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A Black shopper in Los Gatos, California, recently shared a TikTok video describing her experience at an Apple Store where she claims multiple employees ignored her while greeting and assisting other customers around her. The woman said she walked into the store fully prepared to purchase an iPhone 17 but ended up leaving without buying anything because she did not receive any assistance the entire time she was there.
She Had a Stopwatch Running the Whole Time
According to the shopper, none of the employees had bothered to greet or make her feel welcome when she entered the store. Meanwhile, customers who walked in before and after her were greeted immediately, asked if they needed help, and escorted to the products they wanted to see. After noticing the difference in treatment, she decided to start a stopwatch on her phone to see how long it would take before someone approached her.
The woman claimed that even after several minutes passed, with her waiting and expecting the situation to change, no one came to speak to her. Instead, she said several employees kept glancing over at her repeatedly, as if to make sure she was not stealing. Her stopwatch, which she showed in the video, indicated that she had been in the store for over eleven minutes without a single greeting, question, or acknowledgment, other than employees looking at her from a distance.
Feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome, she eventually decided to leave. She explained that for many Black shoppers, especially in predominantly white areas, the experience often swings between two extremes: either staff members follow them around suspiciously or they ignore them entirely while still keeping an eye on them.“It was a horrible shopping experience and I’m so saddened that our community has to experience this over and over again,” she said in the video. The woman also added that as she was walking out, one of the employees locked eyes with her but still chose not to say anything.
Here’s What Netizens Are Saying About the Los Gatos Apple Store Customer’s Experience
Many viewers expressed frustration and sympathy. One person wrote, “This is so sad and tiring. Sorry this happened to you.” A second said, “That’s discrimination. I would file a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights.” A third added, “The crazy thing is you had done your research and would have been an easy sale.” Another supporter commented, “I’m so happy you are bringing light to this problem. This is more common than you think.”
Not everyone agreed with her interpretation, though. One viewer argued, “If they thought you were stealing you wouldn’t be ignored.” Someone else wrote, “I think I’m the only person who don’t pay attention to this type of stuff when I’m in public 😂🤷🏽♂️.” Another commenter remarked, “I’m white and never have been approached. Hope this helps.”
