This reminds me of an incident at Home Depot Expo, when we were looking at cabinetry for the kitchen remodel. The wife and I arrive to browse, I'm in a Carhartt Flannel Work Shirt and jeans (nothing ripped). High rollers are walking around in leather jackets, cardigans, etc. (It was winter). After browsing the appliances, we return to the cabinetry and decide on a particular Oak shade.
The lone gentleman let's us know "I'll only be a couple more minutes." A half an hour later I whisper to the wife, "You don't think...oh, you know, of how I'm dressed? They couldn't be this pretentious?" Another 15 minutes goes by and I say loud enough for the gentleman to hear: "Well, our cash isn't welcome here, we'll go somewhere else." The store manager was around the corner and rushed over to "schmooze". I stone wall her token apologies and motion to the wife to leave. I walk to about a foot of the Store Manager and whisper "It's pretty pathetic that we've sat and watched other people have the rose petal treatment because of their dress. It's a shame too and I flashed the $4,000 cash in my wallet. But hey, you have a pretentious business to run and I will never step foot into a Home Depot again."
I emailed the President of Home Depot of this incident, received a $1,000 gift card and used it at Lowe's instead. After explaining the incident to the Store Manager, they were more than happy to accommodate us.. They had a better color shade of cabinetry in the end. But at the time, the wife wanted that particular and agreed, but laughed.
I am the happiest in a clean, plain white (or plain black) T-shirt and jeans or shorts. I've never understood why some folks get narcissistic about fashion to the point of madness. If getting stressed over other people's style of dress get's you bent of shape, I'm glad to contribute. I lose no sleep over it. Although, I will never wear flip flops, except on the beach. Wearing them in Metro Detroit means only one thing in the end, you're lazy.
