Subway Restaurant, Subway sandwich restaurant on Pico/Albany St. , near L.A. Convention Center Los Angeles, California
This is my complaint to Subway sandwich restaurant, regarding my encounter on 2/21/10.
I am a frequent customer at Subway restaurants, however, today was my first time visiting this particular location. I walked in directly behind a family of five. We were to only customers in the store, and there appeared to be only 2 employees on duty. The young female began to make sandwiches for the family of five, as I waited. The older male employee was the back area behind the counter, which was partially visible to customers. He came to the front, looked at me, then washed his hands. He then put on a pair of gloves, and went back to whatever he had been doing. I watched him for a minute or two, wondering why he was fiddling with something on a shelf instead providing service to me, a waiting customer.
The female employee looked up at me while making sandwiches. Her look seemed to be helpless and apologetic. I then decided I would leave, and began to walk towards the door. Just as quickly, I heard her call out to her co-worker, but I continued out the door without looking back. Everyone in Subway appeared to be of the same ethnic background, and the non-verbal communication, coupled with the fact that I am black, made me feel that the male employee's behavior was racially motivated. I have been black for many years, and I recognize this pattern of behavior. I refuse to spend my money at establishments that treat customers this way. For this reason, I will not return to your store. However, I will share this story with others so they will not attempt to spend their money where it is apparently unwanted. The only real color is green. You should instill that message in your employees.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Get real
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, February 23, 2010
I read your post and it appears that you were ignored by some minimum wage flunky at Subway who would rather putz around behind the counter than do some actual work. I don't know where you usually dine, but this is a pretty common occurance at any fast food restaurant I've ever been to.
That you equate this with racism boggles the mind. There was one employee making sandwiches for five people while the other one was slacking off. No surprise there.
I live in a neigborhood where the fast food workers are predominately black and hispanic. I receive the level of service you described on a regular basis. Are they all racists? Or might a more logical explanation be that they're all making minimum wage and not that interested in putting forth a great effort?
Kim
Rancho Palos Verdes,California,
United States of America
I have been black for many years
#4Author of original report
Mon, February 22, 2010
Your response is typical of the person that makes excuses and thinks with such naivety, because such things don't happen to you, I agree that your race doesn't matter. Likewise, if you ever treated anyone this way, you probably didn't realize it because you've been conditioned to think & behave that way. My comment about being black for many years was actually joke, because I believe that racism IS a joke. I have friends of every nationality, and we have discussed the stupidity that occurs and comes out of others when we go out together. As I stated, there was some non-verbal communication that took place, and that is the reason that I perceived this event as racial. Perhaps a class in sociology, cultural competence, or a trip to the Museum of Tolerance would benefit you more than a trip to Disneyland. Wake up, and stop making excuses for bad behavior.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Curious..
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, February 22, 2010
I have been black for many years
In all seriousness that statement sounds like you just decided to become black at some point in your life.
Also, if you see this "pattern of behavior", that is probably a good indication that you are inclined to see racism in everything. Yes racism does exist, and quite frankly a good amount of the time is that the people who are claiming racism are actually the ones with racist tendencies. Which usually becomes evident as you let them continue to talk.
In this case there is really nothing to show racism. I have been ignored like that on more than one occasion. Bad customer service..perhaps. Racism..no. Because you don't know what he was doing. Let's say he was prepping food and didn't think it should be left out longer than it needed to be. Or perhaps he thought you were with the other family since you came in together.
And yes you will notice I did not put my race in here because it is not important. So you can think of that what you want.