security at Best Buy/Costco

[hukilau]

When I checked out, payed for my goodies, with my hard earned money, the cashier says, "show your receipt to the man at the door when leaving". That just burns my arse! Costco, lines of people, walking out, getting your receipt marked like okay, you didn't steal anything, you can go. They (costco/bestbuy) are assuming everyone leaving their premise could be stealing. Really fries my grits, ya know?

just venting, but god, I hate being looked at in that tone of attitude.

hukilau

what would they do if you walked out without stopping! will they have security arrest ya?

[M_Six]

You shouldn't look at this as a bad thing. The reason prices are so low at Costco is because they limit theft by checking receipts. They'll also catch mistakes made by the cashiers. It's happened to me three times and every time the mistake would have cost me had they not caught it. I think it's great that they double-check. I'll wait in line a bit to have someone a little more observant than I double-check my purchases.

[xenon200]

So I'm sort of confused... You would prefer if they used some sort of profiling system?

"Oh... You're black? You're going to need to go get your receipt checked."

I see absolutely no problem with their current method, whatsoever. They either have to check everyone, or check no one... They can't just target certain people based on a certain set of criterion.

You're not getting your receipt checked with the assumption that you stole something. You're innocent until proven guility.

x2

[sharder8]

Originally posted by xenon200
So I'm sort of confused... You would prefer if they used some sort of profiling system?

"Oh... You're black? You're going to need to go get your receipt checked."

I see absolutely no problem with their current method, whatsoever. They either have to check everyone, or check no one... They can't just target certain people based on a certain set of criterion.

You're not getting your receipt checked with the assumption that you stole something. You're innocent until proven guility.

x2

They don't pick people at random at any of the Costco's I've been to, . . . . . . . . . . . They check everyone's reciept! (No profiling used!)

Harder

[hukilau]

you have it backwards xenon. guilty, till you show your receipt, then innocence. You would also be willing to do this at the grocery store also? I personally think it sucks. But just my opinion!

hukilau

[xenon200]

Maybe.

I guess I've just really never paid any attention to it.

*shrug*

x2

[hukilau]

Xenon, I'm not trying to beat ya up about this. Sometimes I just feel my little slice of personal rights and privacy just slipping away. I don't mean to sound like all doom and gloom. Probably just a sign of the times and will pass.

hukilau

[Mntsnow]

It's their store, Their rules....Dont like it? Shop elsewhere. Helps keep prices down for the rest of us.

[xenon200]

Exactly the point I was trying to make..

[Chuckiechan]

The question is "At what point do you own it" and "What are their rights to search your private property on their premises". And exactly how do you "Imply" permission to search your purchases.

Another issue: AFAIK California state law requires anyone with a liquor license to sell in a non-discriminatory fashion. This includes the pharmacy, too. By this I mean, you can go in a buy booze and prescription medicine without a membership and as a condition of their license they can't require you to be a member to do so.