[arista]

[Black father 'is refused to buy paint
for his four-year-old son's art project
by Hobbycraft staff because they
assumed he would use it to GRAFFITI']


[A black father claims he was
'racially profiled' and 'refused service'
at an arts and crafts store
when buying paint for his son because
staff allegedly assumed he would
undertake an 'incidence of graffiti'.

But Hobbycraft says it was because he
could not provide ID for an age related product.
Louis Gray, from Cardiff, alleges he was
refused service at his local Hobbycraft
store on Saturday when trying to buy
spray paint with his four-year-old son
so that he could have a bike helmet
in 'a new colour to be like his idol'.]


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-GRAFFITI.html

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by arista

But Hobbycraft says it was because he
could not provide ID for an age related product.

Bullcrap, he's clearly much older than 18.

[bots]

the guy has the hairline of a typical 18 year old

[Cherie]

Listen they age check me when I buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket so I don't know what his problem is, if you need ID, you need ID

[Crimson Dynamo]

Black ?

😂

[UserSince2005]

Also he’s not buying paint for his son. He was buying spray paint. Its for adult use only. Change the title.

[Gusto Brunt]

Originally Posted by UserSince2005

To be fair I wouldn’t trust him

You might have a point.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Listen they age check me when I buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket so I don't know what his problem is, if you need ID, you need ID

there is no discretion over what age a person looks anymore.They have to provide documented proof

[arista]

Originally Posted by UserSince2005

Also he’s not buying paint for his son. He was buying spray paint. Its for adult use only. Change the title.

No
as he was buying it for use
on something for his 4-year-old

[arista]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Black ?

😂

Removed from the title

[Alf]

It sounds like bull.

I just can't believe someone would say that to a customer.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Alf

It sounds like bull.

I just can't believe someone would say that to a customer.

They didn't he decided for himself what they were thinking, I am sure if he went home and brought back ID they would have sold it to him no problem

[MTVN]

Thing is the staff really wouldn't care if he was using it for graffiti, why would they? And how does checking ID prevent graffiti taking place?

The staff do care however about selling to underage people because the whole - age25 'you will lose your job if you sell to an under 18' - thing is so drummed into them

[bots]

I'm an OAP and the Amazon driver still insists on seeing age verification proof whenever something restricted is delivered. They would simply get fired if they don't do the check when it is mandated

[UserSince2005]

in this day and age i wouldnt trust the man not to take the can and spray his son with it to make him look like a smurf.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

the guy has the hairline of a typical 18 year old

He looks about 23 to me.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Listen they age check me when I buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket so I don't know what his problem is, if you need ID, you need ID

Common sense should kick in.

I remember having a similar incident with Alcohol a few years ago, even though I clearly looked to be in my twenties.

I get it if it's genuinely hard to tell how old someone is, but we're talking about Graffiti fgs. Plus he clearly looks above the age of 18.

[Ammi]

….hmmmm, I can see this from both points of view tbh…obviously those serving in the shop were within their rights to verify ID and ask for proof etc…but …..’Mr Gray claims he was 'surrounded' by three members of staff — one who was allegedly 'wearing a bodycam to record the transaction' and one who allegedly 'waved his hands in the air' to signal more staff.’ …if this is true and he was with his son buying spray paint and after the age verification request, was then ‘surrounded’ by three staff members with one motioning for more staff…?…then yeah, that wasn’t in proportion at all and would have alarmed him…it would definitely have alarmed and intimidated me…but obviously that’s only one interpretation of the situation….it says in the article that one of the staff members had a body cam on so that should be able to be verified maybe…?…but unless Mr Gray himself was looking threatening or hostile, that was really wasn’t a good retail look for buying spray paint…

…in the Hobbycraft statement, they refer to the Challenge 25 Policy …but in reading up, that only seems to refer to the sale of alcohol specifically….anyway, these things are very difficult to have full thoughts without the full context…

[bots]

it comes from an environment of fear, where people are genuinely scared of losing their jobs if they don't follow company procedures to the letter

[Cherie]

Mr Gray claims he was 'surrounded' by three members of staff — one who was allegedly 'wearing a bodycam to record the transaction' and one who allegedly 'waved his hands in the air' to signal more staff.’ …if this is true and he was with his son buying spray paint and after the age verification request, was then ‘surrounded’ by three staff members with one motioning for more staff…

Retail staff are in fear of being assaulted these days, which is unfortunately why they have to wear body cams....it sounds like he was creating a scene about not being allowed to buy hence the call for other staff, anyhoo as you say body cam should be able to verify what exactly happened, maybe the staff didnt cover themselves in glory but I dont think this was racial profiling, not sure I associate graffiti with the black community at all

[Ammi]

…I’m not on board with or going to buy into that ‘one size fits all disclaimer’ type thing because I think that’s what also helps to create an environment or mindset that just adds to these culture war times we live in …

[Ammi]

…just to add a little bit to the story because I’m such a person for ‘complete context’ and having the whole story etc…

…I googled Louis Gray from Cardiff, which is obviously the name of the customer …and a first search result from LinkedIn came up….

‘Louis Grey - Consultant in Race Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’…so obviously that was interesting if it was the same person….and reading the Independent article…

‘Louis Gray, who works at Sport Wales as an equality, diversity and inclusion manager, said he was with his four-year-old son at the time, and had gone to buy spray paint to repaint the child’s bicycle helmet in the colours of his favourite mountain bike rider.’….

…so yeah, that’s all interesting information also…as I said earlier, verification of how the interactions went should be hopefully quite straightforward and easy with a body cam …and also, I presume CCTV in the shop as well…

[Quantum Boy]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Bullcrap, he's clearly much older than 18.

Depends on the policy though, they might have a "Think25" and I would say he could feasibly be under 25.

Here's my guess at what happened:

- He tried to buy the paint

- It's age restricted so the staff member asked for ID (even if they were sure he was over 18 they would have, as they likely have internal testing with disciplinary action if you fail to ID someone under the "Think" age)

- He asked why someone would need ID for buying paint

- Cashier has - perhaps clumsily - said something like "because people might use it for graffiti"

- Customer has felt discriminated against, probably an exchange of words has occurred, leading to the customer feeling profiled.



It is of course a total guess but if you've worked front-line customer service in a role that involves any form of age checking... and you had a penny for every customer who felt unfairly persecuted by said age checking... you'd have a nice little sum tucked away.

[Ammi]

…or that the customer is a ‘Consultant in Race Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’ may have a direct bearing also…what if for instance, this wasn’t the only retail shop that the paint was requested in and actions and reactions were being specifically looked for etc…?…obviously this is only a hypothetical ‘what if….’…but the thing that his position could have a bearing on ‘the story’ and what did occur in the store…

[bots]

my guess is there is more to this story than meets the eye