Charlotte Market International — Attraction in Charlotte

It was my dad’s birthday we decided on making his favorite dishes. My mom and I went yesterday 5/8/2020. The associate behind the counter had excellent customer service skills.The manager was extremely rude. First of all as my mom and I were shopping he sent another associate to the freezer pretending to work as if we were trying to steal. I didn’t say anything because I could understand because the freezer is in the back of the store and these days you cannot trust anyone, especially when running a business. I was livid when he proceeds to follow us around the store and take things out of my hand after I picked it up. As if I ask for a personal shopper..The first time I didn’t say anything. The third time I said “sir please let me shop by myself”. I go over to the hot peppers he follows me and he tells me they are all the same. I clearly see some bags of peppers are older than others. I asked him a question about cassava leaf, he answers where We are from? How is that an answer to my question? I answered him Liberia..To make matters worst there were two other ladies shopping in the store. That he didn’t follow around.I don’t know if he had an issue with a Liberian person taking stuff from his store but please be vigilant without being so rude..Maybe he just discriminates against certain Africans.. I don’t know but we clearly seem to be the targets..I am 40 yrs old. I have been in this country since I was 6 I have never encountered this level of rudeness before shopping in any store especially not from a manager. I work for everything I have.. I have a good salary and live a comfort life. I don’t need to steal from anyone..We were going to get a few more items we opted not too. Then I get to the register the total was $80. I wanted to Put $50 on my card do $30 cash. I was told the $50 didn't go through. So I paid all in Cash only to see that $59 is pending from the African Market in Charlotte.. The bank says it is pending and should not post since supposedly the transaction was canceled when I was in the store.. If not will be seeing me pretty soon for a refund..My parents are older and they love our traditional food. If was up to me I would never step foot in your store again. It is people like you who give Africans a bad name. If u see this post and I hope you do and want to see the my bank history I would be glad to make the trip. I have never stolen anything...

The positives: store is neat and organized. I most certainly never have a hard time finding anything in here. It is close to home and has an awesome selection that I rarely find anywhere else. I was able to get bags of chin chin here, which is usually sold out elsewhere.

The negative: Some of the older men in the store are just flat out cold and rude to me. I show them the proper respect because they are my elders, but I have had moments where I felt they didn't even find me worthy of speaking to. I visited today in search of 5 lobe obi abata. The young man working was the only one who acted as if I belonged there. He was extremely helpful. I get in line and I see a fellow African woman ahead of me and they are having a friendly conversation in English (I speak English here as well because I don't know the elders well enough to know if they speak Yoruba). When she left and it was time for me to check out, the elder men were stone faced and curt even as I thanked them and told them to have a blessed day. When I find another way to get Nigerian products, I won't be back. Which is a shame because they have a great, fresh selection that's hard to find here...

I don't currently live in Charlotte, so I can only come by when visiting relatives. The items I've bought from this store have all been of high quality. The people who work there are knowledgeable, respectable, and have beautiful smooth skin. It's a good store to support, not only because their products are superior; but if you're a black person from the United States, they're a great example of what we should've done: the Booker T. Washington model of running our own businesses. I admire them and will support them whenever I can. Their intelligence and discipline prove that self-determination and entrepreneurship foster a people's growth and...