Have you ever experienced racism while shopping?

[Pakistanian]

It's known as "shopping while black" but it doesn't just happen to black people, even hispanics, brown people, asians, and middle easterners have also experienced it. A good sign is when a shop employee discreetly follows you around/keeping an eye and constantly asks "if you need help with anything?". It's pretty common down south but a lot of recent immigrants/fresh off the boat people because of their naivete don't realize they're being profiled. Since this forum has more woke people that were raised in the west, have you experienced racism/racial profiling while shopping? I can imagine it must be worse at luxury stores where the employees usually expect customers to be rich white people.

 

[troodon]

Never.

Business owners are always respectful. But have seen some of the employees serve me half heartedly. Most probably they don’t like their jobs.

 

[blackanhyellow]

My uncle owns a gift store in the States.

When I was visiting he asked me to keep an eye out on some of the customers.

However had nothing to do with race, more age group (teenagers and young people were a greater risk), also depending on how customers were dressed. If they looked homeless, I kept an extra close eye on them. Also if people came in large groups, as sometimes a few people would act as decoys while others pocketed stuff.

 

[Rayyman]

Don't go shopping so I wouldn't know.

 

[Pakistanian]

Don't go shopping so I wouldn't know.

Not even at drug stores?

 

[kingusama92]

Never.

Whether it's in Canada or America, I've had pleasant experiences up to now.

 

[PakLFC]

Once I went shopping where a lady followed me around for a while. I noticed the man serving behind the counter was a Sikh and she his only employee so she could be following instructions. As a form of silent protest I left empty handed choosing to shop next door leaving them looking on through their window. Only a few weeks later the shop was permanently closed. Serves them right.

 

[King-Misbah]

I have worked in retail and this does happen. However, it is not necessarily always based on skin colour but other factors such as the way your dressed, groups of teenagers and whether your acting suspiciously.

 

[Rayyman]

Not even at drug stores?

Yea but not only there, also at restaurants. Mainly from Indians and not white people tbh.

 

[Pakistanian]

Never.

Whether it's in Canada or America, I've had pleasant experiences up to now.

it's very subtle and covert. Excessive offers of help are a sign. I wasn't aware of this until I took a sociology class and starting observing things closely. Like my parents generation would insist that the store employees are just offering help but woke generation sees ulterior motives.

 

[Pakistanian]

I have worked in retail and this does happen. However, it is not necessarily always based on skin colour but other factors such as the way your dressed, groups of teenagers and whether your acting suspiciously.

well skin color is a major factor, read up about african american celebrities being treated badly at high end stores cause the store attendants thought they "can't afford to shop here".

 

[King-Misbah]

it's very subtle and covert. Excessive offers of help are a sign. I wasn't aware of this until I took a sociology class and starting observing things closely. Like my parents generation would insist that the store employees are just offering help but woke generation sees ulterior motives.

We were taught in our training to offer great customer care (closer customer contact) to those customers who seemed dodgy. That is one way to gain control, have the upper hand as it signifies that you (customer) are being watched.

 

[Pakistanian]

We were taught in our training to offer great customer care (closer customer contact) to those customers who seemed dodgy. That is one way to gain control, have the upper hand as it signifies that you (customer) are being watched.

here in the south but in America in general they target minorities, especially African-Americans. It's called shopping while black. I've worked in retail and food service in wealthy predominantly white areas and I've seen first hand how people are treated based on their ethnicity.

 

[Pakistanian]

Never.

Business owners are always respectful. But have seen some of the employees serve me half heartedly. Most probably they don’t like their jobs.

I've seen how Indians/desis get treated, including the wealthy ones.

 

[Napa]

Never.

Business owners are always respectful. But have seen some of the employees serve me half heartedly. Most probably they don’t like their jobs.

Exactly my experience. I have experienced bad service sometimes, but can't say if the staff were just having a bad day or disliked my race.

There have been multiple situations when my white friends have received poor service, but then after my intervention it improves. Speaking with confidence and firmly gives good results.

 

[PakLFC]

It could be a community thing as well. Certain brown people also don't like or trust each other due to ancient hostilities.

 

[Pakistanian]

Nowadays because of social media, if you pull it out your phones and let the shop employee know that you think he/she is racist then they backoff.

 

[Swashbuckler]

It happens a lot even in India. In my town shoplifting is so common even in retail outlets that there will be attendants following my every move as I shop around. Can't blame the managers/workers because if something gets stolen or damaged they are answerable to higher ups. I have noticed that the staff feels guilty following the customers everywhere, they have even apologized to me for doing that. I have seen some customers scold and insult the helper boys/girls for following them around, felt sorry for them because they were simply following orders. I don't know about US and I have never been to luxury shops but I feel racism may not be the only factor at play here. Some demographic groups are more prone to being shoplifters and owners can not take risks.