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Dear Lenice,

Thank you for contacting Office Depot regarding your recent shoppingexperience at the Office Depot store in Anderson. Customer Service isour top priority at Office Depot and I regret learning that we havedisappointed you.

I have contacted our Store Manager in Anderson to make him aware of yourdissatisfaction with your recent visit. I have also asked RAY MULLEN tocontact you directly in order to discuss ways in which we can serve youbetter in the future.

Should you ever have a problem please ask for RAY MULLEN directly orcall 765644**** so that we can address the problem for you immediately.

All of us at Office Depot appreciate the opportunity to take care ofyour business and we hope to serve you again soon.

Regards,Richard BrownE-Commerce SupportOffice Depot6600 N. Military TrailBoca Raton, Fl 33496Email: ECEmails@***.com

"Delivering Winning Solutions That Inspire Worklife"

-----Original Message-----From: l******@*****.comSent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 6:58 PMTo: EC-OrdersSubject: Complaints

Name: Lenice Y. *****

Email: *******@*****.com

Phone: 765-------

Order No:

Web Account:

Response Requested

Lenice called to file a complaint. cust said that she was asked to movefrom the line of the counter at the office depot store at store#2094Anderson, Indiana.* Reply * Forward

*Lenice Y Dixonto ECEmails

show details Aug 27

Hello Mr. Brown:

I see from the brief message that your call center personnel were unable to properly convey the complaint. I do not suffer from cultural deafness and could tell that there was a bit of a language barrier so she may not have fully understood the implication and event.

RAY MULLEN is the person who asked me to move so that he could first serve a Caucasian customer instead of me. There was one lane open as I approached the checkout lanes with my 6-year-old daughter. We are both obviously African American females. MR RAY MULLEN opened a new lane as I was walking up and I got in the line. He then told me to move so that he could instead serve the Caucasian man (behind me at that point) that was in the other lane. I, so surprised at the request, gathered my very few items and prepared to move. The male customer knew this to be unfair and would not take my place, this man insisted that I stay put so that I was able to check out. This polite customer did refuse to do as MR RAY MULLEN requested. MR RAY MULLEN then added insult to the injury by apologizing to the Caucasian customer over my head while shaking his head at me while I was waiting for him to finish the quick transaction. I turned around and asked again if they wanted me to get out of line since MR RAY MULLEN was treating me as if I were some kind of line-jumper!!! The customer, again, embarrassed by now, said no and that he had no problem. Your MR RAY MULLEN continued to treat me as if I'd done something wrong.

I was so angry that I did not return to the store to purchase the index card dividers and box that I needed for school supplies - I had called my teenager while in the store to see if he needed anything else. I have ordered these items from Miller Huggins and explained to the teachers that my child will have them next week as I'll not shop Office Depot until this has been resolved.

Since my child was present, I did not take the time to inform MR RAY MULLEN that persons of Color no longer have to go to the back of the lines, ride in the rear of the bus, attend different schools, nor use separate bathrooms. His lane was not marked "WHITE ONLY" or show any indication that the lane was opened only for certain Caucasian males. As a former trainer of cashiers and programmer of POS terminals for retail, I have always instructed my cashiers to leave their "Open for Business" lane light marker OFF if they were doing any type of special transactions or turn the light off to set to blink if they could not accept regular customer transactions. This was not the case with MR RAY MULLEN, he turned the light on while I was walking up and I got in line. The gentleman he asked me to move for was the last in the other lane.

I am insulted, and MR RAY MULLEN purposefully, deliberately, and repeatedly insulted me. I have shopped in that store quite a bit - I even presented the intolerant MR RAY MULLEN with my OFFICE DEPOT ADVANTAGE card (replaced by Worklife Rewards program, etc) for the transaction which showed that I was a repeat and formerly loyal customer. I was, at no time, visibly angry or belligerent and even attempted to comply with his racist request TWICE. I do not nor did I emit any type of bodily odor nor was I armed or in any way dangerous. I was fully clothed, as was my child, and even wore a zippered hoodie inside the store. I may have been distracted by the telephone as I called to see if my teen needed anything else, but other than that I was polite even while your MR RAY MULLEN was treating me so badly. I did nothing that would have allowed MR RAY MULLEN to refuse my service or transaction.

To be frank, having MR RAY MULLEN call me is not an acceptable response to this situation. I would like to know that he has been advised by his superior(s) regarding the mistreatment of African American customers. His "I'm so sorry" to the Caucasian male for his having been forced to ring my my child's erasers, pencil box, and scissors while shaking his head and looking at me with such derision that I should have been some type of infected roadkill in unacceptable behavior. And that my child should bear witness - it was just horrible. Like an UnWelcome mat for African American shoppers. Apologizing to the White man for having to ring up the Black woman that was in front of him, and treating me as if I was some type of "uppity Negro" for remaining in the line. I've little need for his telephoned rationalizations, his behavior was unacceptable and I've a mind (and a right) to take this to the Civil Rights Commission, BBB, Chambers, or the NAACP. Asking me to leave the line was more than enough, treating me like dirt and offering apology for my presence to the other customer was the final ugly straw.

I hope that your corporation is able to see any surveillance tape and review MR RAY MULLEN'S behavior. Please review the call I made to your toll-free number as I left the parking lot of the Anderson store as well. I have saved the receipt if you need to pinpoint the time. I gather from his nametag and this canned email response that RAY MULLEN may be some type of Manager or Supervisor at this store. If that's true then he should REALLY know better, and know that his actions and behavior directly reflect poorly upon Office Depot.

Lenice * *****

Monetary Loss: $7.

Location: Bolingbrook, Illinois

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Guest

I have to ask.. You stated that you walked up to the checkout as the 2nd line light turned on and there were already people in the first line, correct? So, not to mention you cut in line (the guy at the back of the line had the right to go before you, he had been waiting longer) you also stated you were on your cell phone with your daughter at the time. So, being oblivious to the situation, you literally cut in front of everyone, then came on here blasting racism.

Is it possible, even a TINY bit, that you weren't paying attention to your surroundings (understandably, as you were managing a child, shopping items & cell phone at the same time)?

I'd appreciate a response, I know it's been a while since the initial post.. I'm curious what you have to say..

Note: Please don't make a derogatory remark about me being a member of the KKK, as you did above to another responder (my skin color wouldn't allow it anyway!)

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-415728

While your assessment is acceptable. It was the additional things that Ray Mullen did that made the interaction unacceptable.

The KKK has many members of all different skin tones Ray Mullen. Considering your level of reading comprehension you missed the point as most white apologists & KKK members have very little intelligence.

Guest

its really sad to say this.. but who ever " Office Depot is Racist " is right, at least I believe so.

The store I worked at seemed to be. Idk what is about them, but they really do gravitate towards teenage white girls for cashiers and their printing department and young men for tech.. I was head cashier and I am a white woman in early 20's and if a pretty girl needed a job, they would jump at it.... When I worked there we had two African american people start, I trained them both, and they were great..

One was a girl and the other male, the girl stayed up front with me to be a cashier and she was outstanding with the customers.. but it seemed like one particular manager had it out for her.. and she ended up not being able to take it anymore and quit and it was really really sad...so my thoughts are yes... they just may be..

and i'm sorry for your experience, that must of been horriable..but CHIN UP my darling, like they say, Karma is a real ***. =]

Guest

Lenicey - I used to work for Office Depot in Anderson as one of the managers. Office Depot is a racist company! OR at least the Indianapolis district is racist because of the District Manager - Al Macak. Let's look at the facts:

1. Office Depot supports NASCAR! How many African Americans do you see racing in Nascar?

2. Office Depot has NEVER had an African American CEO, or Vice President.

3. Under Al Macak, the Indianapolis District has NEVER had an African American Store Manager.

4. District Manager, Al Macak has an eye for young white female cashiers. He will barely acknowledge the older employees, african americans, or males, but he gravitates toward the young white girls.

5. Al Macak is from Detroit, Michigan. He once let it slip that he had alot of issues with "blacks" stealing in Detroit.

As for me, I got fired by these two bozos for getting into a lock up that they gave me the keys to! So, yes, I do have a grudge against this company, but the above statments are absolutely true!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-272108

Well, well, well... District Manager Al Macak got fired this week.

Took Office Depot long enough to figure this racist *** out. Hopefully he will not be racist when selling houses for FC Tucker as he was at Office Depot!!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-272108

Well, well, well, Al Macak got fired this week! It took Office Depot long enough to get rid of this racist *** Hopefully he will not be racist selling houses for FC Tucker... but I doubt it!

Guest

:( hey we have all had bad service at od they are morrons working 4 min wage but i hate her using racecard 2 be victim mentality she has

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-266893

She doesn't need a card if people do right. So, if people aren't racist then folks won't complain. Period.

lenicey D

Hey, Brad - when you are denied something because of your Race in front of your children you'll have something to comment about. There was no other reason for what happened and allowing it continue is CONDONING the racist treatment.

You'll be happy to know, I'm sure, that I sent their little giftcard/buyoff attempt to the NAACP.

Perhaps you think that organization will use the card in a positive fashion. And, as you've attempted to cast doubt upon my personal life, you definetely need to get a spell checker AND straighten up those robes and matching white cone-shaped hat!

Guest

really ??? Your crazy!

Guest

Yea, you defenitely need to get a hobby or job or boyfriend or something. Pretending you're a victim is a poor way to empower yourself.

Playing the race card for an incident like the one you described won't make you feel any better about your life. Too many people are trying to give themselves victim status when they should be doing something positive to improve their lives.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-218726

What should you do with your extra time?

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