I was at Lowe’s in South Seattle on Rainier Avenue yesterday, 4/18/20. Your parking lot was packed, the store was JAMMED with customers, the carts were filthy, no one was following social distancing. Ailes were jammed, some wearing masks but at least half were not. It was impossible to walk safely keeping social distancing. Some employees were wearing masks most were not. Lines were long with people NOT KEPT, NOT EVEN ENCOURAGED TO KEEP 6 feet apart. One clerk came up to tally my purchases while I was in line. She came 2 feet in front of me, was wearing no face mask of her own while I was wearing mine. I held out my arm and asked her to back up, that I felt like I was in a toxic stew and a killing environment. She thanked me and stomped away.
I clearly should have left as soon as I saw the parking lot jammed. It is my fault for not bolting as soon as I saw the situation. However, I was expecting Lowe’s like other large stores in my city to keep me safe. Costco, for instance, has folks stand in line waiting to enter the store. They enforce standing 6 feet apart. They let only enough customers in at a time to be safe and maintain social distancing. At the checkout stand you stand on paper signs 6 feet apart while waiting. You are allowed to approach the clerk only one at a time. Cart handles are cleaned as you enter.
All these customers are no doubt good for your business bottom line. It was like Christmas and I am sure your store manager will get a bonus for large sales. Meanwhile, customers were highly exposed to the Coronovirus. Store workers lives were threatened. I will be checking my temperature and other symptoms like crazy for the next two weeks. There will no doubt be a spread of the infection incidence in our community. This is not day one of this pandemic. This is not a new issue. There are clear state and city and county guidelines put in place for safety. I would have assumed the people who manage your store have a modicum of education and good sense and understanding of the pandemic and YOUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. What is happening? How could you have such little regard for your reputation, the safety of your customers, the safety of your employees, the safety of our community???
I have contacted the state authorities, the city, the police and King County authorities. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS SITUATION. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING SYSTEMS AND SAFETY PRACTICES IN PLACE.
I will never shop at lowe’s again. I have never said this about any store. I am a highly educated person who wants to be a good neighbor and a good citizen. You put my life at risk. I was terrified yesterday. I have never been this terrified. I do not scare easily. I have never written such a complaint to a store before. I take responsibility for entering your store and staying to make my purchase. That was foolish and stupid of me. I might get the virus and die because of your business practices and my blind trust that shopping at lowes is safe. I didn’t bolt like i know i should have done. I have to live with the fear of my actions. But your responsibility is to be a good steward and a good business citizen. What happens at lowe’s is appalling.
Safety vioation
I was at Lowe’s in South Seattle on Rainier Avenue yesterday, 4/18/20. Your parking lot was packed, the store was JAMMED with customers, the carts were filthy, no one was following social distancing. Ailes were jammed, some wearing masks but at least half were not. It was impossible to walk safely keeping social distancing. Some employees were wearing masks most were not. Lines were long with people NOT KEPT, NOT EVEN ENCOURAGED TO KEEP 6 feet apart. One clerk came up to tally my purchases while I was in line. She came 2 feet in front of me, was wearing no face mask of her own while I was wearing mine. I held out my arm and asked her to back up, that I felt like I was in a toxic stew and a killing environment. She thanked me and stomped away.
I clearly should have left as soon as I saw the parking lot jammed. It is my fault for not bolting as soon as I saw the situation. However, I was expecting Lowe’s like other large stores in my city to keep me safe. Costco, for instance, has folks stand in line waiting to enter the store. They enforce standing 6 feet apart. They let only enough customers in at a time to be safe and maintain social distancing. At the checkout stand you stand on paper signs 6 feet apart while waiting. You are allowed to approach the clerk only one at a time. Cart handles are cleaned as you enter.
All these customers are no doubt good for your business bottom line. It was like Christmas and I am sure your store manager will get a bonus for large sales. Meanwhile, customers were highly exposed to the Coronovirus. Store workers lives were threatened. I will be checking my temperature and other symptoms like crazy for the next two weeks. There will no doubt be a spread of the infection incidence in our community. This is not day one of this pandemic. This is not a new issue. There are clear state and city and county guidelines put in place for safety. I would have assumed the people who manage your store have a modicum of education and good sense and understanding of the pandemic and YOUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. What is happening? How could you have such little regard for your reputation, the safety of your customers, the safety of your employees, the safety of our community???
I have contacted the state authorities, the city, the police and King County authorities. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS SITUATION. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING SYSTEMS AND SAFETY PRACTICES IN PLACE.
I will never shop at lowe’s again. I have never said this about any store. I am a highly educated person who wants to be a good neighbor and a good citizen. You put my life at risk. I was terrified yesterday. I have never been this terrified. I do not scare easily. I have never written such a complaint to a store before. I take responsibility for entering your store and staying to make my purchase. That was foolish and stupid of me. I might get the virus and die because of your business practices and my blind trust that shopping at lowes is safe. I didn’t bolt like i know i should have done. I have to live with the fear of my actions. But your responsibility is to be a good steward and a good business citizen. What happens at lowe’s is appalling.
Kate O’Brien
5010 47TH Ave S
Seattle, 98118