Submit to bag searches?
 

This thread is borne out of the current Best Buy thread...

Do you submit to a bag search on the way out of a store?

Some places you have no choice. For instance, if you belong to a Sam's Club or Costco, it is in your membership agreement that you will submit to them, but I've noticed more and more places are trying it.

The local Best Buy as well as Target are trying to get away with it by stationing people at the exits and asking to see reciepts, in bags, etc. and the people meekly submit.

Do they realize that there is NO LAW that says they have to?

Once you have purchased your merchandise, it is YOURS and unless they suspect theft (with a damn good reason), they can't stop or search you.

When I found this out, I stopped letting them look through my stuff.

Now I just glide past the line of folks waiting to get searched, and when the guy at Best Buy or Fries says, as they inevitably do, "Sir?? I need to check your reciept!", I always reply, "No Thanks!", with a big cheery smile.

So do you submit?

I didn't really think about just saying no.

I wouldn't want to cause trouble and say 'no', but if there is a line I guess I will just walk on out now.

For the most part it is to check to see if you have something that you didn't pay for. On the other hand, at least at Costco they are also checking to see that the checkout people didn't screw up. I don't know how many times they asked me "did you get 2 of this item? and 2 of this item?" 90% of the time I did, but the once or twice that they caught the error before I got out the door, and they refunded me the money right there. I was actually glad, because then I didn't have to go back and explain that I did not buy multiples of this item. :thumbsup:

Interesting they do it at my best buy. I'm going to start saying no, I'll see what happens.

Hm...interesting.

I answered "yes, I really don't care," but now I'm not so sure.

Once I buy something, it's my property, right? And I have a right to privacy. I'm not easily embarassed, so it wouldn't bother me to have the guard know I bought 3 Russ Meyer DVDs (do they even sell those at Best Buy?), but it might bother someone else. And what's the point, anyhow, if they have security cameras and magnetic theft detectors anyhow?

I think I'm going to start saying "no thanks," too, when they ask to see my receipt. Not that I will ever shop at Best Buy anyhow.

I'm starting to get downright paranoid about information privacy now. If you want discounts at the grocery store, you have to fill out an application for a frequent shopper card so they can harvest data about you. Every store seems to ask for your zip code (I don't even refuse to give them one, I just give them the wrong one to fuck with them). Honestly, it's enough to make me start paying cash for everything and refusing to give out any information to anybody. I have a T-shirt I made that has a bar-code on it that really does read "consumer" if you scan it with the right kind of machine. I hope I'm being ironic and not prophetic.

I learned that I had this option not too long ago, but I'm still working up the guts to protest these searches by rejecting them. I'm just worried that one time when I tell them no the guy will think he has the right to detain me or something. I don't normally have that kind of time to waste.

Disclaimer:

Please check your local laws to make sure this is true in your area (including the municipal law in the city where the store is located). While this should hold true for most places, I don't want people to start getting tickets or arrested for violating local laws.

Where I live, you need "probable cause" to detain but the only cause they need is that you "may have" concealed or stolen something. There doesn't have to be any proof other than the employee's word. They can also detain you for "a reasonable amount of time" which around here is about 20 min. They can then let you go with a thank you for your time. There is even a state law which prevents people from suing the employee who was acting "in good faith" to protect the store's contents. For these reasons, I just let them search. I know I don't steal and it isn't worth the fight when the laws in place already work against saying no.

This hasn't happened here yet besides Sam's where it's necessary as you said, but I will most definitely tell them hell no. 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. I worked for Sam's for a while and they have loss prevention videos that teach the cashiers to "search" your things to avoid "out in the open" theft such as reboxing DVD players or other expensive items. The have security cameras at most every store now taping you while you shop. If the cashier isn't doing their job and catching shrink they shouldn't bother the customer without just cause. It's not our responsibility to help their inept Loss Prevention.

While there may be no law requiring that you submit to a search, you have to realize that there is no law requiring them to do business with you. You can certainly tell them to go to hell when asked to let them search your bag, and there's nothing they can do to make you. What they can do is refuse to allow you in the store again. You have to be the one to decide if the affront of the search is worth losing the ability to shop there.

As for myself, I submit to the reciept check/basket check at CostCo. At CostCo it is part of the membership agreement that you sign, so if you're shopping in there you've already agreed that it's OK. Target and other similar stores where I live do not have people checking bags at the exit, I'm assuming that this is something that's happening in larger cities at the moment. If I were stopped at the exit to the local Target (or similar store) I'd undoubtedly refuse, and take my business elsewhere.

What you really don't have to worry about is being accused of theft or detained should you refuse. I've worked in retail security, and the rule is pretty much the same everywhere: Unless you see someone concealing unpaid for merchandise and are positive that it is still on their person when leaveing the store you do not stop them. The main reason for this is simple, lawsuits. A false accusation leaves a business open to civil suits, and the plaintiff almost invariably wins in those cases.

Ok I have to admit. I never realised that they did not have the right. But now that you mention it... it makes perfect sense for me to say NO!

There are not many place here in canada that do this search but I have had it happen at costco. It's like losing a bit of freedon in order to keep prices low... I am not sure that is worth it.

Meanwhile Safeway Grocery Stores are adding new unmanned check outs ... where we scan all of our own groceries... and pay with debit or credit cards...

What odd is that it works so darned well ...

Why is it a big deal if you have nothing to hide?

I've got a lot more important things to worry about in life...

This isn't one of them.

Nope.

Over the years, I've only really had one problem and it was from a record store goon who was simply trying to intimidate me.

You just have to show a little confidence. It's not like you're in the wrong, but if you're sure of yourself, chances are you can avoid the issue all together. Even if they do stop you, it's only a matter of showing him what's in your bag, which is what you were going to do anyway. So, view it as a time saving measure rather than a personal refusal to submit to a public search if that makes it any more palatable.

Most stores are implementing this policy based on two assumptions. That the public is largely ignorant of what they can and cannot do. That the public is more than happy to make small concessions in the name of convenience. Right now, they just want to see your receipt and what's in the bag....tomorrow....well, you get the point.

I'm not paranoid (maybe I am as I've made that same declaration twice in the last 15 minutes), but I see no reason to grant them access to my things, and they are mine as I just paid for them, simply because they want to. If they can come up with a good reason for wanting my zipcode/telephone #/date-of-birth and for pawing through my stuff, then fine, I'm willing to listen. Until then, hands off, chucko.

The one good thing I can say about Wal*Mart (other than their ridculously low prices *cue commercial) is that I've never encounted the "receipt" guys there. It's usually just a nice old fellow who wants to get me a cart and wish me a nice day.

I personally find it insulting, plus I have the right to say no. Hell I can refuse search to cops, why would I submit to the authority of some minimum wage chump?

Here they simply have signs right before you walk in saying things like 'By entering this store you accept that we may search your bags upon leaving' or something to that effect. I'm having trouble seeing how we have a right to refuse a search when we leave, when we accept that agreement when we enter? Isn't it fair enough for them to ask to search our bags in that case, and if we refuse then aren't we breaking our part of the deal?

Couldn't you just wear a sign saying that "By granting admitting me inside your place of business you automatically waive your right to bag searches."

I mean, turnabout is fair play, right? ;)

It would probably only work once, but it would work once.

You are on their property. And its private property. They can ask you to leave; they can ask to search your bag. They can do almost anything except detain you (unless you’re breaking the law, but even then they have to follow certain guide lines)

However, it’s not considered a theft until you leave the property. Until that time you have the option to return to the store. There is no way for them to know if you actually going through with the theft. Or return the item in question.

I was a security officer for 8 years (both contract and private) and in my time I have pulled a few duties at a Target or Wal-mart. And in all those times. I have never, and I mean NEVER seen anyone hide a stolen item in the same bag with purchased items. They tent to hide them on their person before they get to the cashier. What are they going to do on the way to the front door, take it out and place it the bag??

For me, it would depend on the attitude of the person at the bag check and the inconvenience, pending that it's not a shopping "club" agreement clause or legally permissible. I'm probably not going to tell a 60 year old lady at Wal*Mart to go to hell just to prove my point, etc. I'd probably ask some pointed questions to demonstrate my position, and then "condescend" to allowing the clerk to check my stuff. However, if it's something that is really bothering you (and I am in complete endorsement of the nip it in the bud stategy) you might try inserting a personal object into your bag. What if a pair of apparently-dirty underwear just happened to not fit in your pockets anymore, so you thought you'd stash them in the bag. Or a used handerchief with a little mucus and some blood on it? A large dildo or something with Elmer's glue? I mean, eventually they'd probably just get the point, I'm thinking....

It's possible that such a sign doesn't mean anything. For example, a lot of trailer tractors and large trucks have signs that say "Not responsible for damages due to (whatever)", but they are, in fact responsible for damage they inflict because of their actions. The point of the sign is to deter ignorant people from filing a lawsuit against the company.

Screw that. It's not considered theft until I've stolen something. If I haven't, which is the perspective I think 99% of us are looking at this from, then I don't care what they think about when it is or is not theft. Especially if they don't have a reasonable cause to be suspicious of me.

That's actually one of the big reasons why I think it *is* worth it. So many situations that we have today came gradually thanks to people sitting idly by as their freedoms were stripped away one minute step at a time. Only by standing up to these gradual acts of disrespect can they be stopped or, at least, slowed down.

You've got the first half right. They can ask you to leave. However, once the sale is final (you've got a receipt by this point and the cashier has your money), that bag and its contents are YOUR property, not theirs. Thus, they do not have a right to search it, regardless of the fact you are on their property. As one person pointed out, they could tell you not to return, but I wonder 1) how likely that is and 2) how effective a store like Best Buy would be at enforcing such an edict.

And one other comment about the sign, I'm actually pretty *positive* that it doesn't mean anything. A contract, at least as far as I'm aware (and IANAL), requires a one on one agreement (remember, corporations are considered persons, so this is not an exception). The sign does not fall under the requirements of a contract and, thus, has no force of law.

This is kind of how I felt about it at first, too, but really it's the principle of the thing. I guess for me it's 1) the slippery slope argument, and 2) another teensy erosion of individual rights and privacy. It's not such a big deal by itself, but what if everyone started doing this? It just sets up an atmosphere of microscopic observation that I think lends itself to subtle forms of social coercion.

Why would anybody care? Of all the places to make a constitutional stand on rights and freedoms, I'd prefer to choose someplace more significant than a retail store, for God's sake.

I love the juxtaposition of headlines:
"Iraqis Vote in Large Numbers Despite Death Threats and Terror Attacks"
"Americans Throwing Hissy Fits and Taking Courageous Stand Against Retail Stores"

Honestly, if I refused the search, and they told me to never come back, I would happily oblige. In their quest to get rid of "Demon Customers ", they will have gotten rid of a very good one.

I remember when I was a kid, I went to the movie theater with my grandma. She always brought candy in her purse, because the prices at the theater are ridiculous. Well, one time, they actually asked to search my grandma's purse. After a few minutes of bickering back and forth, she submitted, and they confiscated all of her candy.

Even at age 9, I knew that there was something wrong with that.

Granted, I think that this is an extreme case. If I am leaving best buy, and they want to check my bag, I don't really care as long as it is quick. But I can see how it is the trend is starting to lean toward "guilty until proven innocent." One thing is for sure, any stores that want my phone number can kiss my ass.

It takes what, 30 seconds?

I can think of much larger and more important battles to commit my energy to...

In Britain the don't seem to do random searches, I have had bags searched but thats when I set off th alarm systems, never actually tried to steal anything but Cashiers find it hard to remove all the tags.

'nuff said.

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.

Hmmmm, I'm going to start saying no now and wsee what happens too. It's not like they can arrest me.

CompUSA did exit bag checks when I worked there 10 years ago. It was to make sure big ticket purchases were paid for properly, and to check the serial numbers of the larger items against the serial numbers on the receipt. After verifying everything was good to go, the guard (contracted security guards, not store employees) would initial the receipt or hole-punch it with a special punch. If you tried to return something and the receipt didn't have either the initials or the punch, you had to come up with a really good explanation why. I don't remember it being a big deal then. As far as I go, I don't really care. I have nothing to hide, I don't see a store making sure I'm not stealing from them as being an invasion of my privacy, I'm not going to make a big deal of it. I have my bags X-rayed and checked every day coming onto and leaving my ship, and submit to all sorts of other checks and inspections, being in the military and working in secure areas. My personal laptop has to be turned on (to ensure it's not a bomb) and the etching on it shown to the Master at Arms (to verify it's mine and not stolen). I understand why that's necessary and I'm used to it. I submit to that or I don't bring it on board the ship. Fight it if you must, but I think if Thomas Jefferson or Ben Franklin were shopping at Best Buy they'd pony up the bags and not say a word.

Now, if Best Buy employees knocked on your door at your house because they saw an empty carboard box from one of their TV's on your curb and demanded to see the receipt, then yes, by all means, that's unlawful. Or if they stopped you on the street while you were listening to your iPod. That's what the 4th Amendment is all about. But while you're in their store, you play by their rules or you shop somewhere else.

-Mikey

Ive never really had a problem with it

Contrary to what several have said, a store doesn't have the right to search you for no reason.

Hell, even the COPS need a reason to search you.

And a sign on the door doesn't mean squat, since you haven't agreed to be searched in writing.

Also, it isn't that big a deal (not like I scream and rant when they ask), it's just one small indignity that I don't submit to anymore.

I said no once. They would not let me leave the store. I demanded to speak with the manager. He gave me the "If you have nothing to hide why not let us look?" I told him that if he wanted to charge me with shoplifting he could call the cops and have them search my bags. He declined, I left. It wasted half an hour of my day but I was in no hurry and was feeling like being a dick so it was OK. Next time they asked I said no and kept on walking and no one stopped me.

The bag check is even more aggrevating when your in a rush & they expect you to wait in line to be checked. Forget it, I wasted half an hour in line at the till already.

Bill couldn't have hit this one on the head any better. It doesn't matter that it's Best Buy. As a matter of fact, it doesn't matter who it is, federal, state, local gov't, the guy down the block or some faceless corporate giant, the fact is you should stand up for every transgression against your rights as an American citizen. I had a government teacher once tell me that our rights are a lot like our muscles. You have to exercise them regularly or they atrophy away. You have to use them or you will lose them.

I'm not saying that by standing up to Best Buy is on par with our founding father's throwing off their 'chains of tyranny,' but it's a start and it gets you moving in the right direction.

Secret made a fantastic point as well. The sale is final and the property that once was theirs is now yours. Yours; like your wallet, your car keys, your sweater, your glasses and you've got the receipt to prove it. Yes, it's their property you're standing on and they can ask you to leave, but they can't sift through your stuff just because.

Now see, that's exactly the kind of thing I would hope for in a situation like this. At that point, you've got justification to press charges of false imprisonment on them. I don't really know what kind of lawsuit you could work out of that, that's a job for the sharks..err, I mean lawyers. It would make a damn nice story in the local paper though "StoreX unlawfully detains paying customer." That's a perfect way to make your statement about the rude and invasive policy. :thumbsup:

If you didn't do anything wrong then what's the problem? You DO have a privilage to shop at these stores. If you don't like i, don't shop there.

Bingo.

The manager tried bullying you into compliance, but he knew he had no legal grounds for doing so.

Should the day come when I too am asked to comply "or else", I'll take the "or else" option, namely, call the cops and have them search my bag for stolen merchandise.

Considering that the store doesn't have a witness or tape showing me shoplifting, no manager in his right mind will do so.

I don't know that I would really give a shit unless I was in a hurry to be somewhere and I had a shitload of bags to go through. However if I did let them because they thought I was stealing I damn sure would demand that a manager be present and the cocksucker apologized when they were done.

This is the first I have hear of this. I can't believe that is legal, because people might think they're theives trying to take your bag away (but I guess they would probably have their uniforms on). I would not submit at all, especially if they just saw me check out and they're asking for my receipt. What did I do? Steal a candy bar?? :confused:

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. :)

I guess I'm just a cranky sob, but I always refuse. The one time they wanted to detain me, I offered to call the police on my cellphone for them. My wife was detained once for picking up a pair of sunglasses on one display and setting them down in another. Store detectives only saw the first event. Same response from me, put up or shut up. You call the police, I'll call the police, or we walk out of here ... your choice. They always back down.

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.

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.

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... :D

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.

it doesn't bother me. i've got nothing to hide.

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.

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

I didnt realize you could say no also. I still dont have the balls to do it though.

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.

Beautifully expressed. Put me down for that, too.

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?

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

People who have shoplifted should not complain about being searched by stores. Glass houses and stones and all.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

I think a relevant statement can be seen from former President James Madison:

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

"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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pfft, I'd call my lawyer. They'd be paying for grad school. Outta state.

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.

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.

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.

Touch my bag motherfucker and you might not live long enough to regret it.

I don't personally care if they search my bags. I have nothing to hide.