Dear consumer agency, I have an unusual array of complaints about many businesses in the Union city area. Mainly Save A Lot and "Mcdonalds". First of all, fact is that I am an African American Male, middle aged, living in an area that has a pretty thick history of racism. Racism I have to deal with, and its something I've been dealing with my whole life. But when it comes down to going into a store to get the food and necessities that I need in order to survive, I have more than "cultural rights" to complain. I have not been able to go to either one of these businesses and purchase what I need without some type of rude nonverbal messaging being relayed to me across the counter or through a drive through window. For example - strained intentional "sniffing" of the air, and hand holding over the nose while they use their other hand to push my groceries or food hurriedly across the counter in order ring my items up.in the letter below, that I wrote to the save a lot store here in Union City, Indiana; the girl who walked away from her register when she saw me walk up to check out is one of the teenage caucasion females who send these awful non verbal rude messages when on the job and in their work uniforms. For what reason I don't know. I am sorry to say, yes these are females engaging in this rudeness. When I walk up to a counter, and the employee walks away as if not wanting to help me... This act takes this matter to a whole different level of rudeness. The non greeting, and rudeness as I said was to be expected, but it still doesn't make any of it right. If I can't shop at a Union City grocery store without this nonverbal harassment, I guess the solution is to stop shopping there or better yet -move away. NO! Then I would be sending an irresponsible message to these troubled people by not entering the store again to shop. My letter to you is as a concerned citizen and a consumer with the rights just like anybody else to obtain groceries and goods in my place of choosing. I also have rights not to be harassed with non verbal messaging or hand signals from a merchant or employee who does not appreciate my presence. Its sad because went to the library, and the female librarian in this town was engaging in the same non verbal rudeness, but she was very much not a teen. Family dollar store as well. If I can make a statement and file suit for these harassing acts of non verbal rudeness, I will. And I can even get photos. Because at this point it is so obvious to me that this behavior has become so habitual to them, that they can't help but make these gestures, when they see a person of color. I've noticed this in most stores I go to in this town. Yes employees behind the counters. Please let me know what can be done. For the sakes of these people who are many cultures behind progressiveness in this country. And thanks for hearing me out!
LETTER TO SAVE A LOT STORE;To whom it may concern, My name is Dana Warmack, and I have enjoyed shopping at your stores my whole life. I am a US Army Combat Veteran that has just moved back from California, back to the area where I was born in the Midwest. I am originally from Chicago Illinois. I'm sharing this to reassure you that I am a US citizen and I would like to be treated as such in your UNION CITY INDIANA STORE, when ever l go there to shop. I moved to Union City because it is a quiet kind of remote spot away from all the craziness in the city that goes on every day. I am an AFRICAN AMERICAN full time student at Argosy University Online, studying Psychology for a BA in the subject. Usually when I get money from my FASFA student loan, the first thing I think about is going to Save - A-lot and filling up my fridge for a few months with your great food. I have to say when I received my student check this term, I did not want to shop at the Union City Save a lot store, because I didn't like my first couple of experiences there, and I don't appreciate the nonverbal gestures and just plain rudeness of the young employees that you have representing you at the store. So I drove 30 miles to WALMART in GREENVILLE to avoid the terrible atmosphere you have for me in your store. Let me share my experience-if you care. My first experience in your Union City store was not the pleasant environment that I just read about on your site. I have never had this kind of problem in any Save-a-lot store, in any other city I've ever lived in. Here's a description; the young ladies at the register were not to kind. Scratching there noses and sniffing the air intentionally in my presence as if i carried the foul odor of a wild animal. I assure you I bathe daily. (This act seems to be a union city thing, where they hold there noses - as a nonverbal signal of odor - only in the presence of blacks or non whites)... This didn't bother me as much as the girl at the register walking away as I came up to purchase my food, not greeting me with hello at all and being rude in her posture and presence to match all of this. And when I walked out of the door after telling the girl at the register that I do forgive her for being rude. She did not reply to me. But she did reply to a customer who came out after me, who heard her comment on the incident by saying, "I don't give a fuck". I wonder who you have working for you at this store? Do you really know and are you aware of the actions of your associates? This letter may not serve its purpose. And its purpose is not to see you fire all of the employees I mentioned. No, But I would be OK with investigating who you have working for you at the Union City store. Do you practice equal opportunity for your customers? Is your stores environment a diverse environment? Does your company support multiculturalism or do you oppose it.? I can't keep your employees actions private nor can I ignore my own rights. Rights to be served in a public grocery store as a citizen of this city, state and country. I will forward copies of my letter to the appropriate agencies who care about my rights as a person. I need no response from you, I just need for you to take action. Because if you lose me as a customer, you've lost a great one. Thank you
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