PLEASE NEVER, EVER, EVER patronize this racist, unprofessional gas station or so called auto shop. This evening I was treated with the most disgusting, rude, and down right hateful way. If anyone wants to make a statement to this business that there is NO room for this type of behavior, then DO NOT patronize this business.
This evening my tire pressure light came on, it was dusky (almost dark) outside, I am a woman. As I was driving down MacArthur. I saw a mechanic shop that appeared to still be open for business and was attached to this well lit Shell gas station. I pulled up perpendicular to the car doors and asked "Hi Do you have the capability to put air in my tires", an asian man approached my vehicle scanned me and said, "Who the hell do you think I am? I don't do sh$T for free. There is a free air pressure valve over there." Shocked, and almost speechless, I asked, "Is this how you speak to customers? Did you have to be so rude If you can't or don't want to do it or even if you want to charge a fee then say what it is." Mind you, I didn't ask him to do anything for me for free. To which he replied with his back turned, "Get the hell out of here! I don't need your business". Well then, I just pulled right on over next to one of the pumps and gave him a piece of my mind. And he kept shouting for me to get the hell off his property- I refused. I urged everyone that stopped for gas not to shop there. He called the police. I told him I would wait. A cop came, diffused the situation, and I left.
As I drove home, I was moved to tears. I thought about how polite I had been when initially asking my question, and how hostile and degrading he treated me in return. I wondered what it was that made him think it was tolerable to speak to me with such vile language and to treat me with such rudeness. During the course of our back and fourth, he first said he was playing with me, then he said I was a liar, and as his patrons came to pick up their vehicles, he started to tell people I was crazy.The Asian woman running the register whom I had not said a word to the whole time, also started telling patrons I was crazy.
I feel so angry for having been treated this way. My heart knows what it feels. I am a black woman. He did not see me as worthy of respect, professionalism, or politeness. This was absolutely an encounter based on prejudice and racism. To whom the cap fits, let them wear it. The only thing I believe I a have left in my power is share my story and urge people NOT TO PATRONIZE THIS PLACE. I will be reeling about this experience for a time- he will sleep well tonight unless it affects his pocket book. There is strength in numbers- literally. PLEASE NEVER DO BUSINESS HERE! read more