A COSTCO shopper is venting about an incident at their local warehouse.
After a bad experience with an employee, the shopper said they’re leaving the company behind.
The shopper, a parent in Anchorage, Alaska, said their daughter came to the store with an emotional support animal.
Someone working for the store asked about the dog, sparking a fracas.
Now, they’re not coming back.
“I will be canceling my Costco membership after today!” they said.
The parent shared the dramatic tale in a Facebook post.
WHAT HAPPENED
The customer alleged that their daughter walked into Costco with a puppy who helpes her with anxiety.
They claimed one employee asked if it was a service dog, and what her disability was.
Service dogs are meant for disabled people and are allowed in most places, even when there’s a no-pets-allowed rule.
However, companies are not allowed to ask about the nature of someone’s disability.
While the emotional support puppy was not a service dog, the shopper incorrectly said it was a service dog.
Then drama started when the dog peed, leaving mess on the floor.
She walked away to ask for help cleaning it up.
“At this time, the gentleman who was following her yelled at her from across the aisle, screaming that she couldn’t leave it there,” the shopper said in the post. “He came up to her yelling at her to clean it up and accusing her of trying to leave it. What was she supposed to do, take off her shirt to clean it?
“Her sister said she could clean it, the man ignored her and he yelled ‘SHE NEEDS TO CLEAN IT UP.’ This man publicly and very loudly yelled at my daughter, hovered over her while she was on her hands and knees cleaning this up off the floor.”
The alleged interaction caused the parent to plan on cancelling their membership.
“This behavior is absolutely disgusting! I will absolutely no longer spend a penny at Costco or anyone who buys from Costco.”
COST-WOE
Private businesses are not allowed to ask about the nature of someone’s disability, even if they have a service dog, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
However, that applies specifically to service animals.
Emotional support animals do not qualify under the law.
But this is not the first time Costco has faced complaints.
Some have demanded a crackdown on membership evasion after their local food court was “swarmed” with high-schoolers.
However, others have complained that the company is already too strict.
A shopper recently shared their confusion over a strict membership sharing rule.
One Costco member cancelled their card over a discontinued item.