This Time it's Personal

I've been using Tesco Holland Park for about five or six years. I live in the area and stop off there nearly every day. For the first few years that I shopped there I bought alcohol without being challenged, which isn't surprising because I am a 36 year old man. People always tell me I look younger than that, which actually bothers me a bit. My fear is that my youthful looks reflect an immaturity which embarrasses me. That being said I don't look 17, I don't even look 24 (in terms of a Think 25 policy).

All of a sudden, about a year ago, one of the staff members who'd previously sold me alcohol without problem started to ask me for ID. Since then she has challenged me every single time. Each time I would tell her my age or date of birth and she would relent without me having to produce any ID. None of the other members of staff have ever asked, in fact noone has asked me for ID for longer than I can remember. Today I got annoyed when she asked me yet again when trying to buy a Crabbies. Although thousands go through that store every day, I would expect her to remember a regular customer she challenged after the 4th or 5th time of asking. So I told her not to be stupid. One of the other staff on the till was laughing at the situation. She called the manager and he apologetically claimed that I couldn't be served because she didn't believe I was over 18. Her opinion seemingly having more weight than that of any other, including his. This was made all the more galling by virtue of having to watch a girl who was borderline, to say the least, being approved alcohol at one of the self-service tills, where I, a bearded man with greying hair, had to explain myself after a long day to a couple of clowns on the till. I had no ID so had to buy some beer down the road.

I can't explain this. The only thing I can come up with, without being too paranoid, is that she has a cultural problem identifying the age of Caucasians in the same way that I might with Oriental people. After all, she has no reference points in terms of work colleagues because I can't remember ever seeing a white person working there. It's an amazing coincidence, especially considering the more balanced ethnic make-up of staff at the Waitrose and Morrisons stores down the road, that the recruitment process hasn't thrown the occasional honky into the mix. It's almost like there's some kind of ethnic bias or something. Weird. Which would be illegal of course, being serious about it.

Anyway, it also has to be said that she has a few odd, nervous ticks which might indicate some underlying issues. She mutters to herself and behaves in a slightly weird way, which is why I cut her some slack when she challenged me before. But I was tired and irritated and complained about it this time. Lets see if I hear back.

*UPDATE 15-01-12 They called me back today which is impressive customer service. They are forwarding my email to the store manager.

*UPDATE  16-02-12 I wondered whether this might happen. My complaint to Tesco included my pointed remark about the lack of white employees. Today there was a white employee on the tills at Tesco Holland Park. Could be a coincidence of course. Not just white either, he was actually English, singing to himself at the till.