Harris Teeter - Store Security (Durham, Fayetteville: buy, costs, shops)

[geoff2v]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

"I HATE the way the big box stores like Sam's, BJs, etc., make you show a receipt on the way out...I feel like being a smartie and saying..."do you really think I didn't pay for the stupid toilet paper?!!".

While the clubs will say that it's part of their membership contract; I don't care. The worst they can do is revoke your membership. I don't show it there or anywhere else. I get chased out to the parking lot, I get managers called, I get security trying to block me...but I've never lost, and never been arrested. "If you have any evidence at all that I stole something - call the cops. Since I didn't steal anything, I know you don't have any evidence. If you further detain me against my will I'm going to sue you. Now move."

This is why the wife stopped taking me to those places. Some people think I'm unreasonable. Maybe I am, but until there's a law compelling me to allow BJ's to inspect my property, I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline.

If you don't like that membership places like Sam's etc. require you to have your receipt checked, then don't shop there. You don't have to acquiesce at a normal store, but if it's part of a membership deal, then you agreed to it, and so you should do what you're doing and not go there if you don't like it.

[Grateful Grace]

I have a friend who works at Costco. She says the receipt checkers at the door are counting items and comparing the number of items on the receipt with those in your cart. They also do check higher ticket items like TVs. They are also there as a preventative measure to keep people from running out the door with items.

She says that the receipt checkers find people that try to steal stuff almost every day, especially now that things are tougher in the economy.

My own experience is that Costco is a good company and treats its members and employees well. They have an amazing return policy.

I work in retail and at my store, we take extra measures to insure that our customers don't feel we suspect them. I personally think it results in more theft. When someone steals from my store it makes me feel awful and I know it affects my colleagues as well.

It certainly doesn't feel good to be treated like you are stealing when you are an honest citizen. I think Costco's checking everyone's receipt is a way of not singling anyone out.

I know that even people who "look" like law abiding citizens and who have shopped at your store for years, can still be shoplifters.

My Uncle was the top security dude at Marshall Field's in Chicago and he could definitely tell some stories!

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by geoff2v

...but if it's part of a membership deal, then you agreed to it....

Nah. When I signed up at BJ's I scanned the agreement for this clause. I didn't see it. The first time I was stopped at BJ's I told the manager to go get the agreement, and show me, in writing, where I had agreed to it.

I waited for 10 minutes, I got tired of waiting and I left.

I'm not going to stop shopping there; I like the store, I like the prices. If they want to cancel my membership because I refuse the receipt check; they are within their rights to do so I suppose, but I see no reason to help them out with that.

The practice is rude, deragotary and I'm not convinced it does anything it all.

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by Grateful Grace

IIt certainly doesn't feel good to be treated like you are stealing when you are an honest citizen. I think Costco's checking everyone's receipt is a way of not singling anyone out.

Let me be perfectly clear; I am 100% in favor of loss prevention. I HATE theives and if you are caught shoplifting, I hope you're prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In store cameras, undercover LPO's, RFID tags - all kosher with me.

But stopping every one, wasting their time, riffling through their stuff, and making them prove they didn't steal with zero evidence that they have? No way. What's next; a quick pat-down?

Design to store so you can only exit through the registers, and make the registers close to the door.

[cynwldkat]

I hear it at my HT---have heard it at other stores and it dosn't bother me one bit. With so much shop lifting going on and I'm having to pay in the end for thier misdeeds---nope announce away!! If I haven't done anything wrong I have to reason to feel badly about it!

[geoff2v]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

Nah. When I signed up at BJ's I scanned the agreement for this clause. I didn't see it. The first time I was stopped at BJ's I told the manager to go get the agreement, and show me, in writing, where I had agreed to it.

I waited for 10 minutes, I got tired of waiting and I left.

I'm not going to stop shopping there; I like the store, I like the prices. If they want to cancel my membership because I refuse the receipt check; they are within their rights to do so I suppose, but I see no reason to help them out with that.

The practice is rude, deragotary and I'm not convinced it does anything it all.

It may not have been there then, but it's there now.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Membership Privileges and Conditions

We are pleased that you have selected BJ's, and we look forward to serving you. The privileges and conditions of Membership are described below.

[...]

2. Purchasing, Guests, and Receipt & Inspection Procedures

...BJ's reserves the right to inspect any bag, backpack, briefcase or container upon entry or exit. BJ's inspects all receipts as Members exit the Club to ensure that Members have not been overcharged or undercharged for an item and that all selections appear on the receipt.

[solarity]

Sort of related... One time I had bought the big packages of paper towels at HT and walked out without putting them back in the cart. When I got home I realized I paid for them but they didn't get in the car. So I went back and explained what happened and showed the receipt. They said no problem, just go get them. I asked if I should bring them back to the customer service counter and they said no, you can just take them... That was the most awkward thing, I went back, got my paper towels (the bulk package) and just walked out of the store. I thought someone for sure would have thought I was shoplifting but no one stopped me. I might be paranoid but I hope I never have to do that again :P .

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by geoff2v

It may not have been there then, but it's there now.

It doesn't explicitly say that a membership can be invalidated by refusing to allow to receipt check; but let's say that it does - if they're going to revoke my membership, I can't complain - but 'reserving the right to inspect receipts' doesn't have any force of law. Detaining me against my will does; so I win. I reserve the right to refuse.

"...to ensure that Members have not been overcharged or undercharged for an item and that all selections appear on the receipt."

How many items do you think BJ's stocks? 7,000? 10,000? Do you really believe that the receipt checker actually keeps a mental track of the exact price of every one of those items? I don't. I guess that looks better than 'because we really don't trust our cashiers'.

[southward bound]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

How many items do you think BJ's stocks? 7,000? 10,000? Do you really believe that the receipt checker actually keeps a mental track of the exact price of every one of those items? I don't. I guess that looks better than 'because we really don't trust our cashiers'.

They don't check that closely. It's cursory at best, so as far as I can tell, it's a waste.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

It doesn't explicitly say that a membership can be invalidated by refusing to allow to receipt check; but let's say that it does - if they're going to revoke my membership, I can't complain - but 'reserving the right to inspect receipts' doesn't have any force of law. Detaining me against my will does; so I win. I reserve the right to refuse.

"...to ensure that Members have not been overcharged or undercharged for an item and that all selections appear on the receipt."

How many items do you think BJ's stocks? 7,000? 10,000? Do you really believe that the receipt checker actually keeps a mental track of the exact price of every one of those items? I don't. I guess that looks better than 'because we really don't trust our cashiers'.

It's just a visual tactic to scare someone off. They can't do anything to stop you from leaving the store if you really wanted to anyway.