Exit Bag Checks

[Sandman]

Here at the local Wal-Mart, they had the policy of checking your bag and receipt before exiting. They stopped doing it and I just recently found out why.

A woman leaving the store called their bluff and refused the search. The police were called and ultimately, Wal-Mart looked foolish.

I've been doing some searching and I've found some information like this:
http://crimedoctor.com/loss_prevention_3.htm


What's your take?

[Gadfly]

Never bothered me.

[AKIron]

I always submit and usually don't mind unless I have to wait in line. I'm all for reducing theft since I have to pay for it.

[SOB]

It depends on what kind of mood I'm in - sometimes yes, sometimes no.  Generally I'm not interested in submitting to a search of my property so the store can feel a little more secure ... particularly when the bag-search nazi is 10ft from the register, ala Best Buy.

A friend and I actually got "banned" from our local Best Buy for refusing the search...it went something like this:

Bag-search Nazi: Thank you for shopping at Best Buy, can I check your reciept?
Friend:
Nazi: Sir, I have to check your reciept
Friend: No you don't, I just purchased this at the register.
Nazi: Stop, You HAVE to show me your receipt!
Friend: No I don't.
Nazi: Well then, you can't come back here, you're not allowed back in the store!!!
Friend: OK, see ya.
Me: Oh dear jebus, NO!

Just to be a total bastard, my friend emailed Best Buy.  Their customer service emailed back... They apologized profusely, said he was more than welcome to come back, gave him a $5 gift cert and told him it was not their policy to ban people from the store but it was their policy to check receipts.  Then, the manager of that particular store emailed and apologized further and said the employee was not following Best Buy policy and had now been trained better so this would not happen again.

Fry's bag-checkers never seem to care, but I once got called a "tough guy" because I just walked past them without a word...I had just had a pleasant Fry's check-out experience lasting about 15 minutes at the counter, and really wasn't in the mood.  

[capt. apathy]

A customer can refuse to have their bag checked and simply walk out the door past the bag checker.

thats what I do every time.  

same procedure for the little electronic alarms. I just keep walking, my time is mine and if they want to use it up they can pay for it.

as far as the alarms go I don't see it as my problem if their equipment malfunctions or their checker neglects to remove a tag.  I've made my purchase, our business is complete, I've no further need to hang around and talk to them.

[Sundiver]

I think the electronic ID tags on items is the perfect solution to shoplifting. Will it prevent all of it? Of course not. It will probably prevent a large portion of it and it's not nearly so invasive as being followed by plainclothes rentacops and monitored by cameras wherever you go. I have a hard time with being treated with suspicion as a paying customer the moment I walk through the door.

[mrblack]

Oh crap let em look in the bag fer cryin out loud:lol
It's not like there asking for a body cavity search:rofl

[Gunthr]

Depends on if I stoled something.