Anyone get stopped leaving stores?

[SnowRidge]

I may be a victim of profiling. I never get checked anyplace except Sam's. I bought an elliptical trainer at one of the local Super Wallyworlds a couple of weeks ago, because as I was on my way to the lighting section I passed the exercise section and saw this thing on sale for $129. The sign was right below what looked to be a reasonably decent elliptical trainer, but I wasn't sure it was the one on sale. I had a clerk check it out and he said it was the one, so I had him load it up on a flatbed and take it to customer service while I did the rest of my shopping. At customer service, they rang it up and it came out $297...still pretty cheap for the thing, but more than I wanted to pay. So I told them it had a sign for $129, and they said OK. No further check was made on a difference of $168. I then wondered if I could have said $50, but I just don't have enough larceny in my heart I guess. I checked the same machine at the other two Wally stores over the next week or so, when I happened to be in them, because my SIL thought he might want one. Either I got in on a short-lived sale, or it was just mislabelled. I got a boxed machine, by the way, not a floor model.

Chuck

I bought a rifle at Wallys. It took a whole passel of people to complete the sale, but that's another story. Anyway, the gun had a price tag with a decent price on it. I agreed to buy it. Part of their convoluted procedure is that every gun must leave the store in the original box with the matching serial number on it accompanied to the front door by a manager.

So off they went to find the box. It took a good twenty minutes or so. When they found it, someone noticed that a price sticker on the box was about ten dollars less than what I had paid. The manager said they had to void the sale, redo the paperwork, and sell me the gun for the lower price. One of the employees (not me) pointed out that I had already technically bought the gun, the required-by-law paperwork had already been filled out, and the price I had paid was the correct current price.

It didn't matter. They and I had to do everything over because "WalMart sells for the lowest marked price -- always."

I would gladly have given them ten dollars more than the original price, let alone ten dollars less, just to get out of there. What a hassle.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I was going through a rather bad time in my life so I decided to grab a couple of new CD's to listen to. When I handed the cashier a 100 dollar bill to pay for them, he marked it with a pen and it did not react. He immediately exclaimed loudly enough for other customers to hear that my bill was counterfit and called security.

Security shows up, call the local cops who show up. I am explaining that I just picked up the bill along with some other 100's that did react to the pen. The cops take my info and my bill but give me a reciept and let me go.

Turned out that the bill being older did not react to the marker pens as the newer ones do. I had to go out of my way to pick up my bill at this two bit police station with part time hours.

In retrospect, I should have in one way or another let the store owner know my displeasure about being embarressed by the situation I suppose. I just never went back to the store or even that mall as a matter of fact.

 

[2manyrocks]

If the manager keeps acting like that, he won't have any customers. Think of the employees who work for him. Sounds like a store to avoid entirely. Why help them out by telling them their manager is a jerk? If it's a store you otherwise like, then call the owners. Based on how they treat you, then decide if you keep shopping there.

 

[JB4310]

You must not belong to a Sam's Club or B J's Wholesale............ as they stop EVERY customer and make you prove you are not stealing anything on the way out.

Yup, after you wait in line to pay, you have to wait in line to prove you payed, there's 1 person checking the receipts of people coming from 8 registers! so it becomes a longer line than at the checkout!!!

I agree with OP, I would be mad in that situation, not sure what I would do at the moment but afterwards some of the recommendations here might of come to mind.

How about when you walk thru the door at Home Depot, Lowes etc and that shop lifting alarm goes off, how do you folks react? Of course the first few times it happened I was shocked and stopped, now I don't even pay attention to it or give that courtesy look back for the OK from the cashire.

I was treated real bad by a lowes customer service girl, could have complained but it was right before X-Mas and didn't want anyone to lose there job, so I just laughed and walked out leaving a carriage full of probably 200 individual PVC pipe fittings, 45's 90's etc. etc. and a bunch more stuff, I didn't need it that day, figured that was my revenge making them put every thing back.

Later that day I thought about going back to see if my carriage was still sitting there, since I did have a little of my own time invested in picking the items and loading it! Not sure who I punished, maybe just myself

JB.

 

[vic4news]

I could understand having your receipt checked if you went through one of the self-service checkouts, but having been checked out by a cashier I don't see the point. If something wasn't on the receipt it would be the cashier's fault not yours.

 

[Skyco]

I was treated real bad by a lowes customer service girl, could have complained but it was right before X-Mas and didn't want anyone to lose there job, so I just laughed and walked out leaving a carriage full of probably 200 individual PVC pipe fittings, 45's 90's etc. etc. and a bunch more stuff, I didn't need it that day, figured that was my revenge making them put every thing back.

Later that day I thought about going back to see if my carriage was still sitting there, since I did have a little of my own time invested in picking the items and loading it! Not sure who I punished, maybe just myself

JB.

I had the opposite...I was in a WalMart and went to the restroom leaving my cart nearby in the shoe department. Came back from the restroom and my cart was gone I guess they thought it was abandoned, had to start all over with my shopping!

 

[zzvyb6]

Two weeks ago I was at Lowe's getting some light fixture parts. I knew what it added up to and with tax should have come to about $9.60 . However, when the total came up, it was about $5.00 more than t I expected. Turns out the register was remembering the very last item that the previous purchaser in my line had selected in addition to my items. The guy in the next aisle just finished signing his credit card slip without realizing it was $90 higher than it should have been. No clue as to how long that problem was going on. But it was worth a few tense moments in all the lines waiting to buy. Wonder how much the highest error was that day.

 

[LBrown59]

I could understand having your receipt checked if you went through one of the self-service checkouts, but having been checked out by a cashier I don't see the point. If something wasn't on the receipt it would be the cashier's fault not yours.

Not if you were shoplifting the item.

 

[texasjohn]

My TBN friends.... Sams and Fry's in Austin have, for years, checked receipts and had enough checkers to not cause a long wait. So far, nowhere else around here is checking.

However, I feel that these kind of difficulties will become ever more common as hard economic times hit. This may signal the start of a trend rather than a rogue manager.

For many years in the USA we have greatly enjoyed freedom from hassle when purchasing things... and a "low" level of shoplifting has resulted/been tolerated. Having traveled extensively internationally, the USA has the highest level of trust for the general population, IMHO. It is a little recognized freedom.

However, I predict that as hard times ooze thru our communities, both companies and individuals will become increasingly defensive of our selves and property, similar to what occurs in foreign countries. If you have traveled to countries where there is a significant level of poverty, you understand what I mean. I feverently hope I am wrong and that instead the spirit of community and cooperation that brought zero arrests in Washington DC on Inaguration Day will trump the ooze of hard times.

 

[YesDeere]

I would have silently MF'd him to death. So many people that get lost on their little piece of authority.

 

[ultrarunner]

Slightly off topic...

There was a store called Home Base that was similar to Home Depot.

Home Base started to require a receipt for all refunds and at that time went to a 90 day time limit... no exceptions and sign that said... Don't Ask.

On the 90th day, my brother came in with 3 large boxes of returns... electrical, plumbing fittings, hardware, etc. and a shoe box full of receipts.

The clerk told him that it would take all day to process the refunds and he said, "That OK... I just finished my house yesterday and I've got the time. Eventually, the store manager came over because the return line went into the parking lot.

The manager told the clerk to scan everything that would scan and come up with a price for things that didn't... funny how store policy can change.

 

[Bedlam]

Maybe off topic also.
But here goes. I made a usual purchase at my local Wal Mart for a grand total of 24.56 dollars. I was pleasant to the cashier, even joking , and then I swiped my credit card and handed it to the cashier. She said I need one form of identification. e.g. License.In 26 plus years of using cards I have never been asked this.
I side your kidding. She said no I'm serious
I was peeved wanting to just cancel but she said she couldn't cancel it.So i gave her my license and she said she does this to everyone.Get used to it.
Apparently it is Wal Mart policy to check licenses.This however opens them to good discrimination suits I would imagine.
Anyways why would this lone cashier take such a firm stance? Well I'm sure she knows now that when I return I will be using the next line or the service desk.So she has thus reduced the flow through her line.
Ironic thing is its not about the amount. I bought a tractor at wal mart $1,450 dollars and they swiped and handed it back without even glancing at the signature.
I be watching how she treats other customers from the adjoining lane. and see if they endure the same.

 

[polo1665]

Maybe off topic also.
But here goes. I made a usual purchase at my local Wal Mart for a grand total of 24.56 dollars. I was pleasant to the cashier, even joking , and then I swiped my credit card and handed it to the cashier. She said I need one form of identification. e.g. License.In 26 plus years of using cards I have never been asked this.
I side your kidding. She said no I'm serious
I was peeved wanting to just cancel but she said she couldn't cancel it.So i gave her my license and she said she does this to everyone.Get used to it.
Apparently it is Wal Mart policy to check licenses.This however opens them to good discrimination suits I would imagine.
Anyways why would this lone cashier take such a firm stance? Well I'm sure she knows now that when I return I will be using the next line or the service desk.So she has thus reduced the flow through her line.
Ironic thing is its not about the amount. I bought a tractor at wal mart $1,450 dollars and they swiped and handed it back without even glancing at the signature.
I be watching how she treats other customers from the adjoining lane. and see if they endure the same.

I guess I don't understand your displeasure. If someone had stolen your card and tried to use it you would have been very happy that the teller asked for a drivers license. It isn't meant as an insult, it only serves to prove that you are the real card holder. I am very happy to show my ID when asked, while using a credit card in a store or conducting business at the bank. IMO it is a small inconvenience to protect you.

Mark

 

[Dadsgreenpsd]

On credit cards I have which have large limits, I write "Check ID" on the signature line on the back of the card. You would be amazed at how often they don't bother to check. If my card is stolen, I would sure appreciate if they would bother to check sigs.

 

[Bird]

Maybe off topic also.
But here goes. I made a usual purchase at my local Wal Mart for a grand total of 24.56 dollars. I was pleasant to the cashier, even joking , and then I swiped my credit card and handed it to the cashier. She said I need one form of identification. e.g. License.In 26 plus years of using cards I have never been asked this.
I side your kidding. She said no I'm serious
I was peeved wanting to just cancel but she said she couldn't cancel it.So i gave her my license and she said she does this to everyone.Get used to it.
Apparently it is Wal Mart policy to check licenses.This however opens them to good discrimination suits I would imagine.
Anyways why would this lone cashier take such a firm stance? Well I'm sure she knows now that when I return I will be using the next line or the service desk.So she has thus reduced the flow through her line.
Ironic thing is its not about the amount. I bought a tractor at wal mart $1,450 dollars and they swiped and handed it back without even glancing at the signature.
I be watching how she treats other customers from the adjoining lane. and see if they endure the same.

Having been a full time RVer for 6 years, I've been in Walmarts all over the country, but in 2002 was the first time I was ever asked for other ID with my credit card at a Walmart. I had noticed people ahead of me not being asked for their cards, so I sent an e-mail to Walmart's headquarters asking about it. So the store manager called me and said they always ask for ID, and when I told him that I knew for a fact that wasn't true, then he said, well, they're supposed to. A few days later, another guy called and said he was the store manager (I later learned he was the assistant manager) and he first told me they always ask for ID and once I again I told I knew better than that, so then he said their computer randomly selects some unknown percentage of customers. But I had just moved to that area and was in that store frequently, and found that about every 3rd or 4th time, they'd ask for ID. My wife wasn't happy with me, but twice I refused to show my ID and walked off leaving all the items they had rung up and bagged.

Then a brand new Walmart opened in the same town, but closer to my home, so we started trading there. The new manager was the assistant manager from the other store. So about the 4th time I was in there, the cashier asked for ID and I told her to call the manager. He decided they didn't need to see any other ID.

I don't particularly like things like Sam's Club checking receipts, but if a company policy is reasonable and consistently applied, I go along with it and won't complain, but if not, and especially when they lie to me, I don't mind pranking with them, even though my wife doesn't want me to.

Walmart started selling beer and wine and when I bought a bottle of wine and the cashier asked for ID, I asked if she really thought there was any chance I was under 21. She said it was store policy to ask everyone. The next time it was a male cashier and when he asked, I told him it must be terrible to have to work for a boss who thought he was too stupid to know that I was over 21. And I've never asked again in any Walmart.

 

[ray66v]

My wife and I were leaving Sam's club recently, when we got to the checker,for fun, I only showed him one receipt for about half of the dozen or so items in our cart. I kept the other second receipt, in my pocket. He looked at the receipt carefully, looked at the cart carefully, put his mark on the receipt, and said have a nice day. I would have considered reporting him, except, judging by his demeanor, he was apparently handicapped, possibly mentally. And I thought, they probably already know, and this was the safest place to put him.

 

[SnowRidge]

Walmart started selling beer and wine and when I bought a bottle of wine and the cashier asked for ID, I asked if she really thought there was any chance I was under 21. She said it was store policy to ask everyone. The next time it was a male cashier and when he asked, I told him it must be terrible to have to work for a boss who thought he was too stupid to know that I was over 21. And I've never asked again in any Walmart.

You will be if you come to Tennessee and buy beer in WalMart or any other store. The odious practice or carding everyone, no matter their apparent age, started with a couple of supermarket chains and an ordinance in Blount County. The disease has now spread to the entire state, Tennessee having one of the most brain dead legislatures in the country.

So, if you buy beer in the store, the cashier will card you and note your birth date. However, if you buy hard liquor, wine, or any alcoholic beverage served for consumption at a bar, tavern, or restaurant, you will not be carded unless the staff thinks you don't look old enough to drink. The mandatory card check is only for package beer.

 

[aczlan]

So, if you buy beer in the store, the cashier will card you and note your birth date. However, if you buy hard liquor, wine, or any alcoholic beverage served for consumption at a bar, tavern, or restaurant, you will not be carded unless the staff thinks you don't look old enough to drink. The mandatory card check is only for package beer.

I don't drink alcohol, but IIRC the signs I have seen here in NY say that if you "appear to be under 40" you will be carded.

Aaron Z

 

[ray66v]

You will be if you come to Tennessee and buy beer in WalMart or any other store. The odious practice or carding everyone, no matter their apparent age, started with a couple of supermarket chains and an ordinance in Blount County. The disease has now spread to the entire state, Tennessee having one of the most brain dead legislatures in the country.

Walmart started selling beer and wine and when I bought a bottle of wine and the cashier asked for ID, I asked if she really thought there was any chance I was under 21. She said it was store policy to ask everyone. The next time it was a male cashier and when he asked, I told him it must be terrible to have to work for a boss who thought he was too stupid to know that I was over 21. And I've never asked again in any Walmart.

I hate this policy, but mostly because it has become necessary.

To the older generations, it seems simple to card people who may not be of age. But remember, today's youth, and even many of their parents, are generally very irresponsible compared to your day.

They are also often more poorly educated. We have all seen the cashier freak out when you hand them coins, after they have entered a dollar amount into the register, and they have to figure out your change in their head. (I must confess, I love doing that ).

My wife manages a pharmacy for a national chain that was forced to institute a similar policy. Sadly, the cashiers simply don't seem to care very much, if the store gets a big fine, or loses their license. It's an entry level, part time job, and they can always get another one.

Using any kind or arbitrary rules, always leaves the door open for mistakes. Carding everyone, closes the door.

It's only going to get worse, wait until the children of these generation x kids start working.

 

[Chuck52]

I have seldom been asked for ID when using my cards, but when I have been I thanked the clerk for checking. I have had two credit card accounts scammed, so I think extra security is great.

My white hair usually gets me past the liquor checks, but I've been carded a couple of times. Both times the clerk and I agreed it was pretty silly, but them was the rules and I saw no need to cause more grief for the already disgusted clerk. In one instance, the store had been caught selling to underage police plants, who looked old enough, so the management said to just check every customer, period. In the other instance, it was apparently a law thing in a different state. Both times the clerk and I laughed at how silly it was.

I think if I was stopped as was the OP, depending on my mood, I might first try the baleful stare. I can recall my younger days, when even the wait staff in better restaurants could make me feel ill at ease. I was a small town boy, and the big city restaurants were a bit intimidating, especially when I had a date with me. It's been a long while. These days I can display at will more of an attitude than anyone I am likely to be served by, though I save it for the troublesome few. The manager probably enjoyed his moment of power. Clearly indicating a lack of concern would likely have ruined it for him.

Chuck