
PROFILING
Posted Mar 2, 2011 by anonymous | 61 views | 0 comments
Bed Bath& Beyond, SUBJECT: RACISM & PRICING On Sunday September 10,2006 accompanied with my adult daughter I feel that we were the victims of racial and religious discrimination. To add injury to insult I feel that they are changing prices on advertised merchandise, and selling it for another. Bate & switch. My daughter was married on in late August and received several gift cards. Her plan was to use this particular gift card to purchase a can opener that was on sale for 19.99. I believe. As well as some other sale items We were not in the store five when staff and security begin to make their presence obvious. We spent a total of approximately an hour in the store and were followed the entire time. At one point Manuel (who would later be identified as the manager) made direct eye contact with me while I sat in an advertised massage chair. He made a point to speak and let me know he was watching me. Not a problem for me or my daughter since we came to shop not shoplift. I was merely resting since I suffered heart attack and frequently took the opportunity to rest on several occasion during this trip. With regard to the can opener I noticed there were two can openers above the 19.99 price sign. I also noticed several other items marked with two different prices. For example two identical brands of silver cleaner, same size were marked differently. Some were marked 3.99. And others 12.99. We finish our shopping and head to the register where we are met by the black member of security and Manuel who just happens to be there. The can opener rings up 39.99. . Manuel offers to go and check the price. As my daughter followed by Manuel leave to go and check the price, I comment that the can opener was placed above the sign marked 19.99. He comments in beligerent manner that he will be the judge of that (or words to that effect.) I ask the cashier if he is the manager. “Yes” I then I ask her if this is how he treats all their customers? ' I'm sorry' My daughter returns w/the actual 19.99 can opener & without Manuel and says that he claims they were in the wrong place. Now the item must be removed and the real 19.99 can opener added. Manuel is no where to be found with his key to permit the cashier to unlock the remove the item. She gets on the speaker to call for help no one comes. During this entire ordeal there is a heavy set man watching from the manager's booth. About ten minutes into the wait she decides to void the entire order in order to clear the line. After which Manuel and another cashier come since the line is five to seven people deep waiting to be served and they open another register. Needless to say this was my first encounter at this particular location. I have however shopped at the Amherst location. I don't shop the Galleria for this specific reason. The racial tension is very thick. The race relations are so bad out there that a young girl lost her life some years ago. I vowed then never to spend my dollar with people who treat me as if they are extending me courtesy by taking my money. For some reason I was hopeful that things had changed for the better. (After all this is the 21 st century). Not to mention I live less than ten minutes away. I would have to travel at least a ˝ hour to the Amherst store which, I am sorry to say I did not. The following Wednesday I contact the cooperate office by phone to express what I have just stated and how the experience tarnished. What should have been a special time to bond for me and my daughter. I was told that someone would get back to me with a phone cal within 48 hours of my call. It has now been more than three weeks. I guess it is too much to expect humane treatment when you shop at Bed Bath & Beyond if you are ethnic looking. One should expect to be treated like a common criminal when shopping there. This is not acceptable to me and I hope that it is not except abele to anyone who reads this letter. Thank you in advance for your attention to my concerns. Sincerely, Janice Wells
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