http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBK6Q0HRGE.html
Pitts, local human resources manager for GAF Materials Corp., called the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 11110 Causeway Blvd. in the morning to order 520 holiday gift cards for employees. The white, female worker who normally did the task was on vacation. The company had spent about $50,000 a year on gift cards at the local Wal-Mart for several years.
Store employees assured him it wouldn't be a problem. The roofing system manufacturer gave Pitts a check for $13,600, and he left to pick up the gift cards.
Pitts, who wore khaki pants and a button-down dress shirt, arrived at the Wal-Mart customer service desk about 1:15 p.m. and found the cards ready.
But first, he was told, managers needed to verify the check.
Pitts gave them his GAF business card, driver's license and numbers to Citibank, GAF's bank. The company's accounting supervisor told Wal-Mart over the phone that the check was good. GAF, based in Wayne, N.J., is the nation's biggest roofing systems maker, with $1.6 billion in 2004 revenue.
At least two black clerks watching the situation told Pitts he was being subjected to such scrutiny because he is black. They told him other companies made similar purchases that day without such interrogations.
Pitts got upset and demanded the check back, but store managers told him they were struggling to verify the check.
Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies arrived, responding to a call from store managers about a possible forged check.
Pitts said one of the officers grabbed his arm, causing him to pull away.
"I said, 'Are you going to arrest me?' " said Pitts, 34. "I was scared."
Within minutes, officers had reviewed the evidence, returned Pitts' check and left.
"At least two black clerks watching the situation told Pitts he was being subjected to such scrutiny because he is black. They told him other companies made similar purchases that day without such interrogations."
What's wrong with that picture? Don't anyone hurt themselves trying to figure that "reported" statement out.
Stupid! What is there to struggle with? They talked to the companies accountant! They have tele-check or some system that can run the check through to see if the account is good for it.
And I am a Walmart fan. Walmart as a company didn't do this, stupid employees did.
If true, the one officer isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Of course by this time the buyer could have been quite agitated.
Well, there you have it. Another case of a beaten down, exploited Wal Mart employee without benefits or even a wage allowing her to survive.
Gee, the first article was crap compared to that paragraph you posted, which made things much clearer.
My guess is that had she not been on vacation, this wouldn't have happened.
Why is it so hard for some people to accept that, yes, there is still racism in the U.S.? No, Wal-Mart as a whole is not at fault, but, yes, I think they did treat this guy like this because he is black.
Everything was okay until the two black employees told Pitts he was being discriminated against. He then demanded the check back but did not say why, probably to protect the two employees. This action caused the store to believe that the check might be forged. The timing on when the store actually talked to the GAF accounting department, before or after police were called, would say alot.
Walmart is at fault here. But why didn't he just use his Citibank visa or MC to order them online with trackable delivery instead?