receipt checks

[crazylegs]

However, it's a very small thing I can do to deter theft which has two results - keeps prices lower, and the activities of thieving scum are made harder (which in turn may lead to them turning to an honest living).

I don't like thieving scum getting away with it.

Having worked Security and my current job I can tell you Raps that most large chains (IN THE UK) instruct their employees that they must *NOT* ask to see their receipt if they activate the alarms at the front of the store.

A more effective (if slightly more costly) approach for large companies is to have plain clothed and uniformed security and an *EFFECTIVE* CCTV system that records on real time and has full Pan/Tilt/Zoom functions. Using that very system I pulled in (at one point) 8 shoplifters a week in a store approx 10mx30m. Word very quickly gets around that that store isn't the place to steal from.

Receipt checks don't work, nor do security tags (spider wraps and safer cases *do*. Limiting the stock on the shelf or securing it in a way that stops people from physically taking it also works).

Only by pulling the shoplifters and handing them over the police is effective in preventing theft in the long run.

[Boozy]

...if places like Wal Mart and Best Buy posted on their entrance a sign along the lines of "all guests may be subject to receipt and bag checks" would that be something that avoids this issue?

Not in my mind. The act of walking into a building does not comprise informed consent to a search, in my opinion. Signing a contract is one thing; that means you have read, understood, and agree to the conditions therein.

But walking past a sign? What about the illiterate, the non-English speakers, the dyslexic, the visually impaired, or the distracted? Do these people waive their rights just by entering a building?

I do not shop at stores that do receipt checks, and I don't submit if one is sprung on me without warning. I find receipt checks to be rude.

[smileyeagle1021]

Boozy, I can't speak for the rest of the country but at least in Utah walking past a sign can be considered entering into a contract... I don't know how it would work with receipt checks but for prepaid and permit parking lots there are signs that say something like
"all parking must be paid in advance or have a valid permit visible in the windshield,
failure to either prepay for parking at the payment box or display a proper permit will result in an $x fine,
parking vehicle in this parking lot implies consent to this contract"
granted the argument for that type of set up is a bit stronger with parking sense (at least in Utah) you must be able to read and understand English at least well enough to read traffic and advisory signs, you can't drive if you are visually impaired, and if your driving distracted a parking ticket is the least you deserve. Dyslexic would be about the only valid argument. And yes these signs are prominently displayed in multiple locations... if I remember correctly they must be posted at every entrance to a lot and around the perimeter something like every couple dozen yards or something like that. And it is 100% enforceable so there is legal precedent for conspicuously posted signs being implied consent to a contract... like I said, I just don't know how well that translates to retail.

[Slytovhand]

Oklies...

Crazy - you beat me to it, so I'll have to attack this from a slightly different angle.

I walk into a store (sign or no sign) and I'm a) watched by the staff, b) put on video, and c) stalked by security... and you think I ought to be subjected to a bag check??

Sorry, sunshine, I don't think so!!!

In this country, the Privacy Legislations holds better water than the store's 'right' to a bag inspection. Just putting up a sign does not qualify as a legal contract. After all, what are they going to do? Security has no legal right to detain you, nor can they put a finger on you - requesting a bag search becomes laughable in comparison.

As Ped said - if they've got good enough reason to suspect theft, then call the cops. If not, then please leave me alone.

Smiley - apparently down here, a recent court challenge showed that such parking 'violations' were illegal. As was trying to clamp or remove vehicles. After all - what happens if your car gets scratched? Sure, you can hit me for the $80 or so... but are you going to enjoy the $1000 I hit you up for because of the damage that was done to the car when you tried to tow it away??

[powerboy]

I do mind the checks. But ask me, to show it. Do not demand, that I do.