A pickup arrangement in California went wrong after a woman became upset at the sight of the driver and openly accused the courier of coming to her home to steal packages. However, online viewers believe she made the wrong assumption based on racial profiling.
A video shared on Instagram showed the California woman clinging to the driver’s car as the courier, also a woman, and the customer engaged in a heated exchange. “You scheduled a pick up,” the driver repeatedly told her, which the customer acknowledged. The courier further explained that the system generated the estimated arrival time, not her personally, as the woman appeared concerned that she might arrive before the estimated time.
“What’s your name?” the customer asked again, and the driver firmly responded that she had already provided it. “You are literally treating me like I’m somebody that’s coming to steal,” the courier said, directing the woman to check her email for all necessary details regarding the package pickup. “I just wanted to confirm my pickup,” the woman insisted, while the driver pushed back, pointing out that the customer had run after her vehicle.
“Yeah, because I don’t trust you are the same person,” the woman replied. The driver, audibly frustrated, began counting the packages in her car, more than three, emphasizing that she had no intention of wasting time. The dispute continued, with the customer remaining adamant about confirmation, despite already having the driver’s details. In the caption, the courier explained that she works for Returnmates, a third-party logistics service that handles return pickups for Nordstrom. Customers schedule a pickup and are instructed to leave their packages outside, usually by the door.
“I came to this particular house today and noticed the package left out looked a little TOO fresh.. like it was just delivered and NOT the package I’m supposed to be picking up so I kindly rang the doorbell to verify with the customer about the pick up. She comes outside and starts to watch me do my job,” it read. She added that the woman immediately profiled her, assuming she had come to steal.
In a follow-up clip, the courier shared that the company’s support team contacted her, instructed her to leave the package, and assured her that the failed attempt would be corrected on her record. The comment section quickly erupted as users reacted to the incident.
“Legally, she can’t hold you there; you have her phone number and address, serve her that discrimination suit, loss of time and money, and humiliation,” one user wrote. Another addressed the racial undertone: “Yeah, she definitely racially profiled you, but you kept your cool, mama, and that says a lot about you.”
“I’m invested. Is there an update on this story? I hope your supervisors did stick up for you on this.” A third commenter asked. “Hell no. This lady shouldn’t order delivery. What a nightmare, I feel so bad for this delivery driver,” another added. A fifth person shared their concern: “I fear that lady is only treating her that way because she’s Black. 😞”
Others commended the courier’s composure: “Girl, you must have the patience of the entire universe within you. I would have driven off.”
“So she’s mad that you’re early and good at your job,” someone questioned. “Give her her package back and keep doing your job. Put her down as a problem pick up — aggressive and rude. That is an illegal detention. Kidnapping,” another user suggested. One commenter highlighted how frequently such situations occur in California: “It’s so crazy that Black folks can’t even do their jobs without someone like this lady deputizing themselves.😣”
Finally, someone reflected on the broader issue, writing, “How are we supposed to get to the future and enjoy technological advances with people that still get suspicious any time they see Black skin?”
This nightmare situation in California is just another proof that making assumptions based on skin color only leads to discord.
