A small business owner received an email demanding a refund from a client.
The reason cited?
The client—according to their email refund request—was unaware they were buying from a person of color.
Business owner Tiesha—also known by her TikTok and business name Royaly's One Stop Shop (@royaltysonestopshop)—is a 34-year-old mother of 4 from Portland, Oregon. She sells self-defense items geared toward women as well as apparel, cosmetics and other items for "keeping you pretty and safe."
Tiesha posted the email—after removing the sender's identity—to ask other small business owners, Black entrepreneurs and people of color specifically how they would respond to such a request.
She noted she was taken aback by such an overtly racist email.
@royaltysonestopshop #greenscreen #customerservicebelike #customerfreakouts #racistawareness #blackownedbusiness💪🏾💪🏾 #selfdefenseforwomen #safetykeychain #selfdefense
You can see the full email here—complete with numerous spelling and grammar errors.
@royaltysonestopshop/TikTok
The client wrote:
"Can you please cancel my order?"
"Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware that you’re a person of color and I just don’t like to support small business that do not alien [align] with my version of support."
They added:
“Before you start and go on a race tyrant [rant?] please be aware it [is] called my preference."
"I really hope you don't make this a difficult process of me receiving my hard-earned money back."
"Because we are all aware of how you people like to act, when things do not go your way.”
The client then gave Tiesha a tip to help any future racists who might consider making a purchase.
"I would also, suggest you put something that discloses you're a person of color."
Tiesha's website includes an easily accessible "About The Owner" page with a photo.
People suggested another service Tiesha could offer this client.
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
The client included a threat—if a refund wasn't issued by the next day—they would be filing a dispute with their bank and:
"...going on social media and letting my large following know you are refusing to give me my money back."
After demanding the refund by the next day, January 18, 2022, they chose to end with a reference to Martin Luther King Jr. Day—January 17—stating:
"Also happy holiday[. I]sn’t it your people holiday today?"
Tiesha responded via TikTok, saying:
"What do you mean by ‘you people’?"
"How do we like to act?"
"How do you expect someone to act when it’s 2022 and you’re still giving this type of energy?”
She noted it the racist message was completely unnecessary.
“I’m just disturbed by the fact that you thought this was OK."
"You could have just asked for a refund."
"I don’t ask questions on why people want refunds."
Tiesha added:
"This is not OK."
"We need to do better in 2022."
TikTokers felt there should be societal consequences for such aggressive racism.
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
The business owner issued the refund to the person, despite others telling her not to.
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
@royaltysonestopshop/Twitter
Tiesha later issued a response video to TikToker Julia Garcia6655 (@wailaia) who commented about the racist email on an unrelated store product video.
@royaltysonestopshop/TikTok
@wailaia claimed Tiesha only pointed out the abject racism from a client to get "sympathy sales."
But Tiesha assured her she didn't need any sympathy sales and brought the receipts to prove it.
@royaltysonestopshop Visit TikTok to discover videos!
Tiesha has not issued any further videos on the matter, instead focusing on her small business.
