October 2021 by Stephanie B.
We have been loyal customers of Food Depot in Austell for 13 years. We will NOT be returning and we will encourage all of our neighbors and friends to do the same. This location is a that is supposed to send Western Union. My husband and I have a business transaction with Western Union, came with state identification and cash. The person that assisted us gave us the cash back to hold after I verified the recipient on the Western Union form that printed out from the computer. I still have that in my possession. He then walked away to get his manager, we assumed to verify the counted cash ($3170). The manager appeared a few minutes later. Leaning in toward us and speaking to us in a hushed, condescending tone he proceeded to tell us we were trying to send an "extremely large amount of cash" and he wanted no part of the transaction. He continued with "we are a grocery store" and "if anything goes wrong we don't want any part of it" and "my manager and I have spoken" and I "respectfully" decline. Then he just walked away from us. My husband I were left very confused and highly offended. We were handled like we were some sort of seedy, low class, negative element. We are hard working, tax paying, business owning individuals who will no longer frequent Food Depot. And we also notify our network of friends, family, and fellow business people about the offensive, racist, and disrespectful treatment we received as patrons and individuals attempting to use a legal service Food Depot advertises that they offer. There is no signage that says Food Depot does not except Western Union transactions over any set amount. We were informed our hard earned money was not acceptable. We have business that we handle across domestic and international borders. We have never experienced such treatment. As for being a "grocery store" and not wanting "any part of" our legal transaction, Publix grocery store had no issue processing our payment, accepting my state issued identification and social security information, and accept payment for our legal business transaction. I am extremely disgusted that after 13 years of patronizing the Food Depot grocery chain, and this person even seeing us in the store for more than a decade to see me and my black husband and refuse this service. I always prefer to shop and support local businesses. Unfortunately, this has forced us to frequent grocers who do not treat us with such disrespect.
