I bought two pairs of bell bottoms about a month ago at Buckle. I spent $177.00 dollars no the jeans and a pair of earrings. I was reluctant to post this because I have a life, and a busy one at that. But here it goes....
I went into Buckle because I spotted some really cute bell bottoms in the window. I hadn't owned a pair in a long time so I thought I would treat myself. I entered the store, before I could make sense of everything, I was approached by the supervisor, who was white and her name started with "R". She was very friendly to begin with. She overwhelmed me with attention however, and it became clear to me that she was mocking and playing with me after a while. She was not aware that this was clear to me. I tried on several pairs of jeans and came to two pair that I liked. The supervisor brought another employee into the charade to play and toy with me. The insinuation was that I was not Black enough. The undertones were clear, and I was in the store for about 35 to 40 minutes. The supervisor was white, and the other employee was half white. So they were having fun with me. One of the things the employees found surprising and amusing is that my name is Anne, which is regarded as a "White" name, and not Black, they were very foolish not to just let this fact slide, I have been named Anne for 39 years, and am very aware of how my name can be perceived. I'm not going to get into all of the details here, but I will be contacting customer service today so that they are both spoken too. Unfortunately, many non-black young people believe that if a Black person speaks a certain way, carries herself in a more conservative manner, that we are somehow "not Black". This is an exceedingly inappropriate and stupid observation for any non-black employee who makes $11.50 an hour to make. You should not trust your instincts at this pay level. Or your intellect.
It is not smart as a non-black person to think, rather, to prefer, I contact your employer and threaten your job and means of income, since I don't fit the angry black woman stereo-type and I am not aggressive and I do not fit the ghetto black woman stereotype. What they were doing to me, was punishing me for not being aggressive. So now here I am, making it difficult for either of them to pay their car note and keep their lights on, and this is what they would prefer. And they don't see that I truly am an angry black woman?? Lol! Additionally, Black people are unified, that means, the Black people you may believe to be Ghetto or aggressive are my family. So your in a lose-lose scenario when you mess with customers. These two individuals should have stuck to protocol and treated me with regular attention, without the insinuations, especially in this highly political and racially driven climate.
The last time I shopped at Buckle was about two years ago. I purchased a bedazzled Forth of July inspired hat, I had a great time that summer, and when the rhinestones fell off, I bought it again when I saw it at Nordstrom Rack. You should never ever, mess with people; you don't have any idea who you could be messing with.
Lastly, Buckle is a very nice store, but it is very specific in terms of its demographic, it cannot be doing very well during the CORONA-VIRUS. If I make a $177.00 purchase as a customer of any color during these times when business are closing left and right, it would behoove the Store Manger whose name begins with "R" to ensure that each custom is comfortable and makes a purchase. She probably doesn't know what "behoove" means, and most certainly does not understand that while she is employed full time during the CORONA VIRUS, Buckle as a store is not doing as well as it could be and she is supposed to protect this, and make selling clothes more important than what her pea-brain mind observes about the customer. read more