Diminishing the dignity of shoppers

May 02, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I have not been in the vicinity of Longden and America Streets for quite some time, one day in last week I ventured in the vicinity, I saw a spanking new edifice. with the trade name “Fazia’s Collections” decaled onto it, I was happy to see the old almost derelict building that once stood there rebuilt. Peering in the shop front window I noticed that the store sells cosmetic type items, so I thought it was a great opportunity to both check out the new store and procure a jar of skin lotion that I knew I needed and maybe get any other interesting item I may run into.
I was carrying a computer bag which contained my laptop and other gadgets and irreplaceable documents. It is one of those bags that doubles as a side bag and haversack when needed. At that time, I was wearing it as a haversack.  Having already entered the store a youngster shouted (the Labour Department should investigate whether this boy is underage), “hey hey, hey man yu gah fuh lef yu bag hey” because he was standing on the pavement I ignored him and proceeded to browse the available items. Another guy who seem to be the security on duty started walking “foot to foot” behind me, so I inquired from him what’s the matter, and he said “I gah watch you, like you come fuh tief something, why you ent lef yu bag in the bag bay, if yu cant lef it deh then come out the store” I loudly remonstrated with him because I felt he was attacking my dignity, he was asking me to leave my bag in the streets (a makeshift bag bay was physically located on the street outside of the store) and I wasn’t about to subject myself to any class of sub-human treatment.
Having a bag bay is stereotypically insulting enough to say the least, yet this bag-bay culture is ballooning all over the country and Guyanese customers have to be subjected to this degrading practice. Having a bag bay is one thing, but having one in the street is vulgar and demeaning. A bag bay should be set up for the convenience of customers who on their own volition chooses to temporarily relieve themselves of the weight of baggage while shopping and should never be used to profile, label or attack the dignity of shoppers. Many businesses will argue that shoplifting is a chronic problem in Guyana and a bag bay is necessary.Let’s not argue with that and give the store owners the benefit of the doubt, isn’t there a way of doing this that maintains the dignity of customers. If a customer carrying a small personal bag (as I was) and actively protest leaving their bag at the counter because it contains irreplaceable valuables (as several customers will do from time to time) it is the store owner’s responsibility to establish extra layers of security such as CCTV cameras, exit buzzers, infrared tags etc. among a long list of sophisticated security features widely available.
While I was remonstrating with the security guard, a woman who just made a purchase inside the store had to step outside the store to collect her bags. She had several pieces and apparently wanted to pack the heavy items she just bought at the bottom of the bag to prevent it from damaging other items. This lady had to do all her sorting on the pavement, she was resting items flat on the pavement while she packed item on top of item. This should have been done in the confines and comfort of the store and the customer not made to endure that kind of indignity. I pointed out the woman’s travail to all the staff and asked them if they think that that was right. While speaking, I noticed a young lady with whom I’m familiar talking with a woman, whom I was told is the owner of the store. The young lady recognized the obvious indignity I was being asked to subject myself to and steeped forward to offer an apology even though she was in no way connected to the store, she is just a friend of the owner with whom she was chatting. While she was doing that the alleged owner joined in with the security guard and said, “ I don’t care, if he can’t leave his bag outside put him out the store.”
With that I elected to leave the store determined not to ever set foot in there again and will urge all Guyanese to never allow themselves to be subjected to such ignominy and all shoppers should withhold their patronage from the store until they can provide a decent bag-bay inside the store with a convenient place for repacking. I call on the Guyana Consumers’ Association, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce, the Private Sector Commission and the Ministry of Trade to immediately take steps to end this degrading practice and develop standards and guidelines for bag bays that will not demean members of the public.
Lenno Craig

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