I live in Warner Robins, GA. When everyone leaves the WM here, you have to stand in a long line and present your receipt so the "greeter" can look through your cart before you leave. If you don't stop, the greeters yell at you.
Does anyone else have this experience? Is this legal?
I'm boycotting the store. I refuse to let my food melt so the greeter can exercise some power.
2007-09-09 01:18:45 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Mr. Morden, the weird thing is that there are less minorities here than in Macon (15 miles north) and I didn't have that experience when I lived there. The greeter who is the most rude about it IS a minority. I think maybe it is a power trip for him.
2007-09-09 01:45:49 · update #1
rednine, the way they look at my bags, they couldn't catch anyone stealing anything. They don't look through the whole thing and compare.
I know some other folks do, but I don't steal.
2007-09-09 02:04:47 · update #2
They have security cameras EVERYWHERE. They don't need to do this to catch people.
2007-09-09 11:51:52 · update #3
Target and K-mart don't do this.
2007-09-09 11:52:40 · update #4
THOSE elderly greeters are NOT TRAINED to stop and detain anyone. They don't realize (WALMART) how dangerous this practice is. This one old lady practically chases you out the door, just keep walking as they do not have the authority to DETAIN. They make me sick sick sick
2007-09-09 02:25:03 · answer #1 · answered by dreampo 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Our WalMart doesn't do that but the Sam's Club (the second company in the Sam Walton dynasty) here does and it is all a joke.
The people at Sam's don't even look like they know what they're doing. We once had a cart full of supplies for the wildland fire crews, it was loaded and the "checker" just looked overwhelmed; she actually said, "Yep, it's all here. Have a great day." WHATEVER!! She couldn't even see half of it!
It is legal? As long as they don't violate the laws of the city of state - they can do whatever. Search and seizure mandates from Fourth ammendment can't be applied in this instance - it's private property.
Boycott it, don't go, or whatever, I seriously doubt they will change.
Go figure!!
2007-09-09 08:33:29 · answer #2 · answered by Alan P. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a "greeter" too, but she only stops some people, not everyone. If you look like you have electronics or unbagged stuff, they'll stop you. Or if the alarm goes off.
Not sure if it's legal, but they do have the right to stop you if they think that you have stolen something. You could simply refuse to stop and keep going; then they'd have to check yours next because they had to follow you out into the parking lot lol.
This practice will probably stop the first time they get sued by an angry customer who refused to stop, then was detained by security.
But I agree, the best way is to not shop there. Walmart is an awful store on many levels.
2007-09-09 08:29:13 · answer #3 · answered by Lisbeth 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is nothing they can legally do if you refuse to stop. Walmart has loss prevention officers that handle shoplifting, what they are doing "is" legal in the since they are not really forcing you, you are just willing to comply. They are not going to stop you if they "think" you are stealing, because without proof and if they stop and detain you it opens up all sorts of legal problems. I used to get so pissed off about that and I refused to stop, they will just say "SIR, I NEED TO SEE YOUR RECEIPT". I kept walking and said come get it. I complained to the store manager, to corporate and they no longer force you to show your receipt. I am with you on this one 1000%, man how that pissed me off. If you must go there just keep walking, they can not legally stop you unless the alarm goes off. Sams/costco I can kind of understand why they do it because your items are not bagged by the cashier, but I will not let any store check my recipt when I leave unless the alarm happens to go off because the cashier forgot to remove the sensor. Those old people have no training and they will not go as far as to "chase or grab" you, if they put hands on you thats simple assault, but lawsuit time would be better.
2007-09-09 09:31:57 · answer #4 · answered by woodyhou 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can make the argument that, once you pay for the merchandise, the person at the door is insisting on looking through your personal property.
I hate to say this but from what I have seen, the more minorities that shop in a store the stricter management is about enforcing inspections at the door. I'm not saying it's right, just something I've noticed.
2007-09-09 08:36:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only time I was stopped was when I bought a bicycle and I was wheeling it out of the store. I just showed the guy my receipt.
If a store made you stand in line as you described, then I would definitely boycott that store until they changed their policies. That's kind of rude treating their customers as thieves.
2007-09-09 08:58:05 · answer #6 · answered by sister_godzilla 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It happens in every Wal-Mart doesn't it?
I guess you could say that by ensuring that people aren't stealing items means that Wal-Mart are able to keep their prices low.
Hey, it could be worse, imagine being paid minimum wage just to check peoples receipts.
Oh, and buy a cool bag to stop your food melting!
2007-09-09 08:25:39 · answer #7 · answered by Miln3shine 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This practice won't last forever. Sooner rather then later they will have RFID tags installed in all packaging so if you acquire something you don't pay for they will just come into to your home and take it back out of your cupboard
2007-09-09 08:35:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have never experienced that here in Canada at Walmart.
As for if its legal or not it depends by state, I would just presume that it is legal in your state and not legal where im at but you should look it up.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/legal-issues/ask-the-consumerist-do-i-have-to-let-stores-check-my-receipt-217098.php
2007-09-09 08:30:14 · answer #9 · answered by Edge Caliber 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and it's legal. Once someone tried to walk out with a case of beer under their cart that they didn't pay for when I was there. So to keep cost down they have to do this.
2007-09-09 08:27:43 · answer #10 · answered by rednine 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋