My complaint:
To whom it may concern,
I was highly dissatisfied and downright disappointed with the treatment I endured today at the Mesa Dr and Broadway location (330 E Broadway Rd, Mesa AZ 85210). Not only have I attended this Circle K weekly and even sometimes daily for the past 2 years, but I also worked here at one point as well. I am more aware than the average customer on the policies Circle K holds, therefore I do not accept lies and excuses from employees on why they are not following protocols and policies set in place.
I showed up around 12:30am on Thursday, December 29th for a few snacks as I am 26 weeks pregnant and restless hungry at night time. Upon arrival, I went to open the door to find it was locked. I was a bit confused, as I looked ahead the female worker, Jasmin, was present leaned against the 2 liter sodas, staring down at her phone. As company policy states, if you are to lock the store (under the premise that it will be unattended due to a bathroom break or something of that nature), you are to leave a sign or explanation on the door. Since there was no sign and no reasoning, I decided to knock on the door. As Jasmin heard me knock she looked ahead, glared at me, and looked back at her cellphone. I then decided, to take a photo of this, as I was already considering coming in when a manager was present and telling them of the situation. She spent another few seconds on her phone before grabbing a mop and beginning to mop the entire store.
I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, so I waited several minutes (almost 10 minutes to be exact), before deciding to knock again. This time once I knocked, she came over and explained she has the door locked because she is mopping. I explained to her that I am very aware of company policy, as I have worked here, and mopping is not one of the reasons listed you can lock up the store. I also kindly but firmly explained I had photos of her not following company protocol and I would be coming back to circle K to discuss the matter at hand with her manager, Maria. She then grew very hostile and defensive, continuing to state her manager, Maria, is allowing her to do this. I reiterated that is fine, but I will be writing a complaint and speaking with her manager. She began to get anxious, due to the fact that I may now write a complaint on her, so she apologized and said I could come in the door if I really want. I told her to go ahead and finish her mop job because I am writing a complaint regardless and have already waited outside in the cold for 10 minutes.
She resumed mopping, at a very reduced pace, and spent another 10 minutes mopping a small section of the store and being on the phone. She then, reproached the door and rudely explained to me that she would not be allowing me in the store due to the fact I made her feel threatened. I asked her to please explain what I did to make her feel threatened to which she continually replied “just how you’re acting”. Never did I threaten her, become hostile with her, etc and all I did was exercise my rights to gather names of employees and write a complaint. I began to record and she started to threaten to call police on me because I was exercising my first amendment rights of freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly. I asked her, on recording, to please explain why I was not being allowed in the store and she continued to repeat that I was hostile and she felt unsafe around me, a 26 week pregnant woman who just wants a few snacks and expressed I will be writing a complaint.
Eventually, after a few moments, she then let me in the store. I made my purchases peacefully and did not bother her. I even used the self checkout to avoid confrontation. Upon exiting the store, I politely asked her to if her manager’s name was Maria. To which she began threatening again to call police. I continued walking once I seen she refused to cooperate with basic human rights as she berated and screamed at me that I am never allowed back in the store and if she sees my face she will call the police.
The entire past 2 years I have attended this circle k, I have seen many new faces, but never have I dealt with such unfair treatment. I felt she was profiling me and prejudice towards my race, because I cannot come up with any reason why she treated me less than human when all I wanted was a drink and candy. I truly hope Circle K will take serious action against such treatment and guarantee discriminatory inhumane behavior such as this does not happen again in the future. I will be more than happy to oblige with providing photo and video evidence of the entire situation so that management and employees can be dealt with accordingly. Thank you for taking the time to read through this email and I hope to hear back from Circle K soon with a plan of action.
Sincerely,
A very loyal but let down customer
Aleena Munoz
Suggested solution:
I believe the only correct form of action to take would be to fire the employee as refusing someone service when they exercise basic human rights should not be tolerated. Threatening customers as well should have 0 toleration policy, especially when coupled with not following proper store protocols.
