FEELINGS

Last week, two days before Thanksgiving, the big box club membership store's parking lot was packed and filled to capacity.

After a long work day with back pain and with no parking space in sight, my daughter handed her sixteen-year-old, my grandchild, the store's membership card and credit card for the purpose of purchasing one item.

Not a cart load of groceries and household items, one item was to be selected and purchased. The transaction should have been easy peasy, in and out, and done. If only, it would have gone that way. There would be no need to write this journal story.

Realizing it was taking way too long, my daughter continued to wait. In sadness, my grandchild returned to their mother's car in tears. While the purchase eventually was made, my grandchild didn't want to talk about the hassling, overwhelming, and traumatizing experience.

In turn, my daughter messaged me, "Can you downgrade our membership? Don't like going there..."

Immediately, alarm bells went off! Last year, for economic reasons, did a downgrade. However, my membership was recently upgraded again and renewed back in September. 

Me, the mommy bear, grandmommy bear was outraged.

After her message, messaged back that I would not mention this in front of my grandchild. Nevertheless, the store needed to hear from me, but she informed me that she already called the store. She spoke to a store employee who said, "I have been here 29 years and the policy is the member has to be there"

While she wasn't physically in the store, she was there. She was outside in their parking lot unable to park and go into the store.

Surprisingly, there wasn't any empathy at the big box club membership store. An exception to their policy could have been made without the trauma, drama, and hassle.

In fact, my daughter messaged, "They could’ve just told her next time I need to be there and let her check out. Not make her wait, have everyone go past her, just to finally check her out. I was waiting in the car in the parking lot. I had a long day at work, my back hurt and she just wanted to get one item for me. .

The parking lot was a mad house."

Now, extremely upset over how the store treated my grandchild. While my grandchild didn't want to talk about what happened, that's understandable. After being bullied and berated, it's exactly how I have felt in the past.

Unfortunately, there are berating incidents on both sides of the checkout counter. From what has been pieced together, they required or wanted a 16 year old child to purchase a membership. If this is true, it's outrageous.

Really, expecting a 16 year old child to purchase a membership, my daughter wondered and questioned, "Greedy?"

Then, I thought. Can a 16 year old enter into a contract? Isn't 16 under legal age? Yet, checking online, it does show that a sixteen year old can have a membership.

From my understanding, a family can only have two cards on a membership. In reality, it appears that four cards are needed for a family.

For 17 years, purchased and carried their membership card. In all that time, there has never been an issue. Shocked and appalled over their acting and appearing greedy. Therefore, my heart and mind are conflicted.

Traumatizing and overwhelming a 16 year old, was that really necessary? Having the 16 year old step aside, they checked out other customers. What the store employees said to my grandchild, is unknown to me leaving me feeling outraged. Enduring a lengthy wait, traumatizing and hassling, in the end, a store employee made the one purchase item transaction.

Right now, my shopping list contains items that are purchased at the club membership store. Procrastinating should go shopping at the club membership store, but my heart hurts! Sadly, I am feeling conflicted.

Author's notes: Thank you for reading! Always appreciated!