Shops Asking To Check In Your Bags At Checkouts

[Anna B 1,401]

1 hour ago, ECCOnoob said:

^^^  this.  

It's no different to when those using the smart shop systems have to occasionally be selected for recheck.

 

I am actually quite surprised by some of the ridiculous overreactions on this topic. People talking about "distress" and "embarrassment". Goodness sake they are only asking to have a quick look in your bag - not pinning you to the ground or marching you in handcuffs through the middle of the store.

 

Surely the basic compromise is that the more and more we embrace the convenience of self-service, 24/7 opening, pick up and check out free operations, the more it is sensibly expected that in return the shops will enhance their surveillance, tracking and spot checks.

 

Goodness sake, do people have the same ridiculous reactions and embarrassment when a ticket inspector checks and rescans their Travelcard after they've gone through ticket barriers?   Do they become offended and demand to know what accusations are being made when some cashier UV lights a bank note before putting it in the till?   Do they protest about the assumed accusations when a petrol station asks for prepayment late at night?

 

Nobody is suggesting putting cameras in the toilets or anything so dramatic.... But don't think for a second they are not already tracking in those areas of a store. This is very often why toilets are located behind checkout lines or placed with security tag scanners on the entrances. Its exactly why fitting rooms are constantly monitored or controlled access by staff members. It's why larger fitting rooms track what goes in and out by number checks and restrictions.  Hardly a new concept. Big Brother has always been watching. 

 

Perhaps some people would simply prefer it if we go back to the days of full service with the price tag to match it. Everything locked away behind counters where we all have to queue up, sit and wait while the staff run around collecting fetching and carrying our orders for us. I'm sure people will love that in this world of of instant access and convenience. Let's all sit around waiting for hours on end whilst Mr Sainsbury deals with one customer at a time. 

 

That's progress.

 

We really do seem to be in extraordinary juxtaposition that somehow people take offence to a checkout operator asking to have a quick glance in their bag and yet are happily celebrating stores like Amazon Go where they are literally tracked from the moment they enter the shop to the moment they leave.  How is that concept not at the very least the same thing if not more realistically even worse.... seems to be a real case if you can't physically see it happening - oh well nevermind.

I actually happen to agree with some of this. I for instance am sick of hearing how some person  takes offence where none was intended, and where an innocent remark can cost you your job etc. IMO it's self inflicted but stifling our freedom of speech.  And that's really what this is about: freedom. Our freedoms seem to be being eroded bit by bit, and we are all allowing it to happen, and it will not end well.

It's another reason why the pandemic has triggered such a strong response.

 

I consider myself reasonably well adjusted (on a good day) but this is what happened to me Re: shopping, and probably explains why I responded to this thread.

Many years ago I went into an expensive Meadowhall dress shop, (think that one Julia Roberts goes into in pretty woman,) and as I went out the all the alarms that are triggered by the tags went off in a most spectacular fashion.

 

I was absolutely mortified, and as I hesitated in the doorway, I saw this very snooty, superior shop manager heading in my direction. I had done absolutely nothing wrong but can honestly say for some reason my first instinct was to run. I didn't. I managed to control myself but wished I'd carried on walking. She escorted me back inside the shop and went through the three bags I was carrying. Everyone was looking and I was the colour of a beetroot. It felt like a massive invasion of my privacy as she went through some quite private items in my bag. (All I'll say is I'd just been to Ann Summers and Poundland.) She found nothing of course and her attitude changed to a bit more apologetic, but her face still seemed to say 'we didn't get you this time, but your sort don't belong in here so don't come back.' And I never have. That shop's gone now but I couldn't even walk past it again. 

I think this is why I responded as I did, and why the 'If you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear...' thing really gets my goat.

 

Of course nowadays I'd just sue them for damaging my mental health... 😉

Edited November 26, 2021 by Anna B

[butlers 259]

Yes ,I entirely understand,...... Poundland.

Edited November 26, 2021 by butlers

[Janus 28]

Recently Tesco in Rotherham  were using a checking system that seemed a bit odd.

They were stopping  customers to inspect their receipts only. I said, "do you want to look in the bag"? They said no just checking receipts. 

[RollingJ 2,002]

4 hours ago, The_DADDY said:

As far as I'm aware I'm the only one to use this term so I'll assume that's directed at me. 

Yes, distress. My daughter was distressed at being stopped. 

Was she lying? 

Am I lying? 

Or are you being a bit Ignorant and belive that because you are OK with being accosted by staff whilst going about your business then everyone should be? 

Genuine question by the way. 

My comment - if that is what you were referring to - my comment was in direct response to Anna.

[The_DADDY 3,461]

13 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

My comment - if that is what you were referring to - my comment was in direct response to Anna.

My apologies 🙏

[Padders 2,850]

3 hours ago, butlers said:

Yes ,I entirely understand,...... Poundland.

I've just googled Ann Summers, and the "objects" for sale beggars believe...

Which poses the question,

What was Anna doing in there?

[hackey lad 3,955]

7 minutes ago, Padders said:

I've just googled Ann Summers, and the "objects" for sale beggars believe...

Which poses the question,

What was Anna doing in there?

I was just about to post the same 

[Waldo 96]

If a member of staff wanted to look inside my bags after paying at the till, I'd be extremely concerned. It's something that's never happened to me, curious, is this a common place occurrence?

 

Anyhow...

 

 I'd probably start video recording immediately, and then ask what it is they suspect me of doing, and also, do they have any evidence to support their suspicions?

 

If they're still persisting and wishing to carry out any kind of search, I'd calmly explain I'm leaving the store. It's up to them if they wish to restrain or detain me. If they did, I'd explain they're illegally detaining me against my will, and insist they call the police immediately.

 

It's absolutely NOT okay for shops to expect they can search your bags if they don't have any evidence to suggest you've done something wrong.

[The_DADDY 3,461]

1 minute ago, Waldo said:

If a member of staff wanted to look inside my bags after paying at the till, I'd be extremely concerned. It's something that's never happened to me, curious, is this a common place occurrence?

 

Anyhow...

 

 I'd probably start video recording immediately, and then ask what it is they suspect me of doing, and also, do they have any evidence to support their suspicions?

 

If they're still persisting and wishing to carry out any kind of search, I'd calmly explain I'm leaving the store. It's up to them if they wish to restrain or detain me. If they did, I'd explain they're illegally detaining me against my will, and insist they call the police immediately.

 

It's absolutely NOT okay for shops to expect they can search your bags if they don't have any evidence to suggest you've done something wrong.

👏

[Resident 1,185]

14 hours ago, Waldo said:

If a member of staff wanted to look inside my bags after paying at the till, I'd be extremely concerned. It's something that's never happened to me, curious, is this a common place occurrence?

 

Anyhow...

 

 I'd probably start video recording immediately, and then ask what it is they suspect me of doing, and also, do they have any evidence to support their suspicions?

 

If they're still persisting and wishing to carry out any kind of search, I'd calmly explain I'm leaving the store. It's up to them if they wish to restrain or detain me. If they did, I'd explain they're illegally detaining me against my will, and insist they call the police immediately.

 

It's absolutely NOT okay for shops to expect they can search your bags if they don't have any evidence to suggest you've done something wrong.

Store security are entitled to detain you if they believe you may have shoplifted, it they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. 

Shoplifting is rife at the minute so you, as the detainee, would have a difficult task in proving that suspicion wasn't reasonable, especially if you become confrontational and resistant. 

They would NOT be detaining you illegally & they have every right to protect their property from theft. 

[Waldo 96]

3 hours ago, Resident said:

Store security are entitled to detain you if they believe you may have shoplifted, it they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. 

Shoplifting is rife at the minute so you, as the detainee, would have a difficult task in proving that suspicion wasn't reasonable, especially if you become confrontational and resistant. 

They would NOT be detaining you illegally & they have every right to protect their property from theft. 

I should have made it clear, I thought it would be obvious, but, I’m asking what evidence they have, and if none, THEN, I’m leaving the store.

 

So you’re saying after the indicate they have no evidence of wrong doing, they’re legally allowed to detain, and or, search me? I’m not a lawyer, but strongly suspect you are wrong on that count.

 

Also, I don’t believe that just because shoplifting is ‘rife’ that would grant store employees any additional rights to detain someone.

 

Can you point to anything that will prove otherwise? Or perhaps someone legally qualified on the subject could comment. I’d be grateful for the clarification.

 

Also, I’m not confrontational or resistant, they are,

Edited November 27, 2021 by Waldo

[Resident 1,185]

4 hours ago, Waldo said:

I should have made it clear, I thought it would be obvious, but, I’m asking what evidence they have, and if none, THEN, I’m leaving the store.

 

So you’re saying after the indicate they have no evidence of wrong doing, they’re legally allowed to detain, and or, search me? I’m not a lawyer, but strongly suspect you are wrong on that count.

 

Also, I don’t believe that just because shoplifting is ‘rife’ that would grant store employees any additional rights to detain someone.

 

Can you point to anything that will prove otherwise? Or perhaps someone legally qualified on the subject could comment. I’d be grateful for the clarification.

 

Also, I’m not confrontational or resistant, they are,

https://www.inbrief.co.uk/employees/being-a-security-guard/#:~:text=Basically%2C you’re entitled to detain a person you suspect of shoplifting%2C as long as you have reasonable grounds for this suspicion.

And yes you are being confrontational/resistant. In this circumstance the adage of "if you have nothing to fear" rings true. An innocent person would oblige and prove their innocence. 

Everytime I've been stopped I've agreed, they've checked, apologised & thanked me for my co-operation. 

Guilty people resist because they don't want to get caught which is why doing so increasing the staff's reason of suspicion and allows them to detain you. 99% of the time they will detain you and have police attend for a forced search,  no rights have been infringed and the security have acted within the law.