Dollar Tree — Attraction in Charlotte

Several Times I have witnessed poor business practices a this location. The organizational culture has been constant which is complete and utter disrespect. I will admit in the last several months the store is slightly getting better at cleaning up. However, this evening, I visited this location as I frequent about about every week to buy small things for my young sons. Well, this evening I inserted my debit card and their machine did not read it. I've used my card everywhere and it has never given me a problem, and literally used it ten minutes prior to visiting this location. I asked the cashier to perhaps type my card number in. She asked for her supervisor to come. He came and said that he could not do that. That was ok, but I did ask if he could try another register because I'd never had a problem using the card and the machine felt as though it didn't have a tight grip to read my chip. He said "I think our machine is just fine." I looked in amazement. I asked again because of course, I'd never experienced this problem. He then tells customers behind me that he would take the customers at the other register. I said well sir, since you're opening another register can we try. It was then that he said with an unpleasant voice that we could try at the register but I'd have to get in the back of the line because he needed to help the next customer. I said well sir I AM the next customer. He said I was not. So I calmly asked the gentlemen behind me if he was going to the new register and If I could go before him to simply see if it would work. He and the customer behind him agreed I was next and said I could go. I am assuming "PAT" the actual STORE MANAGER who was so rude to me, took this by surprise. I then asked for his information as at this point I was not upset that my card did not work in their machine but his rude behavior and lack of empathy for the situation. He came to the register and of course it did not work. However, I told him, at this point it was his direct attitude that caused dismay. The Sheriff who is ever so friendly and who I often converse with when going to the store came and helped ease me as I waited for him to go to his office to get paper to write down Corporate information. I have witnessed employees get on the intercom and literally tell people in an unprofessional manner to get their "kids". And outside of this situation, I have never complained about the store or my witnessing the prejudices that same Store manager has had with interacting with people. OR my conversations with other employees who have quit. Something needs to change at this location and it must start from the top, down!

Asking for great customer isn't bad for someone who spends a hefty amount of money that...

Before I begin I will say that I know this is dollar tree. I understand that you get what you pay for. It is this reason and this reason alone I’ve given them 2 stars.

Cleanliness

This store is an ABSOLUTE MESS. The isles are not only unorganized but nearly impossible to navigate. It’s almost like when they restock they just knock everything down and place a new item there. The kids isle is probably the worst. I understand that you can’t clean an isle after a kid walks by but every time I go in there it’s worse. That tells me that when the store closes nobody attempts to clean or pick up anything. I know that you get what you pay for. I understand they apparently don’t make enough to care but this is still a business. It shouldn’t be this bad.

Customer service

The few times I’ve made it past the treacherous conditions and actually checked out I didn’t have great experiences with the employees. For instance, I go up to the counter to pay for my items and the woman is talking on the phone. The phone was on speaker and the conversation wasn’t even an attempt at being PG. Again I will say, you get what you pay for. I understand that, but our community...

This Dollar Tree was decent overall—there was a good selection of items, though the store was a bit cluttered. The checkout experience was great; the light-skinned girl who rang me up was extremely nice and had great customer service.

However, my experience was overshadowed by an older woman employee who kept staring at me. Every aisle I went down, I noticed her looking at me, and it felt like I was being followed. I don’t know if I was being racially profiled because of how I looked, but it made me extremely uncomfortable. I was wearing pajama pants, a t-shirt, a North Face jacket, and Crocs—nothing out of the ordinary.

I’ve been experiencing homelessness and living in my car, and unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve been met with these kinds of stares. I’ve had a similar experience with an older white male security guard at the Mecklenburg County Library, so to have it happen here by someone who is also Black was disappointing.

It’s frustrating to feel judged simply for existing. I came in to shop just like anyone else, and being watched like that ruined what could have been a...