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After july 4th, the day of america's founding day which celebrate the premise of freedom and
Equality in this country, I finally realize racism and discrimination is subtly everywhere in this
Country even they dare not clarify it publicly.
On july 5th, sunday, the I took the train in califronia from solana beach (departs 7/5/09 12:
30 noon) to los angeles. The train number is 775 pacific surfliner.
I am a asian girl carrying a single slightly over-sized luggage (2 inches oversize).
To be honest, it was slightly over 60 pounds. Amtrak allows me to take 2 pieces but I just get
One piece instead because I have to carry my computer so it would be troublesome to separate my
Stuff into 2 luggages when traveling. I need to have 2 hands to haul the 2 luggages at the same time. When I entered the amtrak station I was a bit concerned about my luggage so I asked the guy who was selling the tickets in advance and he said it was ok as long as I carry it myself. I thought I can put it on first floor then I am capable of moving it myself because I can drag it. Later the train 775 arrived and my guy friend tried to help me carry the luggage up stair to 2nd floor, but in the process of getting up on the 2nd floor, a good-looking white guy with a dark blue hat in the last section of amtrak said to me that the train is leaving so I have to ask my guy friend to get off the train right away. I have no choice but to ask my guy friend to get off the train even I am not capable of carrying the luggage myself upstairs to 2nd floor. After the train started moving, I tried to carry the luggage upstairs myself, but was having some difficulty because I am a very short (only 5'1) and weak girl who is not strong enough to do this independently, therefore, the process is a bit slow.
I was so surpriced that the white amtrak guy in the last section told me in a very cold and
Indifferent voice : "pick it up!"
I struggled and pushed the luggage up but still failed, so I asked him if I can put it in the
First floor somewhere. He said : "no."
I said : "but the luggage is too heavy, I just cannot do it myself."
He said : "pick it up! It's your luggage!"
I tried again but failed. It is too apparent that I am too weak to do this myself, everyone on
Amtrak can see.
He said: "pick it up! Just go pick it up!"
The voice was so mean and cold so I was a bit scared and shocked. I have never seen someone so
Mean on other amtraks. I was quite satisfied with amtrak service except this incident. Amtrak 703, 704 san joquains valley has been providing me the best service I ever had. I am 100% satisfied. The people on amtrak treated customers with respect and smile, and had been very helpful.
He said again: "pick it up! Pick it up!"
Another decent caucasian woman cannot stand it anymore, so she gently said "I can help you. We
Can do it together."
After we 2 girls finally struggled and finish the move of the luggage.
The white amtrak guy said : "just want to teach you a lesson that you cannot carry luggage that
Are oversized."
Later when I saw him again, I have no idea why this white guy suddenly changed his attitude when
Talking to another caucasian woman. He became extremely polite and helpful. Even the caucasian
Woman is only carrying a slight case, he asked her if she needs some help and smiled to her and
Carried her luggage for her.
I did not said this white amtrak guy was wrong in informing me the message that the luggage was
Slightly over-sized, but he should not use this kind of manner with disrespect and mistreatment.
It is an insult to an amtrak customer and young child who has hope to usa. It is totally not
Respecting a human and presents a lack of character and service in mass transportation. Also, it
Is inconsistent from what the guy selling the tickets told me. My luggage is not overtly too
Huge, just only 2 inches bigger (30 inches compared to the limit — 28 inches maximum).
If it is not acceptable, why not tell me at the very beginning? Why can't the amtrak guy just tell me next time never carry any over-sized luggage even it's only 2 inches over size? I will definitely listen to him and avoid this kind of trouble as being un-cooperative of bringing excessive luggage, but he need not to use this kind of attitude and trick to try to teach me a lesson by being disrespectful. Personally I feel like an insult.
This has never happen in school even since i've been in the us, especially in california. The
Professors who are well educated in our university treat me with respect and fairness. Most of
The caucasians I met are very friendly and nice, except in this case on amtrak, which was a
Total shock to me. I liked the us very much because I think us is generous enough to tolerate
Different people to enter this country, and they grant me the chance to live in the us, gives me
Opportunity to be in the us to get educated (I pay out of my own pocket). They have great ideas
And promotes humanitarianism. They are open-minded and great leaders. They tolerates me to live
And study here even my ancestors had made no contrubutions to this country, which I was very
Grateful and thankful to. Therefore, I think being on this land I need to be humble and thankful
To what was granted to me. I was taught from book that the premise of us allows us to pursue the
Happiness, regardless of our gender, race, even economic status. It is the character counts, not
The superficial appearance — skin color, race, gender, social-status, or even money in your
Pocket. However, seems like it's only an ideal, and mean people in the real word are everywhere.
I thought us is different from my country, but seems like the worst part of humanity is all the
Same everywhere.
This is the most sarcastic day, after july 4th, the celebration of the founding and premise of
Usa.
Anyway, I am going to change the luggage right away and avoid any trouble in the future, because the over-sized luggage is partly my responsibility of not being 100% strictly following the rules, yet this kind of disrespect is still not acceptable being a paid customer of amtrak service. Things can be negotiated, delivered and talked in a well manner sometimes, need not to use this kind of low level tricks of disrespect.
Supposedly I can carry 2 pieces, but I only carry ONE. It's like I squeeze 2 little luggage into a slightly bigger one.
Anyway, you are right, I am supposed to follow the rules. I will change it right away. This is my Second time taking Amtrak as an international student and I just Bought the Luggage in a Rush before Departure, so I really wasn't aware it was slightly oversized until I arrive the Station. I think it's because he thinks I'm a foreigner and weak girl so easy to be bullied around. If it is a Caucasian I doubt he will DARE to do it.
Any insult is still unacceptable to a paid customer. Those leave comments to blame me seems not have the logic to distinguish things apart and see the point. Needless to say about PERSONAL ATTACKS which only serves their low self-esteem. A person with confidence will never attack others without reasoning and logic, especially they know objectivity to distinguish separate matters is the key to problem solving. Not complying the rules shall be informed, but insult and disrespect from an Amtrak service provider is still unacceptable. Only barbarians use insults to solve problems and blame others.
Also, the sfnative girl whom put me as a weak girl who always seek assistance from guys seems very subtly passive aggressive and illogical. I have no idea what serves her imagination and categorization, or maybe, bias. Suppose people are disabled, shall we look down on them and think they are weak girls/guys pretending as a kid whining for assistance? This is not a mature and nurtured person will do. There is a different limit in personal strength for both guys and girls, albeit person with disabilities. Just like why we won't force man to do tasks that girls are good at, and we won't force cripples to race.
I think sfnative girl did a personal subtle attack on the complaint board, which needs to be nurtured.
Yes, the service guy has done nothing wrong, and did not commit a crime nor did he have the responsibility to help others, but he is just a bit not so gentleman and nurtured as those I met in school.
As for separate matter issues. I admit this might NOT BE RACISM. The reason is the condition is special. This case is on the edge of the Amtrak rules. He might treat me bad due to 2 reasons : (1)oversize luggage. (2) subtle disrespect due to whatever.
When I see another customer of other races whom carry luggage that are oversize and not get blamed, then I can conclude he is a racist. Yet now, I have to say that I am a bit over-react to write too much and expend too over about the racist issues, relieving my hurt feelings.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Should have just reported him, either to another Amtrak employee, or to the station attendant when you arrived at your destination.
As far as your luggage goes, if you are having trouble carrying it on, perhaps next time you should respect the limit that is in place, have it stored on the train for you.
If you still have the guys name, I'd fill out this form, and make it a formal complaint: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/ContactUs
Maybe he was rude because you didn't follow the rules and the other people did. I know, it's much easier to say the person was racist instead of looking at yourself. Try thinking outside your own little brain. The man is there to help everyone. You were taking up his time, when he should not have had to help a young lady. You know it wasn't the inches, it was the weight. Why are you wasting everyone's time and making someone look bad who has to help everyone. You are affecting his livihood, where only your ego was hurt because, I suspect, you always play the poor weak girl who needs assistance from a man. Grow up.
why do you think you are special? carry on luggage rules exist for safety reasons. you caused the problem, not him.
you should report him to Amtrak, if he had an issue of over sized luggage he should have just told you not to bring it on the train again. I don't think he was being raciest but rather just a stickler on the rules although breaking the rules or not he should always be polite to a customer. File a customer service complaint with Amtrak so something will be done about it, sometimes people act like he did with out knowing it and if no one ever calls them on it they will never know it.
I feel for you! I am American: My experience with Amtrak rudeness when I was pregnant over 30 years ago caused me to never travel Amtrak a second time! Apparently nothing has changed in the past 35 years. I had a question re: address of a RR crossing and was talked to so rudely by a woman at the 263 number in INdianapolis, Indiana just now! So 'Rude' and uncaring is obviously the Amtrak policy! However, I called the National Number and Nancy Unger was POLITE and HELPFUL! So she must have flunked her rudeness class!
That 800 operator provided my first-ever DECENT experience with Amtrak!
I am caucasian American and I can tell you that race is not the factor: Amtrak is apparently equally RUDE to everyone from anywhere in the world.
Friday 10/02/2015 had to travel to Hartford round trip . bought ticket 8aec90 125 depart 442 return . track work . bus in place of train. my bus company had to do extra work because of your track work . I could not get thru to cancel . had to go sat (3) oct . Test a new car 2015 orange / white ford mustang 4 cyl turbo 6 speed manual . can I get the cash for the frday trip I could not take back . Refunds dept I talked to at 10 am . said to ask Washington DC . So here I am asking the DC office for a refund . Bernard Walker saying tks .