Brooke B.
Yelp
I went shopping downtown yesterday because I needed to find a last minute outfit to chaperone my students prom (I am a teacher). I found a nice $50 Calvin Klein dress at Nordstrom Rack that I was really excited about. The dress, however, needed a statement necklace. After exhausting all my options at Zara, Target and H&M, I decided to check out Macy's as a last resort.
I was in a great mood as I was shopping, AirPods blasting in both ears as I'm grooving and trying to decide from the various necklaces the store had to offer. I couldn't help but notice a mannequin-like employee staring me down as I'm shopping. Like, she was literally standing there watching my every move. I was unsure how long she'd been standing there, or if she even said any words to me when she walked up due to the volume of my AirPods. So I removed one pod from my ear and greeted her with a simple, "hi." In return, I received a head nod as she continued staring me down. It was getting pretty uncomfortable so I proceeded to tell her that I didn't need any help. She responded saying, "it's my job to stand here and greet customers." Meanwhile, there were plenty other customers nearby but her eyes were steadily on me. That isn't til she looked up and noticed a customer in the front of the store (where I'm sure she was supposed to be). She rushes to accommodate the customer just as I made a decision on the necklace I wanted to purchase. So I followed her to the front register and, still in disbelief, began to wait. It didn't take long for her to notice me standing there, to which she turned around and asked, "do you want to pay for that?"
At this point I was beyond flabbergasted at this woman's word choice. I responded, "well, yes...Despite what you may have been thinking I wasn't going to just walk out of the store with it." I proceeded to let her know that she was racially profiling me. Of course she was in denial. So she stopped helping the customer in front of her to accommodate even after I insisted that she finish with what she was doing.
So, as am checking out, calmly ranting about how I work hard for my money just like her, my card surprisingly declines. I try again. Again, it declines (even though I am fully aware of the sufficient funds in my account.) So, I decided to try my credit card. Declines. At this point I'm furious because again, I work hard for my money and clearly this lady was doing this to spite me. Finally, after the fourth time, the transaction is approved.
I wish it ended there, but no. I couldn't find my AirPod. So I retraced my steps, remembering that I placed it on the other side of the glass counter. As I am looking for it, the woman is still helping the other customer. I ping the airpod and can hear the chirps. She notices me still there and looks up to ask, "can I help you?" to which I reply, "I'm just looking for my airpod. I set it down over here I'm pretty sure and I hear it, if you can help me find it that would be great." She responded saying, " I am currently helping another customer." In even more shock I look at her and tell her, "well, you interrupted me. I didn't interrupt you. So please continue to help her and if you'd like to help me afterwards than by all means, you're more than welcome to."
I stopped hearing the chirp after that. She fake helped me look for it and told me if she finds it by the end of her shift she can put it in a bag and send it up stairs to the executive office. At that point I had given up hope and was extremely frustrated.
I ended up calling the manager, who I hope handled it accordingly.
In all 32 years of my life, I have never had such a traumatizing shopping experience.