Legality of retail stores checking your receipt???
Whenever I shop at Fry's, Best Buy, or Costco, I routinely get my receipt and bags checked before being able to leave.
I covered for a guy at the door at Costco and they told me to just act like I am checking. It's the same at Costco. Even though when you walk out with a cart full of things, it would realistically take 5-10 minutes to verify everything in the cart, yet they do it in about 10 seconds. So basically, a lot of times it's just a psychological deterrent.
I was so used to being treated like a criminal when leaving these stores that I just put up with it for all these years. Then, the other day it occurred to me that technically those items are my property as soon as I pay the cashier. So, what right do they really have to order me to let them look through my belongings?
Let's put this into context. What would you do if a guy walked up to you on the street and asked to see in your backpack or handbag and go through your things? You'd tell him to take a hike, right?
Anyone know of anything at all that would grant them the right to check your bags? Is it true that legally, they have to have proof that you stole something? And if they turn out to be wrong (maybe you were just walking with your hands in your pockets) aren't you liable to sue for defamation?
I covered for a guy at the door at Costco and they told me to just act like I am checking. It's the same at Costco. Even though when you walk out with a cart full of things, it would realistically take 5-10 minutes to verify everything in the cart, yet they do it in about 10 seconds. So basically, a lot of times it's just a psychological deterrent.
I was so used to being treated like a criminal when leaving these stores that I just put up with it for all these years. Then, the other day it occurred to me that technically those items are my property as soon as I pay the cashier. So, what right do they really have to order me to let them look through my belongings?
Let's put this into context. What would you do if a guy walked up to you on the street and asked to see in your backpack or handbag and go through your things? You'd tell him to take a hike, right?
Anyone know of anything at all that would grant them the right to check your bags? Is it true that legally, they have to have proof that you stole something? And if they turn out to be wrong (maybe you were just walking with your hands in your pockets) aren't you liable to sue for defamation?
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Technically it is your personal property. However, you are on their private property. They want to make sure that your personal property isn't mingled in with theirs (stuff you may not have paid for).
I don't have a problem with it. If you don't like it, there are other places for you to shop.0 -
It is a Membership store - if you make a scene about "Illegal Search or Seizure", or "Illegal Detainer", they are gonna revoke your Membership.
Yep, you might make a few millions if you were successful in your constitutional grounds lawsuit, but it would take years, and you would need a few dumptrucks full of money to bring the suit.
My $.020 -
I just pretend that I do not hear them and keep walking out. Even if the door alarms go off because the retarded cashier forgot to deactivate the sensor chip.
Works 99% of the time!0 -
I don't have a problem with it.
If they want to look at what I just purchased from their store in order to deter the shoplifters and keep the prices low I am all for it.
I hate paying high prices due to shop lifters. I hate shop lifters for that matter.0 -
I have no problem with it either - but - in this hyper-sensitive
PC world that we seem to be living in ... and it's getting worse
... it just seems to me that the issue has not been challenged!0 -
What I get from the receipt checkers at the Boise Costco is the they check to make sure you received the small stuff like movie tickets or stamps. In my experience they will ask if you got those things to guard against someone coming back in and saying they never received the items from the lock-up.
As to Fry's and similar stores if they restrict their "search" to "plain sight" items, you will not have a case.0 -
You do pay a slightly higher price (about 5%) due to what is known as "shrinkage." Shrinkage includes all thefts, including the stuff that goes missing from loading docks, store rooms, trucks, etc.
Internal shrinkage (theft by employees) is a FAR bigger problem than shoplifting, and you get to pay for that, too.0 -
I just remembered about asking the costco receipt checker one time why they needed to check my stuff and she told me to make sure none of the stuff I bought was left at the check out counter.[:D] 0 -
Just tell them you don't have a sales slip because you shoplifted all the items. They will tell you to go on about your business. 0 -
Lady at wallieworld told me that most of the theft is done by empolyees. 0 -
My sister-in law worked at K-Mart in Indy for about 25 years. About 50% head of security and 50% head of receiving. It's exactly what David says. She (& I) couldn't believe it. I guess that's what happens when 80% of your work force is just over minimum wage.
As MVP said though we are all paying for it.0 -
no proble here letem check 0 -
Two weeks ago when I was at Lowes there were a bunch of cops milling around and a manager all upset. I asked what was going on and apparently some guys had purchased a bunch of cabinets. The clerk had not checked inside the cabinets, though, and inside were stashed jig saws, reciprocating saws, electrical tools, etc., etc. Apparently the guys made off with a lot of stuff. 0 -
WHAT, FROM THE CASHIER TO THE DOOR,COULD I HAVE STOLEN??[V]
Jeff0 -
i've always wanted to take off running when the alarm goes off just to be an azz 0 -
quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
WHAT, FROM THE CASHIER TO THE DOOR,COULD I HAVE STOLEN??[V]
Jeff
Agree with that. BUT, you are still on their property, so doubt you'd have a leg to stand on..legally. They've never tried that on me though, cuz if they did - the outcome would be less than favorable..for them, and they can probably tell this just by glancing at me.[8D]0 -
I was told that illegal aliens are the source of most of the nations shop lifiting.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=198872&SearchTerms=shoplifting0 -
The most fun I ever had was dropping the bag and assuming the position. 0 -
Ticks me off getting checked in Walmart. I don't even pay attention to the person and just keep walking. If they press the matter I tell them to piss off. Then agian I'm never in a great mood after dealing with the crowds in Walmart. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
It is a Membership store - if you make a scene about "Illegal Search or Seizure", or "Illegal Detainer", they are gonna revoke your Membership.
Yep, you might make a few millions if you were successful in your constitutional grounds lawsuit, but it would take years, and you would need a few dumptrucks full of money to bring the suit.
My $.02
You don't have any constitutional protection from a private enterprise. Those protections are only applied to Governmental entities.0 -
I worked at AAFES (military PX) for a number of years in Germany - there is an ENORMOUS amount of theft by employees.
And I didn't feel sorry for them at ALL. I was paid $4.35/hour.0 -
Theft by employees. Taking their benefits out in trade I guess. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
Whenever I shop at Fry's, Best Buy, or Costco, I routinely get my receipt and bags checked before being able to leave.
I covered for a guy at the door at Costco and they told me to just act like I am checking. It's the same at Costco. Even though when you walk out with a cart full of things, it would realistically take 5-10 minutes to verify everything in the cart, yet they do it in about 10 seconds. So basically, a lot of times it's just a psychological deterrent.
I was so used to being treated like a criminal when leaving these stores that I just put up with it for all these years. Then, the other day it occurred to me that technically those items are my property as soon as I pay the cashier. So, what right do they really have to order me to let them look through my belongings?
Let's put this into context. What would you do if a guy walked up to you on the street and asked to see in your backpack or handbag and go through your things? You'd tell him to take a hike, right?
Anyone know of anything at all that would grant them the right to check your bags? Is it true that legally, they have to have proof that you stole something? And if they turn out to be wrong (maybe you were just walking with your hands in your pockets) aren't you liable to sue for defamation?
Happened twice to me at a Walmart. As I kept walking I just looked at the person with a stone face. Never stopped. One kept speaking from behind me as I walked away, sir, sir. The other said nothing when I kept going. It's my stuff, I bought it and anyone that wants to check it can kiss my ass, period.0 -
Maybe you paid for it, maybe not. Remember, the "theft" by employees is also done at the register.
An incompetent employee may have charged the wrong price or not at all. However, the door checkers are usually counting total items in cart vs total items on receipt and not price, unless cashier #27 has been a screw-up lately, then they may be checking price. Then they also may look beyond the number of items and check prices because the cashier may have scanned the same cheapest item more than once and let the expensive item slide on by, but the number of items is correct.
The oldest trick in the book is for the cashier to mistakenly "miss" items for his/her friends. The management team will, of course, have to sufficiently document the "errors" a specified number of times, per whatever policy, before firing/prosecuting the dingbat and/or scammer.
If crooked SOB's would put half as much energy into doing their job instead of working the scams, they (and we) would be much better off.
This is how most internal theft is done, not typically an item out the back door, but out the front.0 -
Well , I also really dislike this 'invasive pratice' , depending on my mood , I may @ times just keep walking (sometimes even stating "call the wallyworld police"),its just One more reason I try and NOT shop @ these places ...
Or , did we get caught 'shoplifting' ??? tell us the real story ...
Thanks !!!
d.a.stearns
Gunsmith / LEO
Niota , Tn0 -
I have kept going after setting off the door alarm. After a while, they stop pestering you to stop. 0 -
If you want to stop, then stop. I never do, it's my stuff once I have paid and that's all there is to it. 0 -
The alarm went off and a guy asked to look in my bag. I handed it to him and kept right on walking.
I walked out to my car and just watched. I was sitting in the car 15 minutes later watching him roam the parking lot looking for me. He finally found me and gave it back. It was only $2 worth of stuff. I thought it was pretty funny.0 -
Management gets far more than minimum wage, so why are so many of them idiots?
A customer was comparison shopping at the local Best Buy, writing down prices on a pad. The manager called the police & HAD HIM ARRESTED! Yes, for writing down prices! Of course, he got a lawyer, & got a nice settlement.
But, at the same Best Buy, a security guard caught a shoplifter leaving the store, & was beat up by the shop lifter for his efforts. The police arrived in time to arrest the shop lifter. Despite having everything on video tape, Best Buy REFUSED TO PROSECUTE!
Go figure.
Neal0 -
quote:Originally posted by Kodiakk
Ticks me off getting checked in Walmart. I don't even pay attention to the person and just keep walking. If they press the matter I tell them to piss off. Then agian I'm never in a great mood after dealing with the crowds in Walmart.
+1 brother.0
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