What I am reporting has happened throughout my life unfortunately, and at many different stores. And now again by the cashier at Rite Aid on 4770 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. I am not mentioning names because this is a corporate problem, not a personal one, therefore, I am not trying to throw individuals "Under The Bus," but I am trying to get justification...
Although polite when I walked in, the cashier asked me if she could help me, when I said I didn't need help, she then proceeded to follow me throughout the aisles while I was looking at products using one of the oldest "tricks" where the employee pretends they are "straightening the shelves" but they are really in your aisle looking at what you are doing, and checking to see if you are stealing.
This went on for 10 minutes, and I called management and asked them to review the cameras from 8:40am through 8:55am Friday July 12th. I informed them I "evaluated" my theory to make sure...
The employee left the front counter, passed by several aisles, and landed in the aisle I was in, looked at me, and what I was holding in my hand, and then turned around like they were straightening the shelves. Then, I went back one more aisle and so did the employee, again, looking at me and what was in my hand. I then went back about four more aisles and so did the employee. I then went to the front of the store, and so did the employee, returning to the register (thinking I was about to leave), but then I went all the way to the back of the store, and once again they came from behind the register, walking all the way back to the aisle I was in. (First Insult.)
I am not Caucasian, and I hate to blame anything on race, but it is difficult to believe otherwise when there was a white woman and a white man in the store who were not followed. I spoke to the store manager who insulted me by saying that she did not profile me, and she was just doing her job. The manager's insult was telling me that their employees "could not" be doing things like this because it is against company policy, and it is posted on their door! (Second Insult)
It is against every company's policy but that does not stop it from happening. That is like saying that because speed limit signs are posted, then no one can be speeding. This was a ridiculous thing to say and insulting to be sure.
On Friday, I asked if this was their "Final Word" about what happened and the store manager asked me to give him until Monday, July 15th (today) to give him time to elevate this to his boss who wasn't available on Friday, and so that he could look at the video again himself. I agreed to wait until Monday and to my chagrin, NO ONE BOTHERED TO CONTACT ME TODAY BREAKING THE AGREEMENT "HE" MADE. (Third Insult!)
It is now after 6:00pm Monday, clearly the workday has ended, therefore, I decided they deserved to have a post placed on social media so that others can decide if they want to enter a store where "certain" people are profiled, but they confirm they are just doing their job. I SUGGEST IF THEY FEEL NO WRONG WAS DONE, THEY SHOULD POST THE VIDEO FOOTAGE AND ALLOW EVERYONE TO DECIDE!
I remain, K. Sherman read more