During my visit, I attempted to purchase vape pods while accompanied by my stepson. I am a Black man, and my stepson is Caucasian. Upon reaching the register, the clerk refused to complete my purchase, citing an assumption that I was conducting an illegal proxy (third-party) sale to a minor. This assumption was entirely unfounded and inaccurate.
I am a returning customer at this location and have previously purchased these exact items while accompanied by my stepson without any issue. On this occasion, however, the clerk made an immediate, biased judgment about our relationship and my intent purely based on our physical appearance and racial differences.
While I understand and respect that retail employees must comply with age-verification laws and regulations regarding tobacco and vapor products, these policies must be applied standardly and professionally. Refusing service based on visual assumptions about a racially diverse family dynamic is profiling, discriminatory, and unacceptable. The clerk's behavior was humiliating and unprofessional.
I request that corporate management review the store's security and audio footage from this visit to evaluate the clerk's conduct. I am seeking a formal response regarding how this situation will be addressed to ensure that customers are not subjected to racial profiling or unfair treatment in your stores moving forward.
Just a heads up if you want to buy any tobacco products or alcohol products make sure you leave your kids in the car. As stated before I purchase there before sometimes I get carded and sometimes I don't. It was the supervisor that was at the register (female) and a male manager that agreed with her. I asked when this rule set in place and they said it always has which it not true. read more