Chemist Warehouse Papanui — Attraction in Christchurch

Staff on the floor and checkout are always super lovely and I always find what I need but each time I go in I always seem to be stopped by security thinking I have stolen something and always by the white security guards.

One of the times I got stopped here I went in with my white friends who were wearing baggy shirts and sweatpants and I dressed in jeans and a white top and they ended up buying what they wanted and I didn’t get anything. As we were walking out I was the only one that got stopped because I didn’t buy anything and my friends did.

When I walked in today I smiled at the guard and walked directly to the hair section, I grabbed the bleach and developer cause I knew exactly which one to get. I then deliberated for around 10mins to make sure I got the right hair dye I wanted and then went to the makeup section to look at lipgloss but ended up not getting any cause the colour I wanted was sold out. I then went back to the hair dye section to make sure I was getting the right one, I put one back and got a different colour and payed. When I was walking out the security guard came up to me without saying anything and I stopped he then asked to look in my bags which I let him. He looked in the bag of the things I purchased and didn’t seem interested in that but my bag on the other hand he asked to look in and throughly he did, he then said “I don’t like doing this” I then replied “it happens all the time” as I am use to this treatment here. In my bag he noticed my perfume I brought from the warehouse (DB brand) he asked “did you buy this?” I said “yes from the warehouse it’s a warehouse brand” he looked unconvinced so I asked if I should bring someone over to verify he said “no I’ll believe you”. Then the next section of my bag, he noticed sunscreen and thought the same thing and asked “is this from here?” I said it was old and expired and he lets me go.

I never dress in sweatpants and baggy clothes when I come because I always have a feeling this will happen. I recieved not one but two compliments by staff what I was wearing today. I have a handbag just like every other women and since this has happened more than once now it’s getting extremely embarrassing. I am Maori and I hope this isn’t a race thing but it’s starting to feel like it. This is starting to feel like racial profiling as well and I’ve had it pointed out to me by multiple friends. My white friends have NEVER been stopped by security let alone looked through so why is it just me ? You may need to rethink on who you hire for security or do diversity training as I always feel uncomfortable coming to this...

What an absolute s▪︎▪︎▪︎show. I came in at 7pm, you closed at 9pm and everyone is too interested in stocking shelves. I finally met with two staff having a chat over some empty cartons to look for some anti-cramp medication. "Sorry, could I ask where it is please..." "Yes, end of those aisle..." waves in general direction I walked away hoping at least one could spare a minute of their empty unboxing time to help me find it, but no they carried on. I kept going up and down the aisles. An asian woman was standing at the door in a Chemist Warehouse uniform standing in for the Security guard that went away for a break when I arrived "Hello can you help me I'm looking for these..." "No, no.. can't help.." waves me off. I looked at the queue that I might actually line up and ask. But it had 9 people snaking around. "That's fine, I'll just leave.." Another s▪︎▪︎tty review over a $17 box of pills. I'd rather put up...

It was a very large building, plenty on offer, I had ordered online the day before for click and collect. I waited around for notification for it to be ready as it was a replacement cane that was needed, so it was nothing too hard to prepare for pick up. I went in at 11.30 to collect, but I hadn't been notified it was ready, and I was glad the staff were happy to sort it there and then with no hassles and was able to leave with my replacement travel cane. The product itself is great. I was pleasantly surprised it's very durable and can be folded when I don't use it and the price is much better than other places. I'll deffinatly shop there again if I find any products I need...