| User | Comment |
|---|
| Enigma | | posted 22-Sep-2007 12:19pm |
That was quite some story. |
moviesnob  | | posted 22-Sep-2007 12:22pm |
I don't have a problem with this, as long as it's done in a respectful manner and as quickly as possible. |
Galomorro   | | posted 22-Sep-2007 12:29pm |
No. That happened to me once a long time ago and I immediately complained to management -- and got a letter of apology. Unless they state so, they should not do that. They're supposed to have all sorts of techniques for detecting shoplifters - mirrors, guards, tags, etc. No goodwill can come from inspecting peoples' packages -- they need to be sure they've shoplifted something before they do that. These days I'd complain all over the Internet about the store besides directly. |
| Enheduanna | | posted 22-Sep-2007 12:30pm |
I think it's fine for them to check to make sure you paid for everything in your bag. A lot of stores have problems with shoplifting, and even walking straight from the register, I'm sure some people manage to conceal stolen items in their bags. It's not like they're taking down a list of what you personally bought and sending it to the federal government or something. (Of course, the registers might be doing that already!) |
| Melf | | posted 22-Sep-2007 12:51pm |
I don't know. I'm guessing they do have the right; it's their premises. |
LindaH    | | posted 22-Sep-2007 1:05pm |
Yes, but only the bags/packages containing their merchandise. Warehouse stores do that all the time, you have to show your receipt and they look in your cart.
The story details a totally different aspect of the issue. I'd support the guy in his case against the police. |
cloudhugger   | | posted 22-Sep-2007 2:04pm |
Yes, I think it is fine. Hope I don't piss anyone off with this answer. |
| cloudhugger | | posted 22-Sep-2007 2:06pm |
Oh, and I didn't read the link provided  . It's the dial up from hell, I hope you understand. |
| darkshadowsseeker | | posted 22-Sep-2007 2:37pm |
Considering the fact that major stores like Circuit City have security cameras everywhere, including cameras that cover the parking lot area, there is no need for them to inspect packages. Many of the retailers in my area have security gates that you pass through as you exit & an alarm is triggered if you pass through with an item that hasn't been scanned by a sales clerk. If you set the alarm off, then the store should be checking your receipt, but if you didn't, they shouldn't.
Also, if checking receipts of exiting customers is store policy, the store needs to posts signs stating said policy & make certain that it's not done in a discriminatory manner. There have been cases where major retailers have singled out black people while letting white people exit without having their receipts examined. |
| llamamama | | posted 22-Sep-2007 2:51pm |
I feel they have the right to inspect bags..and I think that guy is a moron. |
| Biggles | | posted 22-Sep-2007 3:27pm |
Yes, of course they have the right to ask if they can inspect the merchandise. You also have the right to refuse - but if you do, they will probably call the police, and you won't be able to refuse them. |
| Biggles | | (reply to moviesnob) posted 22-Sep-2007 3:29pm |
I really was the first (and so far, the last)... |
| darkshadowsseeker | | (reply to moviesnob) posted 22-Sep-2007 3:38pm |
|
| moviesnob | | (reply to Biggles) posted 22-Sep-2007 3:46pm |
lol . .. I'm sure it's coming! |
| Biggles | | (reply to moviesnob) posted 22-Sep-2007 3:46pm |
 Especially with Galomorro's comment. That had me snickering away  |
| moviesnob |
Interesting. And pretty sad as well. |
| darkshadowsseeker | | (reply to moviesnob) posted 22-Sep-2007 4:39pm |
I agree. |
| MacGregor | | posted 22-Sep-2007 6:16pm |
Not on a regular basis - only if they suspect shoplifting. |
| MacGregor |
That is terrifying! Wal-Marts always freak me out a little. I don't feel totally safe there. |
| romkey | | posted 22-Sep-2007 7:45pm |
I think that yes, they have the legal right to ask to inspect your purchase as you're leaving. You are still on their property.
Is it fine to ask to inspect merchandise? No. I think it's a bad idea to treat your customers as if they were criminals, though, and this case, like other similar recent cases, are particularly moronic. |
| ultamate | | posted 22-Sep-2007 8:59pm |
I think it's fine if the alarm goes off, other wise I don't see the point. I don't really care though if they do. |
| darkshadowsseeker | | (reply to MacGregor) posted 22-Sep-2007 9:23pm |
I dislike Wal-Mart myself, but it's not because I feel unsafe. My biggest beef is that if I have difficulty finding something, there isn't a clerk to be found. It's like they hide from me or something. |
| MacGregor |
I know what you mean. They hire the absolute minimum amount of people. I also hate how you have to wait forever in line because there aren't enough cashiers and then grab your own bags off that weird bag-carousel thingy. |
| darkshadowsseeker | | (reply to MacGregor) posted 22-Sep-2007 9:49pm |
I used to try & do the self checkout thingie if I had just a few things, but I always seemed to get stuck behind someone who couldn't seem to figure out how to scan & bag their purchases. Not to mention some seniors can't understand how to use a debit card. I got stuck behind one last time I went to Wal-Mart & the clerk was trying to make her understand that she had to swipe the card first, then enter her PIN. |
| Amanda | | posted 22-Sep-2007 10:20pm |
No. Once you pay for it, it belongs to you. It's no one's business what you purchases. They do this at Wal-Mart and it pisses me off. Depending on my mood, I won't let them see my receipt. If they think I stole something, they're welcome to call the police.
What really annoys me is when the person at the door sees you at the register, then wants to check your receipt. It's like they're on some kind of power trip. |
| mrmarm | | posted 23-Sep-2007 12:17am |
I guess. |
| RGirl | | posted 23-Sep-2007 12:59am |
I think it is fine. Are you hiding something or just in a hurry? |
| Irene007 | | posted 23-Sep-2007 3:01am |
Sure, they do it to everyone at Price Club and don't post it.... |
| rustygirl50 | | posted 23-Sep-2007 11:39am |
They should keep thier noses out of my bag. If a buzzer goes off, Then that's why they have security. |
| Lahdee | | posted 23-Sep-2007 12:06pm |
Why should it matter? The store employee who rings up the purchase sees everything you buy and gives you the receipt. Why should anyone have a problem with another employee seeing what you bought as well, and looking over the receipt? Not everything stolen will beep. I dont see why anyone has a problem with stores making sure everything going out has been paid for. Don't take it personally. They just want to keep loss and costs down!! |
| southernyankee | | posted 23-Sep-2007 1:45pm |
Yes, you are on PRIVATE property and they have the right to inspect your bags and even detain you if they have a good reason to be suspicious. Whether it actually works or not is not the issue. Sorry, the law sides with the store.
Arresting someone for not producing their license, well, now thats bullcrap. |
| JessicaWoman99 | | posted 23-Sep-2007 2:03pm |
The store does not have the right to inspect out purchase get out |
| JessicaWoman99 | | (reply to MacGregor) posted 23-Sep-2007 2:06pm |
An alarm goes off at a Wal-Mart they will think it was you, you are guilty everybody will be staring at you Blush"" |
| Lahdee | | posted 23-Sep-2007 2:19pm |
Im not embarrassed in the least when the alarm at WM goes off. They go off more often for mistakes than for someone stealing anyway. The last time, it was some expensive batteries that weren't run across that demagnetizer thingie. *shrug* |
| moviesnob | | (reply to Lahdee) posted 23-Sep-2007 2:22pm |
I worked in retail for 4-5 years. The alarm went off all the time for trivial things. A lot of times it would be people walking in, who would immediately indignantly exclaim, "I'm coming IN! |
| moviesnob | | (reply to Lahdee) posted 23-Sep-2007 2:26pm |
I worked in retail for 4-5 years. The alarm went off all the time for trivial things. A lot of times it would be people walking in, who would immediately indignantly exclaim, "I'm coming IN!" We'd then just ask them if they bought something electronic somewhere that might not have been deactivated. We had a Gamestop in our mall, that since they took all the games out of the boxes and behind the counter, didn't have an alarm system or a de-activator. That didn't stop the manufacturer's from putting security tags in, and the customers would be setting off alarms all over the mall. We were usually able to deactivate whatever they had. I've also had it go off due to tags left in shoes, in wallets (they're usually inside the pockets), from the big ink tags left on clothes from other stores, all kinds of stuff. |
| LindaH | | (reply to moviesnob) posted 23-Sep-2007 2:34pm |
> We had a Gamestop in our mall, that
> since they took all the games out of the boxes
> and behind the counter, didn't have an alarm system
> or a de-activator. That didn't stop the manufacturer's
> from putting security tags in, and the customers
> would be setting off alarms all over the mall.
The mental image is amusing.
|
| bill | | posted 24-Sep-2007 11:10am |
I didn't read the linked blog entries, but I would think that this sort of thing is necessary to guard against shoplifting. I'm assuming that the person inspecting the bag has some kind of probable cause. |
| cerealkiller | | posted 24-Sep-2007 1:45pm |
What's the big deal. That is standard at Costco, and the Walmarts here sometimes ask to look at receipts.
What they cannot do is physically prohibit you from leaving the store. That is considered an actual arrest and makes them liable for you to sue them for all their money. |
| EyesOfCharisma | | posted 24-Sep-2007 5:44pm |
At Sam's club you walk up to the lady with the highlighter and she glances in your cart to see if everything is ok... then marks your receipt with a highlighter. I find that ok, since everyone is subject to the same thing... Now if I was at a store and got singled out, I'd be pissed... Once a lady tried to grab my bag from me, and I snatched it back and gave her the look of the devil inside of me, and she changed her attitude to nicely say she needed to look through it... I woulda flattened that crotch otherwise |
| paulyw | | posted 25-Sep-2007 1:51pm |
I hate that when people do that. You buy the stuff, and they inspect the stuff this does make me mad when they so this. One time I was leaving Best Buy, and I didn't buy anything, and they wanted to inspect my fanny pack (this was some years back) and they found my inhaler, and they wanted to know if it was my peresription inhaler. |
| LindaH | | (reply to paulyw) posted 26-Sep-2007 4:16pm |
That's nuts! It's none of their business. |
| autumnlight |
I think there are more important things to get upset about - just show him the package and be on your way. |
| Lahdee |
Bossier City Walmart now has me pegged as a shoplifter and they follow me around when I'm in the store. I thought it was a one time incident, but I was wrong. I'm just going to have fun with it. Pranking opportunities !!! |
| LindaH | | (reply to Lahdee) posted 2-Nov-2007 6:55pm |
I'd quit going there. I stopped shopping at Liquidation World for years after several different occassions of hearing "Security to (section of store)" every time I was in there. Even if it just was a theft prevention trick, it got old. |
| Lahdee | | (reply to LindaH) posted 2-Nov-2007 7:01pm |
Were they calling it to whatever section you were in? Dont you think its weird to suspect a person, never catching them doing anything, and ALWAYS making them uncomfortable and continuing to think they are thieving any time they come in? It's weird. We've shopped there for years and this just started recently. James said "Well it's the season". I said "well they can catch real shoplifters and quit following me around!" |
| LindaH | | (reply to Lahdee) posted 2-Nov-2007 7:05pm |
You should just start acting weird. Dancing, singing, etc |
| Lahdee |
|
I could turn around and say "Can I help you? Are you finding everything ok?" How can they reply to that? They work there. I don't. I'm not *supposed* to know they work there, yet they know I don't. What are they going to say? "You work here?" I could tell them that I dont, I just like to help random people who seem to have a problem.