A little retail therapy never hurt, until a certain store clerk began speaking slang as she’s cashiering a dent into my bank account for a purchase of 16 in Virgin Indian Remy Hair. Right because you have to speak slang in order for me to get it? As our economy restructures, the faces of businesses in African American neighborhoods have changed. We’re not mirrored positively, provided poor quality merchandise, receive questionable customer service/store policies, and have to stomach poor/offensive adaptation of our cultural representation as a selling point. The part that’s disappointing is, we allow and support businesses with no demand of reform.

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When did it become acceptable to tolerate and encourage this? I’ll be damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I’m guilty of walking into a store looking for a low deal, but I draw the line when my “Fyndi” purse is whispering to me, “might as well flushed $60 bucks down drain”. The purse talking to me is an added value. With name brands, there are alternate choices; “Guess” jeans $59 or “Lee” jeans $19. For what started as a search for deeper discount, the product named has completely changed, is poor in quality, and is not worth the money spent. “Guess Jeans” $59 or “Who?!” jeans, 2 for $20. With our culture liking to dress the part, these stores are booming/bouncing all the way to the bank listening to “OJ the Juice Man” for encouragement, Aye, Aye, Okay! The sad part, these stores have become so popular that they’re one of the contributors to low traffic and mall closings near urban areas. These stores are okay to patronage when there’s a reasonable difference in the brand selection offered.

When the quality is below standard, the money you spent, and will spend combined to replace will get you that new-new in no time. Until then, there’s a plethora of dollar discount and urban wear stores that have quality name brand merchandise, or replicas for a good price. You break it, you buy! The cashier would politely point to the ridiculously big sign in bold. The break and buy policy was for kids and has evolved into an excuse to detail customers and discourage theft. This rule is an insult as parents have no control over their children or assume a theft is about to take place? Kids will be kids, thieves will be thieves, and this is not assigned to any race. Visit your local convenient store, look at the bars on the window and when you’re reaching over the tall eye level counter handing the cashier your money for your potential alleged theft you will see the increased security measure right along with a sign in marker that clearly reads “NO REFUNDS or EXCHANGES”. Which translates, it’s yours forever! Stores are making money hand over fist, not questioned as the charges are being racked up for stocking caps to try on wigs, over pricing of hair care products due to export connections, drug paraphernalia sold under the table, liquor being sold illegally and irresponsibly in urban neighborhoods. I love a good deal, and great customer service. This is where it gets personal.

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I have the right to patronize businesses to get quality and satisfaction I deserve. However, I do find myself in a conversation trying to decipher what the hell is said as my toes are being polished. Oh no! It’s not because of a language barrier, it’s the inappropriate use of slang that has me confused. When upset, there is a reversion to native languages to family or friends working two stations over. For Christmas, I’m asking Santa for “Rosetta Stone” for shock value for my next visit to the nail shop. Customer service is the best way to sell. There’s no demand for quality because the attitude is that our business will be provided regardless. As I have gotten more mature and selective in my purchases, I have wandered back into the big chain stores, and supported online independent businesses to avoid the poor quality, assumptive stereotypical attitudes, and rudeness. It’s a breath of fresh air when I make a purchase, I’m not being high fived and disrespected in the process.

WRITTEN BY: KEISHA WILSON, Check her out on Facebook