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Food & Grocery Robinson's Grocery Store has Anti - Foreigner Day

Discussion in 'Businesses - Services - Products' started by Dave_Hounddriver, Apr 13, 2018.

  1. Dave_Hounddriver

    Dave_Hounddriver DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster

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    Yes, there are days, and yes, this is a bit of a rant.

    I was in Robinson's Mall, Dumaguete and I wanted to buy a couple thousand pesos worth of groceries. I do it frequently, as many here do, and usually have great customer service. Today was an exception. Today seemed to be "We Hate Foreigners Day"

    Now it is Friday the 13th, today, so there may be something to the superstition that things go wrong on that day. The first "Hmmmm" moment was when I asked the stock clerk to grind up a bag of coffee beans for me. I do that once every couple of weeks and the reply is always "Yes sir". Today the clerk spoke in Bisaya to my gf and told her to go through the line up and pay first before he could grind it. He did not say that in English to me, you understand, he ignored me and told my gf. I ignored him and went to a nearby security guard and asked: "Can you please authorize this man to grind the coffee so I do not have to stand in the the check out line two times?" He told the lad to do it. The lad was not happy but he did it after having a few words in his own language with the security guard. I thanked the lad for doing it, even though he did so grudgingly.

    After picking up a few more items I went to the checkout counter. I tried the Senior's line but the clerk said: "No; For senior citizens!" and pointed to the sign. I am tired of explaining that I am a senior so I went to the next line. I was about to turn around because that lane said "basket lane" and I had a cart with only a few items, BUT a filipina cut in front of me with a cart that held the same amount of groceries as I had and the clerk served her. So I got in line behind her and the clerk pointed to the sign and said (to my gf in Bisaya) "for basket lane only".

    Well I lost it then. I grabbed an empty basket from nearby and transferred all my groceries from the "cart" to the "basket" and set it on the counter (with a few swear words under my breath). I said "THERE! BASKET!" in one of those loud foreigner voices and then told my gf: "It almost seems like they don't want foreigner's money here."

    End of rant. I got my groceries, I paid my bill, and I left. I was tempted to go ask for the manager and ask why there is such an anti-foreigner sentiment today but I thought it would be useless so I came home and posted a rant on DI. Have a good day, all!.

     
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  2. Best Answer:
    Post #3 by Rye83, Apr 13, 2018 (4 points)
  3. jimeve

    jimeve DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    That explains why I got a parking ticket outside of PNB whilst visiting the bank.
     
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  4. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Or was that because you were illegally parked?
     
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  5. djfinn6230

    djfinn6230 DI Senior Member

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    I tried to Google the bisaya word that means “customer service” but here is what I got:

    Hahaha


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  6. ChMacQueen

    ChMacQueen DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    These days come around now and then.

    I've had stock clerks look at me like I'm a monster when I've asked nicely if they could check in the stock for a specific common item that's shelf was empty.

    I've had that basket issue a couple of times but the funniest is at Robinson when I had a basket with half a dozen items and was in non basket lane and they told me carts only!. I put my basket in the nearby cart and asked if that was good enough. At the end I did make them call the manager which I scolded and thus scolded said employee.

    I've waited 15 minutes inside Robinsons (well checking back every couple minutes) for the person who's supposed to work that candy by the weight area near the entrance. Finally asked the security guard who passed it to the nearby manager who promptly found the worker. That worker was pissed I dared interupt them and not just wait longer.

    I've been in the senior line before (I'm 38) and have had a young Filipina go through ahead of me no issue but when I get there they say seniors only. Usually they take me no issue however. I've had the same at the premier card lane at Hypermart w/o my fiancee's card and the person infront never presented me but they scolded me.

    I will say again though while I know it will raise controversy with the old farts that senior citizens does not mean just old people... it means old *citizens*. As we are not citizens we honestly don't qualify. Now most business's just not to cause hassles have adopted policies that any old fart qualifies be technically have no right to that. However since a number of years back there was a big controversy by old white foreigners I believe a ruling was made or some sort saying every elderly person qualified. It comes down to in our western countries we're overly nice to foreigners, immigrants, and illegal aliens so we expect everyone else to shoot themselves in the foot the same way for us.
     
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  7. Kiwi in negros

    Kiwi in negros DI New Member

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    Like many expats I do a lot in the way of helping locals in my circle..education,housing,medical etc.
    But I firmly believe the people & the country give far more to me than I give back- therefore I never abuse their hospitality or take advantage of things like senior lines- things that are clearly intended for the benefit of local citizens.
     
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  8. Liverpool fan

    Liverpool fan DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer

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    That's racism in my country if you a senior, you are a senior, no matter what country you come from. I go sometimes in that senior lines, even try more than one time, the cashier tells me to go ahead of 4-6 younger persons, I always refuse, because I'm soooo young in my own mind ha ha.
     
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  9. Happy Camper

    Happy Camper DI Senior Member Restricted Account Infamous Showcase Reviewer

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    Seems to me, you have a problem with following simple rules. You see a sign that says carts and you go in with a basket. You see a sign that says seniors, disabled and pregnant, you step in line. You see a sign that says Prestige Card holder and you step in even though you don't qualify.
     
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  10. Liverpool fan

    Liverpool fan DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer

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    I don't step in front of anyone, read again, I just state my opinion. Even you and other halal hippies are allowed to have an opinion, but respect others opinions to
     
  11. jimeve

    jimeve DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    Yes, I was where are the car parks at PNB corner of Silliman/ Real street?
    and I did ask before I went into the bank if it was Okay to park in the corner, He said yes.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2018
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