JP
Jackie Patrick
Feb 13, 2026
I went to the Aerie clothing store at the Toronto Eaton Centre today to buy a couple of items, something I’ve done over the past 20 years, and I had a horrible experience. I was treated like a criminal. Immediately after walking in, I was racially profiled as a thief or as someone who couldn’t afford the items. I find that Aerie, as a company, has no customer service. Staff used to be nice and helpful. And the atmosphere was uplifting. The last couple of years, the staff have looked unhappy, distracted and mean as if they don’t want to be there.
Nevertheless, as soon as I approached the doors and started looking for items to purchase, a girl approached me and asked if she could help. I said no. Which I don’t mind, but I literally just walked in and didn’t have time even to decide what I needed. Not even seconds later, another girl approached me with force, aggression and intimidation and stared at me rudely as if I shouldn’t be in the store. She was a big, heavy-set girl with dark hair and a ton of makeup. She asked if I needed help. I reply no. As I looked around the store, there were at least 15 customers who were white and Asian, and they never approached them to ask for help. Customers were going through underwear drawers, and other customers were coming in and out at the same time. But never ONCE did they approach other customers for help. But they were so caught up in making me feel uncomfortable as a form of interrogation. I know this is a marketing tool retail stores use to intimidate customers, as a way to physiologically, indirectly tell certain customers that we are watching you. I was disgusted, so I just walked out. I am currently a business owner and have worked in the legal industry for some time, as well as in retail as a key manager. I know people of colour have been discriminated against and profiled the moment they walk through any corporate doors because of the colour of their skin or the way they’re dressed. According to statistics, black/coloured people spend over one billion dollars in the United States and around the world a year. It’s very sad; even in 2026, we still live in the 1800s.