My complaint:
A manager at this location has made store rules about using baskets to hold merchandise. He harasses, physically touches and grabs, seizes the personal property of and follows anyone shopping in the store not using a basket.
This is recurring. For the last 5 years. Many residents of our neighbourhood who are affluent go elsewhere, myself included.
He is middle Eastern and thin, with thinning black hair and he is about 5′ 6.
Anyone who is a pedestrian shopper, or may appear poor or disabled is a target especially.
Today Nov 15 at 8:40p I was shopping with my reusable bags. I entered and looked and there were no baskets.
After getting a few of my items I went down an aisle and excused myself and proceeded past a man blocking the end of the aisle.
It was the manager who then began following me, yelling at me about the store rules about the basket. I ignored him and continued shopping and he continued harassing me and following me down 3 separate aisles as I gathered my groceries.
I turned to him and asked for a basket and he went to find one. He brought one back and I calmly put my bag into it and then went to continue shopping. The basket only had one handle so 3 of my items hit the floor and were crumbled as they were cookies.
I then carried the bag in the basket and tried my best to stop my other items from falling as I had eggs.
After I got all my items I was at the til and he glared at me from the end of the til.
When it was time to purchase my items he came at me and ordered the cashier not to check me out.
I was prepared and started an audio recording. I asked him to explain why I couldn’t pay for my groceries as I had my card and visible. I stated there were no baskets at the entrance.
He proceeded to call me woman and yell at me for over a minute. Then he gave in as there were more witnesses around and it was close to closing and very busy.
The poor teenager working the til was petrified of him, it’s clear that if they check out someone he doesn’t like they will lose their jobs.
I stood my ground calmly and he gave in and said that this time I could buy my groceries but next time I had to use a basket.
I have severe arthritis and can’t carry a weight low in those baskets, I have to carry the bag high up on my shoulder. I also am unable to push the carts, and besides that I never use change so I don’t have a quarter for the cart.
Suggested solution:
Disciplinary action for this manager.
Removal of the store rules
Re-education on accessibility and what constitutes harrassment.
Post official contact information so that others who have been physically touched, yelled at, harassed and followed by this manager can get organized and the severity and impact on the community properly investigated.
