# The Jeweler is racist
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 3, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374 "2004-06-03T01:24:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/1 "2004-06-03T01:24:54Z")
My brother has saved money from candy sales and saving his change and he had about 112 dollars and believe it or not wanted to spend about 95 dollars on his “girlfriend”.
I told him to spend it on something he wants because at his age relationships do not last very long…but anyway I did take him to the mall after school today and we were treated extremely rudely.
We went into the “jewelry store” and my brother knew exactly what he wanted to get and he had his money ready.
The guy working comes over to us and says “May I help you” but not in a nice way, more like “why are you in my store” and my brother explains what he wants to buy he had enough money in his hand.
Then some other people walk into the store and this man START’s helping them instead of my brother who was ready to get what he needed and leave.
Anyway these other people weren’t sure what they wanted and didn’t buy anything and basically we stood there while the jewelry store man passed us over for people that came into the store after us and all of them bought nothing.
This happened with 3 people until I just came up to the guy in the middle of his conversation with a woman and insisted that we be served considering that my brother had his money out and was ready to buy some of his cheap “jewelry” also because we had waited almost 20 minutes for a transaction that should have taken one minute. Then he had the nerve to get an attitude with us so I told my brother we were leaving and I announced very loudly that his “jewelry” is cheap and turns your skin green. Not proud of that but I am glad that he didn’t get my brother’s 95 dollars.
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### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/2 "2004-06-03T01:27:37Z")
While not excusing the jeweler’s actions in any way, is it at all possible that he thought you were young, and therefore unlikely (in his mind) to be serious customers? Rather than racist?
Just sayin.
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/3 "2004-06-03T01:28:25Z")
So, um… where does the racism part come in?
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### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/4 "2004-06-03T01:32:43Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> So, um… where does the racism part come in?
Didn’t you read the OP? The jeweler’s wares turn skin green. \*\*START \*\* and his brother clearly were new customers; therefore, un-green. Therefore, discriminated against. Really, **Miller**.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/5 "2004-06-03T01:41:24Z")
> [@START](#):
>
> …Then he had the nerve to get an attitude with us so I told my brother we were leaving and I announced very loudly that his “jewelry” is cheap and turns your skin green. Not proud of that but I am glad that he didn’t get my brother’s 95 dollars.
I have to agree with TellMeI’mNotCrazy. Teens are not the normal clientele for a jewelry store.
Your actions were not justified. If you care about your brother (and you do seem to), you should try to set a better example.
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### Author:  [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/6 "2004-06-03T01:46:36Z")
I hate to ask for the obvious, or perhaps I missed it, but what race are you and what race was the jeweler?
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/7 "2004-06-03T01:55:48Z")
> [@START](#):
>
> The guy working comes over to us and says “May I help you” but not in a nice way, more like “why are you in my store” and my brother explains what he wants to buy he had enough money in his hand.
Why do I picture the jewelry-store clerk as [Frank Nelson](http://www.dannythestreet.com/franknelson/pictures.html)?
“_Eeeee_-yessss?”
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### Author:  [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/8 "2004-06-03T02:08:55Z")
We are african american/caucasian and the jeweler was a guy with a thick accent from I don’t know where…anyway my brother had the money in his hand ready to purchase and leave but apparently the jeweler didn’t want it otherwise he would have showed some respect.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/9 "2004-06-03T02:11:23Z")
Respect goes both ways, you know.
Granted the jeweler shouldn’t have treated you that way, but you should have just left without making that comment. There must be other places you could take your brother to buy jewelry.
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### Author:  [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/10 "2004-06-03T03:15:20Z")
The jeweler should have waited on you, of course, but your outburst as you left the store did nothing but justify his actions toward you, in his mind and probably the minds of the other customers. Not classy.
Next time just take your $95 and give it to a non-discriminating jeweler and leave it at that. If you absolutely must say something, bring the receipt back to whoever wouldn’t wait on you and quietly show them what they missed out on.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/11 "2004-06-03T03:29:33Z")
The jeweler inadvertantly did you a favor. Mark-up at jewelry stores is several hundred percent. You could do better at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) or a discount store, and no one there will cop an attitude.
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### Author:  [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/12 "2004-06-03T03:31:31Z")
I doubt very much this was an act of racism as much as it was an act of age-ism. I know that back when I was a teenager, I often encountered that kind of snobbishness at department store perfume counters. Now, I will be the first to admit that I was not dressed the way other customers in the store were - this was early punk rock days, and I was the world’s biggest fashion victim back then. But - I was generally patient, NEVER rude, and the only time I ever caused a stink was when I was snubbed by three salesclerks in a row who chatted amongst themselves, ignoring me completely, then rushed as one to serve a middle-aged lady who came in shortly after I did. I was still patient, until that customer left and I was once again disregarded. And at that point, I merely requested a manager, who immediately put things to right.
YOU, on the other hand, acted very childishly with your snide comment - and I was with you 100% up to that point. The unfortunate thing is that you’ve now reinforced the salesperson’s opinion that teenagers are a pain in the ass in a jewelry store. And incidentally, it’s unlikely that you embarrassed the salesperson with your attitude - it’s much more likely that you became a laughingstock the second you were out of earshot.
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### Author:  [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/13 "2004-06-03T03:35:20Z")
> [@START](#):
>
> We are african american/caucasian…
Wow! That perfectly explains the ["OJ is innocent](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=251679)" card and the bubble-headed relative who moronically took personal offense to it in a way that completely leaves my previously held prejudices unshaken! Horray!
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### Author:  [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/14 "2004-06-03T03:44:35Z")
I’ve worked in the jewelry trade and although the attitude of the jeweler is unfortunate, it comes because teenagers often come in the store and spends lots of time and require a lot of attention, but rarely spend money. And, to be honest, when they do, it’s small amounts like $100, which doesn’t go far in making sales quotas. Teenagers often come in with an attitude wich doesn’t win friends of sales people.
I never turned away a customer, because you never know who has money and who’s willing to spend it. I’m sorry you and your brother had an unhappy experience, but there are other stores. I don’t really understand why you call it racist.
StG
StG
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/15 "2004-06-03T04:31:29Z")
[quote]
**pizzabrat** , I commiserate with you about your experience. It can be humiliating if you let it be. It happens because of race, lifestyle, age, fashion choices, physical features – whatever. There will always be people who need to feel superior to you and to let you know that.
_But it really didn’t matter._ The mistake is theirs. Refuse to cooperate with their efforts to make you feel unworthy.
What happened to you had nothing to do with who you really are or who you brother is. It was about the man in the jewelry store. Next time, dwell on your dignity instead of your understandable anger.
How has your brother handled it?
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### Author:  [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/16 "2004-06-03T04:45:19Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe]
> [@](#):
>
> **pizzabrat** , I commiserate with you about your experience. It can be humiliating if you let it be. It happens because of race, lifestyle, age, fashion choices, physical features – whatever. There will always be people who need to feel superior to you and to let you know that.
huh?
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### Author:  [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/17 "2004-06-03T04:49:47Z")
It’s funny, I just read a thread with people cheering on a Doper who threatened to beat the crap out of an extremely rude restaurant patron. And here, quite the opposite reaction. Odd.
If someone so obviously rude to you, snubbing you with money literally in hand, then you are perfectly justified in telling them off some. Assholes need to be told off and reminded they are assholes, in case they are too stupid to notice on their own.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/18 "2004-06-03T04:51:14Z")
Well, I hate to be ornery but I’m going to side with **START**. The guy was a dick to them. Whether it was racism or ageism he was still a dick and START’s response was rather mild compared to mine would have been.
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### Author:  [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/19 "2004-06-03T05:31:50Z")
I think the jeweler was a dick too. Personally, unless his jewelery was amazingly unique or well-priced, I wouldn’t have waited until he’d finished serving the other customers - I would have been gone as soon as I’d heard the tone in his voice (which from the OP sounded like a “Can I _help_ you” with no question mark - am I right?)
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jeweler-is-racist/248374/20 "2004-06-03T13:17:44Z")
> [@START](#):
>
> " . . . the jeweler was a guy with a thick accent from I don’t know where . . . "
_Who’s_ racist, now?
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