this store isn't far from where I live, so when I started going here for small house hold needs and snacks I figured what better way to support the community than shop at a privately owned small business. what could go wrong?
As the months have gone by I would stop by this store, frequently purchasing small things like gum, a cold beverage, and tobacco products. Usually the lady running the register wouldn't even make eye contact with me or acknowledge my existence, but I don't take personal offense to it wish her kindly and go on about my day.
One night I go in as usual for Tobacco, water and snacks. There are no baskets or carts so this particular time I set some items on the counter as I continued to shop, I assumed this wasn't a big problem as there wasn't a lot of people present at the time, so she could watch the items and I don't have to carry a bunch of things around the store.
As I finished up selecting the items, for the first time in the months I've shopped here, she makes eye contact with me, rolls her eyes and says "hurry up"
I had only been in the store this particular night no more than 5 minutes and there was absolutely no other customers waiting, so I thought she was being joking. I laughed and continued to shop around.
As I finished up with a total time of around 7 minutes in the store, I noticed she had a legitimate aggression towards me. I asked "what's the problem?" And she replied in very broken English "you keep putting down and walk away. you get and go"
I am a biracial (black and white) younger guy. I carry myself well and I'm not saying I'm smarter than everybody, but I have common sense and I can tell when I am being judged by someone because it happens a lot. You can feel when you are being criticized for no reason other than existing. The peculiar sense of distaste and disapproval gleams from one's eyes, hateful yet satisfied by whatever thoughts entertain the resolution for their unjustified rage.
Her attitude toward me was uncanny. "Is this how you treat ALL of your customers?" I asked, holding back certain rage that could only result in knocked over and scattered merchandise. She refused to answer the question or say anything further, continuing to manually calculate my selected items into an old loudly beeping register. After no further word were exchanged I refused to purchase the items and left.
It's been a few weeks since that incident and I'm not one to hold a grudge, especially for something I can't prove. Today I went back to make amends. I selected my usual tobacco, and playfully (but somewhat sarcastically) said "are you gonna be mean to me today?" She completely freaked out and told me to leave. A middle aged man I'm assuming her husband came out and said "she's the boss and the boss wants you to leave."
"She has a serious attitude problem, you guys need to learn how to treat your customers." I calmly suggested, complying to their demand and exited the store for the last time.
I am not accusing these people of racism but I am saying that these people should not be in business. They're prices aren't much different from the nicer, cleaner, more customer savvy corporate companies just around the corner. I should not have joked around with the cashier lady (I have a dark sense of humor) but if that was all it took for them to kick me out of the store for good there's obviously more to their way of thinking and in my opinion scratch the surface of discrimination. I recommend to anyone who cares about where there dollar goes to walk the extra block to a better business. these people are just rude and disrespectful with a suspicious motive. read more