nobody knows if the customer bought more gift cards at another store. Thibaut said she wanted to acknowledge Faulkner for his efforts to prevent the man from becoming a fraud victim.
Thibaut said she “wanted TJ to get noticed by his manager and team,” she said. “This is something that could have significant impacts on another human being’s life from one small gesture like this. I feel like who knows what the impact could have been.”
Taryn Thibaut is a REALTOR® serving Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Fox Island, and Pierce County who is recognized for combining real estate expertise with community leadership. She serves on the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors and the Fox Island Bridge Community Panel. She has been featured by Gig Harbor Now for advocating on behalf of a community member during an attempted financial scam and for recognizing everyday acts of public service that strengthen the Gig Harbor community.
Beyond real estate, Taryn is known throughout Gig Harbor for her commitment to community leadership and public service. Her advocacy has been recognized by Gig Harbor Now, highlighting her efforts to protect vulnerable community members and celebrate everyday acts of integrity. Whether serving on the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors, the Fox Island Bridge Community Panel, or helping neighbors navigate important life decisions, Taryn believes trust is earned long before a real estate transaction begins.
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Gig Harbor REALTOR® Taryn Thibaut Recognized for Community Leadership and Consumer Advocacy
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Gig Harbor REALTOR® Taryn Thibaut was featured by Gig Harbor Now after recognizing a Safeway manager who prevented an elderly customer from losing thousands of dollars to a gift card scam, reflecting her commitment to community leadership and consumer advocacy.