Arbitrary searches

"Greg Pavlov" wrote in message
...

Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?
For some reason it really, really bugs me and I
won't buy anything in stores that do, but every once
in a while, like today, I find that one that never did
it before started to without any notice. Several
that did in the past stopped, for some reason. I
wonder if complaints had anything to do with it,
tho I may be the only one who ever did.

It hasn't happened to me yet, but I expect it too happen. And when it does,
it won't be a pruty sight. I understand that stores seem to think that they
have the right to search its customers bag, as they believe no purchase is
final until you leave the store, but I see it differently. If I have paid
for the merchandise, I own the merchandise regardless of whether I have made
it out the door of the store or not.

Op --I imagine one of the counselors can tell me whether or not I'm goin'
to jail.--

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 23:06:41 GMT, (Greg Pavlov) wrote:


Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?
For some reason it really, really bugs me and I
won't buy anything in stores that do, but every once
in a while, like today, I find that one that never did
it before started to without any notice. Several
that did in the past stopped, for some reason. I
wonder if complaints had anything to do with it,
tho I may be the only one who ever did.

I hate Exit Nazis. When the local CompUSA had one - positioned on the other
side of inner glass doors a mere 10 feet from the cash registers - I'd
*always* keep walking right out the door, waving my receipt.

*Some* times they'd follow and ask me to stop. Those are the times I went
right back in the store and chewed out the manager while positioned where as
many people as possible would hear.

They dropped the Exit Nazi after a year or so. I'm sure it was a lot more
trouble and damaging to their business than it was worth...

Give 'em hell, I say...

/daytripper ("Take no prisoners!")

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 23:06:41 GMT, (Greg Pavlov)
wrote:


Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?
For some reason it really, really bugs me and I
won't buy anything in stores that do, but every once
in a while, like today, I find that one that never did
it before started to without any notice. Several
that did in the past stopped, for some reason. I
wonder if complaints had anything to do with it,
tho I may be the only one who ever did.


You can demand that they allow you to leave or they can call a cop and
have you arrested and then searched, if I correctly recall the last
time I heard complaints about this procedure (on another newsgroup, a
year or two ago). I do not believe they are empowered to physically
restrain you until you get outside the building and then only on
reasonable suspicion and willingness to call a police officer.

If I, again, recall correctly, the reason they do it is that some of
their checkout persons are dishonest and in league with 'shoppers' to
give them goods at very low prices. This is not _your_ problem, it's
the store's problem and you should not be inconvenienced to solve
their incorrect personnel hiring and retention problems.

It has probably been stopped at some stores who started it because of
customers being so offended they never returned and some being even
more offended and suing them .
--

rbc:vixen,Minnow Goddess,Willow Watcher,and all that sort of thing.
Often taunted by trout.
Only a fool would refuse to believe in luck. Only a damn fool would rely on it.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

wrote
You can demand that they allow you to leave or they can call a cop and
have you arrested and then searched, if I correctly recall the last
time I heard complaints about this procedure (on another newsgroup, a
year or two ago).

If they do that, they'd better be able to explain that they have
reasonable suspicion to believe you have stolen merchandise (surveillance
camera, eyewitness, etc); refusal to allow a search is does not constitute
reasonable suspicion to believe a crime has been committed. If they held me
until police arrived only because I refused to submit to a search I'd sue
them for false arrest.

I do not believe they are empowered to physically
restrain you until you get outside the building and then only on
reasonable suspicion and willingness to call a police officer.

That depends on state law, in most states you have to exit the store
to complete the crime. Here in Colorado, secreting merchandise on your
person completes the crime (they don't have to let you leave the store).

If I, again, recall correctly, the reason they do it is that some of
their checkout persons are dishonest and in league with 'shoppers' to
give them goods at very low prices. This is not _your_ problem, it's
the store's problem and you should not be inconvenienced to solve
their incorrect personnel hiring and retention problems.

The manager of the local Walmart Supercenter told me they suffer
more from employee theft than they do from shoplifting. Serves them right. I
think the local Walmart requires new employees demonstrate a lengthy arrest
record, drug addiction, and a surly attitude (plenty of good reasons to
abuse the customers).

"Charlie Wilson" wrote

If they held me
until police arrived only because I refused to submit to a search I'd sue
them for false arrest.

and you'd win.

yfitons
wayno

Greg Pavlov wrote:

Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?
For some reason it really, really bugs me and I
won't buy anything in stores that do, but every once
in a while, like today, I find that one that never did
it before started to without any notice. Several
that did in the past stopped, for some reason. I
wonder if complaints had anything to do with it,
tho I may be the only one who ever did.

I just walk right past them, and if they try to bug me, I invite them to
autocopulate. Here in California, the law is that they have no right to
go through your stuff. If they detain you because they think you have
stolen something, they better be right, because they do it at their
legal peril. For that reason, I haven't very often had to extend the
above mentioned invitation.

Mike

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:01:17 GMT, daytripper
wrote:

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 23:06:41 GMT, (Greg Pavlov) wrote:


Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?
For some reason it really, really bugs me and I
won't buy anything in stores that do, but every once
in a while, like today, I find that one that never did
it before started to without any notice. Several
that did in the past stopped, for some reason. I
wonder if complaints had anything to do with it,
tho I may be the only one who ever did.

I hate Exit Nazis. When the local CompUSA had one - positioned on the other
side of inner glass doors a mere 10 feet from the cash registers - I'd
*always* keep walking right out the door, waving my receipt.

*Some* times they'd follow and ask me to stop. Those are the times I went
right back in the store and chewed out the manager while positioned where as
many people as possible would hear.

They dropped the Exit Nazi after a year or so. I'm sure it was a lot more
trouble and damaging to their business than it was worth...

Give 'em hell, I say...

/daytripper ("Take no prisoners!")


I used to "Seig Heil" as I walked past the entrance Nazi at Costco,
much to the chagrin of Jo. She wasn't too pleased with my, "What the
hell was the point of that!" comment on walking by the exit Nazi when
he/she stroked through her receipt either.

Make a fuss or it'll get worse.



Peter

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"Peter Charles" wrote in message
...
On I used to "Seig Heil" as I walked past the entrance Nazi at Costco,
much to the chagrin of Jo. She wasn't too pleased with my, "What the
hell was the point of that!" comment on walking by the exit Nazi when
he/she stroked through her receipt either.

Make a fuss or it'll get worse.



Peter

Peter, you made your way over to Chez Marijane yet?

Op --I hear it's SMOKIN'!--

"Greg Pavlov" wrote in message
...

Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?


oh, god, i don't know where to start. my entire professional life, for more
than 30 years, has been involved with the astonishing array of violations of
privacy by the government and the "private sector"...

yfitons
wayno

"Wayne Harrison" wrote in message
om...

"Greg Pavlov" wrote in message
...

Is anyone bothered by stores that automatically
search your purchases on the way out the exit ?


oh, god, i don't know where to start. my entire professional life, for
more
than 30 years, has been involved with the astonishing array of violations
of
privacy by the government and the "private sector"...

yfitons
wayno

This is news to me and, on reviewing the thread thus far, I'm unclear on
just how far these searches go. Do they simply ask to see the contents of
whatever bag they think your purchases from their store are in, or do they
go further.....say, searching ALL bags or even a pat down? In any case,
it's a pernicious practice, but there are degrees of effrontery.

I just checked with Becky....she'd never heard of this bull**** either.
Evidently there isn't much of it going on here.....yet. But then, we've got
some neighborhoods that fall somewhat short of genteel. If searching
customers becomes routine, it's just a matter of time till some zealous
rentacop or assistant manager falls prey to the urge to lay on hands and
THEN somebody is going to draw back a bloody stump.

Wolfgang
oh, and if anybody is wondering about the source of inspiration for this
latest assault on the u.s. constitution......well, let's just say that
seeking redress by addressing complaints to the current chief pig nazi in
d.c. isn't likely to produce salutary results.