Wal-Mart Web Site Makes Racial Connections

[Tickled Pink 2]

That is trifiling.

I went to a KMART once in SC when I was 18. They had a clearance bin with undies in them (real cheap - like $1.99 cheap)that I was looking thru. I picked some out, walked around looking at other stuff for a while, then decided not to get them and put them in another area (misshelved them). I went back to my mother and told her that they all looked tacky and didn't want any of them (I was into VS big back then, so I was completely put off). Anyway, we're leaving and there's 2 police cars outside. We were looking like "Wonder what done happened in there????" Then the manager comes running up to US and says they need to see us inside. They assumed that I was shop lifting and called 2 police cars, and was acting crazy - "so where's the underwear...where's the underwear?" I showed them where I put them and they were like . My cousin was still inside and had just bought over $100.00 in stuff. She not so politely told them to return everything and I returned what little I had bought as well.

[CrimsonTide4]

Fla. Wal-Mart Axes Manager Over Bias Issue
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer Tue Dec 13, 3:40 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla. - A Wal-Mart manager who called sheriff's deputies about a black businessman mistakenly suspected of trying to pass a bad check was fired for using "poor judgment," the store chain said Tuesday.

Wal-Mart said manager Mark Cornett violated company procedures when he called the law on Reginald Pitts, who had presented a $13,600 check to pay for holiday gift cards for his company's employees.

Pitts, 34, a human resources manager for GAF Materials Corp., said he suspects he was treated that way because he is black.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said Cornett tried to verify Pitts' check, but could not do so because a privacy block on GAF's account. However, she said Cornett should have returned the check to Pitts instead of calling sheriff's deputies.

Cornett was fired because of "poor judgment and poor customer service," she said.

Clark denied there was any racial profiling.

Wal-Mart apologized to Pitts for the Nov. 23 incident in suburban Brandon. But GAF decided to buy its employees gift cards from Target instead.

[LionOfJudah]

"AND THAT JUST PROVES MY POINT!!!"

WALMART is not the great place you think it is...be aware people....BE AWARE!!!

CT4 you knew I was going to say this right? LOL!!!

LoJ

Originally posted by NinjaPoodle
Racial profiling feared at Wal-Mart
Store managers delay a black customer for two hours. It took police 19 minutes to figure out he did nothing wrong.
By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer
Published December 2, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - GAF Materials Corp. is handing out gift cards from Target as a reward to select employees this holiday season. That's because Wal-Mart, the discount store that held the business for years, last week called sheriff's deputies to apprehend a GAF manager on a bogus bad check rap while he was trying to buy this year's gift card supply.

"I keep going over and over the incident in my mind," said Reginald Pitts, the 34-year-old human resources manager for the roof material manufacturer's Tampa distribution center. "I cannot come up with any possible reason why I was treated like this except that I am black."

Wal-Mart has launched its own internal investigation of the incident, which store officials concede upfront "was handled very poorly."

"We've apologized to Mr. Pitts and are trying to find out exactly what happened so it does not happen again," said Sharon Weber, spokeswoman for the chain, based in Bentonville, Ark. "We do not tolerate racial discrimination or racial profiling at Wal-Mart."

GAF has been spending about $50,000 a year on gift cards at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 11110 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon. For years GAF sent a white, female administrator to buy them without incident. This time, when she was on vacation the day before Thanksgiving, Pitts did the job himself. He phoned in the order for 520 cards, got the accounting department to issue Wal-Mart a $13,600 check and then encountered a royal hassle trying to exchange it for gift cards at the store.

"For a while there I thought I was going to prison," he said. "It was a totally humiliating experience."

For about two hours, store managers stalled on accepting the check for the already-printed gift cards, while Pitts stood waiting by the customer service desk. He had handed over his GAF business card, his driver's license and the toll-free numbers to GAF's bank. His accounting supervisor assured them over the phone that GAF, the nation's biggest roofing systems maker with revenues of $1.6-billion in 2004, was good for the check.

Two African-American Wal-Mart clerks watching all this from nearby told Pitts that several similarly sized transactions were made for other companies that day without delay, Pitts said. They suggested to Pitts that he was subjected to all the extra scrutiny by their bosses because he is black.

The thought made him physically ill.

Dressed in khaki pants and a blue button-down-collar dress shirt, Pitts finally got upset over the lengthy wait. He asked for the check back so he could go to another store. But store managers, who had kept huddled in a nearby office during most of his two-hour ordeal, refused to return it. The only explanation he got was that the store was having trouble "verifying" the check or who Pitts was.

Later, two Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies appeared. One grabbed Pitts by the arm. He objected to the rough handling and asked if he was being arrested.

"We need to talk with you about this forged check that you brought in here," Pitts recalled deputy Bryan Wells saying. Later Wells explained the reason for the firm arm grab: "Well, Wal-Mart called us and reported to us that you committed a felony, and that's the way we approach felons," Pitts recalled.

Read the rest here...
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/02/Ta...ing_fear.shtml

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by LionOfJudah
"AND THAT JUST PROVES MY POINT!!!"

WALMART is not the great place you think it is...be aware people....BE AWARE!!!

CT4 you knew I was going to say this right? LOL!!!

LoJ

Yup.
I just came from Bi-Lo. I have not been to Wal Mart since this happened.

[LionOfJudah]

Good...I am so happy...

"one more unsatisfied customer..."

LoJ

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Yup.
I just came from Bi-Lo. I have not been to Wal Mart since this happened.

[aopirose]

Originally posted by MeezDiscreet
this reminds me of a situation my cousin had at wal-mart. she just had a baby and she wanted to exchange a bottle of milk she bought for another kind. now, she's a professional woman but she was having an off-day. the manager took one look at her and said "we don't do returns on WIC items."

after my cousin told her that she was not on WIC, she said "well how do i know that you didn't bring this over from New Orleans?"

While what happened to Reginald ticks me off, this situation really pisses me off. I am SICK TO DEATH of some people treating us like nonentities, criminals, and hooligans. WTF if she did bring it from New Orleans? If the sh!! is within date code it's still OK especially if it is retorted. A freaking store manager should KNOW THIS but then again that manager seems to be an asswipe.

[southernelle25]

Sickening.

[dstdoll97]

I do not shop at Wal-Mart anymore. Because I've noticed that when you leave Wal-Mart, if you are Black you have to show your receipt as you exit, to the greeter. Meanwhile a white person can have items that aren't even bagged but they don't get stopped.

One day I walked right pass the greeter as he was asking for my receipt and I proceeded to walk to my car. Some security guy came out to my car and asked for my receipt and I asked him if he was accusing me of anything? He said No. I then proceeded to tell him I wasn't showing him anything, if he wanted to see the receipt "go rewind your camera at register 8 and watch the sales rep ring me up, me hand her my credit card and her hand me a receipt and bag".
The security guy then replys," well that's okay this time but I'm just doing my job." I said,"what ever" and got in my car and left.

I am a very equal opportunity person and I have friends, co-workers, and family members of various races, but as a Black woman who has been to several Wal-Marts I do believe they use racial profiling. TARGET IS MY FAV NOW.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by dstdoll97
I do not shop at Wal-Mart anymore. Because I've noticed that when you leave Wal-Mart, if you are Black you have to show your receipt as you exit, to the greeter. Meanwhile a white person can have items that aren't even bagged but they don't get stopped.

One day I walked right pass the greeter as he was asking for my receipt and I proceeded to walk to my car. Some security guy came out to my car and asked for my receipt and I asked him if he was accusing me of anything? He said No. I then proceeded to tell him I wasn't showing him anything, if he wanted to see the receipt "go rewind your camera at register 8 and watch the sales rep ring me up, me hand her my credit card and her hand me a receipt and bag".
The security guy then replys," well that's okay this time but I'm just doing my job." I said,"what ever" and got in my car and left.

I am a very equal opportunity person and I have friends, co-workers, and family members of various races, but as a Black woman who has been to several Wal-Marts I do believe they use racial profiling. TARGET IS MY FAV NOW.

WHAT!!! Now I know you have to show a receiot if you have a large item (ex. large TV, washer/dryer) that, but I have NEVA heard of showing your receipt as you leave with bags!

BOOO on Walmart!

[Tickled Pink 2]

Originally posted by dstdoll97
I do not shop at Wal-Mart anymore. Because I've noticed that when you leave Wal-Mart, if you are Black you have to show your receipt as you exit, to the greeter. Meanwhile a white person can have items that aren't even bagged but they don't get stopped.

...

I think that depends on the ignorance of the person at the door. I never have to show my receipt (unless it's a large item - i.e. computer ). We have, however, noticed some bias on which children get offered the smiley stickers. But again - I don't make a to do about it because usually Mr. or Mrs. Ignoramus is Jenna or JimBob Trailerpark trash (and you think you can look down on me? Puhllleeeeease. Keep yo stank stickers - and I hope your $5.95/hr is well worth your actin' hateful to a kid) ...

[L.O.C.K.]

Let's start a revolution. Down with Wal-Mart!!!!

This type of stuff makes me want to scream.

[LionOfJudah]

Originally posted by L.O.C.K.
Let's start a revolution. Down with Wal-Mart!!!!

This type of stuff makes me want to scream.

I am down....I have had these sentiments for a long time now...

LoJ

[mulattogyrl]

Originally posted by L.O.C.K.
Let's start a revolution. Down with Wal-Mart!!!!

This type of stuff makes me want to scream.

I'll be down.

[Lady of Pearl]

Haven't really shopped WalMart in years, plus they have several lawsuits against them from their former African American employees, they even accused them of stealing and kept them on lockdown for several hours in the store! Also, have heard via emails how Black Women are a target -no pun intended- for gang initiations at certain stores in predominately white shopping centers, my girlfriend said last week that they were watching her rather closely! do not shop there alone! Have been a Target shopper for a few years!

[starang21]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
WHAT!!! Now I know you have to show a receiot if you have a large item (ex. large TV, washer/dryer) that, but I have NEVA heard of showing your receipt as you leave with bags!

BOOO on Walmart!

i have to do that at the walmart by my house..