Harris Teeter - Store Security (Durham, Fayetteville: lawsuit, train, food)

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

Geez, do you really create a ruckus every time you go? Do you refuse to show your receipt when you leave Best Buy as well? What's the point, other than just making the jobs of the people working there unpleasant, when there's nothing they can do about the policy.

I'm glad you don't shop at Costco.. everyone who works there is so nice! I hate to see anyone give them a hard time.

I will say I worked in a grocery store for three years - it was one of the hardest jobs I've ever had, mostly because of dealing with the public. People were VERY creative with what they did with receipts - so I'm not surprised stores mark through them. They would steal cartons of cigarettes at one store, and try to return them at other stores. I watched one girl lie and lie and LIE about why she needed to return the cigarettes (she forgot her aunt quit smoking blah blah blah). She didn't realize that the store numbers were stamped on the cartons, so the manager knew she was lying and did not refund her money.

You wouldn't believe the things people do at retail stores, it's really pathetic. It's why I never expect much in terms of service at a retail store. It's stuff like this they have to deal with all the time while having no control at all over the policies.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by 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 .

LOL.. That is the way I feel if I pay for something like ice then pick it
up on the way out. I always make an idiot of myself trying to tell
people who could care less that I paid for it...really I did !!!!

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

Geez, do you really create a ruckus every time you go? Do you refuse to show your receipt when you leave Best Buy as well? What's the point, other than just making the jobs of the people working there unpleasant, when there's nothing they can do about the policy.

What you call creating a ruckus I call not being a sheep. Do you do everthing anyone asks of you, or are you sometimes 'unpleasant' too? Would you agree to a quick pat-down? Of course I refuse at Best Buy. And Tiger Direct; anywhere that asks.

I'm never anything but polite at first. My I see your receipt? No thank you! If there's any escalation after that, it's from someone who won't take no as an answer.

What's the point in me refusing? It's a rude question to ask of a customer. What's the point in them asking?

The rest of the stuff you're talking about would be theft. I don't steal, and I think I made my position regarding theft pretty clear earlier.

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

What you call creating a ruckus I call not being a sheep. Do you do everthing anyone asks of you, or are you sometimes 'unpleasant' too? Would you agree to a quick pat-down? Of course I refuse at Best Buy. And Tiger Direct; anywhere that asks.

I'm never anything but polite at first. My I see your receipt? No thank you! If there's any escalation after that, it's from someone who won't take no as an answer.

What's the point in me refusing? It's a rude question to ask of a customer. What's the point in them asking?

The rest of the stuff you're talking about would be theft. I don't steal, and I think I made my position regarding theft pretty clear earlier.

What's the point of them asking? Maybe it's their job? Maybe they have no control over making the policies? It's being a "sheep" because I comply with a simple request that's made of everyone that shops in a particular place? Frankly, if you're that offended, why not take your business elsewhere? Vote with your wallet instead of just giving the employees a hard time. Spend your money at a store that isn't "rude" to customers!

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

What's the point of them asking? Maybe it's their job? Maybe they have no control over making the policies?

Sure it's their job to ask. It's my job to say no. As long as it's left at that, no hard feelings.

It's being a "sheep" because I comply with a simple request that's made of everyone that shops in a particular place?

Simple request. What about waiting in another line after the receipt check line for the quick pat down, then? That's a simple request too. If you aren't offended by it, do it.

Frankly, if you're that offended, why not take your business elsewhere? Vote with your wallet instead of just giving the employees a hard time. Spend your money at a store that isn't rude to customers!

If it were only that simple. First time I saw it was at Best Buy. Then Circuit City. Then Sam Ash music. Then Walmart. I do try to avoid those places - but in all honesty it's not a big deal to me. I say no, 9 times out of 10 it's that easy.

I did just remember a funny one from Circuit City. I needed some surround sound speakers. I bought them at Circuit City, paid and left. There was no receipt checker at the door. The next day I decided to go back and get some stands for the speakers. Same store. This time there was a receipt checker. I politely refused the receipt check, and he runs after me in the parking lot 'Sir! Sir!, I need to check your receipt!' So I turn around and ask him why. He says that if I need to return the stands that they'll need the mark he put on the receipt. So I ask him about the speakers I bought the night before when there was no receipt checker, will I be able to return those?? He says yes. So what's your point again? He just turned around and went back in.

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by arsbadmojo

Simple request. What about waiting in another line after the receipt check line for the quick pat down, then? That's a simple request too. If you aren't offended by it, do it.

No, I wouldn't let a store employee give me a pat down. There's a big difference between checking a receipt, glancing in a cart or bag, and physically touching someone. I'd imagine that most people would be offended by that.

Like I said, if you're that offended shop somewhere else. If you keep shopping there and being offended, I can only think you get some enjoyment out of saying "No" and watching the people's reactions - or having them chase you across the parking lot.

I've shopped places where I've been gotten poor service, or where the employees were rude - my solution is not to go back. That's logical. What you're doing is downright silly - I side with your wife on this one!

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

No, I wouldn't let a store employee give me a pat down. There's a big difference between checking a receipt, glancing in a cart or bag, and physically touching someone. I'd imagine that most people would be offended by that.

It's really not that big of a difference, and a lot of people are offended by the receipt check but do it anyway. Some of them even think it's 'illegal' not to show it. That ticks me off too, the general complacency of it; that you /don't/ think it's a big deal. I know I can't change your mind, but maybe I can make you think about it, you know?

Like I said, if you're that offended shop somewhere else. If you keep shopping there and being offended, I can only think you get some enjoyment out of saying "No" and watching the people's reactions - or having them chase you across the parking lot.

And like I said, 1. I already do avoid these places when I can, but 2. that's getting harder and harder and 3. it's not that big a deal. It's offensive and rude, but it registers a 2 on the offenso-meter, and it really is rare that I get chased. Do I enjoy it? That's hard to say. There is some satisfaction in doing what I consider right, of taking the more difficult option.

I've shopped places where I've been gotten poor service, or where the employees were rude - my solution is not to go back. That's logical. What you're doing is downright silly - I side with your wife on this one!

That's fine; most people do. You're in the majority. All I can say is that I don't think it's silly. We'll just have to disagree on it.

[arsbadmojo]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

A store cannot detain anyone refusing a bag check unless they have reasonable cause to believe theft is in progress by the customer.

That's an excellent point. If you're putting merchandise under your coat or somesuch, then all bets are off and they can (and should) detain you.

That's exactly why any time I am actually detained the very first thing I ask if I'm under suspicion of shoplifting. That's a yes or no question, and I demand a yes or no answer to it. Because I don't steal, I know they don't have the required evidence. For laibility reasons, most require to have seen you conceal merchandise and then go past the point of sale. That's another reason I wholeheatedly endorse undercover LPO's and cameras.

[RDSLOTS]

Originally Posted by NC gal (aka Oregon gal)

You all are hilarious!
(I pay attention when they're cooking on the grill and passing out samples too!)
I hear it at my HT on Green Level to Durham and I tune it out as well.
Always have too much on my list to worry about them announcing their little "security two-step".

Ir is a sad state state-of-affairs that ruses like the ones the stores perform, must even occur, you know? I recall somewhere what shoplifters actually 'cost' the rest of us consumers, but I cannot remember now the actual dollar amount. I remember it was staggering. Bothered me that the costs due to shoplifting, like everything else, are passed along to us, the honest consumers -- but then, merchants could hardly stay in business if they opened their doors and gave things away.

[MrsSteel]

Taking this back to the original topic now ...

I don't recall ever hearing that announcement at my local Harris Teeter (in southern Durham at Fayetteville & Hwy 54), so this weekend when I was shopping I made a point of paying close attention. I didn't hear a peep during the half hour I was in the store. Does anyone know how often the announcement is made? Maybe when our new, bigger HT opens in a few months I'll finally get a chance to hear this mysterious announcement!