How many of you get pissed at stores that check receipts at the door?

Question

We have rights as Americans against searches.

Many stores now are checking OUR property as we leave. Once it's paid for it's ours. Period.

It's not mandatory, and I've refused several times just to be slightly chased with a "SIR SIR!!!" but I ignore and go to my car.

I honestly think people are giving up freedom and giving into corporate law.

I'd rather pay a bit more than to per se, "give up my rights".

It's an outrage to me.... Even though it's something so small... I think of the American men who died and had families weep and mourn over them in the American Revolution to give us these rights just to have stores think they can take them away just because something is not in a bag.

I'm very pissed off and I'm about to start confronting managers.

Read Amendment IV if you don't know what I'm talking about.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

Also, where does private property get the right to violate your persons rights?

You can't rape somebody on your property just because they are on your property. You have to respect their rights.

Same as a store, even if they post a sign, "We reserve the right to inspect all packages" the constitution says they can't, and the constitution is the supreme law of the land. PERIOD.

Answer 1

We all get a big laugh out of the "Door Nazis" at Fry's Electronics. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me, that when I walk out with a bag full of stuff from someone else's private property, I grant them the courtesy of checking whether I'm taking anything extra. It's such a trivial issue that I can't imagine it warranting much worry.

Those measures are taken to reduce shoplifting. I'll gladly let someone check the receipt in exchange for paying lower prices, and making it harder for crooks to profit at the law-abiding public's expense. You have different priorities (want crooks' lives to be easier, and want to pay more)? Fine with me -- shop elsewhere.

I think it's a pretty silly thing to get bent out of shape about. Worse, the suggested approach is downright stupid: you disagree with the policy, but do business there anyway, then make a fool out of yourself jumping the checkpoint and running from some poor rent-a-cop who's just trying to do his job. If you were really serious about this, you'd ensure that your money didn't go to a store whose policies you don't like. Then you wouldn't have to make a scene.

Frankly, I think you can find better windmills to tilt at. And I wonder if you apply this same standard everywhere in your life. I'd love to see what happens when you walk through airport security, and refuse the metal detector. Try it sometime: bolt the line, ignore the guards' commands to stop, and see how far "your (imagined) rights" take you. It's much easier and safer to throw tantrums in front of some poor store manager, than the TSA.... but principles are not for only when it is safe or easy, are they?

Answer 2

I dont mind the recipt checking but i have a problem with some of these small stores i go in all the time they know me that im not a theif but i go in i have my laptop 2 digital cams and my dv cam on me in my backpack along with all my dibetic supplys all I need is a bottle of octain booster for my jeep family doller is the only place that sells this one brand that makes my jeep run amazingly better. anyway they try to make me leave my backpack behind the counter which i really dont have a probly with the polocy buy i respectfully explain the value of whats in my bag and tell them i know exactly what i need and ask If i can wait up front and someone can get the octain booster for me or if they can walk back there with me. the whole time being calm and understaning of there polocy and they got to start crap with me like im a damm criminal I dont get it im not trying to get away with anything im trying to compromize.
I end up having to cause a seen and finally the manager comes out from the back office and tells them to do what ever i want so he can get back in the office and get back to banging the new girl he just hired

Answer 3

I used to be irritated by it because sometimes there were huge lines to get out and my frozen stuff would start to thaw. I changed my mind when the checker noticed I had been charged twice for something and I hadn't noticed. It was only around 5 dollars but I was glad he mentioned it.

Edited a couple of minutes later - Probably my fault for not being observant but a similar thing happened at Walmart. The alarm went off as I was going out through those magnetic detectors and they stopped me. They never found what made it go off but asked if I had bought any non-food items. I said yes and noticed a 10 dollar timer I had paid for was not in my cart. I hurried back the checkout counter and there it was, still on thag bag carousel. Thanks again for comparing my receipt to what was in my cart.

Answer 4

I guess their view is it's their right and freedom to stop people stealing their goods by putting them in an old carrier bag and walking out of the store with them.

They must only do it because it saves them money on shoplifting.

That said, I'd get pissed if it happened every time I went into a store... so far in the UK only a few shops do that.

Answer 5

Last year Wall-Mart reported (my memory might be bad on the actual figure) about $3 billion in shoplifted merchandise. You are correct in the fact that you have rights, but it's the store policy to check your receipt. You have the right not to shop there.

BTW: Wrong Forum for your question.

Answer 6

You should look around all paranoid and then run. Make the old lady or old man chase you.

Answer 7

If they can do it in a timely manner I welcome it. If it helps cut theft then it helps keep the cost of goods lower to us, the consumer.