Treatment of Teen-Agers While They Are Shopping

There is a social problem that has just recently come to my attention. Since I am a teen-ager (15 to be exact) and am allowed to go shopping by myself, I find that employees of large department stores often treat teen-agers differently when they come in alone to purchase merchandise as opposed to when they come in with a parent or an adult.

I have seen employees treat other adult customers with courtesy, respect and solicitude. I have compared this to the many different ways teen-agers are treated. We are usually handled with surveillance, abruptness or inattention.

Many sales clerks will watch us looking through the merchandise but will not approach us to offer assistance. Generally, they are not very helpful.

If we should ask for help, they, the sales clerks, usually treat us in a very abrupt manner. They seem to not want our business.

Another attitude displayed by sales people is to ignore us as if they were wanting us to go away. I know from personal experience that this makes me feel helpless and that my business is unwanted.

Since many of the people who shop today are teen-agers, we should be treated with the same respect and consideration given to adults. After all, isn’t our money just as valuable as theirs?

MARALEE LAZOR

Los Angeles