acmariner99
Regular Member
I have been shopping at Safeway since I have been back in the Seattle area. There is a store right across the street from my apartment. In my opinion, their quality vs cost is better than the other grocery stores in my immediate area (Albertsons and QFC). I carry in grocery stores all the time, sometimes openly, sometimes concealed and any encounters I have had were positive or mere curiosity.
Today was a bit unusual. I needed to pick up a prescription and find a way to dispose of a box of sharps that I have had for a couple of weeks now. I went to the pharmacy, picked up my prescription, but they said they couldn't take the sharps (and I have no idea how to dispose of them safely), so I went back to my truck and dropped both items off. I also had to do a bit of other shopping for a party I am going to later so I went back into the store to continue shopping. I browsed through the wine aisle, didn't find what I was looking for, then proceeded to the Starbucks for a much needed drink. After I ordered, the store manager walked up to me and pulled me aside. I don't recall every detail (and for the life of me I didn't get his name), but he told me that employees and customers had been complaining about somebody carrying a weapon in the store. He gave me the private property line and said he didn't want anybody "brandishing" in the store.
I easily corrected him -- "I am aware of property property rights and will happily respect them. I have been shopping here for months and have carried every single time. I spend a fair amount of money here too." I also stated, "as long as the weapon is in a holster and I am not handling it or pointing it at anybody, then I am perfectly legal. I carry this way for comfort and convenience and not to make a statement or intimidate people. The right to carry this way is an added bonus. Are there any Safeway policies that I am not aware of because this is the first time I have had anybody talk to me about this?" (This is highly paraphrased and not in any particular order. -- I need to learn how to quickly turn my recording app off and on, but I think I need a new phone first.
He said he wasn't sure, but as the store manager he could ask me to cover or leave. I responded that, yes you can ask me to leave, but be aware that I will shop at your competitors instead because I carry for my protection and I am not willing to surrender that capability.
He seemed like he was in a bit of a pickle. He stated he wanted to have me as a customer and respect my right to carry - to which he said he would contact other managers in the area and I said I would ask corporate if they had any official word on the matter. He said that was fine.
I asked him as he was leaving -- "just so we are clear, are you asking me to cover or disarm?" He said, "for now IF YOU CAN (for emphasis) please cover, come back later and we can discuss it."
This is the first time I have had any kind of interaction with a store manager and I think I did ok -- I can't truly place this in the negative column because he seemed inclined to respect my rights (because he wants my money) but also wanted to "make sure" because he indicated that a number of people had complained -- I don't envy his position, respecting all of the rights of your customers vs PR
Today was a bit unusual. I needed to pick up a prescription and find a way to dispose of a box of sharps that I have had for a couple of weeks now. I went to the pharmacy, picked up my prescription, but they said they couldn't take the sharps (and I have no idea how to dispose of them safely), so I went back to my truck and dropped both items off. I also had to do a bit of other shopping for a party I am going to later so I went back into the store to continue shopping. I browsed through the wine aisle, didn't find what I was looking for, then proceeded to the Starbucks for a much needed drink. After I ordered, the store manager walked up to me and pulled me aside. I don't recall every detail (and for the life of me I didn't get his name), but he told me that employees and customers had been complaining about somebody carrying a weapon in the store. He gave me the private property line and said he didn't want anybody "brandishing" in the store.
I easily corrected him -- "I am aware of property property rights and will happily respect them. I have been shopping here for months and have carried every single time. I spend a fair amount of money here too." I also stated, "as long as the weapon is in a holster and I am not handling it or pointing it at anybody, then I am perfectly legal. I carry this way for comfort and convenience and not to make a statement or intimidate people. The right to carry this way is an added bonus. Are there any Safeway policies that I am not aware of because this is the first time I have had anybody talk to me about this?" (This is highly paraphrased and not in any particular order. -- I need to learn how to quickly turn my recording app off and on, but I think I need a new phone first.
He said he wasn't sure, but as the store manager he could ask me to cover or leave. I responded that, yes you can ask me to leave, but be aware that I will shop at your competitors instead because I carry for my protection and I am not willing to surrender that capability.
He seemed like he was in a bit of a pickle. He stated he wanted to have me as a customer and respect my right to carry - to which he said he would contact other managers in the area and I said I would ask corporate if they had any official word on the matter. He said that was fine.
I asked him as he was leaving -- "just so we are clear, are you asking me to cover or disarm?" He said, "for now IF YOU CAN (for emphasis) please cover, come back later and we can discuss it."
This is the first time I have had any kind of interaction with a store manager and I think I did ok -- I can't truly place this in the negative column because he seemed inclined to respect my rights (because he wants my money) but also wanted to "make sure" because he indicated that a number of people had complained -- I don't envy his position, respecting all of the rights of your customers vs PR
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