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Interesting Safeway Encounter

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acmariner99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
655
Location
Renton, Wa
I have been shopping at Safeway since I have been back in the Seattle area. There is a store right across the street from my apartment. In my opinion, their quality vs cost is better than the other grocery stores in my immediate area (Albertsons and QFC). I carry in grocery stores all the time, sometimes openly, sometimes concealed and any encounters I have had were positive or mere curiosity.

Today was a bit unusual. I needed to pick up a prescription and find a way to dispose of a box of sharps that I have had for a couple of weeks now. I went to the pharmacy, picked up my prescription, but they said they couldn't take the sharps (and I have no idea how to dispose of them safely), so I went back to my truck and dropped both items off. I also had to do a bit of other shopping for a party I am going to later so I went back into the store to continue shopping. I browsed through the wine aisle, didn't find what I was looking for, then proceeded to the Starbucks for a much needed drink. After I ordered, the store manager walked up to me and pulled me aside. I don't recall every detail (and for the life of me I didn't get his name), but he told me that employees and customers had been complaining about somebody carrying a weapon in the store. He gave me the private property line and said he didn't want anybody "brandishing" in the store.

I easily corrected him -- "I am aware of property property rights and will happily respect them. I have been shopping here for months and have carried every single time. I spend a fair amount of money here too." I also stated, "as long as the weapon is in a holster and I am not handling it or pointing it at anybody, then I am perfectly legal. I carry this way for comfort and convenience and not to make a statement or intimidate people. The right to carry this way is an added bonus. Are there any Safeway policies that I am not aware of because this is the first time I have had anybody talk to me about this?" (This is highly paraphrased and not in any particular order. -- I need to learn how to quickly turn my recording app off and on, but I think I need a new phone first.

He said he wasn't sure, but as the store manager he could ask me to cover or leave. I responded that, yes you can ask me to leave, but be aware that I will shop at your competitors instead because I carry for my protection and I am not willing to surrender that capability.

He seemed like he was in a bit of a pickle. He stated he wanted to have me as a customer and respect my right to carry - to which he said he would contact other managers in the area and I said I would ask corporate if they had any official word on the matter. He said that was fine.

I asked him as he was leaving -- "just so we are clear, are you asking me to cover or disarm?" He said, "for now IF YOU CAN (for emphasis) please cover, come back later and we can discuss it."

This is the first time I have had any kind of interaction with a store manager and I think I did ok -- I can't truly place this in the negative column because he seemed inclined to respect my rights (because he wants my money) but also wanted to "make sure" because he indicated that a number of people had complained -- I don't envy his position, respecting all of the rights of your customers vs PR
 
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Venya

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
33
Sounds like rational adults trying to hash out conflicting imperatives like rational adults. How pleasantly novel.
 

acmariner99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
655
Location
Renton, Wa
Sounds like rational adults trying to hash out conflicting imperatives like rational adults. How pleasantly novel.

And hopefully a quick and pleasant resolution. Just a question though ... which method is the best way to get official policy statements via corporate channels: a phone call, their "suggestion" online submittal form, or snail mail to their customer service desk?
 

mark-in-texas

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
319
Location
Richmond, Tx
Slightly Otish but... You should be able to drop off the sharps at either an ER or your doctor's office. The office may be a little reluctant as they usually have to pay based on weight for waste disposal.
 

pfries

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
182
Location
East Tennessee
Slightly Otish but... You should be able to drop off the sharps at either an ER or your doctor's office. The office may be a little reluctant as they usually have to pay based on weight for waste disposal.
When I managed a convenience store and used to find them on the grounds I hit up the paramedics and they would take them.
 

Jeff Hayes

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2,569
Location
Long gone
.

Today was a bit unusual. I needed to pick up a prescription and find a way to dispose of a box of sharps that I have had for a couple of weeks now. I went to the pharmacy, picked up my prescription, but they said they couldn't take the sharps (and I have no idea how to dispose of them safely),

In most counties in Washington (except Seattle residents in King County) it is currently legal to put used sharps that are in a household container with a lid into the garbage.
However, this is highly discouraged because of the injury and health risks it places on garbage hauler and processing facility workers. It is best to use one of the options previously listed for safe management and disposal of used sharps.
NEVER PLACE LOOSE NEEDLES AND SYRINGES IN THE TRASH!
Label container “Do Not Recycle.”

Put sharps in point-first.

Containers more than half-full should be disposed of.

Store sharps in closed container with the cap screwed on.

Although placing household generated sharps in the regular trash may be allowable under state rule, some municipalities prohibit this disposal method. Please check with the local authority to determine if this practice is acceptable in your community. You should contact your county or city waste manager, public health official, sanitary department, or environmental health department.
For more information, contact the Washington State Department of Ecology at www.ecy.wa.gov/ecyhome.html or call (360) 407-6000.

http://safeneedledisposal.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=96
 

hermannr

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
2,327
Location
Okanogan Highland
I have been shopping at Safeway since I have been back in the Seattle area. There is a store right across the street from my apartment. In my opinion, their quality vs cost is better than the other grocery stores in my immediate area (Albertsons and QFC). I carry in grocery stores all the time, sometimes openly, sometimes concealed and any encounters I have had were positive or mere curiosity.

Today was a bit unusual. I needed to pick up a prescription and find a way to dispose of a box of sharps that I have had for a couple of weeks now. I went to the pharmacy, picked up my prescription, but they said they couldn't take the sharps (and I have no idea how to dispose of them safely), so I went back to my truck and dropped both items off. I also had to do a bit of other shopping for a party I am going to later so I went back into the store to continue shopping. I browsed through the wine aisle, didn't find what I was looking for, then proceeded to the Starbucks for a much needed drink. After I ordered, the store manager walked up to me and pulled me aside. I don't recall every detail (and for the life of me I didn't get his name), but he told me that employees and customers had been complaining about somebody carrying a weapon in the store. He gave me the private property line and said he didn't want anybody "brandishing" in the store.

I easily corrected him -- "I am aware of property property rights and will happily respect them. I have been shopping here for months and have carried every single time. I spend a fair amount of money here too." I also stated, "as long as the weapon is in a holster and I am not handling it or pointing it at anybody, then I am perfectly legal. I carry this way for comfort and convenience and not to make a statement or intimidate people. The right to carry this way is an added bonus. Are there any Safeway policies that I am not aware of because this is the first time I have had anybody talk to me about this?" (This is highly paraphrased and not in any particular order. -- I need to learn how to quickly turn my recording app off and on, but I think I need a new phone first.

He said he wasn't sure, but as the store manager he could ask me to cover or leave. I responded that, yes you can ask me to leave, but be aware that I will shop at your competitors instead because I carry for my protection and I am not willing to surrender that capability.

He seemed like he was in a bit of a pickle. He stated he wanted to have me as a customer and respect my right to carry - to which he said he would contact other managers in the area and I said I would ask corporate if they had any official word on the matter. He said that was fine.

I asked him as he was leaving -- "just so we are clear, are you asking me to cover or disarm?" He said, "for now IF YOU CAN (for emphasis) please cover, come back later and we can discuss it."

This is the first time I have had any kind of interaction with a store manager and I think I did ok -- I can't truly place this in the negative column because he seemed inclined to respect my rights (because he wants my money) but also wanted to "make sure" because he indicated that a number of people had complained -- I don't envy his position, respecting all of the rights of your customers vs PR

IMHO: I would contact the manager and tell them Safeway policy is to follow state law. Our state law allows OC without a license, or open or cocealed carry if you have a license on your person. As you prefer to OC (so do I) and you may or may not have your CPL on your person, you can then ask him if he will honor Corporate policy. If not, you will take you business elsewhere,

Contacted you in a Starbucks? Starbucks is vocally "state Law"!
 
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golddigger14s

Activist Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
2,068
Location
Lawton, OK USA
Here in WA you won't find any signage at Safeway because they follow state law, even though some of the employees are clueless.
 

slapmonkay

Campaign Veteran
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
1,308
Location
Montana
Slightly Otish but... You should be able to drop off the sharps at either an ER or your doctor's office. The office may be a little reluctant as they usually have to pay based on weight for waste disposal.

Fred Myers in Monroe will take Sharp containers, empty them for a nominal $2 charge...
 

Phssthpok

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
1,026
Location
, ,
I can't speak for other areas,but I know the waste transfer station (dump) in Clark County will accept 'sharps/bio-hazard' material on their once-a-month 'free' chemical turn in day (for things like old paint, Automotive chemicals, yard chemicals, expired drugs, sharps, etc). Sharps MUST be in a proper sharps container (you leave the container too), properly labeled and 'sealed' as best is feasibly possible, and you need to have an attendant actually 'receive' anything with the bio-hazard label on it unlike other chemicals which you can just drop off in the appropriate area.

For those who don't know:

Biohazard.gif
 

amlevin

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
5,937
Location
North of Seattle, Washington, USA
Here in WA you won't find any signage at Safeway because they follow state law, even though some of the employees are clueless.

I see this statement "we follow state law" frequently. So what really does it mean? Since there is no law prohibiting the private property owners (stores) from not allowing any form of carry one could say they are "following state law".

The state law merely means one can carry. It doesn't prevent private property owners from refusing to allow.

And YES, they can deny your 2A rights because it's private property and their rules are not a form of Government restriction.

As for getting "corporate" to chastise the manager, good luck. All he has to do is repeat his statement "your open carry has been disturbing other customers" and they'll go along with his explanation.

Boycott? Don't overlook the fact that this was threatened against Starbucks by "the other side". Only time a boycott works is when it can be directly connected to reduced revenues and profits. Good luck on that front.
 

Schlepnier

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
420
Location
Yelm, Washington USA
acmariner as much as you have been here i thought you would know by now safeway official policy is to follow state law. as is fred meyer, walmart, target, sams, winco, starbucks and many others.

A guy i worked with had his first OC encounter at his local safeway and because i had already educated him on the matter when the manager contacted him he replied by suggesting the manager take a look at the official company policy on the matter because it stated the above. the manager went and checked and came back and told him to have a nice day and enjoy his shopping.
 

FallonJeeper

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
576
Location
Fallon, NV
I would be more concerned that they believed that merely shopping with a holstered firearm is brandishing. While state laws are different, usually brandishing requires an element of "menacing" or "threatening". Which, by your description of the event, you weren't.

I may have taken a second to educate on that bit, as soon as he mentioned it. The last thing you want is for law enforcement to be called and show up at the store to handle a "man brandishing a firearm". That could get ugly fast.

Otherwise I think you handled it well.
 

xxx.jakk.xxx

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
467
No one is going to bring up the fact that there is no technical "Brandishing" in WA?... I'm pretty sure that there's no Law or Definition in the RCW or WAC that even mentions the word "Brandish". The closest would be RCW 9.41.270 which doesn't even come close since it doesn't say anything like "Brandish" it fails to meet the Time, Place, Manner or Circumstance so that's like 0/4 for "Brandishing"...
 
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TechnoWeenie

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
2,084
Location
, ,
I can't speak for other areas,but I know the waste transfer station (dump) in Clark County will accept 'sharps/bio-hazard' material on their once-a-month 'free' chemical turn in day (for things like old paint, Automotive chemicals, yard chemicals, expired drugs, sharps, etc). Sharps MUST be in a proper sharps container (you leave the container too), properly labeled and 'sealed' as best is feasibly possible, and you need to have an attendant actually 'receive' anything with the bio-hazard label on it unlike other chemicals which you can just drop off in the appropriate area.

For those who don't know:

View attachment 9179


Non-animated biohazard.... right?

20120814_212216.jpg
 
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