Countdown St James

One of the female staff, who wasn’t very tall and appeared to have no neck with a very large head, had an extremely poor attitude. When I politely made my request, she rudely responded with “no way,” which scared both me and my child. She looked like a supervisor, but her professionalism leaves much to be desired.

I came to Hamilton from Auckland today to get my car serviced. Typically I think this is going to take hours to do. I decided to kill time and go for a walk to tick some things off my list.nnI have separate lists:nn-a monthly checkn-to do this month.nI get paid monthly so have to plan a month ahead.nnI visit your countdown the first time. I went through and checked some things off my list. I use 2 separate transactions so I could draw out the needed cash for the service cash jobnI have eyes on me which is fine as that is part of the role.nnI go outside to tick the things off of my list and find that I haven’t checked the other one and I should go back in to get it all done.nnI go to the entrance and I tie the bag that I’m walking in with in view of the camera. I keep that bag away from me in the store and in the health and beauty area. There were a few things to pick up on that list.nnWhen I go to the checkout the same guy Ravinder is there ok cool that’s fine. I open my bag to put the forgotten things in. He wants to check my bag, also fine.nnThe issue is that he checks it twice and touches the stuff in my bag. This is the part where I feel profiled. Despite him having eyes on me the whole time for all transactions, he wants to check… twice…. Is he looking to have me banned from the store? Why is he doing that despite me having it open for him to look in? I didn’t give him attitude or talk to him directly/rudely but I was just frustrated and annoyed with that behaviour.nnI called the store to make a complaint and he happens to be the supervisor there. I told Ravinder how the situation makes me feel and he literally just kept repeating and talking over me “it’s my job” and he doesn’t give a shit really and was really quite smug.nnI need you to understand that if this man was to ping me for something and load me onto Auror, I WILL lose my job! He doesn’t understand how impactful racial profiling is especially for people of colour.nnThis is the reason for this long winded review. He would literally ruin my life!nnIt’s also my job. I work closely with Auror and CCTV and Loss prevention/profit protection/admin/recruitment/audit/ health and safety etc That is the part he doesn’t know.nThe server for cctv footage will rewrite in a month depending on the size of the server so video evidence of this event will have a limited time on it to review. The receipt is posted for the first transactions and the incident of interest would have occurred in a 10-15 minute timeframe after that. This is to make it easy for you to review what is needed to review if necessary and also proof that I was shopping intentionally.nnIt would be interesting to see if he is actually checking everyone.nnTo Ravinder, I must have just looked like another typical thieving hori despite me having/wearing on $1000+ worth of stuff on me. Headphones/shoes/belt/week old balayage/earrings/perfume/lipgloss etcnnI don’t act erratic, I have a natural fast paced walk. I wasn’t on or don’t do drugs. I wasn’t wearing winter clothes in 20+ degree weather. He watched me draw out all that cash. I wasn’t disrespectful and tried to keep my actions to the store as open as possible. My hair is tidy, I actually had a blowout. I don’t/shouldn’t stink, I was wearing Byredo.nnTaking all the above into consideration: What was it about me that he needed to check twice? I know I don’t look like typical folk from Rototuna, but I don’t think I was exhibiting behaviours to have this man check me twice and I feel like I was racially profiled.nnI really hate how this interaction made me feel. It made me feel like a second class dog.nnStore Manager: I know his job is not to touch my stuff. Please review coaching and training for your Lead Team. Side note: My local stores are Mt Eden and Ponsonby and this type of behaviour for this “job role” did/does not occur there.nnThat being said the next time I’m down there maybe I’ll just go to New World 50m down the road where I have never been treated that way and feel safe to shop there as a person of colour

Cleanest freshest Countdown in Hamilton in my opinion. Look out for 3 x $20 specials on meat and chicken. Large stuffed cooked chickens available, selection of ready made meals, large in-house bakery, great parking, EV available while you shop and pick up come easy to use. In store pharmacy. Always busy so great turnover of stock. Recommended for ease of use and parking.

Wonderful food retailers. Very good value for your money product.

Just wanted a few things - Easy to find everything the cashier was friendly and helpful - I had picked up a Large size foil pan because I couldn't find the small size - My cashier suggested I ask at the service desk as they would help.nThere were about 5 ladies talking together - probably a work issue - One of them told me to try aisle 6 - which I did and found what I needed. I returned to finish off at the till but had to take my stuff across to the service desk as someone else was being served.nThe original friendly checkout lady waved as I was leaving - I did not get thecsame friendly vibe from those at the service desk