A Costco buyer failed to comply when asked to wear a mask.
An unidentified Costco customer has gone viral for refusing to wear a face mask inside the supermarket amid the coronavirus health crisis. The buyer argued with an employee about the policy, asked to speak to her manager, and dropped down to sit in the middle of the warehouse club, all while a face mask hung from her ear.
“New ‘Costco Karen’ sighting,” a Twitter user joked Thursday, sharing now-viral video footage of the dissatisfied buyer collapse, in a two-minute clip that has since been viewed more than 51,000 times.
“Karen” is a pejorative term that has come up to label a demanding, middle-aged white woman who shows a dominant sense of entitlement in various social confrontations.
The camera began to roll at the merchandise return counter when a Costco employee asked the woman if she had a medical reason not to wear a mask.
The client said she had no medical reason to refuse to wear a mask and instead exclaimed, “I am a citizen of the United States!”
“Okay, well, you have to wear your mask at Costco. It is private property, ”replied the employee. “There is something hanging from your ear at the moment,” he added, referring to the mask hanging from one of the buyer’s ears.
“No! I’m not a Costco member,” the woman replied. From there, the client asked to speak to the employee’s boss.
“It will require the same. If you want to get out here, I’ll have him come see you outside, ”said the Costco worker.
“No, I’m staying here,” replied the woman.
“You need to do that, it is our policy. Let’s walk outside, ”insisted the employee, pushing a cart and walking to a different area.
Continuing for a moment, the buyer dropped down to sit in the middle of the store and refused to move.
After rejecting the employee’s offers for a chair or other place to sit, the woman agreed to move aside, and sat down again, away from other customers and their cars. Then, in a second video clip, a manager and another employee are seen coming to speak to her.
“I am an American. I have constitutional rights!” The woman yelled during their conversation, while sitting on the floor.
The Daily Mail reports that the incident occurred at a Costco in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Social media commenters had little patience with the buyer’s antics and refused to wear a face mask inside the warehouse club.
According to the supermarket’s COVID-19 update page, all Costco members and guests must wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times inside the store. Exceptions are made for children under the age of 2 and anyone who is unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition.
However, “the use of a facial covering should not be seen as a substitute for social distancing,” states the facial coverage requirements policy.
“Keep observing the rules regarding proper spacing while you are at Costco facilities.”
