Anyone get stopped leaving stores?

[aczlan]

The other day me and my wife were at a large chain store and while shopping I noticed a "Manager" (who knew that he was a manager and wanted everyone else to know it too from all appearances), I thought to myself what a jerk (he was reaming out someone from maintainance over the radio for not dropping what they were doing (repairing a cooler IIRC) and coming up to fix the sliding door that was stuck open).

15 minutes later when we had checked out and were leaving with a very full cart (having bought a couple of weeks worth of groceries, as we normally do) and said "Manager" stopped us and demanded to see out receipt, I said it is in my pocket, but (being as my wife was with me, I didn't want to make a scene) I dug it out and he looked over it, he then said loudly "you do realize that you only paid for one of the 12 cans of pork and beans on the bottom of the cart, my wife said I saw the cashier ring them up, he said well, they don't show up on the receipt, then after looking at it for another 30 seconds he said, ah ha, she rang them up as 12 x 12oz cans of beans (all on one line), then in a very condescending tone he said "I always ring them up individually". he looked at the receipt for another minute or so, then handed it back and said you can go now.

So, he stopped us for 3-4 mins (not a huge deal, but it is the preicipal of the thing), treated us like criminals (for no reason, that I know of other than perhaps that the cart was filled to overflowing and there was a box with 12 cans of beans on the bottom of the cart), couldn't even read his own stores receipt well enough to not falsely accuse us of theft and then to top it all off he didn't even bother to apologize for delaying us and treating us as if we were guilty of shoplifting until proven innocent.

I guess what gets on my nerves is being treated like a criminal, I am an Eagle Scout, I do my best to live a honest life and do good whenever I can. I wouldn't steal from a store, it is against my moral code and if I am going to break that it will be over something worth a whole lot more than a dozen cans of pork and beans.

If it has just been me I would not have stopped (as I hadn't done anything wrong), but I didn't want to make a scene with my wife (who said well get out the receipt when the "Manager" stopped us) there, my feelings are that IF you think that I stole something, make me stop, call the cops and I will happily show them the receipt, then file a complaint for unlawful detention against the person who stopped me.

(see here: www. Michael Righi .com Papers Please: Arrested At Circuit City for a interesting story of someone who was arrested for not showing his receipt, and here: Slashdot | Man Arrested for Refusing to Show Drivers License for a very long and involved discussion about it)

Anyone else had similar experiences ?

Yes, I understand that they are trying to prevent people from stealing stuff, but if there is probable cause to stop me, do it, call the cops and let them do their job, otherwise let me go.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes... and I make it a point not to go to that individual store again...

I've noticed in the surrounding Oakland area it is getting to be a nuisance to go to any of the large chain stores... the ironic thing is I can go to the same store 20 miles away and the difference is night and day. The stores are nicer, the inventory selection is better and for the most part there isn't anyone pawing through my purchases.

It's not just the stores... it's also the banks, post offices and gas stations.

I was running late the other day for an appointment... on the way back I stopped at 3 gas stations to buy gas and left each one not making a purchase. I usually use my credit card and all the stations had the credit card logo... none of them accepted credit cards... only debit cards. I may not have lots of choices in a lot of things, but I will still choose who I do business with.

 

[aczlan]

Yes... and I make it a point not to go to that individual store again...

we may do that, if I see that person again at that store I will get their name and file a complaint.

I've noticed in the surrounding Oakland area it is getting to be a nuisance to go to any of the large chain stores... the ironic thing is I can go to the same store 20 miles away and the difference is night and day. The stores are nicer, the inventory selection is better and for the most part there isn't anyone pawing through my purchases.

yep, there is a new Lowes next to the store we had problems with and they are more of a homeowner oriented store vs. the one 15 mins the other way (from home), which is more contractor/professional oriented, also I never get hassled for using the hotel credit card (in my managers name) at the older lowes, but I have been given a hard time 2-3 times at the new one (ie: they have wanted to call someone on the phone and have a female who claimed to be the person who's name is on the card say that I was authorized to use the card, the funny thing is that they have NO WAY of checking that the person I gave them the number for is the person they say they are...

Aaron Z

 

[Ductape]

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.

 

[Blagadan]

Hmmmm, I think what that manager did to you was out of order.

If I were in your shoes, I would make it my mission to reign in that manager who is obviously on a power trip.
Why is this manager assuming a security role? And why did he choose a shopper with a full basket (= lots of money spent on groceries) to do this audit? Do you look like a crook?? (just kidding)

I would be interested in finding out how long this manager is is in the role..... weeks, months, years??

I would be seeking out the highest level of management in the store to let them know how the manager is treating their valued customers... And if they dont respond with what you consider a suitable apology, then I'd shop elsewhere... I wouldnt get too upset over it, its not worth the stress.

Even if shops are being taken for millions each year, through shoplifting or whatever, that is no excuse for rude and unprofessional conduct.

Man, I would have wiped the floor with him right after he realised he was wrong to accuse you!!

 

[shvl73]

I can understand the feeling of needing to just get it over with, as you were with your wife. I can think of a few times when I would start to speak up, and was advised to let it go. I imagine if you were alone, the manager might have gotten an earful.
Scott's right, BJ's & Sams Club review your receipt before you leave the store. I hate it, but also realize it is store policy and I have chosen to do business there. Wal-Mart frequently has an employee stationed at the door and if your item is not bagged, they'll ask to see a receipt. Usually it is not a manager though, just an average employee.

 

[caver]

Local chain store here (Missouri) never looks at your receipt. Same chain in Carlsbad NM checks everyones receipt.

 

[aczlan]

I can understand the feeling of needing to just get it over with, as you were with your wife. I can think of a few times when I would start to speak up, and was advised to let it go. I imagine if you were alone, the manager might have gotten an earful.

yes, she is very non-confrontational, which is a good influence on me at times, but if she hadn't been there, I wouldn't have stopped and if the "manager" had tried to stop me he would have gotten an earful (or I might have pretended that I didn't speak English, there are some side benefits to having spent almost 2 years in Argentina).

Scott's right, BJ's & Sams Club review your receipt before you leave the store. I hate it, but also realize it is store policy and I have chosen to do business there.

True, and if I was going there I would expect to be stopped as everyone is, however as I wasn't going there and we were the only ones stopped (that I saw) I was less than impressed.

Wal-Mart frequently has an employee stationed at the door and if your item is not bagged, they'll ask to see a receipt. Usually it is not a manager though, just an average employee.

yes, depending on the employee they will do it with you with a few things in the cart too, but they do it with EVERYONE not just randomly stopping people

Aaron Z

 

[SnowRidge]

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.

But, but, but, they only do it to make sure you got everything you paid for. Really, that's what they say if you ask.

 

[shvl73]

I can certainly understand being angry. The manager was obviously a buffoon, who couldn't read his store receipt and didn't have the courtesy or class to treat you as a valuable commodity, a customer. He also wasn't decent enough to apologize.
A letter to upper management might be a good idea.

 

[ToadHill]

I think I'd write a letter to the local newspaper and see if you can get them to print it, including the name of the store and the time and date you were there.

Several years ago I was driving through a small town near my farm. I had just come off a divided highway and heading toward my place and a car came the other way, I dimmed my headlights and went on. About a half mile down the road the local cop pulled me over , he was the car coming the other way at me. He gave me a ticket for not dimming my lights, I told him I did dim them, He said in his opinion I didn't do it fast enough.

I sent a letter to the town and to the local newspaper letting them know that since my place was located right between their town and another, I'd be taking all my business in the other direction. I calculated the amount I spent with local business and it came to something like $8000 per year. I wished them well with the $25 fine I had to pay and mentioned that all my neighbors were aware of the nit picking cop they employed and many of them said they would drive the other way for purches as well.

I don't know if it did any good but I felt better. I do know that at least 2 of my neighbors and I have changed out shopping habits since.

 

[dmccarty]

I would write a very cool, calm and professional letter and send it to the CEO/President of the company, the manager in question, and the district manager. And see what happens. If they do not do anything then its media time if one wants to expend the effort.

Regarding ToadHill being pulled for not dimming a headlight I would send a letter, as he did, to the powers that be in the town, mayor, town council, etc. as well as the Police Chief. The Chief might not care what the officer did but the Chief''s boss might. But in a small town they just might not care either.

But they might.

Later,
Dan

 

[polo1665]

The local Wal-Mart here also has a policy of randomly checking receipts. To me it is all a matter of how you are approached. I can understand that the store needs to protect their interests and ours. If they are stolen from who do you think picks up the tab in the long run? As log as they are polite and friendly about it I would not have a problem. IMO the original poster was treated without respect and the manager should be disciplined.

Mark

 

[MikeD74T]

BJ's & Sam's are "shopping clubs" thus you have to play by their rules to be a member. I choose to believe that the door check is as much a way to check cashier honesty & proficiency as it is to catch customers stealing. At the local Sam's they seem to do an item count only. I'm only offended by those door checks when the checked is gabbing with a coworker while I'm waiting to get out.
The local Walmart has door checkers as well. When asked for my receipt I politely say "no - thank you" and keep walking. Only once was I further challenged. I replied "if you think I'm stealing call the police. I paid for my items & the receipt is my property. If you don't trust your cashiers watch them more closely." Then I walked away. MikeD74T

 

[woodchuckie]

My wife and I shop at Wal-mart for groceries. We split the list and each get a buggy to make things quicker. For about three or four weeks each time we went through the exit the alarm would go off so the door greeter would look over the receipt and tell us to go on. This was getting funnier and funnier to me as I try to be easy going and take things in stride. The last time we set it off I took the buggies back through and pushed each one through the door without me going through. No alarm. So then I walk through and the alarm goes off. I go back in and take a shoe off and throw it thru. No alarm. I throw the other thru and the alarm goes off. Several weeks earlier the cashier failed to deactivate whatever is built into the shoe.

 

[dooleysm]

Whenever I go in or out of a CVS the alarm sounds. It has happened in several CVS's in Indiana as well as one in San Diego. I have never been stopped in either direction.

 

[actionaj]

I think I would have turned the buggy around and went to the service desk and returned everything got my money back. Then tell that big shot wannabe that I will being doing my business with your competitor from now on.

 

[Chuck52]

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

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Okay, I did this to my sister. I was at a Staples and getting copies of blueprints made. Long story short, in joking with the guy, he gave me some of those sticky things that set the door alarms off. I put one under the lapel of her jacket. She still can't figure out why the store alarms go off. I think one day the wife is really going to trip my trigger, then I'll get her too!

That manager that stopped the original poster is an idiot. Nothing you can do will change that. You should show pity on him. Just think, he probably has a wife and kids at home. How do you think they feel having an iidiot like him for a husband/father?

 

[MossRoad]

When they ask you if they can see the receipt, politely ask them "Why?"

If they tell you it is to make sure you got everything you purchased, tell them "I'm pretty sure I got everything and will come back if I did not."

If they tell you it is store policy, ask them "Can you go get the store policy manual and show me this?"

If they tell you it is for security reasons, look concerned and ask them "Isn't this a store safe anymore?" and look around at people coming and going.

If they get nasty with you, tell them you've decided to return everything in the cart and want them to check each item on the receipt. After they check it, tell them you changed your mind, and since they already saw your receipt, you can leave now.

Then tell them you think you need assistance and ask them if they could push the cart out to your car and help load everything in the trunk for you. Then pretend to forget where you parked and take them on a hike out to the gas station on the other side of the parking lot.

Great fun.

If he touches you, kick him in the bean cans.

But really, just get the guy's name, call the store owner, tell them the guy was an unprofessional jerk and tell them you will not be shopping there anymore until they correct the situation.