Home Depot RACISM RACISM RACISM IN 2006 Redlands California
March 21, 2006
Home Depo etc
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC. 20580
Rec #10130001887991
Home Depot and all interested parties;
RACISM, RASCIM, Racism
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, 2006, 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 Briggs & Lay Pro Incorporated, 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. Please send written correspondence to:
Briggs & Lay Pro Incorporated
P.O. Box 3815
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Chayo
APPLE VALLEY, California
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Kami
Owensboro,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Oh come on
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, April 11, 2006
This could have been nothing more than a misunderstanding, but I dont (sic) think that was the problem.
If this really was racism, racism, racism there would be no could haves but as you clearly state, you don't THINK that was the problem.
Have you ever been shopping and after checking out the alarm goes off and you have to go back in because the clerks didn't properly deactivate the security device? This is really bad at K-mart and Wal-mart. People look at you like they're not sure if an item needs to be deactivated or if you've actually tried to steal something. While I don't put much weight on what most folks think either way I guess I could file a civil rights violation because people are looking at me weird or I can go back in, have them deactivate the security device and walk the heck out and go home.
Try hard enough, think about it long enough and gripe about it long enough and no matter what color you are you can turn something that could have been a simple misunderstanding into big fiasco or a possible fraud yourself.
Kami
Owensboro,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Oh come on
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, April 11, 2006
This could have been nothing more than a misunderstanding, but I dont (sic) think that was the problem.
If this really was racism, racism, racism there would be no could haves but as you clearly state, you don't THINK that was the problem.
Have you ever been shopping and after checking out the alarm goes off and you have to go back in because the clerks didn't properly deactivate the security device? This is really bad at K-mart and Wal-mart. People look at you like they're not sure if an item needs to be deactivated or if you've actually tried to steal something. While I don't put much weight on what most folks think either way I guess I could file a civil rights violation because people are looking at me weird or I can go back in, have them deactivate the security device and walk the heck out and go home.
Try hard enough, think about it long enough and gripe about it long enough and no matter what color you are you can turn something that could have been a simple misunderstanding into big fiasco or a possible fraud yourself.
Kami
Owensboro,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Oh come on
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, April 11, 2006
This could have been nothing more than a misunderstanding, but I dont (sic) think that was the problem.
If this really was racism, racism, racism there would be no could haves but as you clearly state, you don't THINK that was the problem.
Have you ever been shopping and after checking out the alarm goes off and you have to go back in because the clerks didn't properly deactivate the security device? This is really bad at K-mart and Wal-mart. People look at you like they're not sure if an item needs to be deactivated or if you've actually tried to steal something. While I don't put much weight on what most folks think either way I guess I could file a civil rights violation because people are looking at me weird or I can go back in, have them deactivate the security device and walk the heck out and go home.
Try hard enough, think about it long enough and gripe about it long enough and no matter what color you are you can turn something that could have been a simple misunderstanding into big fiasco or a possible fraud yourself.
Kami
Owensboro,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Oh come on
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, April 11, 2006
This could have been nothing more than a misunderstanding, but I dont (sic) think that was the problem.
If this really was racism, racism, racism there would be no could haves but as you clearly state, you don't THINK that was the problem.
Have you ever been shopping and after checking out the alarm goes off and you have to go back in because the clerks didn't properly deactivate the security device? This is really bad at K-mart and Wal-mart. People look at you like they're not sure if an item needs to be deactivated or if you've actually tried to steal something. While I don't put much weight on what most folks think either way I guess I could file a civil rights violation because people are looking at me weird or I can go back in, have them deactivate the security device and walk the heck out and go home.
Try hard enough, think about it long enough and gripe about it long enough and no matter what color you are you can turn something that could have been a simple misunderstanding into big fiasco or a possible fraud yourself.
Nick
Hollywood,California,
U.S.A.
That's pretty rotten to do to people.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 21, 2006
Chayo,
I would threaten to close my account unless they attempt to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. You actually have more leverage when they can see exactly what you spend every month, and that you pay your bill on time (assuming of course, that you do, which I would believe).
I would then send a letter to the top - CEO, President, VP of Sales and VP of Marketing (you can use the same letter and "carbon copy" everyone) and explain that you will have to shop at the competition unless you hear a response.
One MINOR thing is returning something immediately after purchasing it. Please read this without judging me, but meriting the argument instead.
From the retail point of view, it might be suspicious to return something you just purchased. They think: Maybe you bought the same item last week, broke it, and are trying to buy a new item to return the broken one with that receipt. It happens a LOT (in fact, I've seen it suggested here on ROR as a way to 'sock it to the man'), and retailers have trained their "returns" people to look for that stuff.
I'm an olive-skinned guy myself, and I get that sometimes. I wouldn't count out the racial aspect of it, but I wouldn't make that your defense when writing to a bunch of CEOs. They've been called crooks, oppressors, etc. The minute race is brought up to THOSE guys, they'll dismiss it.
I'd stick to the facts, and champion your status as a customer. You don't want them helping you because of racial sensitivity - you want to be helped because you were a customer who was treated badly.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
Nick
Hollywood,California,
U.S.A.
That's pretty rotten to do to people.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 21, 2006
Chayo,
I would threaten to close my account unless they attempt to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. You actually have more leverage when they can see exactly what you spend every month, and that you pay your bill on time (assuming of course, that you do, which I would believe).
I would then send a letter to the top - CEO, President, VP of Sales and VP of Marketing (you can use the same letter and "carbon copy" everyone) and explain that you will have to shop at the competition unless you hear a response.
One MINOR thing is returning something immediately after purchasing it. Please read this without judging me, but meriting the argument instead.
From the retail point of view, it might be suspicious to return something you just purchased. They think: Maybe you bought the same item last week, broke it, and are trying to buy a new item to return the broken one with that receipt. It happens a LOT (in fact, I've seen it suggested here on ROR as a way to 'sock it to the man'), and retailers have trained their "returns" people to look for that stuff.
I'm an olive-skinned guy myself, and I get that sometimes. I wouldn't count out the racial aspect of it, but I wouldn't make that your defense when writing to a bunch of CEOs. They've been called crooks, oppressors, etc. The minute race is brought up to THOSE guys, they'll dismiss it.
I'd stick to the facts, and champion your status as a customer. You don't want them helping you because of racial sensitivity - you want to be helped because you were a customer who was treated badly.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
Nick
Hollywood,California,
U.S.A.
That's pretty rotten to do to people.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 21, 2006
Chayo,
I would threaten to close my account unless they attempt to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. You actually have more leverage when they can see exactly what you spend every month, and that you pay your bill on time (assuming of course, that you do, which I would believe).
I would then send a letter to the top - CEO, President, VP of Sales and VP of Marketing (you can use the same letter and "carbon copy" everyone) and explain that you will have to shop at the competition unless you hear a response.
One MINOR thing is returning something immediately after purchasing it. Please read this without judging me, but meriting the argument instead.
From the retail point of view, it might be suspicious to return something you just purchased. They think: Maybe you bought the same item last week, broke it, and are trying to buy a new item to return the broken one with that receipt. It happens a LOT (in fact, I've seen it suggested here on ROR as a way to 'sock it to the man'), and retailers have trained their "returns" people to look for that stuff.
I'm an olive-skinned guy myself, and I get that sometimes. I wouldn't count out the racial aspect of it, but I wouldn't make that your defense when writing to a bunch of CEOs. They've been called crooks, oppressors, etc. The minute race is brought up to THOSE guys, they'll dismiss it.
I'd stick to the facts, and champion your status as a customer. You don't want them helping you because of racial sensitivity - you want to be helped because you were a customer who was treated badly.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
Nick
Hollywood,California,
U.S.A.
That's pretty rotten to do to people.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 21, 2006
Chayo,
I would threaten to close my account unless they attempt to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. You actually have more leverage when they can see exactly what you spend every month, and that you pay your bill on time (assuming of course, that you do, which I would believe).
I would then send a letter to the top - CEO, President, VP of Sales and VP of Marketing (you can use the same letter and "carbon copy" everyone) and explain that you will have to shop at the competition unless you hear a response.
One MINOR thing is returning something immediately after purchasing it. Please read this without judging me, but meriting the argument instead.
From the retail point of view, it might be suspicious to return something you just purchased. They think: Maybe you bought the same item last week, broke it, and are trying to buy a new item to return the broken one with that receipt. It happens a LOT (in fact, I've seen it suggested here on ROR as a way to 'sock it to the man'), and retailers have trained their "returns" people to look for that stuff.
I'm an olive-skinned guy myself, and I get that sometimes. I wouldn't count out the racial aspect of it, but I wouldn't make that your defense when writing to a bunch of CEOs. They've been called crooks, oppressors, etc. The minute race is brought up to THOSE guys, they'll dismiss it.
I'd stick to the facts, and champion your status as a customer. You don't want them helping you because of racial sensitivity - you want to be helped because you were a customer who was treated badly.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out.