If I could rate this store a 0, I would. Employees called the police in fear of my boyfriend and I "planning to rob their store"
My boyfriend and I went in around 8:45 pm on Saturday 8/27 (late, I know - the dollar tree down the street closed early). I needed to run in for 3 items, grabbed them, and checked out. The young man at the cash register seemed pleasant and friendly. My boyfriend and I left the store and got in the car. We needed to get our belongings together as we came from MA. We were looking for a local place to grab some food before heading home. I watched as the employees went to their cars and then back inside. I felt as if we were being watched but played it off as no big deal as we weren't doing anything wrong.
As we finished our mobile order for Chipotle at about 9:15, I was standing outside my bf's car smoking a cigarette while he had his drivers side door open. The 3 Dollar Tree employees were leaving the parking lot and a cop pulls up to us (very nice man). He let us know the employees had called and said we had them "kinda freaked out" and that they were "worried we were going to rob their store"
I explained to the officer that we had just previously been patrons in the store and we were searching for some food, and at that moment we were finishing our order for Chipotle. My boyfriend was surprised, as was I, that the employees found us so intimidating. Nonetheless - threatening enough to rob their Dollar Tree.
The officer was very kind and understanding and thanked us for letting him know what we were up too. He moved to a different location of the parking lot and was speaking to another officer as we finished up and left.
I'll admit, I wasn't in my "Sunday Best," and may have appeared in a rush as I wanted to get in and out of the store in respect of the employees getting out on time.
Not only was this such a weird, out-of-pocket and uncalled for experience, but I can't help but to think of how they treat customers that may not be white like my boyfriend and I are.
I think these Dollar Tree employees could benefit from a "Workplace Ethics and Awareness" training. read more