Complaint Review: Robinsons- May Company

I used to work at Robinson May at Long Beach and I know we gotta ask everyone for 2 forms of ID and a credit card. It is not racism! Because of people like you there are stereotypes. As a black woman I know sales people are happy when I am not mean and yelling at them. I remember when I worked retail it got me hating lots of black ladies and I am black okay. It isn't racism. Most people don't give a care to what color you are they are just doing there job. People like you make me sick. Don't be going off on people they don't have a problem with you its you who has a problem with yourself. Just like this sales person didn't know you you don't know her... for all you know she could've been the leader of a club at her school for racial equality or something. So get a life and stop making other peoples lives miserable.

Im surprised that you are surprised!! White folks wont change, why bother!! White folks have been racially bias toward people of color, and especially blacks, all our lives. This is no new news. I read the opinion of one of the readers, Lori of Irvine who proclaimed Racial discrimination??? Hard to believe in the day and age! Well, without a mere second guess, I know this woman is white. No white person--for the most part, can even phantom racism, let alone know what it feels like.

Stores across the country have been doing this hellish act for the longest. Lori seems to think that its store policy, which is ok when that policy is the same across the boardfor everybody, but the writer points out that this policy is exercised more to blacks. In other words, whites are NOT asked to show two or more IDs for check written purchases or any other way of purchase.

I do understand the writer. However, the Robinson-May is ONE of many stores that operates likewise, whether we KNOW that the store is practicing its act (racial profiling) or NOT, the store is indeed practicing. I admit, some stores hide it better than others, but most stores are guilty of this hellishness (racial profiling).

How I handle it is simple. I am always prepared whether they ask me for the ID or not; and as far as getting rid of the act, well, let me know when you figure it out! I have come to believe that white folks are who or WHATEVER they are and our forefathers couldnt stop the stupidity and God speed to whomever thinks he/she can! They wont change!

May Company stores (e.g. Robinsons-May, Kaufmann's, Hecht's, Foley's, etc.) are supposed to ask for a second form of identification for ALL checks.

This is required by their check "risk management" guarantor. If the customer's ID#, DOB, 2nd ID form (Visa, MC, etc) and 1st#, as well as the employee ID are not written on the check, then the check guarantor is not required to reimburse the store should the check "bounce."

As far as the sales rep's comment about "...telling me she made more money than myself...", said sales rep was WAY out of line and, IMHO, should be terminated. Such a comment is indicative of judgement based on appearance.

I don't know why some sales staff don't always ask for second ID when customers present checks. Maybe some employees are un?/consciously? judging customers based on appearance.

At any rate, that's the REAL reason sales people ask for a second form of ID when you right a check.

I sincerely hope that what this consumer experienced was not racial discrimination. Hard to believe in this day and age. Maybe I'm naive.

Another rarity in this day and age are check writers! I can understand the need for 2 forms of ID on every check. I am not a business owner, nor am I as educated as the victom in this complaint, but I live in the same area and drive the same cars. I keep company with people just like me. The majority of the people I know (as would I) use a major credit card or a major department store credit card.
Perhaps the implication, is not racial, but a credit risk.

Perhaps they are trained to assume that you cannot qualify for a credit card nor, do you have enough cash for the purchase. I beleive businesses have the right to protect themselves at the risk of possibly insulting someone, regardless of their color.

I work at the Irvine store. We are instructed to ask for a second form of ID, major credit card (just the expiration date and whether it is Visa, Master Card...), for every check transaction. You can refuse to give a second form of ID...the associate should just write "no 2nd" on your check. Most of the associates don't even ask for the second ID. You can get written up for not having a customer's 2nd ID written on the check if it bounces. I don't ask for the second ID...but I make sure I write "no 2nd" on every check. Check transactions are a "pain" there is good amount of info we have to put into the register(DL, DOB, phone #), I just try to make it go as fast as possible for the customer.

Apparently, you two men are no doubt working in customer service. You two may have some past issues of being told off by customers, too. Because, you two and any other person who has or will focus on this person telling the sales clerk off has miss the point.

This person expressed her opinion to the clerk because she should have. By her indicating she told the clerk offdoesnt mean she was yelling or getting loud. She may have told her off in a way no one else heard them. Because, Im sure being a black woman if she had gotten loud in that store, management and security would have been all over her. But she didnt indicate that management or no one else was around. She took an extra step by later having her white sister-in-law and husband return to the store to prove her point, the sales clerk had racial intend. By not asking her sister-in law and husband for extra ID. But, you people that have reply to this rip-off havent comment on the real point.

Im sure you all have told a clerk or two off at some point. I too have shop many places and have not been asked for a second ID. Yes, Im not of black blood!! As far as her posting on this site may be one of her ways of trying to end this un-equal racism ways in this country, today. One doesnt know if this person has taken other action against the store.

For the person who called the woman a Jerk may have some deep issues himself working in customer service at a restaurant. Restaurant policies concerning giving away free food isn't the same as clothing stores policies. They dont give away free outfits because you dont like your purchase or you spoke nice to them. Asking for a credit card as a second ID isnt a sure way that the check the person is writing is any good. If the check is no good the chance of the credit card isnt likely to be worth much. Beside, the store cant charge credit card if the check doesnt clear. The use of second IDs today is rarely practices.

The bottom line the clerk was wrong! As far as Eric stated the customer just wanted to tell the clerk off is his bad judgment. No one goes into a place of business just to tell someone off. They have reason once something occurs. Tim doesnt know if the woman was loud. He's maybe accustom to getting loud when he tell people off, since he knows much about getting loud and being a Jerk.
Well I know Eric may have some racial issues by his comment of the woman living in Irvine with the Honkified statement. Why cant she live in Irvine? Im sure its a better standard of living vs. LA. He wrote the book on hypocrite, hes also a black racist himself. Tim may have issues with the woman making more money than him. There is no doubt in my view point Tim lack some understand about Discrimination by acting like a jerk this statement applies to anyone.

Therefore, Im not convince the women was yelling or acting like a Jerk, because Im sure management and security would have shown her the door. And she did not say that occurred. Because she would have been even madder as hellIm sure. Yes Eric, we all are discriminated against for what ever reasons. But its clear this lady had reasons to be up-set. You all miss the main point!!
If the person who wrote this complain is out there I would like to know if she took other means to make sure this doesnt happen to other customers.

Here's a little advice for when you feel a company has done you wrong: be the better person and act like a human being! I worked as a waiter and restaurant manager for several years. When a customer had a complaint, and if they were courteous about it, they could probably expect a free meal.

If they were rude about it, however, my desire to make them happy would go way down, and they'd be lucky to get a free drink. In sociology they speak of "social capital" which is the ability to make things go your way by conducting yourself in an appropraite manner so as to elicit respect and recognition. Does arguing with a store clerk about who makes more maony really seem like a good way to turn people to your point of view? Furthermore, if you felt that you needed to "tell her off" just because she was being proffessional and explaining the company policy to an irate customer, then I can see why she would assume you weren't exactly the cream of the crop, because socially adept people don't act that way.

I would imagine that it is in fact the policy of the company to check two forms of ID for customer's writing checks. The thing is, though, you have some pretty convincing anecdotal evidence to suggest that this policy is rarely enforced except against you.

As such, I believe that you may in fact be a victim of discrimination. If this is the case, it is even more important that you carry yourself in a respectable manner. You need to show these people that you are not the person they judged you as. If you flip out, tell people off, and then try to show how great you are based on your material wealth you are not going to gain anyone's respect.

When you act like a jerk all you do is give the people who need to hear what you have to say the right not to listen to you. Remember: the squeaky wheel may get the oil, but the grinding, loud wheel gets thrown in the trash.

> The sales person in IS when so far to tell me
> that this information cover them in court if
> the check should have no funds. Therefore, I
> had to tell her off.

No you didn't. You chose to "tell her off" because you were already pissed off at her and needed an excuse to do so. Be honest.

How can this stupid clerk possibly know that you're the epitome of fiscal responsibility? She can't. Maybe that's why she needed the credit card.

I won't deny or lessen your claim that "racial profiling" is being practiced by that clerk. But I can't stand it when idiot customers take things so bloody personally and freak out at the clerks.

I hope you're not being discriminated against for race. There are so many other ways to discriminate against a person. Eye-color, what kind of car a person drives, whether or not they can mambo. Find out what corporate policy is. Are they SUPPOSED to ask for 2 forms of ID?

From a customer service standpoint, your best bet is to first write a letter to the manager. If that doesn't work, write to the district manager. And don't be a jerk when you call to request that information lest you disseminate small bits of your own personal hatred amongst the people you contact.

If the best you can do is to spew your vitriol on this website, without trying to resolve the matter, then change will never happen and you'll be guilty of perpetuating the misery.

And think about where YOU work. If you follow corporate policy to a T, then give yourself a pat on the back. But chances are, you don't. And if your failure to follow policy has every worked to someone's detriment, then you and the clerk have something in common; it just then becomes a matter of individual philosophy.

It's hard to avoid being a hypocrite.

Eric.

P.S., Who in their right mind would want to live in that honkified hell-hole Irvine anyway???

The paragraph where I wrote : Other stores in this area ask for additional ID. For low dollar amounts...was a miss print. It should read...Other stores within this area doesn't ask me for extra ID. Only Robinsons-May Company give me this problem as of this time.