Menards's store manager and security behaviors experience

To: Menard, Inc Headquater, Eau Claire,Wisconsin

- Ms. Arlene Krueger, Customer Service.

-Security Department

On Sunday, 10/22/06 my wife and I planned to replace over my 500sqf finished hardwood floor in my home. We decided to shop at Menard store at Morton Grove IL. At the wood floor department while we were discussing sizes and type of wood. I used a small tape measure that was taken from shelve (still in wrap cover) for checking to make sure before making a special order, which is could not return. After we decided to pick the type of wood floor we want but there we need to bring our installer back to the store to make sure what we need more beside that for us make a purchase order in the same day.

In the way out, my wife she purchased some items that total is $40.66 on receipt. After we just walked out of the door couple feet, a young man stopped us and asking for receipt and asked me that what else in my jacket pocket I did not pay. I look down and realized the tape measure I borrowed to use inside the store still half way out from my pocket that I forgot to put back on the shelve. He told me to come back inside the store and put me into a small room with two cameras hanging on ceiling. At first, the young man asked my ID and told me I took that by incident. I was shaken, tried to explain to him that just an accident because I had concentrated about changing my hardwood floor, and other things need for my home. I just completely forgot to put the tape measure back.

I asked him want to talk to his boss “I AM THE BOSS HERE!” he said with proud on his face. Again, I told him check on camera video while we were selecting wood floor product talked to sale person in that department helping us to prove what I told him was the truth. He agreed, and left me behind the closed door. Ten minutes later, came back with a form on his hand without mention anything about the video what I said to him before. He asked me for my social security number, and told me that I had to sign and pay 100.00 dollars fine because of stealing!!! I asked him "Am I a thief?" He responded “Yes, you are!" On the form convinced me I am a thief of stealing tape measure value of 2.49 dollars. I refused to sign, and asked for store manager. He left and came back with the man dressed in Menard white shirt uniform. He told me this was a store Manager.

The man came to the room with his hassle attitude, and without introduce himself who he is. He cut me off in less than two second while I tried to explain my situation to him. In his hatred, he raised his loud voice and pointed his finger to my face and said ' You pay, or police will come" I was confused and disappointed. I asked for police officer. He smiles, "Sure!" Not for long, a Morton Grove police officer came to the room. I don’t know what story they told the police officers before came to the room. But, after explaining to the representative of the laws what happened to me that I was just accidentally causing. And just like the man before. He did not mind to ask for details my story but quickly giving out order by his hardly voice, he said “You have to sign on the form and pay 100.00 dollars fine, or I am going take you to jail!” I asked him what if I needed to go to a court to see the judge. And again, he said “You pay them, or I'm taking you to jail and that is it". He asked me my work phone number and while I tried to find in my wallet. He asked me again with his impatience voice” YOU HAVE MEMORY?” I gave to him my company business card in my wallet after explain to him which I rarely use because I never miss at work. While we were talking, another police officer walked into the room. He walked back and forth, shook his head "tsk, tsk, tsk” none stop???

My wife was standing outside security door and tried to stopped and explained to the young security but he kept repeating "Sorry lady, he is a thief, he's a thief”. She asked customer service to see store manager; they said he was not in? (So who is the man came to the room talk to me?) Finally, I recognized I was hopeless to get help. They left me no choice. And the young man walked me to the cashier and charged my credit card 100.00 dollars fine. He also whispered to my ear that nobody will know I am a thief” ”Oh, no, no I need to let people know my situation, and the way your store treated us” I said to him. And we did, outside while he charged 100.00 dollars fine on my bank card (the same card I spend thousands and thousand dollars to this store for my home improvement every year) we loudly told all customers what happened to us, and bewared the way the store treating their customers. The young security walked us out the door yelled to us “HAVE A NICE DAY AND DON'T STEAL AGAIN" before he disappeared back inside. We were wondering is only the Judge having the right to judge people at the court. Why this young guy just keeps calling me thief? And why the store was harassing us so nasty???

In the next following week, on Friday, 10/27/06 I made a call to the store like to talk to the store manger because I did not believed the man I already talked to the day I was harassed by him before for whom he is. On the phone, the man introduced himself is name DAVE HARRINGTON store manager. He agreed to set up time and date and we going to meet to resolve the harassment issue, as I said to him. On Monday, 10/30/06 we back to the store. After we checked at the service counter, the service people pointed their fingers to the man was stood 10 feet away from us. Said to us “that Dave Harrington store manager, who is you want to see” He is the one was harassing us that day! His dirty smiles threw into my face in that day still in my ears. His hatred attitude he gave us in that day still in my mind, and he has nothing change when I look at him this time. We left the store. We and our family relatives none of us will ever set foot to any Menards stores again.

We keep trying to analyze why it happened to us. Why they ballooning thing up so ridiculous? Something was stealing from us –the self-respect. The self respect that was educated from our family and school since we were borne. My work at my company as a technician and my wife is an office manager at her company. We’re own almost haft million dollars property. And all our 3 beautiful dogs even have healthcare insurance full cover for their own. So, why we want a 2.49 measly dollars tape measure from your store for???

Sincerely

John Vo

However, I e-mail my complaints letter to Menards, Inc headquarter in Wisconsin twice. They responded “We don’t handle security issues, sorry” I email again to ask who is I suppose need to talk to in their company for my case. No respond! I wonder why Menards avoid or hide their corporate leaders in the public. They’re doing what ever they want to the customers and no matter how bad they do because they leaders never know.(or they do not want to know)