Sergio B.
1/5
Racially Profiled
I (Latino male) recently visited the store to pick up a yeti I had ordered online, and the two gentlemen at the front were very friendly and helpful (one Caucasian, the other latino). Since I was also carrying my son in a car seat seat, I tucked the yeti I just purchased into my hoodie pocket, with a little bit sticking out for visibility. I had parked in the back of the store, entered through the back door, and picked up my item at the front. After that, I went back through the store toward my car. On my way out, I stopped by the tape measure section to see what they had available. While there, a worker approached me and asked if I needed help, to which I politely declined. I then noticed she spoke to one of the other staff members. As I was leaving, the other employee called out, “excuse me, do you need help?”. I explained that no, I had already picked up everything I needed, and then he said, “oh, OK, because I saw the yeti in your pocket”.
I was confused by this comment. What exactly was he implying? It was clear I wasn’t trying to steal anything, as it would’ve been absurd to leave it sticking out of my pocket if I were trying to hide it. I told him that if he was concerned, he should check with the staff upfront.
What bothered me even more was that when I first entered the store, neither of these two employees acknowledged me or asked if I needed help, despite walking right past me. They were speaking in a language I didn’t understand, which I only noticed as I walked back towards the exit, and leaves me to wonder (since they spoke to me in English) if they were doing so to avoid me overhearing.
What really upset me, though, was seeing a Caucasian man do the same thing just as I was entering the store. He was walking out and placed his items in his pocket, and was not questioned at all.
This experience was frustrating, and unfortunately, made me decide not to return to the store ever again. I hope the staff will improve their approach to customer service and consider how their actions impact others.
