K T
Google
I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding an incident that occurred at the Westlake Village location during the recent fires and power outage. Like many others, I sought refuge in your store for cover and safety, and to charge my phone in case of an emergency.
While I was sitting alone on the floor, working, and charging my phone, a fellow patron repeatedly attempted to engage with me, assuming I did not speak English, likely due to my being a person of color. Despite my clear indication that I was not interested in conversation, this individual persisted in bothering me, and eventually involved a Barnes & Noble staff member. The staff member approached me multiple times, tapping my shoulder without consent and asking me to move, which was disruptive and intrusive.
Moments later, the same patron again tapped my shoulder multiple times, continuing to invade my personal space and harass me. The man did not allow me any opportunity to rise and move out of the way without forcing physical contact. I expressed discomfort and asked the man to stop touching me, but this behavior continued, leading to an extreme amount of distress.
The entire experience left me feeling unsafe and disrespected, as no one should have to endure repeated, unsolicited physical contact from strangers. I find it particularly troubling that a Barnes & Noble staff member did not intervene appropriately to protect my personal boundaries.
This kind of behavior is completely inappropriate, and I strongly urge Barnes & Noble to review its policies and train staff to better handle such situations with sensitivity, respect, and professionalism. Given this experience, I regret to inform you that I will no longer be returning to your store or supporting this establishment.
I hope you will take action to prevent this type of treatment from happening again in the
