A different view on the Oprah row Can't believe the only thing people see is racism.

[margomeoz]

http://www.adakabre.com/2013/08/09/racism-hits-opera-winfrey-in-switzerland/

As a retailer who likes happy customers I would have immediately sacked that sales girl, what right did she have to decide

a potential customer could not afford an item for sale in the shop.

Reminds me of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

If this is the norm they sure train sales staff in a very odd manner these days, I would have put her off at once.

[twinkles**stars]

Have you not heard of the 3 written warnings rule Margo? Or does that not apply now?

We always had to give written warnings if there was ever a problem....luckily no one was ever sacked. My daughter was once told she wasn't to return again....she got quite a nice pay out after a hearing:)

[izabsmiling]

So would I Margo.

I think that they may have problems getting people to report loitering people who might 'appear' to be asylum seekers just  incase the suspected 'asylum seeker' turns out to be  someone famous .Can't have that 

[margomeoz]

Yes twinkles I have heard of it, doesn't mean I agree with it though as a matter of fact I think if you are employing someone

you should have the right to put them off with no warning if they can't do the job to your satisfaction.

[katydidthat]

As a union supporter, I fully agree with the system of warning people and giving them further chances to improve their behaviour.  HOWEVER, in some situations, employers (here, at least), can instantly dismiss their staff. 

[madammuck]

Margo, I took my Mum up to Double Bay a few years back in the hope she would buy something to wear to a major family event rather than wearing an old outfit (by old, I mean an outit she had purchased a few years before an only wore once). She could easily afford anything she liked up there despite the high price tags. The attitude of the store assistants up there really surprised me. While they were not outright rude, I had the impression that they didn't consider us serious shoppers because no one was outright helpful. We went to quite a few stores as well. I've had better service elsewhre. Having said that, we were both dressed casually but appearances aren't all. None of the stores were busy, actually Double Bay during the week was as even more quiet than Paddington along the Golden Mile

[madammuck]

Yes, there are allowable circumstances for instant dismissals but employers still have to have fulfilled certain obligations otherwise these dismissals can be overturned or, at the very least, the employer can be asked to reconsider their decision by a tribunal.

[cherry*135]

There are plenty of high end  shops that have those preconcieved attitudes towards customers...  they take one look at them and decide they wouldn't be able to afford their products, and ignore them. 

Then there are others that treat all customers the same (nicely).

I don't think many staff/store owners would come right out and say that to a customer though.

[izabsmiling]

The sort of racism Oprah experienced would  likely happen to other people who 'appear' to be not of local origin on a regular basis ..those people may be needing more than to look and purchase  a non essential $35K hand bag .

The local environment and attitude of and propaganda of that right wing political party would have this perhaps being 'the right thing' (and encourage people to think that this is the right thing) .....

Just not right in some people's views when  it happens to a well known ,wealthy African American who may or may not also be of the Muslim faith out to look at expensive accessories......however because it was Oprah we hear about it .

[cezm]

When my son turned 21 a couple of years ago he received some money from a trust, put away when his dad died. He wanted to buy a new car and  did heaps of research online and decided exactly what he wanted.

A week before the money came through I took him to the car yard so he could take one for a test drive. He and I wandered around the caryard for almost 15 minutes but noone came to assist. Eventually I went inside and told the 3 guys that my son would like to testdrive a vehicle. One reluctantly came out to talk to us. My son said that he wanted to take one for a testdrive and to get a firm quote with the extras he had chosen.

The guy asked if he had the money. When my son said he was getting it the following week the guy basically said he should come back for the testdrive the next week. My son had to stand his ground and said 'no' he wanted to testdrive it now because he might not like the vehicle (never mind the guys attitude) in which case he would need to rethink.

Anyway, we test drove it.my son ordered one and paid $36K in cash when it arrived ... if we had lived in a capital city  he could have gone somewhere else and I could have had my 'Pretty Woman' moment - it still bugs me that he was treated like that.