| rev:text
| - I was in town for a family funeral in August and was spending time with my family. My sister, who was 8 months pregnant, and huge in front, came in hoping to use her expired groupon credit (she paid $28) to get two day passes ($16 value). The Groupon deal was for a 10-visit pass and in order for her to use her credit, she was asked to pay another $28 (or thereabouts) to buy that 10-visit pass. My sister didn't agree with this (and doesn't live near the museum anymore so couldn't take advantage of a 10-visit pass) and was hoping they would be more flexible, so she looked at the fine print on the groupon and asked the clerk Christina (sp?) to interpret it in her favor.
Maybe, or probably?, it's one of those things that the vendor has some discretion about, but other vendors certainly are much cooler about those things(more flexible about the product the credit can be used toward). My sister tried to convince the clerk, but no go. She asked to speak to a manager/supervisor, but was told none were on-site--were out of town--and could not be reached. She could call them in a couple days to lodge her complaint. My sister reluctantly paid the extra money to buy the pass (I sort've talked her into it and now I feel bad that I did, in hindsight) and so she could spend time with the rest of us, who were already inside. No yelling happened, or threat to body or anything, but probably some annoyed voice-raising? I was sort've nearby but not right next to her, and not paying a lot of attention, but certainly didn't hear anything too loud. And my sister is only 5 feet tall...she'll admit that she did, however, threaten...to yelp it or use other social media! The horror, right? Well, so it's done, right?
But no! About a half hour or so later, another worker finds us and asks to talk to my sister. They pull her out of the Mad Hatter exhibit. There's a security guard with this other worker. They ask her and her toddler to leave and offer a refund or a free pass for the future. My sister's side was not asked for. Just asked to leave. Yup. It happened. So we all left, of course, because that was a big downer. There was maybe an hour left before the museum closed, anyhow.
What kind of business does that sort of thing? Get their way (got more money from her in order to buy a pass she didn't really want), then let a mom and her 3 year old into a children's play museum to play for a little bit, then escort them out like criminals...? No one else's enjoyment of the museum or pursuit of knowledge was infringed upon, and money had already exchanged hands, and they were admitted into the museum.
No supervisor on site to discuss the matter at the time of the disagreement, but apparently a supervisor or two (Darlene and Vicky) can be called who can then authorize that a guard be called in to handle this matter. Apparently on weekends, there isn't a guard (Robert) there the whole time...they have to move among several sites...so he wasn't there to witness anything either, and he would not have been there to assist should there really have been a real emergency or situation that could have harmed staff or visitors. But he could be called in to escort someone out after the situation was settled and over. "Altercation" was the word used, but they are using a different dictionary than most of us if that's their interpretation of "altercation."
So the second baby has been born. My sister's got a lot of other things on her mind now and may not be writing her review anytime soon. I'm writing this Yelp review to let y'all know that they are messed up there. And at a children's museum dedicated to children and innovation? In this case, the word and ego of this clerk, who felt "threatened" by a dissatisfied customer who raised her voice and might yelp afterwards (I can only venture to guess this clerk may have the power of nepotism paired with inexperience or a very delicate constitution ill-suited for retail work...I can only shake my head) was chosen over the customer/client/family's experience and right to complain.
I can't say race played a role, but when you are a POC (as we are), and in Mesa, Arizona, there's always that question..."would this have been handled differently if my sister were a man, and white?" I don't know, but especially for the other POC's out there, or allies, something to add to the dataset. Of course, this doesn't mean everyone there sucks (I think Rebekah was the one asked to escort us out but she looked uncomfortable about it all, and was as professional about it as she could be given what she was being asked to do), but that the system they have in place there is deeply flawed, and ultimately, disrespectful of the client.
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