security at Best Buy/Costco

[hukilau]

When I checked out, payed for my goodies, with my hard earned money, the cashier says, "show your receipt to the man at the door when leaving". That just burns my arse! Costco, lines of people, walking out, getting your receipt marked like okay, you didn't steal anything, you can go. They (costco/bestbuy) are assuming everyone leaving their premise could be stealing. Really fries my grits, ya know?

just venting, but god, I hate being looked at in that tone of attitude.

hukilau

what would they do if you walked out without stopping! will they have security arrest ya?

[M_Six]

You shouldn't look at this as a bad thing. The reason prices are so low at Costco is because they limit theft by checking receipts. They'll also catch mistakes made by the cashiers. It's happened to me three times and every time the mistake would have cost me had they not caught it. I think it's great that they double-check. I'll wait in line a bit to have someone a little more observant than I double-check my purchases.

[xenon200]

So I'm sort of confused... You would prefer if they used some sort of profiling system?

"Oh... You're black? You're going to need to go get your receipt checked."

I see absolutely no problem with their current method, whatsoever. They either have to check everyone, or check no one... They can't just target certain people based on a certain set of criterion.

You're not getting your receipt checked with the assumption that you stole something. You're innocent until proven guility.

x2

[sharder8]

Originally posted by xenon200
So I'm sort of confused... You would prefer if they used some sort of profiling system?

"Oh... You're black? You're going to need to go get your receipt checked."

I see absolutely no problem with their current method, whatsoever. They either have to check everyone, or check no one... They can't just target certain people based on a certain set of criterion.

You're not getting your receipt checked with the assumption that you stole something. You're innocent until proven guility.

x2

They don't pick people at random at any of the Costco's I've been to, . . . . . . . . . . . They check everyone's reciept! (No profiling used!)

Harder

[hukilau]

you have it backwards xenon. guilty, till you show your receipt, then innocence. You would also be willing to do this at the grocery store also? I personally think it sucks. But just my opinion!

hukilau

[xenon200]

Maybe.

I guess I've just really never paid any attention to it.

*shrug*

x2

[hukilau]

Xenon, I'm not trying to beat ya up about this. Sometimes I just feel my little slice of personal rights and privacy just slipping away. I don't mean to sound like all doom and gloom. Probably just a sign of the times and will pass.

hukilau

[Mntsnow]

It's their store, Their rules....Dont like it? Shop elsewhere. Helps keep prices down for the rest of us.

[xenon200]

Exactly the point I was trying to make..

[Chuckiechan]

The question is "At what point do you own it" and "What are their rights to search your private property on their premises". And exactly how do you "Imply" permission to search your purchases.

Another issue: AFAIK California state law requires anyone with a liquor license to sell in a non-discriminatory fashion. This includes the pharmacy, too. By this I mean, you can go in a buy booze and prescription medicine without a membership and as a condition of their license they can't require you to be a member to do so.

[Socalgal]

One time as I was exiting Costco after a large amount of shopping (lol how can you not shop large there), the 'receipt-check' gal asked me where the "other three xxx items" were.

The check-out guy had rung up one purchased item 4 times, so she saved me 3x the amount of that item's cost, close to $30. I usually check my own receipt on the way out, but hadn't that one time.

Receipt-checks don't bother me. They do it at Fry's, too.

[hukilau]

So Mtnsnow, you must feel the same about the Feds and MS, don't question their motives or ethics, just follow their guidelines,rules and don't rock the boat! Don't patronize their business if u don't like the rules? That's a cop out! You got not juevos my friend.

alright, enuff! end of my rant!

[M_Six]

Don't patronize their business if u don't like the rules? That's a cop out! You got not juevos my friend.

Not only does that make no sense, it was uncalled for as well.

What do you do if you walk into a nightclub that's playing music you don't like? Do you go online and rant about it? No. You just go to a different nightclub. Same goes for restaurants. Don't like the food? Don't eat there. Simple.

Costco and others have a right to protect against thieves and to double-check their cashiers. If you can't understand that, then you got no brains, my friend.

[vass0922]

Agreed, I have no problem having them check. They've NEVER looked at me like I was a theif, everybody thats ever checked me at Costco were very nice people that always greeted with a smile, checked my stuff and I was on my way. I've never felt like they were " looked at in that tone of attitude." by any means...

And as far as your privacy.. do they go looking through your wallet? NO.. do they go looking through your purse if you're a female? NO.. do they frisk you? NO
They just check your receipt and you're on your way!

Fine Huk.. you can go somewhere else, where they jack up prices everytime somebody steals something.. I'll continue to shop at costco and best buy Doesn't bother me one bit!!!

Simple.. shop somewhere else.
.. and agreed that comment was QUITE uncalled for.
Go to wal mart, they don't check ya.. their prices on computer stuff is great coughcough

[hukilau]

I do the above M_Six as u said. If I don't agree or like it, I usually wont go back. Dont like it, dont shop there! Come on M, that wasn't the point I was trying to make. You are right, I apologize to Mtnsnow for that remark. I don't do very well with debating or expressing my feelings about these kind of matters. At Bestbuy, I just feel a little miffed when I have to open my bag of goodies to the security guy when leaving. Just the idea of it all I guess. I wasn't raised to not trust people in general, it just rubs me the wrong way is all.

Hukilau

[xenon200]

A better question is, what do you think they should do instead? Not doing anything, in terms of security and/or verification is out of the question.. People can and DO steal stuff, and prices would inevitably go up as a result.

Everyone has the right to moan and complain, but IMO - with that, they also have the responsibility to suggest other ways of doing things that they think would make things better. Unfortunately - there's no way for them to look at you and automatically know that you're supposedly a hard working citizen who has paid for all the goods he's taking out of the store - so don't expect it.

x2

[hukilau]

Obviously, they have terrible theft problem, and I understand that. I just don't like being lumped in there with them(thieves). No, I don't have a solution for their thefts and should that burden be put on you or I? And thank you for saying everyone has a right to moan and complain whether they have a solution for the problem or not.

[xenon200]

Well... Being lumped in with the theives is a basic principle of humanity, my friend. Everyone has to walk through the tag detector at the local Walmart because only some people steal.

What else are they to do? There isn't anything else they can do. Unless they want to let people steal so that people who don't steal don't feel slightly uncomfortable or offended.

Stores don't view you as a hard working man who may or may not have a wife and kids. They view you as a customer, no more differently than they view the transsexual with a shopping bag containing blank CD's, a copy of "DOS For Dummies", 3 Oh Henry's and a condom, as a customer...

x2

[hukilau]

I know! Like I said in my other post, just venting. And this is a cool place to vent.

[Mike]

Are you kidding? At Costco and Fry's I don't even see them reading your receipt. They just mark it and look in your bag. If the security buzzer alarm thing catches you, good.. If not...Oh well.

At Fry's and big electronics stores I can understand why they have security guards/receipt checkers/alarms at the door...