DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

The Rent-a-Cop who Ruined My Day…and the men who didn’t defend me!

The Rent-a-Cop who Ruined My Day…and the men who didn’t defend me!

Last week after work but before heading home I had to make a stop at what once was my favorite shopping center in Delaware, Beaver Brook Plaza. This shopping center is on my route when I take 13S, and it had been the perfect one-stop shop for me to get everything that I needed without having to go out of my way.

Beaver Brook Shopping Center

Over the years, I had spent a lot of money at these three stores, Dollar Tree, supplies for my blog; Beaver Brook Liquors, you know I like my wine, and at Food Lion because they have great grocery store prices. The employees in each of these establishments were always courteous, pleasant and I’m usually greeted with a smile, which is why I hated to…but had to sever ties with them on Friday, the last day of July 2015!

Let me tell you what happened….

I was preparing for a busy weekend, with a Yard Sale scheduled for early Saturday morning and then with friends coming down from New York. My besties were coming for their annual summer weekend visit so I needed to pick up a few things first.

I decided to stop at Beaver Brook Plaza before heading home and my first stop was at Dollar Tree so that I could buy a balloon. It was going to be tied to the mailbox so that Yard Sale seekers would know which street to turn on and stop. #Toni’sTip

Mylar Balloon purchased at Dollar Tree

As I was standing in line, I was startled by a booming voice yelling at the top of his lungs “HEY, HEY YOU – ARE YOU OVER 18!!”

I and several other customers quickly turned to see what the commotion was all about and we saw a short, elderly security guard following and yelling at a 6’2” teenager; questioning whether or not he should be in the store without an adult accompanying him which is what a paper sign taped to the entrance read.

Sign posted on door of Dollar Tree

It not only frightened me but it was also upsetting because I began to think about my own sons and how they would react if somebody yelled at them like that. The “mommy bear” in me got even more upset when he proceeded to follow him out of the store, who at this point was embarrassed, and continued yelling not only at him but at his buddies as they rode their bikes on the sidewalk to get away from this high strung “rent a cop”.

I put the balloon in my car and walked back to the liquor store, a little shaken and as I explained the situation to the owners, another woman inside also said, she too was upset and wanted to pretend to be his mother so that this young man could make his $1.00 purchase. BTW, she was white and the teenagers were black…

Not only didn’t management from the Dollar Tree come out from behind those glass windows to check on the commotion, the owner of the liquor store defended the security guard saying, “they know that they have to be 18 to enter”…remember this “kid” was over 6 feet tall and I’m pretty sure he didn’t need to hold the hand of his mother to purchase a soda and a bag of chips!

I was in the liquor store to buy a case of beer and a case of wine coolers, both in boxes which I couldn’t carry out myself so I asked if they would put them in my trunk if I pulled up front. I also said, “I hope that security guard doesn’t yell at me!” I was assured that it wouldn’t be a problem….but you do know what happened next right?

Rent a cop ruined my day 017

After paying, I walked to my car, still shaking my head at the “rent a cop” and pulled up in front of the liquor store…and as soon as I stepped out of my vehicle, this man was in my face yelling, “HEY, HEY, YOU CAN’T PARK HERE…THIS IS A FIRE ZONE!!” Now you kinda sorta know me…so you know that I am as peaceful and calm as they come but this man ticked me off!

He was so close in my face that I could feel his breathe and had we been in Florida and I had a gun, it could have been a ‘stand your ground, I feel threatened‘ incident..nevermind that’s a different story for a different day.

Anywho

HOW DARE HE YELL AT ME!

Not only was he yelling at me about parking in the fire zone, which by the way I wasn’t parked, he had the nerve to pull out a piece of paper and shove it in my face showing me that it was against the law. I yelled back at him that I was a customer of the store and was waiting for my items to be loaded into my car…then he yelled back, that I wasn’t his customer and this went back and forth for a few seconds. In the meantime, the owner and another employee of the liquor store came out with my two boxes and loaded them into the trunk and neither one of them said a word!! not one single solitary word…they just loaded my trunk, turned and walked back into their store…AND there were also other men standing around just watching this yelling match.

He finally walked away, but my peace was broken so I went back over to him and asked for his name and telephone number because I was going to report him. I tried to take a picture but my dumb Smartphone’s battery was low and I was shaking like a leaf so I didn’t take note of the company’s name on his uniform, only his name tag, CR Lantz.

I ended up calling him an “asshole” and his response was…”well, I guess there has to be one!”  Man oh Manishewitz …I was so mad when I posted this on my Swarm account.  I was definitely upset not just because he broke my peace but also because I had to disrespect this elderly man.

Swarm location entry

I drove out of the fire lane and down to Food Lion where I spent almost an hour shopping and trying to calm my nerves before heading home for a glass of wine!

Finally somewhat calm, cool and collected I went to the register to pay for more than $150 worth of groceries and when the young cashier asked, “how I was doing today”, I told him a bit of what had transpired and his response was, “oh yeah, I know him, he is always harassing people, you’re lucky he didn’t put a big green sticker on your windshield because they are hard to get off!

Then I got mad again…why…because it was obvious that this security guard is well known by these merchants who help pay his salary and they don’t seem to mind that he harasses their customers…which I once was….but will never be again!!!

I guarantee Dollar Tree, Beaver Brook Liquors and Food Lion will never get another penny of my money and I will shop elsewhere even if it means going out of my way, because that “rent a copruined my day and is definitely in the wrong service industry. Mark my words, sooner or later something bad is going to happen to either him or someone else!

What about you, have you ever had someone break your peace and ruin your day?

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41 Comments

  • WOW! Small man, small mind thinking he is more than what he will ever be! I’d go up the food chain and keep complaining about this man. Heck! Call the news!

  • Ohhhhhhh this just makes me so sad! What is WRONG with this country??? At first, I thought the over 18 sign was at the liquor store. I was shocked it was at The Dollar Tree?!!?! That’s just crazy. If your business is using a security guard and you STILL need to keep unaccompanied minors out, SOMETHING IS WRONG!!! I hope they figure out what is going on. I wish my hubby had been there. He would’ve been a MAN about it and stepped in to defend you. Shame on those other fools! I hope that your weekend mellowed out and that you enjoyed the time with your wine and BFFs!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Thank you sweetie, it was amazing that no one wanted to come to my defense, I guess the world has definitely changed which came as it came as a definite shock to me.

      You have a good husband and I thank you for putting him out there I just hope the rent-a-cop finds a new line of work before someone gets hurt. Have a wonderful weekend.

  • My darling I was both laughing out loud and just as mad as you were both at the same time as I read this and I admire your calmness because I would have just asked for a refund taken my money and stormed out after knocking that old fart on his butt. I can handle many things but in my face yelling oh hellllllllllllll no!!!

  • Sonya K says:

    Wow!!! I can’t believe that the owners of the liquor store did not defend you. Or any of the other men that were around. I would have been mad too! I definitely would never shop at that shopping center again.

  • I’m so sorry you went through this. An experience like this can not only ruin your day but your entire shopping experience.

  • batteredhope says:

    It was an appalling situation and yes, I have been in similar. But I am a peace maker and calm in all situations. I would calmly have gone to the owners of the businesses and got support from others to get the guy removed and the over 18 signed changed. It might take a few phone calls and some time — but any business owner would want you to be happy. You have to deal with the people that can make change and they will — especially is it means losing your business. The employees didn’t help the situation because they probably are afraid of that idiot as well.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Yes, I agree and it took every ounce of strength I had in my body not to say other nasty things to this guy. I do hope this blog post is seen by the appropriate people as I also sent an email to the Property Managerl. I don’t want him to lose his job but I do want him relocated to another location where he is not so hostile.

      Thank you for your support and enjoy the weekend.

  • First of all hugs to you of comfort sis. Why on earth does that dollar tree need people to be over 18? Here in my city in all areas of the city kids can shop if they are tall enough to stand in line & pay for their stuff? That rule is aweful. I would of pretended to be his mom so he could of payed for his things peacefully. Man that rent a cop is surly passionate about his job, but needs to have some common sense & respect for people. I am so sorry he shooke you. Girl I could write a book on the times I have been harassed & disrespeted. It has happen to me so much so I had to learn to NOT LET THEM STEAL my joy nor my thoughts. It’s hard to do because I am sensitive person with a gentle spirit but I came to the point the last time it happen to me … I said I will not let them steal my joy because obviously they have none and I quickly changed my thoughts. I also believe the Bibles says pray blessings for our enemy’s so I choke up a prayer for them too. I want to be a better person than people like that who make this world less peaceful ya know? ( Love you & hugs ) Don’t let them take your joy hun!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Yes, you are totally correct. Even if he had previous run-ins with these kids there was no reason for him to disrespect me. Like you, I pray for constant peace and tranquility which is why when he broke my peace it hurt me inside. I refuse to be taken advantage of, and the pen is mighty and I even said to him, “you chose the wrong person” because I know that I was going to write a post about the incident. I also contacted the company that owns the property and again, I will never shop there again.

      I hope that you have a peaceful weekend my friend and thank you for the support!

  • Also I am gonna share this post to spread the word on this shopping center!!!

  • katykozee says:

    I would have lost my cool too – that guy has no business harassing people like that.

  • Oh my word! You’re right, let your money do the talking. Peace be with you today!
    http://www.robincharmagne.com/blog

  • Merrie K. says:

    Yeah, of course I have…just happened yday. I ordered this product online for my cats but it looked like it was irritating their skin. I called up to use the company’s “guarantee” and return it. Not only would they not return it, the lady was so rude! Sigh…I get it. I hated getting irritated at bc I knew it was a waste of time, but I’m human…

  • Neti* says:

    Yeah. . .we know how to hit them below the belt. Buy somewhere else, it works!! Sorry my Sista and you did good. You did’nt get ugly you just marched to a different drum. Kudos!!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Thank you, and yes, I just am so tired of getting second rate service when I am spending my hard earned money, and for those merchants to allow this man to do this is beyond my comprehension. I hope you have a wonderful weekend Blog Sistah.

  • menopausalmother says:

    Wow! This guy sounds like a real menace! I can’t believe those stores allow him to be this rude to customers!!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      That is exactly what I was thinking, even if this guy was having a “bad day”, there was no reason for him to yell at me like that! I hope you have an awesome weekend my friend.

  • OMG, I would never shop there again either. You should report him to upper management! immediately!! I’m so glad you kept your cool. He was trying to push your buttons and then make it look like your in the wrong. And how ridiculous that teens need a chaperone to shop.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      I know, I wanted to stop by today to read the name on his uniform and may do so next week because I am not going to forget about this incident for a long time. It makes no sense that you have to be accompanied by an adult if you are under 18. No more of my money! Have an awesome weekend my dear.

  • Antionette Blake, I actually had a very similar situation happen to my son is that same dollar tree. I was at WAWA and my son went to pick up a quick item from the dollar store and one of the caucasian employees yelled at my son asking how old his was and told him to Get Out because he was not with a parent or an adult and was under 18 yrs old. I was wondering what was taking so long, then a very nice lady (African American) came over to my car when she saw my son getting in the car and told me she heard the entire incident and she had a few words with the employee and told her that was very RUDE how she spoke to my son and she needed to apologize to him. She also got the General Managers info to make a formal complain. We then went over yo tge dollar tree do my son could show me & my husband who she was, but she was gone. I’m pretty sure God worked it out that day so she wouldn’t be there because who knows what would have happened. Just because you are under 18, it doesn’t mean you are going to steal. We were very upset. I was so grateful that she was defending my son because she didn’t have to do it. They won’t be seeing another member of the Douglas family in that store!! I was always taught its not what you say its how you say it.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Wow, I can’t believe that these stores still have loyal customers. It’s sad because we try to teach our children to be polite and respectful, however, oftentimes they are not afforded the same in return.

  • Oh wow sis, sorry you had to go through this. I had a problem with a rent-a-cop before at my job who kept tagging my car for no reason. I called the office on him and he stopped tagging my car after that. This rent-a-cop has a special need so I wasn’t that mad with him but now he understands he just can’t tag peoples’ cars for no reason.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      oh no, so sorry to hear that – I wonder if he was he fascinated with you and was trying to get your attention but didn’t know how. Glad it has been resolved.

  • Stacie says:

    Yeah, I think we have all been there! You’re minding your business and someone starts acting a fool LOL! It’s hard to shake off sometimes but we got to. Don’t let them steal your joy! 😉

  • renxkyoko says:

    Don’t let him get away with that kind of attitude. * pissed off *

  • Sara says:

    They have the security guards because kids steal. I’ve been there plenty of times and I’ve seen teenagers hide stuff in their hoodies and leave.

I love reading your comments!

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