I had an unusual experience yesterday, and I'm still trying to sort it out. Maybe some of you here can help me.
I bought some fabric, and was waiting to pay. I stood there for half an hour while the owner of the store was loudly talking on and on with the woman at the counter paying. The staff seemed to be giving me sympathetic looks as they passed me. I've bought fabric there before, pleasant enough experience, friendly staff.
After the first 15 minutes, my painful knee was beginning to kill me, and I couldn't help a few loud sighs, but still another 15 minutes. My guy said I should have put my stuff down and left, but that's a little questionable when they've cut your fabric.
I kept trying to convince myself I was being an impatient person from another culture, which worked for the first 15 minutes. By then, there were two others waiting to pay as well, both young indigenous women waiting to pay for school uniforms it seemed.
Later, at home, I wondered if my last time there had stirred up some discrimination on her part. I got ready to pay, and realized I'd sent the bulk of our cash with my partner down the street on another errand, and they didn't take credit cards. I told them I'd send him back in a few minutes to buy the fabric, that he was un hombre negro. They got big eyes, but didn't seem disapproving, more surprised. Then I wondered about the indigenous women too, if she just didn't feel any need to provide good service to any of us...
I also wonder if it had nothing to do with any of us, just a really bad day for her... she needed to talk with this woman she knew...
Anyone else had bad experiences there? Any thoughts about the discrimination issue? George actually feels less discrimination here than in the U.S., but I'm sure there are exceptions...
Regardless of why, actually, I'd love to hear if there are other fabric stores in David. I don't want to support her if she's discriminating, and I don't want to support poor customer service that's beyond cultural difference.
I suppose if I knew she had some mild mental health issues that popped up occasionally as unstoppable ranting, I'd probably take my chances and go back, given that I've had pleasant interactions there the 4 other times...
Fortunately, I went there between errands at Mailboxes and Reynes, where the service was friendly and helpful.
Replies
Banter is not uncommon in here---if you can call it Bantering!! lol
I am in there a bit as well and she has been nothing but nice to me, they all are nice and very helpful. The owner actually complimented me on my Spanish just a few days ago.....she said it was much better than the first time I came in. She also said that when she first came here, she read the newspapers which hlped her alot with her Spanish.
Interesting anecdotes regarding fabric shopping in David.
Kieth and Patrick, shall I ship down a nice, big snowbank so that you fellows can write your names in the snow?
Dav
As always, something REALLY important to add to a discussion.
One of the best fabric departments, along with a large variety of other items, is a department store in David called "Shopping Center" localed on the main drag in the Zona Libre across the street from Poderrosa. Very large selection of materials and textiles. OK Keith, can you guess who's family owns this Department Store?
Actually Keith, people always keep the culture they were born into even though they may adjust to their new culture. How do I know, my Mother and Father were from two different countries, two different cultures. They immigrated to the U.S. where I was born. I've seen both cultures up close. I've lived in Central America for 19 years, I've adapted to the Latin culture (not only adapted but actually integrated) but I haven't lost the culture or values that I was born into. I was once married to a Japanese girl, when she came to America she most certainly didn't lose her Japanese culture. Have you ever heard of the expression, goes something like this "you can take a person out of their country but you can never take their country out of a person". Have a good one.
You call those places Melting Pots, ha ha you should have been born and raised in BROOKLYN, now that's a real melting pot. Don't believe me, just ask Lee!!! Oh, by the way, the Canadian victory over the U.S. will NEVER match the U.S. victory (by collage kids over the Soviet Union professionals) in past Olympic hockey games.
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