Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In the past year or so, I've been on this mission of boycotting stores with rude and inconsistent bag checks. The incident that prompted this thread happened a couple days ago. I went to a small grocery store to pick up two items on my way home (the store was in a low income, fairly iffy area of Chicago). The second I step foot in the door, the security guard says "I need to take your bag". No "hello, welcome. I just need to check in your bag please", just a barked out command. I was carrying my Macbook Pro and some important documents with me, but figured it wouldn't take me long. The security guard takes my bag, drops it on the ground against the wall near the doors, then proceeds to walk away. Excuse me?? I spent less than 2 minutes in that store before realizing that my wallet was in the bag and became highly nervous when I looked up and saw customers lingering near my bag. I went over, grabbed my bag, was stopped or questioned by no one or made to show my tag, and left. Never saw the guard again. Seriously, anyone could have taken my bag and just walked out. Something similar happened at a CVS, Walgreens, Family Dollar, and a local hair supply shop there there was a bag check that was barely attended to and bags were just left by a register/on the floor near the door/on the counter. Makes me think that if theft is such a problem that this policy is needed, wouldn't you look after these items a bit more closely so they won't be stolen?
Now, for the most part, I don't mind bag checks and some of my favorite mom&pop shops use them. But they have a more polite way of asking, have better customer service overall, and are actually attentive to the bags left in their possession. Having said all that, I HATE being treated like a thief the second a walk into a store. I HATE wishy-washy policies where I can't enter with my messenger bag but an older woman with a purse big enough to hold a large turkey gets an ok to proceed. I HATE the rudeness that accompanies this request at some stores. Don't drop my bag on the ground as if it was a bag on trash! It's ironic because this has mostly been happening in low income, black majority neighborhoods. As a black person, I've always heard tales of people being followed around in ritzy stores because it's assumed that they may steal and yet this has never happened to me and the only time I'm made to feel like a dishonest thief is at these places .
Ooh, okay, ranting aside, I think in the future I will be speaking to higher ups about this policy and may forever boycott stores with such policies unless they are able to provide good customer service (which includes watching over my personal belongings while I shop).
I have never had a bag check except at concerts.....but I quit shopping at Best Buy because I discovered they follow you around with cameras and one person is watching the cameras and talking to employees via Bluetooth...telling them what to say to customers, how long to talk to them....or quit talking to customers....or to follow them around....felt very violated when I discovered this....
I've never heard of retailers checking the bags of customers. I was mad enough when they started doing it to me at a place I worked once. I can't imagine a grocery store hiring security guards and confiscating people's purses! Are you shopping in an incredibly dangerous part of town or what?
By the way, I'm eevee too. So you're the reason I had to put numbers after my name.
the store was in a low income, fairly iffy area of Chicago...
I HATE being treated like a thief the second a walk into a store.
I'm sorry for the way you were treated -- but,if you're shopping in a "fairly iffy" part of town, you should probably expect to be treated as "fairly iffy".
I live in a high-crime area and I totally understand a store guard's being suspicious of everyone who walks in the door (myself included).
I thought you were asking about when they check your shopping bags on the way out. I refuse to go to Costco because they make you stop between the checkout and the door to get checked while your ice cream and frozen goods melt away. There is nothing you can grab between the checkout and the door! I don't see the need for it! And like you say, sometimes you get a very rude person who can make you feel like crap. I don't need that.
I often walk for errands and have a canvas bag to carry stuff. I often go into a store with something from another store already in the bag. I usually don't have a problem, but once I went to the drugstore for a few items, then went to the liquor store. I had my bag opened sitting on the counter ready for the clerk to put the bottle in. He raised his voice and said what's in here? Did you pay for this? I got irked and asked if he sold toothpaste and Mr. Clean pads in his store. He said nooooo and I just stood there with a raised eyebrow. He didn't even have the decency to apologize, in fact he added that he had no way of knowing if they're paid for, in an indignant tone. I'dve walked out but my stuff was already paid for.
Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
24,499 posts, read 26,042,042 times
Reputation: 59893
Quote:
Originally Posted by eevee
In the past year or so, I've been on this mission of boycotting stores with rude and inconsistent bag checks. The incident that prompted this thread happened a couple days ago. I went to a small grocery store to pick up two items on my way home (the store was in a low income, fairly iffy area of Chicago). The second I step foot in the door, the security guard says "I need to take your bag". No "hello, welcome. I just need to check in your bag please", just a barked out command. I was carrying my Macbook Pro and some important documents with me, but figured it wouldn't take me long. The security guard takes my bag, drops it on the ground against the wall near the doors, then proceeds to walk away. Excuse me?? I spent less than 2 minutes in that store before realizing that my wallet was in the bag and became highly nervous when I looked up and saw customers lingering near my bag. I went over, grabbed my bag, was stopped or questioned by no one or made to show my tag, and left. Never saw the guard again. Seriously, anyone could have taken my bag and just walked out. Something similar happened at a CVS, Walgreens, Family Dollar, and a local hair supply shop there there was a bag check that was barely attended to and bags were just left by a register/on the floor near the door/on the counter. Makes me think that if theft is such a problem that this policy is needed, wouldn't you look after these items a bit more closely so they won't be stolen?
Now, for the most part, I don't mind bag checks and some of my favorite mom&pop shops use them. But they have a more polite way of asking, have better customer service overall, and are actually attentive to the bags left in their possession. Having said all that, I HATE being treated like a thief the second a walk into a store. I HATE wishy-washy policies where I can't enter with my messenger bag but an older woman with a purse big enough to hold a large turkey gets an ok to proceed. I HATE the rudeness that accompanies this request at some stores. Don't drop my bag on the ground as if it was a bag on trash! It's ironic because this has mostly been happening in low income, black majority neighborhoods. As a black person, I've always heard tales of people being followed around in ritzy stores because it's assumed that they may steal and yet this has never happened to me and the only time I'm made to feel like a dishonest thief is at these places .
Ooh, okay, ranting aside, I think in the future I will be speaking to higher ups about this policy and may forever boycott stores with such policies unless they are able to provide good customer service (which includes watching over my personal belongings while I shop).
/soapbox
I have never experienced where I live, but have seen other folks comment on the subject. I have become convince that this happens in areas of the country that are sketchy at best.
Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
24,499 posts, read 26,042,042 times
Reputation: 59893
Quote:
Originally Posted by noihoforus
I have never had a bag check except at concerts.....but I quit shopping at Best Buy because I discovered they follow you around with cameras and one person is watching the cameras and talking to employees via Bluetooth...telling them what to say to customers, how long to talk to them....or quit talking to customers....or to follow them around....felt very violated when I discovered this....
Hogwash, unless you can provide documented proof of this your post is just heresy.
I have no issue at any shops however, if I am only going to purchase a few items I do NOT carry in a bag or carry out a bag. I have a debit card or cash in my pocket and after checkout I have my receipt in my hand. Moreso now than ever we don't even take in our reusable shopping bags and do not get one at the market either. We take cart and all outside and put our items in our reusable bags in the vehicle, that way everything is always out and visible and no handbags are used either. No problems in or out.
If you are walking though a very different story so our experiences are completely different scenarios and I agree it is not fair to be treated like a criminal as soon as you walk through the door.
Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
24,499 posts, read 26,042,042 times
Reputation: 59893
Quote:
Originally Posted by LillyLillyLilly
I thought you were asking about when they check your shopping bags on the way out. I refuse to go to Costco because they make you stop between the checkout and the door to get checked while your ice cream and frozen goods melt away. There is nothing you can grab between the checkout and the door! I don't see the need for it! And like you say, sometimes you get a very rude person who can make you feel like crap. I don't need that.
Obviously most Costco and Sam's Club members disagree with you and enjoy the cost savings and other benefits.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.
So you're the reason I had to put numbers after my name. 
