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Family Dollar Complaint - Racial Profiling - grocery goods
grocery goods - Complaint
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI -- I recently went to a Family Dollar in Kansas City, MO. I can recall that the day was on a Monday or Tuesday, Oct the 31st or Nov. the 1st. This particular store is located at Troost and Linwood. I remember it being between 11:30 A.M. and 2:00p. m., from the time of the incident and to the time I filed a complaint with a Family Dollar complaint department. I used a toll free number.
I entered the store and took a shopping cart. I could have not been in the store more than 10 to 15 minutes. I had around 10 items in my cart. While I was shopping for some more food items, a manager of the store, came up behind me and told me, that I needed to leave my shoulder bag (which was actally on my back), up front. There were four things wrong with that statement.
1. I was in that same Family Dollar store, within the last two weeks. I wasn't asked to remove that same particular bag.
2. I was already in the store shopping. So he randomly profiled me.
3. There is no sign posted, stating that customers must leave their bags up front.
4. He told me that the cashier would ask the customers to remove their bags. The female cashier, did not ask me then or the last time I was there.
I told him, legally a sign must be posted. You can't randomly pick people out. He said, due to the area, they must do it. I had mentioned to him that I do not have to take off my bag in the Sunfresh grocery store or the Dollar Tree store in the Westport area. He told me that they do not have crime in that area like this area. If that was so, there wouldn't be any police in that area. Basically, he insulted me. Sunfresh store has store security with weapons. And this is around the clock.
Before I left the store, I returned all of the food items that I had in my cart. I refused to shop there.
After that incident, I filed a complaint with Family Dollar's complaint department. A lady that I spoke with, mentioned that it would not take more than 72 hours to respond. I left my online voicemail number with her. It is a 24/7 voicemail system. I checked it today...Sunday, November the 6th. There was no message. So I'm writing to this agency. I feel like I was ignored. In fact, the woman that took the complaint, had mentioned that the General Manager would not ignore me.
I entered the store and took a shopping cart. I could have not been in the store more than 10 to 15 minutes. I had around 10 items in my cart. While I was shopping for some more food items, a manager of the store, came up behind me and told me, that I needed to leave my shoulder bag (which was actally on my back), up front. There were four things wrong with that statement.
1. I was in that same Family Dollar store, within the last two weeks. I wasn't asked to remove that same particular bag.
2. I was already in the store shopping. So he randomly profiled me.
3. There is no sign posted, stating that customers must leave their bags up front.
4. He told me that the cashier would ask the customers to remove their bags. The female cashier, did not ask me then or the last time I was there.
I told him, legally a sign must be posted. You can't randomly pick people out. He said, due to the area, they must do it. I had mentioned to him that I do not have to take off my bag in the Sunfresh grocery store or the Dollar Tree store in the Westport area. He told me that they do not have crime in that area like this area. If that was so, there wouldn't be any police in that area. Basically, he insulted me. Sunfresh store has store security with weapons. And this is around the clock.
Before I left the store, I returned all of the food items that I had in my cart. I refused to shop there.
After that incident, I filed a complaint with Family Dollar's complaint department. A lady that I spoke with, mentioned that it would not take more than 72 hours to respond. I left my online voicemail number with her. It is a 24/7 voicemail system. I checked it today...Sunday, November the 6th. There was no message. So I'm writing to this agency. I feel like I was ignored. In fact, the woman that took the complaint, had mentioned that the General Manager would not ignore me.
Comments:
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2011-11-06:
If it was my purse (with driver's license, credit cards etc in it), I would never leave it with anyone and if they insisted that I did with or without a sign being posted, I'd walk out.
I don't see this as a racial profiling, but it would depend on how others are treated with the same shoulder bag size. As you said, they never said anything to you before, if it was racial, they would say something to you everytime you walked in.
I don't see this as a racial profiling, but it would depend on how others are treated with the same shoulder bag size. As you said, they never said anything to you before, if it was racial, they would say something to you everytime you walked in.
Posted by Anonymous on 2011-11-06:
I would have left too. They need to post a sign that states purses or bags are not allowed in the store
Posted by Skye on 2011-11-06:
I also would NEVER leave my pocketbook with anyone. I would have been like, later.
I know at the dollar store around here, they have a huge sign on the door before you walk in, that clearly states "NO OTHER SHOPPING BAGS ALLOWED".
This dollar store you are complaining about should also have that type of sign up. You could contact corporate about what happened.
http://corporate.familydollar.com/pages/contactus.aspx
I know at the dollar store around here, they have a huge sign on the door before you walk in, that clearly states "NO OTHER SHOPPING BAGS ALLOWED".
This dollar store you are complaining about should also have that type of sign up. You could contact corporate about what happened.
http://corporate.familydollar.com/pages/contactus.aspx
Posted by cabinplace47 on 2011-11-06:
I appreciate the responses to my post. Everybody has a right to their opinion. And I can respect that. Just something to think about first post. For example: You can have 5 people in a store, but one individual may racially profile you. But because it is in the walls of the store, it becomes that person's wrong doing and the store's issue and management must correct it.
My point is this. The person that had asked me to remove my bag, wasn't there the last time I was there. I've only been in that store twice. That's including that day of that incident. And also, being that there are no signs posted to remove your bag, there was no reason for that person to approach me period. It was personal. I was singled out and it was an intent to deem me as a thief. Mainly because he made a comment about crime in that area, in association with taking my bag. That is called a stereo-type. His motive was based on me stealing because of my race. That is the element of racial profiling. Another example: If a cop pulls me over in my car with no just cause, that is racial profiling. I was pulled over due to suspicion or assumption that I could be doing something wrong. ACLU defines it as "Driving While Black". I do not have to have a comparison with another race, in the same situation. I shouldn't be pulled over, while I'm legally driving period.
I've been followed around stores without a bag. It's racial profiling. A Safeway in Spokane, WA was closed due to this. And I was one of the people involved that filed a complaint with different organizations against them. An undercover person follewed me from lane to lane in that store. If you are a reading woman this, and a guy followed you like that....you would morely contact store management or the police. But because of the comment this guy made, I new that I was being profiled.
And it shouldn't matter what bag size it is. A bag is bag. A sign should be posted about not allowing bags in the store period. The size shouldn't matter. If it did, they would have to measure each bag that comes through the door. That would become another complicated legal issue. Think about that. One employee can say that bag is too big. Another can employee can say, it's ok. It wouldn't work.
My point is this. The person that had asked me to remove my bag, wasn't there the last time I was there. I've only been in that store twice. That's including that day of that incident. And also, being that there are no signs posted to remove your bag, there was no reason for that person to approach me period. It was personal. I was singled out and it was an intent to deem me as a thief. Mainly because he made a comment about crime in that area, in association with taking my bag. That is called a stereo-type. His motive was based on me stealing because of my race. That is the element of racial profiling. Another example: If a cop pulls me over in my car with no just cause, that is racial profiling. I was pulled over due to suspicion or assumption that I could be doing something wrong. ACLU defines it as "Driving While Black". I do not have to have a comparison with another race, in the same situation. I shouldn't be pulled over, while I'm legally driving period.
I've been followed around stores without a bag. It's racial profiling. A Safeway in Spokane, WA was closed due to this. And I was one of the people involved that filed a complaint with different organizations against them. An undercover person follewed me from lane to lane in that store. If you are a reading woman this, and a guy followed you like that....you would morely contact store management or the police. But because of the comment this guy made, I new that I was being profiled.
And it shouldn't matter what bag size it is. A bag is bag. A sign should be posted about not allowing bags in the store period. The size shouldn't matter. If it did, they would have to measure each bag that comes through the door. That would become another complicated legal issue. Think about that. One employee can say that bag is too big. Another can employee can say, it's ok. It wouldn't work.
Posted by cabinplace47 on 2011-11-06:
Skye, I did contact corporate. They send complaints to the general manager. He was suppose to respond in 72 hours. He did not contact me about the situation. I gave the complaint department at the corporate office my 24/7 voicemail number. There is no message on it.
Posted by At Your Service on 2011-11-06:
Glad to see you checking back cabinplace47. If there is actually a law stating, "legally a sign must be posted" please quote the reference to this. I am not aware of any.
Posted by Silkekitten on 2011-11-07:
I'm not seeing racial profiling. Crime is committed by different people of different races everyday. I would have left myself if asked to leave my bag up front, since I don't trust many people. All the Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Dollar General stores that I have been in all have a sign that states no other shopping bags allowed posted, and I have seen some purse/handbags that could be described as such. Since the store is private property I guess it would be at the discretion of the manager on duty, and he can deny service to anyone. I also don't care if I am followed in a store, I don't pay attention to them, just as long as they don't approach me or touch me.
I also would like to know where "legally a sign must be posted" is posted since I like to have something to back up what is said.
Since this store is in a high crime area they should have a large sign posted, mainly to cover there butts, in case this incident is brought up again. I see this as a learning experience for that store. In this day and age you can't be to careful, and they will need to protect themselves from all sorts better.
I also would like to know where "legally a sign must be posted" is posted since I like to have something to back up what is said.
Since this store is in a high crime area they should have a large sign posted, mainly to cover there butts, in case this incident is brought up again. I see this as a learning experience for that store. In this day and age you can't be to careful, and they will need to protect themselves from all sorts better.
Posted by CowboyFan on 2011-11-07:
The poster seems a little overly sensitive. She says that "it was on my back" which to me indicates a form of back pack. If you take a backpack or other big bag into a store, it certainly is not out of place for the store to ask you to leave it at the front counter. Playing the race card does not help the complaint, because there is no indication that other shoppers with such bags were treated differently.
Posted by Churro on 2011-11-07:
I've spent many weeks in Kansas City. I'd say it's better than even money race played a part in this. Race plays a part in EVERYTHING in KC.
You returned the stuff from your cart to the shelf. Classy move. Dump these guys and don't look back. Good review!
You returned the stuff from your cart to the shelf. Classy move. Dump these guys and don't look back. Good review!
Posted by swimjim on 2011-11-07:
I agree with Churro and CowboyFan on this complaint.
Posted by traceylynn on 2011-11-08:
Any store will be suspicious if you show up with a big bag and walk thru it. It isn’t about race, it is about the fact that someone can shop lift with a big bag very easily. Purses they will probably never ban, too many woman carry them. But a backpack or duffel bag they can. Stores are private property so they can set their own rules. They can ban a backpack without posting a sign as far as I can tell. I did Google it and local laws in place to not seem to stop that.
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