Complaint Review: BJ's Wholesale Club - Tampa Florida

Yes, I realize I'm responding to a year-old report, but I saw this and had to chime in. I'm in Loss Prevention for a BJ's club. I often work at the front door. Our particular club doesn't check cards coming in at this time. Policy is to either check all cards or none, just as our policy for people coming out the door isn't selective when it comes to checking merchandise and bags. If a team member isn't doing what they're supposed to on a consistent basis, it's the LP manager's job to make sure they are. LP team members are watched like a hawk -- if you want to be paranoid, try being front door LP for a day and having your every moved monitored by several cameras (at least three at my store are pointed directly at me). If front door LP isn't adhering to corporate policy, God help them if regional shows up -- LP is probably scrutinized by corporate more than any position. There are too many checks and balances going on for profiling to happen with LP. Are there team members with racist leanings? It's a statistic certainty. Do they work LP? I'm sure there are some, but there is absolutely no wiggle room for it to show in their job performance, because LP has absolutely no discretion in any part of their job. What I'm trying to say is this -- because of the way the position works, the only way a front door team member would fail to check cards at a club where this is practiced is due to negligence, plain and simple. They have no authority whatsoever over whether to check a card or not, and if it continues, I can guarantee that person would either correct the situation or be out of a job. It's a little confusing whether you're upset because you were checked when others were not, or because your club checks cards when other clubs elect not to. If it's the latter -- well, would you feel more comfortable keeping your front door unlocked in a quiet rural area, and insist on a deadbolt living in the city? Yes, they choose to make it more convenient and less of a hassle in areas where they feel they can afford to do so. If you're in a complaint-writing mood, I could probably suggest a dozen other retail chains in America with similar security practices.

Renee, I am sorry you feel that you are being discriminated against at that BJ's location. I frequent their stores in the Orlando area and have nothing but positive experiences with the company. To say that the Tampa location asking for members to produce their membership IDs at the front door is racist, is an absurd comment to make. If it was stated through BJ's that their policy at that location is to check ID's at the door since their opening it is a basic retail control to reduce shrink (losses) from their store. By reducing shrink at their stores they can provide you, the consumer, with lower prices. In my experience, (not stating all retailers), when a retail store is planned to be opened in an area they do extensive research on that area. Based on everything from traffic flow, crimes in the area, etc. In that particular area BJ's from their research came to the conclusion that this store would be a high-risk store meaning more prone to theft. This is in NO way associated with the race demographics in the area, it is based on crime statistics from the surrounding area. The statement that they are close to a bus line is a factor in crime statistics, if you look at crime in areas nationwide sadly crime around public transportation is higher. This would be the reason for membership ID's to be checked at the door since the store's opening. You stated that sometimes ID's were checked and sometimes they were not. I am almost 100% positive they are supposed to be checked all the time, but sometimes people's opinions are formed on companies by the acts or neglects of one or two employees. This is only an opinionated comment. I do hope that this will bring some resolve to your issue and hopefully comfort your ill feelings towards BJ's Wholesale.

Renee, I am sorry you feel that you are being discriminated against at that BJ's location. I frequent their stores in the Orlando area and have nothing but positive experiences with the company. To say that the Tampa location asking for members to produce their membership IDs at the front door is racist, is an absurd comment to make. If it was stated through BJ's that their policy at that location is to check ID's at the door since their opening it is a basic retail control to reduce shrink (losses) from their store. By reducing shrink at their stores they can provide you, the consumer, with lower prices. In my experience, (not stating all retailers), when a retail store is planned to be opened in an area they do extensive research on that area. Based on everything from traffic flow, crimes in the area, etc. In that particular area BJ's from their research came to the conclusion that this store would be a high-risk store meaning more prone to theft. This is in NO way associated with the race demographics in the area, it is based on crime statistics from the surrounding area. The statement that they are close to a bus line is a factor in crime statistics, if you look at crime in areas nationwide sadly crime around public transportation is higher. This would be the reason for membership ID's to be checked at the door since the store's opening. You stated that sometimes ID's were checked and sometimes they were not. I am almost 100% positive they are supposed to be checked all the time, but sometimes people's opinions are formed on companies by the acts or neglects of one or two employees. This is only an opinionated comment. I do hope that this will bring some resolve to your issue and hopefully comfort your ill feelings towards BJ's Wholesale.

Racism is defined as, " race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression." The reason I say their behavior is racist is because I have stood at the door on several occassions after being totally offended and getting carded when a white lady did not. It was then I noticed how many minorities were carded and non-minorities were not. They are being prejudice in their practices and discriminatory. Sam's cards everyone, everywhere and I have no problem with that. I have suggested that to BJ's but they do not agree, so they are allowing this location to continue it's practices. Racism is a word that drudges up negativity, and people do not like to hear it, but I have a right to be treated equally and fairly. My attorney's think so, and all I ask of them is to card everyone to make it equal and fair for all.

Racism is defined as, " race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression." The reason I say their behavior is racist is because I have stood at the door on several occassions after being totally offended and getting carded when a white lady did not. It was then I noticed how many minorities were carded and non-minorities were not. They are being prejudice in their practices and discriminatory. Sam's cards everyone, everywhere and I have no problem with that. I have suggested that to BJ's but they do not agree, so they are allowing this location to continue it's practices. Racism is a word that drudges up negativity, and people do not like to hear it, but I have a right to be treated equally and fairly. My attorney's think so, and all I ask of them is to card everyone to make it equal and fair for all.

Racism is defined as, " race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression." The reason I say their behavior is racist is because I have stood at the door on several occassions after being totally offended and getting carded when a white lady did not. It was then I noticed how many minorities were carded and non-minorities were not. They are being prejudice in their practices and discriminatory. Sam's cards everyone, everywhere and I have no problem with that. I have suggested that to BJ's but they do not agree, so they are allowing this location to continue it's practices. Racism is a word that drudges up negativity, and people do not like to hear it, but I have a right to be treated equally and fairly. My attorney's think so, and all I ask of them is to card everyone to make it equal and fair for all.

Racism is defined as, " race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression." The reason I say their behavior is racist is because I have stood at the door on several occassions after being totally offended and getting carded when a white lady did not. It was then I noticed how many minorities were carded and non-minorities were not. They are being prejudice in their practices and discriminatory. Sam's cards everyone, everywhere and I have no problem with that. I have suggested that to BJ's but they do not agree, so they are allowing this location to continue it's practices. Racism is a word that drudges up negativity, and people do not like to hear it, but I have a right to be treated equally and fairly. My attorney's think so, and all I ask of them is to card everyone to make it equal and fair for all.

"I'm not pulling the so called, 'Race Card' but true grown ups no that racism exists and to denie it is, 'Ignorance'!" You ARE pulling the race card. You titled your report "BJ's Wholesale Club Racist treatment by Loss Prevention" By this very title said you basically said that they are doing this because of a person's race. I am not speaking for Janice, but no where in her response did she say that racism did not exist. There are people who are racist(in all races). She just said that what you reported was not racist. The fact is that this location has a higher theft rate than other locations, so to combat this they implement certain policies. Which would be less "racist" in your eyes. For them to not even open the store in the first place, have to close because they are loosing money, or to implement these policies to be able to keep a business open. If other stores do not need to do this, they can use that extra labor in other areas such as registers or stocking. "The Waters location asked to see a membership card when entering the store, which is a practice they do at times and at times they do not." So this does not happen every time and only started recently. If it was racism wouldn't they do this every time and only to a particular race? Have you actually watched the people at the door for any length of time to see who they are asking. "However, I have a problem with BJ's choosing to card members in certain neighborhoods, because they lack the ability to control a theft problem" They are trying to control the theft problem, by restricting the club to members only. Just because you don't like how they are trying to control it does not make it a RipOff.

I'm being very grown up about this and have done my research. Every store experiences losses, yes some more than others. I'm not pulling the so called, "Race Card", but true grown ups no that racism exists and to denie it is, "Ignorance"! Read for yourself: Ms. Bell, We have verified membership at the front door since our opening last February. I have discussed this many times with our corporate office and I have been Instructed to continue the policy. We do have different policies at different clubs. We verify membership cards for the safety of our members only. It really has nothing to do with theft from us but with our members. That is why we have locked dressing rooms, other clubs do not. We have our shopping carts inside, other clubs do not. We have full time lot attendants, other clubs do not. We usually have 2 staff at the front door, other clubs do not. If you wish to not show your membership card then so be it, but we will not be changing our policy, I am sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused you. Sincerely John Hulsey/General Manager Before BJ's lost one item, security did all of this! Please also explain to me why some members are carded and some are not at this very location? It is what it is......RACISM........AND TRUE GROWN UP'S KNOW IT! It's real obvious Janice, that either your in denial or you do not possess a "Race Card" to pull, please exam your IGNORANCE and understand that RACISM exists, because knowing is half the battle!

That is in no way racist. It's not BJ's fault if they have more thefts in one area, and they choose to react to it by tightening security. You are being ridiculous, and overly sensitive. I'm tired of people pulling the race card. Nobody ripped you off, nobody damaged you, you got offended and refuse to accept any explaination other than a racially motivated one. Grow up!