Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

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


View Poll Results: Do you submit to bag searches?
Yes, I really don't care. 32 34.04%
No, it's an invasion of my privacy. 29 30.85%
You mean I have an option?? 33 35.11%
Voters: 94. You may not vote on this poll

 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-31-2005, 05:21 PM   #41 (permalink)
...is a comical chap
 
Grasshopper Green's Avatar
 
Location: Where morons reign supreme
I've never seen this happen at any store I shop at. Hopefully it doesn't start up any time soon at the stores I frequent, and I've made a mental note to never shop at Best Buy now.
Grasshopper Green is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 05:25 PM   #42 (permalink)
Insane
 
I have actually had one of the bag searches at fry's electronics catch an error (that would have cost me more money)

sometimes I'll just walk by them, sometimes I'll stop, depends on the day.
waltert is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 05:50 PM   #43 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Moderator Emeritus
Location: Chicago
My time is valuable, if it's going to get me out of the store quicker... then I honestly don't care.

Any one of you pull that "no don't check my bag" crap when you are leaving a store before front of me, you wil have to deal with my wrath for holding me up...
__________________
Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.
maleficent is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 06:01 PM   #44 (permalink)
©
 
StanT's Avatar
 
Location: Colorado
Quote:
Originally Posted by maleficent
My time is valuable, if it's going to get me out of the store quicker... then I honestly don't care.

Any one of you pull that "no don't check my bag" crap when you are leaving a store before front of me, you wil have to deal with my wrath for holding me up...
Not to worry, from experience, while they are busy harassing my wife and I, you could walk out of the store with a cash register under your arm.
StanT is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 07:27 PM   #45 (permalink)
Registered User
 
radioguy's Avatar
 
Location: Texas
it doesn't bother me. i've got nothing to hide.
radioguy is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 07:32 PM   #46 (permalink)
Cracking the Whip
 
Lebell's Avatar
 
Location: Sexymama's arms...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moskie
I voted that I really don't care.

I understand that a customer has no legal obligation to abide by these searches. On the other hand, if me shopping at a store that I like, such as Best Buy, required that I be a part of an agreement where my bag is inspected upon leaving, I would go along with the agreement. In the name of preventing theft, and consequently keeping prices down, so be it.

I'm sure people have seen signs at businesses that say something to the effect of "This establishment reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason." Why doesn't a place like Best Buy have the right to refuse service to people who refuse to comply with bag searches? Or is that completely illegal? I've never signed anything at these business that have a type of sign like I mentioned, either. And I would personally find it adequate if this information was plainly visible at the store entrance, as opposed to me having to sign something.

Well, whatever. I don't really care all that much.
As I understand it, your only "contract" at stores like Best Buy is at the point of sale, where you put down your money and they hand you your merchandise.

At that point, they may choose to make it a provision of sale to search your bags, but if it isn't explicitely agreed to by both parties, then you never agreed to it.

They can of course refuse to let you shop at the store in the future, but I doubt that has ever happened.
__________________
"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 01-31-2005, 11:01 PM   #47 (permalink)
Banned
 
It's bullshit. I've never submitted to such a thing.

Same thing happened to me at Best Buy, the day before I left for my vacation (2 weeks ago). Guy stopped me and asked if he could check the receipt. I said, "no, i've checked it, it's correct", knowing exactly what he meant. He asked again if he could see the bag and the receipt, being a total dick about it. I asked for his manager. He asked why, and I explained that he was about to get a lesson in how not to handle people who refuse bag searches. He said I could go, and I again demanded he get his manager. He finally budged and the manager came over. I explained what happened. The manager was peaved at me because i wouldn't just surrender. He told me I was still in the store, and I told him that he had no cause, no evidence, no witnesses to any wrongdoing. I told him that I had plenty of time and the number to the local police station, since I used to work right near there. I told him i'd call them right up, and he could be put in his place by a cop for trying to detain me.

He told me to go, and I obliged.

Thankfully, this is not a store location I will ever need to shop at- it was the one near where I worked at a cell phone store for 1 month, about 45 minutes from my house. No reason to go to that Best Buy again anyway, if it turns out i'm banned. lol
analog is offline  
Old 01-31-2005, 11:27 PM   #48 (permalink)
Crazy
 
I didnt realize you could say no also. I still dont have the balls to do it though.
jstory is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 06:31 AM   #49 (permalink)
pinche vato
 
warrrreagl's Avatar
 
Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton
Quote:
Originally Posted by lurkette
Granted, there are more pressing civil rights violations going on in the U.S., but it's these little things that gradually chip away at our sense of freedom until we get used to it and don't notice how that freedom has been eroded. What kind of privacy violation is important enough to care about? I'm not saying we ought to stage sit-ins in front of Best Buy, but I'll certainly either casually refuse a search, or vote with my feet and my pocketbook and take my business somewhere else.
With all of the greatest respect for you, lurkette (and fear of ratbastid), I don't see the little things as being connected to Civil Rights violations. I know that it appears that way in print, but common sense tells me that I'm not sliding toward totalitarianism from Best Buy.

I think it's possible and quite common to experience little annoyances without them being synonymous with infringement.

Quote:
Originally Posted by maleficent
My time is valuable, if it's going to get me out of the store quicker... then I honestly don't care.

Any one of you pull that "no don't check my bag" crap when you are leaving a store before front of me, you wil have to deal with my wrath for holding me up...
Beautifully expressed. Put me down for that, too.
__________________
Living is easy with eyes closed.

Last edited by warrrreagl; 02-01-2005 at 06:33 AM..
warrrreagl is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 12:32 PM   #50 (permalink)
Pip
Likes Hats
 
Pip's Avatar
 
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
What do they do if they find an item in the bag that isn't on the receipt? They have no proof that you didn't have it with you when you entered, do they? Or do you have to empty your pockets before entering?
Pip is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 01:09 PM   #51 (permalink)
Wehret Den Anfängen!
 
Location: Ontario, Canada
Overall, it does seem rather silly. I don't believe I've ever been asked. I rarely carry a bag around with me in any case, so what would they search, my underwear? =p

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holo
I haven't shoplifted since my teens (and it wasn't right then) and I really don't like being treated like a criminal when i just spent money at your store.
People who have shoplifted should not complain about being searched by stores. Glass houses and stones and all.
__________________
Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.
Yakk is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 01:32 PM   #52 (permalink)
I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot!
 
raeanna74's Avatar
 
Location: Upper Michigan
Our Best Buy isn't strict about it. Half the time they don't bother to look. When they do it's done in a tone of "Did they ring everything up right for you?" They look at the prices and quantities to make sure we got what we were charged for. The rest of the time they hardly look at you. I have not bothered with a bag at times with just one item and just held the reciept againt the flat side of the item and waved it at them like I'm waving goodbye. I just walk on and they don't ask to look closer.

Now that I think about it - Most of the time I'm with hubby who used to work their security (called something like quality control) and half the guys still working there know him at least by face. Maybe they don't ask cause of that. I never thought about it. It would all depend on if I was in a hurry or not and how many items I had. Do I want to wait while they check it all or not.
__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.
raeanna74 is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 02:09 PM   #53 (permalink)
Born-Again New Guy
 
TexanAvenger's Avatar
 
Location: Unfound.
Yeah, I usually just let them look at my bag (because the look so hard...) but occasionally, usually when I'm in a bad mood or rush, I just walk past. Like StanT, everytime they've offered to detain me, I've offered to call the police for them. I don't have anything to hide, but there's no reason I should be forced to show them. If they feel the need to tell me that I'm not allowed to shop there anymore, whoopdie-freaking-do; there're three more stores within a block of here that sell the exact same things. So far however, there's not been a single time where that's happened.
TexanAvenger is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 03:35 PM   #54 (permalink)
Myrmidon
 
ziadel's Avatar
 
Location: In the twilight and mist.
I'd love to refuse one of these searches, unfortunately, I'm not sure what even being involved in one of these fiasco's would do to my CCW permit...

So, if I do do this, and they refuse to let me leave the store, I call the cops and tell them what?
I am being unlawfully detained?
__________________
Ron Paul '08
Vote for Freedom
Go ahead and google Dr. Ron Paul. You'll like what you read.
ziadel is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 04:34 PM   #55 (permalink)
If you've read this, PM me and say so
 
Location: Sitting on my ass, and you?
no wonder the rest of the world laughs at america. It's a simple farking bag search and you people wanna go all constitutional on them and make a stand about your rights as an american citizen. Wow the kids of the future are gonna look back and admire their hero Joe sixpack who decided to take a stand against those bag searches by makign a scene outside the local retail outlet. A real American hero.
slimshaydee is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 05:01 PM   #56 (permalink)
Human
 
SecretMethod70's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
It's indicative of a greater social attitude and mindset. Namely, to be perfectly blunt, no one gives a shit about being free anymore or what it entails. It's no wonder to me so many people could care less about the PATRIOT Act, or will blindly shop at Wal-Mart because they have "always low prices" - nevermind that it's also the very reason those same people are losing jobs left and right.

The fact is, what was said earlier is entirely true: freedom is like a muscle. It must be regularly exercised and asserted or else it will atrophy. And it may have already atrophied for the country as a whole, but I will hold on to every last bit of freedom that I can while I can. Freedom from corporations who would like to treat me like a criminal (while most others take it up the ass and thank them afterwards like they deserve it, all in the name of "low prices") and freedom from government officials who would like to treat me like a criminal as well (DMCA, PATRIOT Act - while an equally large number of people accept it and even thank them for taking away their freedoms "to keep them safe")

As for ziadel, I doubt any of them would actually contact the police. If they did, simply explain that the bag, it's items, and all other things on your person are your private property and, unless they have reasonable cause to suspect you of theft, they do not have the right to search and seizure any more than the police officer does. Tell them you will gladly leave the premises with your things, but will not submit to a search without a reasonable cause.

Really though, I *highly* doubt it would ever reach that point. Like an earlier poster said though, be sure to check the local laws regarding it too. I can't imagine many places would have any that would require you to submit to a search (and if they do, it's unconstitutional), but I wouldn't be surprised if I found out some places did.
__________________
Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling
SecretMethod70 is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 05:17 PM   #57 (permalink)
Tilted
 
Location: Oregon, USA
The "rest of the world" is quite welcome to laugh. As citizens of the United States, we are largely here because our ancestors disagreed with yours about how things should be done. I see no reason to be concerned about a similar difference of opinion a few generations later.

I don't find myself overly concerned with the opinion of the "kids of the future", although they will inherit the rights that we defend for them today. Countless people have sacrificed and died for my country to ensure that I had the rights I enjoy as a US citizen. I think that refusing to stand up for those rights would be a poor way to commemorate their efforts.

The issue at hand here may be small, but all big things usually start out small. Assuming that things will never get any worse and trusting to blind faith just isn't in my nature. The great thing about living in the US, is that the laws are determined by the concensus of the people. If enough folks disagree with my viewpoint then I'll find myself legally constrained to accept such indignities. Unless that happens though, I'll continue to find myself protesting in good company.
__________________
Faith: not wanting to know what is true.
~Friedrich Nietzsche
Blaspheme is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 05:26 PM   #58 (permalink)
Tilted
 
I have to say that I didn't ever think to refuse. I certainly don't agree with the logic in "Why bother if you have nothing to hide." Im not sure I've ever actually been searched, though I have certainly blown through a few. I don't think I'd have the juevos to refuse, frankly.
ergdork is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 05:27 PM   #59 (permalink)
Human
 
SecretMethod70's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
I think a relevant statement can be seen from former President James Madison:

Quote:
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachment of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpation."
-President James Madison (1751-1836) speech, Virginia Convention, 1788
I am inclined to agree with this, and interpret "those in power" not simply to mean those in governmental power, but those in elite power as well.
__________________
Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling
SecretMethod70 is offline  
Old 02-01-2005, 06:13 PM   #60 (permalink)
My future is coming on
 
lurkette's Avatar
 
Moderator Emeritus
Location: east of the sun and west of the moon
Quote:
Originally Posted by SecretMethod70
I am inclined to agree with this, and interpret "those in power" not simply to mean those in governmental power, but those in elite power as well.
Is there a difference?

/cynicism
__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France
lurkette is offline  
Old 02-02-2005, 03:11 AM   #61 (permalink)
Crazy
 
Location: San Diego, CA
"Not submitting to a bag search = stealing" is the same line of thought as "asserting you're 5th amendment right = guilty". For some reason, people believe that others only assert their rights if they are trying to get away with something. Where did this mindset come from?
__________________
"Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose." -- Douglas Adams
Rangsk is offline  
Old 02-02-2005, 04:16 AM   #62 (permalink)
Insane
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pip
What do they do if they find an item in the bag that isn't on the receipt? They have no proof that you didn't have it with you when you entered, do they? Or do you have to empty your pockets before entering?
some stores do nothing. we have searches like this at a few local stores (walmart being one of them). sometimes i submit, sometimes i just ignore them--really just depends on how much of a hurry i'm in.

i do know that i once walked out of walmart without paying for a bottle of coke i was drinking while shopping. i noticed when i got to my car and went back in to pay for it. when i went up to the register and explained to the cashier that i hadn't realized i didn't pay for it (i was holding it while she rang up my purchases) and she told me she didn't ask about it because it was likely i had brought it into the store with me. so if you walk out with one, they won't stop you because they can't assume you stole it. now i can't imagine that would work if you walked out with a tv or something...but apparently drinks and snack food items are things you very well may have brought with you so they don't bother trying to prove otherwise.
bad jane is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 01:48 PM   #63 (permalink)
Asshole
 
The_Jazz's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
I was reminded of this thread by a conversation I had over lunch. The other person, who is from out of town, basically had the same idea as a lot of the previous posters: that this is basically unconstitutional.

He was stopped at his local WalMart and asked to open his bag. Knowing he hadn't stolen anything, he asked why they were stopping him. When they told him it was "store policy", he told them that it was illegal policy and tried to walk away. When the clerk grabbed him (which was really the mistake here), he calmly told the clerk that he was calling the police to report being assaulted and illegally detained. The manager showed up as he was talking with the police and physically tried to take the phone away from him, apologizing as he did it.

It turns out that WalMart corporate knows that this is illegal and tells the managers that they're on their own if they decide to pursue this course of action. And that having the store sued won't reflect well on the managers' future employment. When the police showed up, my acquaintance told them it was all a big misunderstanding, but not before he told the manager that if it ever happened again, he'd press charges.

He was quite impressed with himself.
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
The_Jazz is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 01:57 PM   #64 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Location: My head.
If I'm in a rush I'll tell the dude to go fuck himself, most of the time I only shop on weekends where I have the whole day to myself and I don't really care.
Xerxys is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 02:02 PM   #65 (permalink)
I Confess a Shiver
 
Plan9's Avatar
 
Turns outs they can search my bag all the want. They're unlikely to find all the SD cards and DVDs I just stuffed into my fat rolls.

...

Just kidding, I don't mind submitting to their loss prevention bullshit once in a while, but if I gotta move... I ignore them.

They don't have the power of The Man behind them, so it's a game where they pretend they have some ability to do such.

Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz View Post
When the police showed up, my acquaintance told them it was all a big misunderstanding, but not before he told the manager that if it ever happened again, he'd press charges.
Pfft, I'd call my lawyer. They'd be paying for grad school. Outta state.
__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."
Plan9 is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 02:04 PM   #66 (permalink)
Eat your vegetables
 
genuinegirly's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Arabidopsis-ville
I'd be pissed if I was the cop who had to leave something important to deal with that situation, Jazz.

I have only dealt with bag searches when I'm walking in and out of public museums, airports, and the like - never retail establishments. There was one place I shopped regularly where there was a security officer stationed by the door, staring everyone down. Maybe they just don't ask to look in my bag.
__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy
genuinegirly is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 03:54 PM   #67 (permalink)
We work alone
 
LoganSnake's Avatar
 
Location: Cake Town
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guthumba View Post
It takes what, 30 seconds?

I can think of much larger and more important battles to commit my energy to...
I was going through this thread in utter bewilderment hoping to find a post that would mirror my feelings on this and this is it.

Jesus F Christ, I never understood the whole anti-authority position. Okay, the checkout guys aren't real authority, but why start shit over something that takes less than a quarter of a minute? Bah. If you're bored an looking for an argument, hit a cop car.
__________________
Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques
LoganSnake is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 04:01 PM   #68 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Location: My head.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoganSnake View Post
I was going through this thread in utter bewilderment hoping to find a post that would mirror my feelings on this and this is it.

Jesus F Christ, I never understood the whole anti-authority position. Okay, the checkout guys aren't real authority, but why start shit over something that takes less than a quarter of a minute? Bah. If you're bored an looking for an argument, hit a cop car.
Here's the thing though, the cowards want an argument that looks big enough that they can win. If they were to ... say, hit a cop car, they wouldn't win.
Xerxys is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 07:58 PM   #69 (permalink)
Delicious
 
Reese's Avatar
 
If my shit is all bagged up, I ain't stopping for a check. If I have a big ass box with no bag around it, I'll show my receipt. There's not any store around here that bothers checking receipts though. I sure as hell wouldn't go to Best Buy anyway. Anything in that store can be bought cheaper on the net.
__________________
“It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

Last edited by Reese; 06-09-2009 at 08:00 PM..
Reese is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 08:17 PM   #70 (permalink)
Insane
 
FelixP's Avatar
 
Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.
Touch my bag motherfucker and you might not live long enough to regret it.
__________________
Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me

"I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur
FelixP is offline  
Old 06-09-2009, 09:23 PM   #71 (permalink)
Upright
 
Cielamara's Avatar
 
Location: North Cackalacky.
I don't personally care if they search my bags. I have nothing to hide.
__________________
You probably don't want to know.
Cielamara is offline  
 

Tags
bag, searches, submit


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 11:23 PM.

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