Posted on 09/02/2002 3:02:49 PM PDT by Sparqi
Recently I was stopped on my way out of KMart by an employee asking to see my receipt and contents of my bags. I asked if I was suspected of doing something illegal to which he replied, "No, it's just our policy to match purchases against your receipt." I told him that unless he had reasonable cause to believe that I'd done something illegal there was no way I was going to let him inspect either one. To his credit, he did not press the issue and allowed me to leave.
The practice of door-checking seems to have started at either Fry's Electronics in California or perhaps at PriceClub/Costco. In the latter case they can enforce the inspection policy because there is actually a clause in the Costco membership agreement which specifically states that a condition of membership is granting them the right to inspect as you leave. (This is why I don't have a Costco membership.) Fry's has been doing inspections for some time, giving rise to the perjorative term "Door-Nazis". Many people such as myself simply walk by the checkpoint and refuse to stop, since Fry's is not a membership store. Essentially they take advantage of your good nature and ask you to voluntarily waive your freedom (and your dignity) to help them control their shrinkage.
Until recently the Fry's policy was really a local issue, confined to California and some western states; so I never really pursued any activism against them...aside from personally advocating to other people that the practice was an insult and explaining that while Fry's can of course *request* that you stop and allow inspection that they cannot *force* you to stop if they don't have probable cause. Now that KMart is doing this, I think it's national enough to warrant a Freep. Here's what I'm proposing:
1. Make it a point to not be cowed into consenting to the search. If they ask to inspect your purchases, ask them if they suspect you of doing anything illegal. This establishes that they do or don't have cause to stop you. Remember; once you've paid for your purchases and they've accepted the payment, you are carrying personal property and they have cannot search you unless they have probable cause such as evidence of shoplifting.
2. If they admit that they don't have cause, tell them you don't consent to being searched and leave. If they press the issue, remind them that the Fourth Amendment guarantees your right against illegal searches. (Sometimes this is hard to explain, because the checker is not an American citizen.) If they try to restrain you, don't fight them or put up a physical struggle. Ask to speak to the most senior manager of the store immediately. Point out to him or her the illegality of the situation and ask if they're prepared to defend their actions in a court of law.
3. Instruct your friends/family/co-workers on the issue. Make sure they understand that what KMart is doing is an insult and a violation of their basic rights.
...dtw
Not if it's illegal.
P.S. However, what we are discussing is taking place after the store has already accepted the customer's buisness.
Tell me how to run my house, and you'll have a problem.
Ahem...
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
I work at store 241 in Pine Bluff, Bill.
She was talking about the Wal-Mart Stores here. We have 2 Superstores plus one in the county to which I have never been.
All in all, I suppose it depends on the manager
Hey, I worked in retail for a long time. I realize that customers can be absolute demons from hell. There is no shortage of evil, pain in the a$$, vicious, p*ss-poor attitude customers out there. However, I have seen very few theives. And if someone is shoplifting, they are usually not the one's giving 'tude. If the door receipt checker is a store employee, I will blame management, not the employee. However, if the door guy is a private security guard, well, let's just say I have no respect for those clowns. They actually believe they are cops. Pathetic.
For your enjoyment! :)
You'd do great in a police state where everyone is suspected of being a criminal....
Oh really.
You have a huge chip on your shoulder. If you can't see the reason that some stores opt for this practice, then it's no wonder you only made it to MSgt.
I was starting my car and one of the "managers" ran out, wrote down my license tag number, and said "Can you wait here till the police arrive?" She had gone to one of the shelves and found an empty cologne box, and utilizing her magnificent powers of deduction, figured I had stolen its contents.
Not having stolen anything, I knew I could drive away with impunity. But I decided to stick around, for kicks.
I waited a few minutes, then got tired of waiting. So I went inside and presented my purchase to her underling, witnessing her shocked expression. The police had been called and were on their way (har har),
I demanded a full refund, and when the underling asked why, I told her that I had never beentreated so rudely in my life, and had been accused of theft.
Had I been in a worse mood, I would have shown up the next day to file an official complaint to the higher-ups. But I got my grins, anyway.
Uh, I don't. When did I imply that I thought someone at Fry's would remember me?
I have no idea what you're trying to tell me.
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