I'm a regular middle class working man over 50 yrs old. Coming out from work, I headed down to Big 5 at March Lane in Stockton CA at around 5:30 to check availability of a 22LR rifle which I saw at the same store the weekend before; when our family were there shopping for sports wear. Because I know what I wanted to buy, I went straight to the product section of the store to ask if there was one in stock. There was what appeared to be an office booth for the Store Manager, adjacent to the product displays I was interested in, sitting high from the store floor, a man stood and stared down on me as I approached the display section. As I was looking at some items inside the display glass enclosure, a young salesman approached and asked how he can help - At least Big 5 rank and file employees have been consistently courteous to its patrons. So, I told the guy that I was there last weekend and saw this small caliber rifle I liked and am ready to make a purchase and asked if there was any available. The young man said, we just got them in but they are still in the stock room and will have to ask his manager. Turns out, the man staring down at me when I entered was the Store Manager. He came down from his "throne", put his hands on his waist, looked pissed-off at the young salesman as he asked about the rifle. At this point, it was pretty obvious that I am the interested customer as I was the only customer there and was just beside the salesman.instead of addressing me, he continued his 'pissed-off' look, at the salesman and answered the Salesman, "NO, WE DON"T HAVE IT!" (without checking their inventory system). So I had to ask him directly, when he thinks it would be available. Only then did he turned and face me. This time his facial expression changed from being 'pissed-off' at the world, back to the stare-down look; his eyebrows looked liked they were raised and taped to his forehead and his eyes buldging while he was talking. He told me to come back next thursday to check. I said ok, checked some other stuff and left the store. The whole experience bugged the hell out of me as I got the impression that the manager profiled me when I first got in the store and went straight to the rifle section. So, the following day I called the same store and ask if they have the same rifle the manager said they did not have, and...
You guessed it; they do have it.
The Stockton March Lane Big 5 Store Manager's name is Paul.
I'm a regular middle class working Asian-American over 50 yrs old; and I felt profiled.
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