I dont think i can shop at Walmart anymore...

snappynappy · 11-06-2009, 03:50 PM

or at least the one closest to me. I just came back form walmart, as I decided to pick up some stuff after class. I brought my bookbag with me becuase i figure it would make no sense to walk all the way to my apartment and drop it off, miss the bus by not even 5 minutes and have to wait about an hour for the bus to come back around again. So as I was waliking into Walmart I was told that I would have to bring my bookbag up front to customer service. The only thing in my bookbag was a notebook from class, 2 pencils, a pen and some reusable bags! At first I figured no problem, assuming this is something everyone would have to do. Turns out its not, the girl that was walking a few feet behind me(white) apparently didnt have to! And in every aisle i walked down i saw a person(usually white as I go to school in the middle of nowhere) with a bag, and half were bigger than my book bag! Is it just me or is this racial profiling? This woman only approached people of color, and this wouldnt be the first time that I was profiled in this store. Am i looking into it too much?

All I wanted to do was buy a scarf and maybe some conditioner!!

rociobutterfly · 11-06-2009, 03:53 PM

I wouldn't be at all surprised. Was the woman that approached you black? Not that it matters.
I have worked retail for the past 8 years and trust me, there is racial profiling going on.

MysticSpiral · 11-06-2009, 04:00 PM

Wal-mart is a largely unethical company anyway. The prices are so low because they use sweatshop labor, and old food (the take chickens about to expire, and put more preservitives on it to get an extra week on it).

They pay their workers to low, and as for benefits, the rates are so high it takes a huge portion of their income. By keeping their employees on the edge of poverty they rake in bigger profits.

They also situate their stores near other supermarkets and business to drive those businesses out of the market making the economy of that area lower--and thus people will have to shop at wal-mart because they can't afford anywhere else.

They will also interagate employees rumoured to support unions, and fire those who pass out union literature.

but I'm ranting. I think it's unfair that an employee held your bag, and from the sound of it it was definately racial profiling.

NikG20 · 11-06-2009, 04:10 PM

I went to Wal-mart the other day, you know those people who greet you as you come in, well, they usually have to put a little smiley face sticker on your bag. At least that's what the man did to my bag. I rarely go to Walmart so I'm not exactly sure.

I wouldn't doubt the racial profiling though. I notice people follow me around a lot. I look more Mexican than I do white, so maybe that has something to do with it. You never really know. I also notice when I am dressed in a casual outfit, Tee with some nice Nike Dunks people tend to follow me or keep a close eye on me. I want to turn around like "LOOK, HERE'S MY MONEY!!!!!"

hippychic · 11-06-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticSpiral

Wal-mart is a largely unethical company anyway. The prices are so low because they use sweatshop labor, and old food (the take chickens about to expire, and put more preservitives on it to get an extra week on it).

They pay their workers to low, and as for benefits, the rates are so high it takes a huge portion of their income. By keeping their employees on the edge of poverty they rake in bigger profits.

They also situate their stores near other supermarkets and business to drive those businesses out of the market making the economy of that area lower--and thus people will have to shop at wal-mart because they can't afford anywhere else.

They will also interagate employees rumoured to support unions, and fire those who pass out union literature.

but I'm ranting. I think it's unfair that an employee held your bag, and from the sound of it it was definately racial profiling.

this! all of it

wild~hair · 11-06-2009, 04:31 PM

It's definitely racial profiling, if you ask me.

I'm white and I can't tell you how often it's been explicitly stated on a sign somewhere that bags need to be checked, but then I will ignore that and nothing happens.

The few times I've gone and willingly checked my bags upon seeing such a sign, I've frequently received a look of surprise before they then took my bag from me. Which is part of the reason I stopped checking it. That and I just think having to check your bag is lame. I don't want to hand my stuff over to a random retail employee/stranger. Who's to say they won't steal my stuff from me?

If I found myself in this predicament, I would stop shopping there as well. And maybe even alert the media. We had a similar situation here in town and one of the TV news stations did an exposé on it and the company [Walgreens] cleaned up their act.

snappynappy · 11-06-2009, 04:34 PM

Normally they put a sticker on my bag, but this middle aged white woman approached me like she was watching me enter the store and disregarded all the people around me. Now mind you i had my school ID on me, with my name and picure on it, so its not like they couldnt have found me if i did(which i dont!). I am small, and i look younger than i am so its like really, of all people you are going to target me?

snappynappy · 11-06-2009, 04:40 PM

I am definetly talking to management, and if she gets reprimanded it isnt my problem!

ninja dog · 11-06-2009, 05:52 PM

Snappy, that sucks.

I'm sorry it happened to you.

CocoaCoily · 11-06-2009, 06:47 PM

I remember going into a store, and the guy asked me to check my bag. A quick scan of the store showed that there were plenty of folks with their bags. I told him, "When you check theirs, you can have mine."

He gave me a knowing smile and waved me on into the store. He was black. I do believe he was told to profile, and couldn't/didn't want to argue my very valid point.

I do not doubt racial profiling.

KurleeEdna · 11-06-2009, 07:17 PM

Give your bag to a young, white friend from school and have her go into the store while the same employee is there.

If she lets her through without having her check her bag... then, there's your answer.

snappynappy · 11-06-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurleeEdna

Give your bag to a young, white friend from school and have her go into the store while the same employee is there.

If she lets her through without having her check her bag... then, there's your answer.

The last time i had a problem with this store i know it was profiling. I was trying to return a pair of sweatpants as I had bought the wrong size, I had a receipt and the tags were still on, but they wouldnt take them!!

I told my 3 friends who had come with me. They went to the customer service desk and returned it no problem. The woman at the desk didnt even look for the tag or ask for the receipt (as i was within range to see and hear, but out of view). They(all white) were surprised and the entire ride back to our apartment they were livid!

...and today the girl behind me with the bag was a friend...so yeah...

I just wanted to know if i was looking into it too much,

VersaceCrazy · 11-06-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappynappy

or at least the one closest to me. I just came back form walmart, as I decided to pick up some stuff after class. I brought my bookbag with me becuase i figure it would make no sense to walk all the way to my apartment and drop it off, miss the bus by not even 5 minutes and have to wait about an hour for the bus to come back around again. So as I was waliking into Walmart I was told that I would have to bring my bookbag up front to customer service. The only thing in my bookbag was a notebook from class, 2 pencils, a pen and some reusable bags! At first I figured no problem, assuming this is something everyone would have to do. Turns out its not, the girl that was walking a few feet behind me(white) apparently didnt have to! And in every aisle i walked down i saw a person(usually white as I go to school in the middle of nowhere) with a bag, and half were bigger than my book bag! Is it just me or is this racial profiling? This woman only approached people of color, and this wouldnt be the first time that I was profiled in this store. Am i looking into it too much?

All I wanted to do was buy a scarf and maybe some conditioner!!

Okay..and this is where the OTHER ME would've come out!!! You didn't say anything about that to them???

lashon20 · 11-06-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VersaceCrazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappynappy

or at least the one closest to me. I just came back form walmart, as I decided to pick up some stuff after class. I brought my bookbag with me becuase i figure it would make no sense to walk all the way to my apartment and drop it off, miss the bus by not even 5 minutes and have to wait about an hour for the bus to come back around again. So as I was waliking into Walmart I was told that I would have to bring my bookbag up front to customer service. The only thing in my bookbag was a notebook from class, 2 pencils, a pen and some reusable bags! At first I figured no problem, assuming this is something everyone would have to do. Turns out its not, the girl that was walking a few feet behind me(white) apparently didnt have to! And in every aisle i walked down i saw a person(usually white as I go to school in the middle of nowhere) with a bag, and half were bigger than my book bag! Is it just me or is this racial profiling? This woman only approached people of color, and this wouldnt be the first time that I was profiled in this store. Am i looking into it too much?

All I wanted to do was buy a scarf and maybe some conditioner!!

Okay..and this is where the OTHER ME would've come out!!! You didn't say anything about that to them???

Yeah someone would've been getting cussed out especially about them not wanting to give you a refund when you had a receipt and tags. I would've been raising hell in there.

Prettycurls · 11-06-2009, 10:07 PM

I think it is good that you kept your cool. If I were you I would file a formal complaint in writing detailing both incidents. If you want some assistance pm me.

Wild Curls Raquelle · 11-07-2009, 12:52 AM

And this is one of the many reasons I do not shop at Walmart anymore. Although I have never been profiled at walmart or seen profiling at walmart, I am curious to know your location. Now I do believe it was definitely racial profiling.
I only say that because my mother lives in a majority white suburb in Georgia and we have never been profiled in Walmart (other places yes) and I thought that was very odd. But I rather spend my money at Tarjay or some place more expensive than Walmart because they are just unethical I can't support cheap labor home or abroad.

Tiggilene · 11-07-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippychic

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticSpiral

Wal-mart is a largely unethical company anyway. The prices are so low because they use sweatshop labor, and old food (the take chickens about to expire, and put more preservitives on it to get an extra week on it).

They pay their workers to low, and as for benefits, the rates are so high it takes a huge portion of their income. By keeping their employees on the edge of poverty they rake in bigger profits.

They also situate their stores near other supermarkets and business to drive those businesses out of the market making the economy of that area lower--and thus people will have to shop at wal-mart because they can't afford anywhere else.

They will also interagate employees rumoured to support unions, and fire those who pass out union literature.

but I'm ranting. I think it's unfair that an employee held your bag, and from the sound of it it was definately racial profiling.

this! all of it

Yop. x2

Hit up Target instead.

violetmauve · 11-07-2009, 05:12 AM

Forget Walmart.

mishka267 · 11-07-2009, 08:30 AM

walmart is the debbil. I hate it. I won't shop there unless I have no alternatives. And that has happened twice in 15 years.

Naya · 11-07-2009, 08:55 AM

Sounds like it could be racial profiling to me.. and like someone said, Wal-Mart is definitely already unethical.

I've personally never had any trouble with Wal-Mart the few times I run in their (for some Giovanni products) and I've had a large bag with me before.

I'm wondering if perhaps it was more along the lines of age discrimination though??? Like what's the difference of your age range compared to the lady they didn't bugger at all? Are you in your early 20s or teens?

I'm not saying that makes it any better... Just offering another perspective