Harps Food Stores — Local services in Fort Smith

I feel compelled to share a recent incident that I encountered while shopping at the CVs grocery stores in Fort Smith on Hwy 271. I thought that I had found a good alternative to shopping at WalMart, as this smaller grocery chain has great specials and the staff have always been friendly (and they carry your groceries to the car). Until last week… I went in with my grandson and my fiancée to take advantage of their 5 for $25 specials and to see what other specials they had. Right by the meat case was a big display of Doritos that said, ‘Buy one, get one free’, so I picked up a couple of bags. When I got to the register the cashier told me that special was over, and I explained to her the sign was still up. The store manager was working the next register over and said, ‘No, you get a bag of Doritos free if you by the Lays XL (or whatever it was called). Not remembering that from the sign, I walked back to the display to double check to see if indeed I had read it wrong, when I hear running footsteps behind me. Now, keep in mind I had every intention of apologizing if I was incorrect…and when I got to the display I saw in tiny letters ‘with purchase of Lays’. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw the person running up behind me was the STORE MANAGER who had been running the register. Puzzled, I asked him where the Lays were…he pointed around the corner and said, ‘they’re over there’. ‘Over there’ was two aisles away and no display for them. I commented, ‘Well, that’s a bit misleading, don’t you think?’ where upon he said, ‘You just have to read the sign. By that point, my blood was starting to boil…and I told him, ‘I thought I’d found a good place to shop…and don’t you have customers waiting at the register still?’ I then followed up with, “You don’t have to worry about me, I won’t be back here to shop”. I was stunned and angry and couldn’t figure it out…until I was talking with a very dear woman (who is black). When I recounted the story to her, she said, ‘Girl, you were just treated like a black man.’ The truth in those words threw me…and it pissed me off. The reason I think he followed me is because I have purple hair…therefore, defying what he thinks is a societal ‘norm’ makes me a rapist, murderer or thief instead of being an individual who is celebrating life and loves being different. I am so angry about it right now…and tremendously sad to know that this is how people who are considered ‘different’ are treated. My heart is breaking for anyone who has ever had to deal with something like this.

Not to mention that manager could stand to have a little customer courtesy and better planning of displays...

So for the first time in years I was actually just discriminated against & it did effect me. It usually dont. I'm not a beauty queen but I don't bark either, I have lots of piercings including face piercings. Just 2 weeks ago I took out (well ate one in my piercings in my sleep, I was sick). So now I'm down one. But that's hurt so screw you CVS family foods on 71S, I'm not trash or high, I'm injured with walking phnemonia, dislocated ribs, & pleurisy, my lungs is trying to collapse, & to hear that women say "Look at her face, wonder what she's on. & with all that metal, i was only looking for a change machine to cash in change for scripts. . I give up I'm going...

I use to shop there to avoid going to Wal-Mart. Wanted to support the other guy. Workers were always friendly and good products. The past year, workers became very different. Manager was bothered by me visiting with a friend at the end of the aisle by checkouts. Young man in deli seems mad if you place a meat order. I don't know what's happened here, but they no longer have my business. Now I go to Wal-Mart and I feel the workers go out of their way for customers. Cv should get their act together. I'm sure all their customers feel the same way, unless you have a...