RANT: Shame on you Trader Joes

[miws]

MYOB? Gladly!…but not when I’m morally obligated to find out what’s up with an unattended child.

That’s a really good point, and an admirable quality in a person that feels that way..

I’m still not sure how much responsibility I would drop in TJ’s lap. Although I think a “Rant” against them is a bit harsh.

One thing came to mind just a moment ago; as far-fetched as this might be, what if the car had been stolen with the child(ren) in it, and the thief happened to dump the car there?

I’ve heard of that happening before, though don’t recall if there’s been any incidents in the Seattle/WS area.

I suppose, if a witness can’t, or doesn’t want to involve the business in trying to locate the parent, they could wait at the car for five minutes, (if they have the time) and if nobody shows up, call 911.

Mike

Share This

[Cait]

Playing “what if” isn’t going to help – Trader Joe’s deserves to have their name unassociated with this. Is it not possible at this point to do that?

As has been said a million times it’s not against the law, the “worried” party didn’t even speak to the mother and the Trader Joe’s staff would be the LEAST liable if anything had happened. This is asinine.

Share This

[akwesasne]

I doubt Melissa would have been ranting if the fine people of TJs would have at least given her some response instead of blank stares. Even if they had no idea what to do, good customer service demands that they acknowledge the customer’s concern (even if is no concern of their own) and offer some comment. They were rude to the customer and seem perhaps callous to not be concerned on at least a personal/individual level about young children being left alone in a car. Who cares if these blank starers were TJ employees, what about the fact that they are simply people too? I would hope they would care and put their personal judgement into play. I do think TJ is a nice store and usually we get stellar customer service, friendly, responsive.

Btw, my older sisters talked me into releasing the parking brake when my Mom left us in the car to run in and pick up dry cleaning … the car rolled back into the street and nobody’s grandma or mini-horse got hurt, but my sisters did get in trouble :)

Tjs could have handled this differently and I am sure they are quite interested in this thread.

Share This

[EdSane]

Did TJs turn into a religion when I wasn’t looking? If this had happened at an Albertsons would people be so up in arms…creepy.

Share This

[kgdlg]

I really hope that the grandma and mini horse story is not true. If so, I am so sorry for you and am impressed at how tame your response to the “what if” by all the other posters was.

Share This

[oddreality]

Edsane, I wonder the same myself.

What I have learned from reading this thread it:do not pay attention to anyone elses kids because people want to raise them themselves no matter what.

So from here on out if I see your children doing something that may harm them I will not interfere in any way.I will no longer pay any attention at all so as not incur your wrath for caring.

I say kudos to the op for giving a darn..

What if it had been 90 degrees out and a dog..bet you all would have cared then…

Share This

[kgdlg]

Oddreality, I think the opposite is true of this thread. It is great that Melissa was concerned for the kids. Kudos to her. Great that she called 911 because she was concerned. She recognized a situation that made her uncomfortable because of perceived risk, and did something about it even though it wasn’t illegal. This is what out community in WS is about, in my opinion, looking out for each other.

From what I have read people like me have taken issue with the next two steps – getting angry at TJs and then not saying anything to the mom. At this point, the OP has not confirmed if she said anything to the mom when she returned to the car.

Given these two issues and the context, it seems highly unfair to rant against TJs.

This rant should be titled “shame on people who leave their kids in cars unattended”

Share This

[cbof]

There are so many people out there ready and willing to tell everyone else what to do, and they’re usually really unfairly judgmental. I bet the original ranter doesn’t even have kids.

Share This

[JoB]

cbof

“There are so many people out there ready and willing to tell everyone else what to do, and they’re usually really unfairly judgmental. I bet the original ranter doesn’t even have kids.”

I agree that there a too many people out there ready and willing to tell everyone else what to do, and they are usually really unfairly judgmental…

unfortunately.. adding the judgmental comment at the end really dilutes your point:(

Share This

[EdSane]

@cbof…don’t worry buddy in my line of work I encounter far to many people who are just happy to walk away…remember its not “their” problem.

Share This

[cbof]

@JoB

Ha! Fair enough. :-) Thanks for pointing it out in a tasteful manner.

Share This

[JoB]

cbof..

what? i should whack you in the back of the head for that?

whacking someone in the back of the head is far more effective if used sparingly…

I may need the big guns later ;->

by the way.. not a bad call overall.

Someone who has kids is more likely to know how to say something to the mother in a compassionate way..

having been between that rock and a hard place before themselves…

unless of course those days are long behind them and the memories have faded…

Share This

[BearsChick]

I can’t believe I’m still reading this thread. We’re talking about an infant being left alone in a car. As a woman who cannot have children, let me say this…if you’re infant and toddler means so little to you that you’ll leave them alone unattended in your car, I’ll take them off you hands. I would LOVE to raise, protect and adore what you are willing to risk.

Share This

[Cait]

But the question is – what the hell does it have to do with Trader Joe’s?! They didn’t acknowledge a concern? I guarantee that they didn’t just stare blankly – if someone is pissed enough to point the finger at them I’m sure that anything short of busting out the window themselves was not going to be satisfactory. I’m guessing that’s an assessment made through the filter of righteous indignation, which is neither here nor there. Trader Joe’s doesn’t need to be associated with this. The cops need to follow up. Leave it be.

Share This

[BearsChick]

no, the point is a mother thought it was okay to leave an INFANT and toddler in a car unsupervised. yes, it’s legal for her to do it, but i cannot understand it.

Share This

[EdSane]

@Cait….Clearly TJs customer was upset by this situation in their parking lot. Maybe you have not worked in customer service. Clearly they should have addressed the issue. Having worked in a grocery store in my youth. I know for a fact it was corporate policy that we would not have left the vehicle unattended (that’s what bag boys are for) while we attempted contact with the vehicle owner. As I stated earlier, had this been some other business this thread would have been different. TJs is some kind of god around here. TJs failure to manage their parking lot and the safety of all their customers (infants in cars included) is why they “deserve” this. As to the “legality” of leaving infants in cars. Even if the responding officer was unable to write a citation. This could still be forwarded to child protective services for a follow up.

Share This

[Cait]

Not everyone knows exactly what to do at a moment’s notice when presented with that issue. I don’t believe they have a PA system in there – so I would have hesitated too about what would be best for me to do as an employee. That said, one person’s likely momentary hesitation isn’t Trader Joe’s problem either. Just my opinion as a non-worshiper of TJ’s.

Share This

[EdSane]

@Cait…They have one per fire code. Companies have policies for a reason. Not only do they not want the liability of failure to act. They don’t want to lose customers for perceived failures. Had I been a manager of TJs I would have used this situation as a training tool for how my employees should have responded. Just because the mother is culpable doesn’t also mean that the store doesn’t have a “duty” to ensure the safety of all persons on their property.

Share This

[pattilea]

I am surprised that this post is still going. I think Melissa made this her business, because she made it her business she took it upon herself to watch the children. I am glad she did, but don’t blame TJ’s because a customer did something that is not against the law. Remember the kids who shot their sibling because they found a loaded gun in the car! I am shocked this is legal. I would have stood by and watched the children too. Maybe said that I feel it’s not safe. But again Melissa, choose to make this her business!

Share This

[Author]

Posts