Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Chatter > General Discussion


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-04-2004, 09:14 AM   #1 (permalink)
Custom User Title
 
gar1976's Avatar
 
Location: Lurking. Under the desk.
Don't let them control your lives! Fight for your civil rights!

OK, so maybe the topic is a little overdone. But I feel strongly about this topic, so it's my way of showing the finger to corporate America. Sure it's petty, but what the heck.

If you've ever gone into a largle electronics store (Fry's, Circuit City, etc.), you've almost certainly run into the "courtesy" line at the door, where they check your bags, receipt, and send you on your way. Personally, I feel this is an unlawful search and seizure, since I've done nothing to arouse suspitions of shoplifting. So, I just walk past the line of people, smile at the kids working the line, and trot on out the door.

The looks on the other customer's faces is priceless, and I've yet to have anyone actually say anything to me. I'm sorry, but that kind of procedure is just a bit too intrusive to me (companies assuming that everyone is trying to steal).

Any lawyers here willing to back me up? Or is it a matter of time before I show up on COPS? ("I ain't stealin' nothin' pig! Hey! Give me back my crack!")
gar1976 is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 09:25 AM   #2 (permalink)
Fly em straight!
 
water_boy1999's Avatar
 
Location: Above and Beyond
So, what's the big deal about showing your receipt? If you have nothing to hide, you should have nothing to worry about. As far as civil rights are concerned, sorry gar, but I don't think anyone is controlling my loife because they want to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into my bag.
__________________
Doh!!!!


-Homer Simpson
water_boy1999 is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 09:32 AM   #3 (permalink)
Tilted Cat Head
 
Cynthetiq's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
illegal search and seizure?

do you not realize that when you on the PRIVATE PROPERTY that you have to abide by the rules of the PRIVATE group? If not, they can REFUSE to service you. Usually there is a SIGN when you walk in that states it upfront. If you don't like it. Don't enter the store. PERIOD.

Does that mean they are being prejudiced because you aren't white? No it means they have that right. Just like you have the right to NOT SHOP at those types of stores.

And since you seem to think you are snubbing your nose at them, when the prices of goods goes up, think of how else to stop shrinkage (losses due to shoplifting, employee theft) and present it to the coprorations as an alternative solution.

and thank your fellow humans for that condition. it's a few bad apples that ruin it for everyone else. I'm not a terrorist, I think that same thing should apply for when I fly airplanes, but it doesn't.
__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.
Cynthetiq is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 10:01 AM   #4 (permalink)
Invisible
 
yournamehere's Avatar
 
Location: tentative, at best
I'm on the fence on this one.

I agree with <b>Cynthetiq</b> that something needs to be done to prevent shoplifting - although I think it could (and should) be done in a more passive manner (although "teenagers with highlighters" is at the top of the bang-for-your-buck list)

However, the "search" - be it legal or not (and I'm sure it's legal - or the ACLU would be all over it) - does indeed imply a presumtion of guilt, and I find it personally insulting for anyone to assume I am a thief - and be asked to prove otherwise.

And I certainly won't stand in line to do it.
__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

Last edited by yournamehere; 03-04-2004 at 10:21 AM..
yournamehere is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 10:53 AM   #5 (permalink)
Cracking the Whip
 
Lebell's Avatar
 
Location: Sexymama's arms...
Ummm, no.

This has actually been kicked around on another board I frequent.

After you have made your purchase, the contents of the bag are yours and the company has no right to search you unless they have reason to believe you are stealing (i.e. someone saw you slip something into your bag).

Walking into a store and buying something doesn't legally mean you are agreeing with a store policy to search you.

Now membership wearhouses are another matter, since you have to sign an agreement and it is usually stated right there that purchases will be checked.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU!

Please Donate!
Lebell is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 11:06 AM   #6 (permalink)
An embarrassment to myself and those around me...
 
VitaminH's Avatar
 
Location: Pants
Personally I could care less. Put it in prespective. No security, shoplifting goes way up, store loses money, prices go up. If it helps keep things cheap, I'm happy. It takes just a few seconds for them to look at my reciept and send me on my way. I've almost always had a backpack or messanger type bag on when I'm in Best Buy in particular and they never even look in it. Maybe I just have a trustworthy appearence?
__________________
"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."
- Napoleon Bonaparte
VitaminH is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 12:00 PM   #7 (permalink)
Desert Rat
 
spived2's Avatar
 
Location: Arizona
I agree with Lebell. Once you actually purchase the item, it's your's and they should not have the right to search your bags. I usually just walk out and avoid them, because I don't believe they have any right to stop me unless they have some kind of evidence or probable cause to stop me.
Unless the cops are involved, fuck em and bypass that line.
__________________

"This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."
- V
spived2 is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 12:01 PM   #8 (permalink)
Condition: Stable and Improving
 
Skettios's Avatar
 
Location: Finger on the little red button.
In all reality Security doesn't have any right to stop you for anything, unless they have absolute proof that you were shoplifiting (saw you do it, or the cameras did) other than that, the only thing they can legitimately do is put you under a citizens arrest (which basically means diddly).

Costco always does this. They check the contents of your cart against the receipt. Unfortunately people don't realize that this is against the law. They're not allowed to do that sort of thing. The only thing they can legitimately do, is check off your receipt so you don't load your cart up and do it again.

If I'm in Costco, and some girl wants to look in all of my stuff, I grab my receipt and keep pushing my cart.

That's not how the law works in our country. I have no pity for store owners or anything like that, the law is more important.
__________________
Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.

Frederich Nietzsche

Skettios is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 02:58 PM   #9 (permalink)
Custom User Title
 
gar1976's Avatar
 
Location: Lurking. Under the desk.
Actually, a large expense for retailers is employee theft (estimated at 6% of revenue), not just customer shoplifting.
gar1976 is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 07:21 PM   #10 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: Denver, CO
I agree wholeheartedly with Cynthetiq. Especially since the established interpretation of the Fourth Amendment is one of limitation on the powers of governments and their agents.

Even if you tried to apply the Fourth Amendment to retailers, and I don't think it would stick, you'd be very hard pressed to convince the courts that someone checking over your receipt is "unreasonable" in the eyes of the law.
__________________
"We must have waffles. We must all have waffles, forthwith. Oh, we must think.
We must all have waffles and think, each and every one of us to the very best of his ability."
-- Professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, Ph.D.
FleaCircus is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 08:07 PM   #11 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: Champaign, IL
Around here they just check you if you're taking out large items, i.e. tv's etc, and that's usually just because there's no real way to tell if you actually bought it or are walking off with it.
__________________
What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck...I can't remember how it ends, but your mother is a whore!
CrazySaturn is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 08:55 PM   #12 (permalink)
Metal and Rock 4 Life
 
Destrox's Avatar
 
Location: Phoenix
You must live in some high crime area or somthing, but here in north western PA nobody and I mean nobody checks or searches you for anything.

Unless that lil buzer goes off, or you are carrying somthing that isnt in a bag, you are free to go.

As for your rights, I my self dont give a shit. If it helps prevent theft, then I'm all for it.

I dont mind losing 2 min of my day waiting, it wont kill me. If you have a problem with this, goto some other store.
__________________
You bore me.... next.
Destrox is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 08:58 PM   #13 (permalink)
Crazy
 
Depends on how much of a hurry I'm in. I stop sometimes, sometimes I don't. I never seems to matter much, and either way I have nothing to be worried about.
__________________
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
Tholo is offline  
Old 03-04-2004, 09:28 PM   #14 (permalink)
Jam
Junkie
 
i havent ever seen that at anystore around here... allthough at this one shitty corner store which i now refuse to go to some fat lady behind the counter demanded i empty my pockets after she saw me put my spare change in my pocket... bitch i was very pissed off
Jam is offline  
 

Tags
civil, control, fight, lives, rights

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:21 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360