Refused service at LGS for smelling like pot?
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Posted on March 15, 2018, 2:25 p.m. by chicagobearz
As a preface, I have been going to this LGS the better part of my life. I live in Anchorage and there are only 3 cards shops, 2 are the same business/same owner. So if you dont want to order online you pretty much have to go to this place. It is a typical crappy collectible/comic store, awful customer service from pony-tailed man children in loot crate t-shirts at least 2 sizes too small. They are unsupportive of many of the formats and cancel events hours before the start because of no attendance (duh, it hasnt started yet). I think of the place like a bad chain pizza or burger rest, you hate it and every time you go it will be the last time, but every 3 months or so you'll find yourself there, and sure enough again disappointed.
The situation I found myself in yesterday was a bit different than the usual routine of smug attitudes and ignorance. I walked up to the case looking for a few thoughtseize, there was a group of 3 young men talking at one end of the counter, none of which had shirts/nametags/vests or anything identifying them as employees, and one guy entering cards onto ebay or something. All of which ignored me for a min, but I could see they had a few of the cards I wanted so I was just looking at other cards and thinking about how much was ok to spend today. After a min or so, one of the 3 walked away and I started getting the feeling that they were talking about me. I turned and just asked the 2 remaining if either of them worked here, the one said yea and sauntered over to grab the cards. At this point I knew it was not the normal crap service, his buddy was silent and watching me, (kids-maybe 20's, I am in my 30's and have been coming to this place at least a decade before these guys). As I am swiping my card I asked if I offended them or did so at some point in the past. The counter worker said "no, but we are instructed not to sell or help people that smell like weed". I said I wished they told me that before I swiped my card because I will no longer be shopping there, but finished the transaction anyway. I asked who the manager was on duty, and they pointed out a long time employee, his name is Mike we both know each other from high school. The manager was speaking with a customer and I felt myself getting heated so I knew it was best just to get out of there and call. I got a hold of Mike and he explained that "they are a family friendly store" and "we have had issues with the gaming crowd smoking in the parking lot".
I had a few questions to say the least.
1) Was I creating a scene or smoking in the store?
2) Is my money not still green?
3) Is this store doing so well that you are instructing young employees to actively avoid making sales?
4) A comic book shop refusing service to someone who smoke weed??? I know it is legal in AK but not everywhere, but still Im pretty the % of general patrons of this and other comic book stores smoke.
5) Can only a husband, wife, and 2.5 children shop at this store now? Are they the only people who can buy collectibles?
Mike did a fine job of deflecting these ?'s and did not apologize for the way I was treated. If he was my employee I would have been proud of him. I told him that was a piss poor policy, and frankly I will not enjoy buying everything online from now on.
This incident really through me for a loop, on the drive home and the rest of the night I was just dumbfounded. Still not sure what to do. I figured at least it is a pretty "comical" story.
Also, the way you wrote this article is very condescendingly. Super condescendingly.
"...awful customer service from pony-tailed man children in loot crate t-shirts at least 2 sizes too small."
I've seen this attitude before and it isn't great. Weed is supposed to make you chill and have a good time, but my dude, it sounds like you're not. Again, I'd stick with my argument of choose which one you'd rather do in this case. Smoke weed and play less magic locally or give it up one day a week, wear fabreeze, and just apologize. Again, apologizing sucks when we feel we haven't done anything wrong, but you don't have to mean it as long as they believe it.
Do what you gotta do, the ball is in your court B)
March 15, 2018 3:05 p.m.
sorry about your experience.... im sure its awkward "getting talked about" from young adult/employees but in their defense they probably felt just as awkward about it to some extent at least... more life experience will give them better customer service skills over time. From my understanding outside of the awkward exchange from the youth employees you still got service in the end... As far as the general policy (not saying its a good policy) but im all for a business owner/company to have and enforce whatever ridiculous policy they want and let capitalism do the rest. Whether its a baker not selling a cake for a same sex marriage... or not selling firearms to people under the age of 21 or not serving a police officer... I say take your business elsewhere... or in your case the only other shop/online.
March 15, 2018 3:09 p.m.
I hate to say it, but if I was a store owner, I'd have a policy of not smelling like pot. I live in a pot-friendly state, but I'm one of those "straight-edge" types. Just for myself, though--I've never smoked, ate, or otherwise consumed, and I have no intention to start. On the other hand, a lot of my friends smoke, and I don't ask or tell them not to. I just leave the area. Personally, though, I find the smell unpleasant and distracting. Back to my opening sentence, I would ask somebody who smelled like pot to please leave, change clothes or Febreze or whatever (before it closed, my favorite LGS actually kept a bottle of Febreze behind the desk that people could use) and come back later. I'd like to think that's not unreasonable, since I'd want to be comfortable in my own business, and I'm not rejecting your patronage, only your aroma.
The guy at your place, though, soinds like he has a history of alienating customers and generally being a bad host, and I totally disagree with his actions. What is the third store like?
March 15, 2018 3:24 p.m.
Or is this the third store, and what are the other two like?
March 15, 2018 3:27 p.m.
First off, and this is a personal pet peeve of mine, Marijuana is not legal in Alaska, or any other state. Marijuana is clearly delineated as a Schedule I narcotic under federal law, which is supreme to all state legalization under Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution. Given the lack of federal enforcement on marijuana, the drug is effectively legal in jurisdictions who have removed state and local restrictions, but that still does not make it "legal" by any stretch of the imagination.
Ultimately, the store owner has the right to refuse service to any individual, so long as it is not for certain delineated reasons ("race, color, religion, or national origin."). Your case does not fall within any protected class, and thus they have the right to refuse you service. Further, they have ample justification for their policy--they specifically stated there had been issues with individuals smoking in their parking lot, and their refusal of service was designed to curtail unacceptable behavior.
Further, weed has a very distinctive and pungent aroma which many people find quite distasteful. The store owner, particularly of a family-friendly establishment, is well within their rights to deny you access to the store if they think it may offend their other patron's senses. This also speaks toward your question of the financial ramifications for refusing you service--it is a sound financial decision to risk alienating one customer to ensure the stability of their reputation as a "family friendly" establishment.
Further, they are not denying you service--they are denying you service when they have reason to suspect you have recently consumed an intoxicating substance whose aroma that may offend other customers.
Ultimately, it is a completely sound policy, with significant justification for its enactment. Further, it is valid under federal law (I am not licensed to practice in Alaska, so I offer no comment as to its validity under Alaskan law).
Gaming stores already have a reputation for being somewhat sleazy establishments frequented by so-called "pot heads." It is quite refreshing to hear of an establishment taking a stand against this situation.
March 15, 2018 4:02 p.m.
Holy shit this guy just admitted to driving while under the influence of narcottics
Thats like a super crime
March 15, 2018 7:39 p.m.
Oh boy " reffused for smelling like pot " and " on the drive home "
Woops amrite
March 15, 2018 7:40 p.m.
Spread the word to your local stoners not to go there. Or get a big group to walk in red eyed and stanky
March 15, 2018 9:08 p.m.
DangerDoom says... #17
Meh, I smoke "Illegal" weed(per. @cdkime lol) and I shop at Bosco's all the time for both Comics and Cards, I gave been going there for years every Wednesday to buy Comics and know most everyone by name, as they know my name as well. I have gone in there smelling like weed once or twice and have never been bothered, but who knows, maybe you were acting a little weird or something. Either way, there is always Tier 1 for all your card needs
March 16, 2018 3:22 a.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #18
cdkime is right - marijuana is not actively prosecuted in a number of states, but is legal in none. He's also right that the business owner is well within his rights to ask you to leave if you smell like marijuana. And he's within his rights to ask you to leave if you smell like tobacco. Or alcohol. Or just have bad BO.
It's not about marijuana. It's about personal hygiene, particularly hygiene that affects the comfort of people around you.
March 16, 2018 6:22 a.m.
@JHowlett No, he admitted to the somewhat-smaller-crime of "driving while smelly" (ok - I don't know about that, really, not being an american and all - perhaps its worse legally speaking, perhaps not - but sitting in a car with a smelly person can be criminally nauseating, and driving while smelly could be a minor offense in some countries... right?). He could be high while driving, or he could be smelly due to having been present when others were smoking, wearing a jacket or other clothing, that had been present during a light-up days earlier. The exact cause of his odeur is not revealed, even if it is implied that he had just been smoking weed.
March 16, 2018 7:51 a.m.
pizzagod13 says... #20
Here is a simple solution dont smoke before going to the store. Easy right?
Also as People have stated the owner has the right to kick you out and frankly your lucky he didnt report you for possession of a class 1 Narcotic(?). Albeit that would be a bit ridiculous but he couldve done it.
March 16, 2018 11:39 a.m.
I've been to prereleases where people show up reeking. There's a huge number of middle school kids at these events and parents pick and drop them off. I'm glad the stores I've been to have cracked down on this.
March 16, 2018 1:49 p.m.
Suns_Champion says... #22
Please, for the safety of others, please do not drive while high :)
JHowlett says... #2
Okay so when a store owner opens up a shop they can refuse service to anyone they want. That's just a hard fact. In a lot of places weed isn't legal, and even if it is or even if its in that gray legal sort of state, a lot of people don't look highly upon weed smoking people.
Of course a lot of this is due to Marijuana's racist upbringing in north america, but some people just don't like people who do drugs. Vehemently so. We call them "straight edge" people. they should really try weed sometime.
Also like, just because he kicks out a single person for smelling like weed doesnt EXPLICITLY mean he's only going to serve families. I know my FLGS has a bad smell = no play policy. Not everyone smokes pot or can appreciate the smell. I hated it before I started smoking. God it smelt awful. Now that I do, I can appreciate it, but even adults who are single who don't smoke find the scent distasteful. If you came in smelling like fish I'm sure he'd have the same approach.
A big thing to remember in this scenario is that going into his store means you're entering private property. A lot of people forget that we lose a lot of our rights when we do. On your property you can do a lot of stuff you can't normally do elsewhere, but in someone's store or on their property that changes. Again, he has the right to refuse service to anyone.
Given that you said your town only has a few stores, I'd honestly suggest trying to make amends with the owner of the FLGS and just don't smoke pot before going there. It sucks, sure, but do you want to lose 2/3 your FLGS because you can't not smoke before going in? And then complain about it? Sounds sort of self centered to me.
Now I'm not some straight edge non smoking person chastising you through this medium. I smoke also. My store kicked out a guy for smelling like shit under the same pretenses. He thought marijuana was bad for you and you didn't need it! But like whatever it's recreational. So is magic. You don't need it to survive. Choose which one you want to use on which day. Like, maybe magic on tuesday and weed on sunday. NBD.
March 15, 2018 2:49 p.m.