Shopper says curry-smell claim is discrimination

A Tauranga woman is accusing a local branch of The Warehouse of racial discrimination after she was denied the right to return purchases because they "smell like curry".

Julie Ali and her family say they were "traumatised and humiliated" on Thursday evening when staff at The Warehouse in Fraser Cove refused to exchange items of clothing.

The Fijian Indian, who moved to Tauranga with her family three years ago, said she felt her family and culture were being discriminated against.

"All the girls and I wanted to do was to pop into The Warehouse and exchange a jersey and a vest for the right size, and I came out feeling insulted and embarrassed," she said. "I was really shocked and traumatised by the situation."

Mrs Ali regularly visited The Warehouse and had bought more than $250 in clothing for her three daughters from the store earlier the same day.

After a brief conversation with a Warehouse employee, the mother of five was allegedly told: "We can't take these back - they stink like curry".

She then asked to speak to the duty manager, who, she says, also told her the items could not be returned because the smell meant they could not be resold.

With the family having eaten roast lamb and vegetables for dinner, Mrs Ali argued there was no chance the clothing could have acquired a "curry smell".

The Warehouse's national spokeswoman, Cynthia Church, said Fraser Cove store management was apologetic about how the incident was dealt with.

"The Warehouse store regrets any offence that may have been taken," she said.

"The duty manager believed the goods being offered for return were not in a saleable condition."

Consumers Institute chief executive David Russell said The Warehouse had a well-advertised "money-back guarantee".

He said Mrs Ali should speak to the manager of the store and if not satisfied, seek a meeting with a neutral third party.

"It really comes down to whether the clothes did smell or didn't smell," Mr Russell said.

Tauranga Ethnic Council secretary Nina Payne said incidents of racial discrimination in the Bay were uncommon.

"Tauranga is a pretty good place."

In 2003, Aucklander Partha Roychoudhury was reportedly turned away from a Morrinsville motel because of fears he would cook an Indian feast and leave a lasting aroma.

- NZPA