Unless I’m at a store in which I paid for a membership, like Sam’s or Costco, I always just walk on by. If they ask me to see my receipt or what I bought, I just tell them, “No thanks, I’m fine” and continue leaving. I’ve had one occasion where the employee tried to physically stop me. I spoke with the manager, explained my privacy rights, threatened to call the police for them holding me without justification, and they let me leave.
Once you buy the products, they are your property. Think of this as them asking to go through your wallet or purse just because they are curious. It’s none of their business what I choose to spend my money on.
It’s a different story if it’s a membership store because most of those memberships have contracts with clauses about inspecting purchases.
Here in Sweden any bag checking is after scanning but before payment, and after that you just scan the bar code on the receipt (which are not linked to items purchased) to leave the doors
Same here in Denmark, except there’s hardly any item checking. The only times I’ve needed to get items checked was when I brought goods I bought elsewhere (which was easily mitigated by just showing the dude I had a receipt from the other store) or when buying alcohol.
You need to scan a receipt to exit the store? What if I chose not to buy anything, or the item I came in for was out of stock? Honestly that sounds way worse to me.
You leave via the customer service area if you didn’t buy anything. Doesn’t even take 3 seconds to walk to that area, say “I’m not buying anything”, and then be let out.
So you need to declare that you haven’t bought anything, you’re not just free to leave of your own accord? I still really don’t like that. Also I’m curious about the layout. In every box store I’ve been in the last like decade or so, Walmart for example, you couldn’t access the customer service desk without going though a cash or self checkout. The closest to an exception is Home Depot which has the customer service desk before the one way gates that let you into the store proper.
Shops have a right for securities against shoplifters.
Pretty much every customer service area is either near the entrance or right next to the self service area. But in most cases it’s near the entrance and triples as a kiosk and a postal/package pickup spot.
I guess I just feel there should be a presumption of innocence. The layouts that have become commonplace anywhere I’m familiar with seem to lack that. They should have to prove I am stealing, I shouldn’t have to prove I’m not, right?
Nobody is holding you hostage. Nobody is assuming you’re stealing. It’s as simple as “I’d like to go out” “OK”. You don’t have to be searched, or answer 10 questions correctly. You’re not putting any effort into proving something. Just prevents someone from walking out with a bunch of full shopping bags.
Unless I’m at a store in which I paid for a membership, like Sam’s or Costco, I always just walk on by. If they ask me to see my receipt or what I bought, I just tell them, “No thanks, I’m fine” and continue leaving. I’ve had one occasion where the employee tried to physically stop me. I spoke with the manager, explained my privacy rights, threatened to call the police for them holding me without justification, and they let me leave.
Once you buy the products, they are your property. Think of this as them asking to go through your wallet or purse just because they are curious. It’s none of their business what I choose to spend my money on.
It’s a different story if it’s a membership store because most of those memberships have contracts with clauses about inspecting purchases.
A little firmness is all that’s needed
Here in Sweden any bag checking is after scanning but before payment, and after that you just scan the bar code on the receipt (which are not linked to items purchased) to leave the doors
Same here in Denmark, except there’s hardly any item checking. The only times I’ve needed to get items checked was when I brought goods I bought elsewhere (which was easily mitigated by just showing the dude I had a receipt from the other store) or when buying alcohol.
You need to scan a receipt to exit the store? What if I chose not to buy anything, or the item I came in for was out of stock? Honestly that sounds way worse to me.
You leave via the customer service area if you didn’t buy anything. Doesn’t even take 3 seconds to walk to that area, say “I’m not buying anything”, and then be let out.
So you need to declare that you haven’t bought anything, you’re not just free to leave of your own accord? I still really don’t like that. Also I’m curious about the layout. In every box store I’ve been in the last like decade or so, Walmart for example, you couldn’t access the customer service desk without going though a cash or self checkout. The closest to an exception is Home Depot which has the customer service desk before the one way gates that let you into the store proper.
Shops have a right for securities against shoplifters.
Pretty much every customer service area is either near the entrance or right next to the self service area. But in most cases it’s near the entrance and triples as a kiosk and a postal/package pickup spot.
I guess I just feel there should be a presumption of innocence. The layouts that have become commonplace anywhere I’m familiar with seem to lack that. They should have to prove I am stealing, I shouldn’t have to prove I’m not, right?
Nobody is holding you hostage. Nobody is assuming you’re stealing. It’s as simple as “I’d like to go out” “OK”. You don’t have to be searched, or answer 10 questions correctly. You’re not putting any effort into proving something. Just prevents someone from walking out with a bunch of full shopping bags.
Fuck that. That sounds like they’d have any right to not let me out.
Of you’re shoplifting they’d have the right to log let you out. Security will detain you until police arrive. So yeah, you’re right. :)
“Once you buy the products, they’re your property.”
Meanwhile, videogame publishers, online storefronts, car manufacturers…: