April 21
Rec #10130001887991
22 Letters Home Depot refuse to answer
To Home Depot and all interested parties;
I am a business owner who have a commercial account with Home Depot. I frequently shop at home depot because of convenience. On a monthly basis, I spend about $2,000 on warehouse and home furnishings. On January 19, I experienced what I would call racism at the Home Depot located at 1151 W. Lugonia Avenue, Redlands CA. 92374.
My intentions on entering the store were to purchase several screen doors, an AC unit and other items, then rent a truck from Home Depot to deliver these items to my business. I went to checkout to purchase the screen doors, along with other items, then afterwards was told by an store associate that it was too late in the evening to rent the truck. The female store associate was not helpful in any way. She refused to help me ring up an air conditioner that I had problems scanning. She approached me to inform me that I had taken off the wrong bar code to have scanned but rather than help me find the correct barcode, she walked away to talk to another store associate.
I stood there in the contractors checkout line, wondering if anyone was going to help me when another associate approached me. I finally purchased my items then walked out of the store to my car. I went back into the store after realizing that the screen doors would not fit in my vehicle and that I would have to return the doors. Management kept stalling, refusing to refund or reverse the charges on my commercial account. She kept asking when had I purchased these items and if I had the receipt. I informed her that I had already given her the receipt and she pretended to look at the receipt. After arguing for several minutes, she credited my account and I again, walked to my car. A few minutes later, two police officers approached my car and asked me to verify the purchases I had made inside the store. They asked me to walk back to the store with them and show them the receipt of purchase.
This could have been nothing more than a misunderstanding, but I dont think that was the problem. I was humiliated and feel that my civil rights were violated because I am an Afro-American. Home Depot accused me of stealing, even though I had receipt of my purchases in black and white. Why was the police called? Was I profiled because of my braided hair and dark skin? I was treated as if I were a criminal and am looking for resolution in this matter. As CEO of xxxx, I demand that Home Depot corporation sincerely look into this matter. I have sent several letters concerning this matter but Home Depot refuses to return any of my phone calls or answer any of my letters.
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