The Final Indignity
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
First time I encountered that, it was at Fry's. It took about 15 minutes to go through the line of people waiting to get their bags verified with their receipts. Like the checker guy would know the difference between a motherboard and a hard drive. As to legality, dunno. But you are entering their store, purchasing their items, and to some extend therefore, agreeing to submit to their process. It's sad how often we are subjected to a "guilty until proven innocent" policy. Marc MyXaml Advanced Unit Testing
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
I worked at a Best Buy store for about 3 months between my freshman and sophomore years at college. During that three month stint, four customers were caught by such security checks stealing items by placing them in a bag with other items they had purchased. Unfortunately, the checks are somewhat warranted. At this store, however, they were more spot checks on people walking out with items big enough to be worth a decent amount of money. I've never been to an electronic store that screens every single customer as they exit. Many others were caught on the closed-circuit security cameras pocketing things like CDs and for-display electronic items - but they were confronted by security before attempting to leave the store. -- Russell Morris "So, broccoli, mother says you're good for me... but I'm afraid I'm no good for you!" - Stewy
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
When I used to live in the Philippines, it was common practice to do something similar to this. It was a given (in the bigger stores), that when you bought something, they would staple your receipt to the top on your plastic bag and tape the bag closed. And I know when we had power outages (called brown-outs), plunging the store into darkness, the store people would rush to seal the exits before customers in the store would grab everything in arms reach and run out. I know that at Costco, they perform receipt checks, but I havent had it happen to me anywhere else in Canada. We're figuring out the parent thing as we go though. Kinda like setting up Linux for the first time ya' know... [Nitron]
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I worked at a Best Buy store for about 3 months between my freshman and sophomore years at college. During that three month stint, four customers were caught by such security checks stealing items by placing them in a bag with other items they had purchased. Unfortunately, the checks are somewhat warranted. At this store, however, they were more spot checks on people walking out with items big enough to be worth a decent amount of money. I've never been to an electronic store that screens every single customer as they exit. Many others were caught on the closed-circuit security cameras pocketing things like CDs and for-display electronic items - but they were confronted by security before attempting to leave the store. -- Russell Morris "So, broccoli, mother says you're good for me... but I'm afraid I'm no good for you!" - Stewy
I don't think the fact that it catches a few guilty people makes up for the insult and inconvenience to all the innocent people. I stopped shopping at Fry's years ago for this very reason and that's why I'm unhappy everyone else is starting to do it -- there'll be no place left to go. (Central Computer still doesn't do it and I like them better anyway -- thanks to Fry's for implementing their gestapo policy and helping me to look elsewhere!). You could use the same logic to say that police should be able to stop anyone on the street and submit them to a full search for no reason. I'm also not sure of the rationale that I'm in their store. After I've given them money for something, is it not yet mine? Seems to me that it is my property that they are asking to search (for the possibility that I may have stolen some of theirs). I think that if they are concerned about theft and security, that's fine, but they should not punish and insult all their honest customers in the process. By the way, as I mentioned before, I don't think it is to protect against customers adding stuff to their bag, since you can't really get back into the store proper after you've gone through the checkout; I think it is to prevent store employees from stealing (the checkout guy has his friend come in to buy a bag of corn chips, then the he throws in a few expensive computer chips into the bag). Maybe they should work on seeing what could be done to increase employee loyalty and integrity? I think there are better ways and it would only take a modest amount of thought (as well as respect and consideration of the customer) to devise them. Matt Gerrans
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
Matt Gerrans wrote: I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This has been the case with Sam's Club, which is a club rather than a retail store, since it opened. The Home Depot and Lowes do it too, but not as often. Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have a legal right to do this? Certainly they do. It's called inventory control, or merchandise retention? Matt Gerrans wrote: Do I have the right to refuse? Sure you can, but for reasons other than being a pain, why would you want to? They are trying to keep products from leaving the store unpaid for. If too many five-finger discounts are given, a store-wide price increase is given to cover the loss. I see nothing wrong with it. If you've nothing to hide, it should be a non-issue. Another aspect of this that is often and conveniently overlooked by folks is that while they are seeing if you have too many items in your basket, they are also checking to see if you are leaving with everything you paid for. Read here and here for another take.
"When I was born I was so surprised that I didn't talk for a year and a half." - Gracie Allen
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When I used to live in the Philippines, it was common practice to do something similar to this. It was a given (in the bigger stores), that when you bought something, they would staple your receipt to the top on your plastic bag and tape the bag closed. And I know when we had power outages (called brown-outs), plunging the store into darkness, the store people would rush to seal the exits before customers in the store would grab everything in arms reach and run out. I know that at Costco, they perform receipt checks, but I havent had it happen to me anywhere else in Canada. We're figuring out the parent thing as we go though. Kinda like setting up Linux for the first time ya' know... [Nitron]
Atlantys wrote: And I know when we had power outages (called brown-outs), plunging the store into darkness, the store people would rush to seal the exits :wtf: That's a fire hazzard - The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) in the UK would really take to task any store caught doing that. When I worked at Safeway while I was at university I was told that if the power goes out the store doesn't let anyone else in, people are allowed to exit either empty handed or they can have a store manager estimate their shopping and permitted to pay normally (with old fashioned paper based backup systems so payment could be taken). The policy on the estimation was that they must undervalue the contents of the trolly or basket. Atlantys wrote: I know that at Costco, they perform receipt checks, but I havent had it happen to me anywhere else in Canada Costco do the same thing in the UK also. But it was in the terms and conditions of becoming a member IIRC. So if you don't like it, don't sign up. If you don't sign up, you don't get to buy. (But they sell the cheapest Coca Cola and Pepsi and it is worth annual membership fee and the £5 in petrol for the round trip to get there to buy it)
"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him, for an investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -- Joseph E. O'Donnell Not getting the response you want from a question asked in an online forum: How to Ask Questions the Smart Way!
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I don't think the fact that it catches a few guilty people makes up for the insult and inconvenience to all the innocent people. I stopped shopping at Fry's years ago for this very reason and that's why I'm unhappy everyone else is starting to do it -- there'll be no place left to go. (Central Computer still doesn't do it and I like them better anyway -- thanks to Fry's for implementing their gestapo policy and helping me to look elsewhere!). You could use the same logic to say that police should be able to stop anyone on the street and submit them to a full search for no reason. I'm also not sure of the rationale that I'm in their store. After I've given them money for something, is it not yet mine? Seems to me that it is my property that they are asking to search (for the possibility that I may have stolen some of theirs). I think that if they are concerned about theft and security, that's fine, but they should not punish and insult all their honest customers in the process. By the way, as I mentioned before, I don't think it is to protect against customers adding stuff to their bag, since you can't really get back into the store proper after you've gone through the checkout; I think it is to prevent store employees from stealing (the checkout guy has his friend come in to buy a bag of corn chips, then the he throws in a few expensive computer chips into the bag). Maybe they should work on seeing what could be done to increase employee loyalty and integrity? I think there are better ways and it would only take a modest amount of thought (as well as respect and consideration of the customer) to devise them. Matt Gerrans
CompUSA and J&R World are doing the checks in NYC.. and have been doing this for as long as I can remember, as do Home Depot .. Though escaping notice with a 1/2 ton of 2x4s must take a bit of effort. One interesting thing is that you no longer have to check your bag / back pack at the door in CompUSA anymore.. Gary
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Atlantys wrote: And I know when we had power outages (called brown-outs), plunging the store into darkness, the store people would rush to seal the exits :wtf: That's a fire hazzard - The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) in the UK would really take to task any store caught doing that. When I worked at Safeway while I was at university I was told that if the power goes out the store doesn't let anyone else in, people are allowed to exit either empty handed or they can have a store manager estimate their shopping and permitted to pay normally (with old fashioned paper based backup systems so payment could be taken). The policy on the estimation was that they must undervalue the contents of the trolly or basket. Atlantys wrote: I know that at Costco, they perform receipt checks, but I havent had it happen to me anywhere else in Canada Costco do the same thing in the UK also. But it was in the terms and conditions of becoming a member IIRC. So if you don't like it, don't sign up. If you don't sign up, you don't get to buy. (But they sell the cheapest Coca Cola and Pepsi and it is worth annual membership fee and the £5 in petrol for the round trip to get there to buy it)
"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him, for an investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -- Joseph E. O'Donnell Not getting the response you want from a question asked in an online forum: How to Ask Questions the Smart Way!
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I don't think the fact that it catches a few guilty people makes up for the insult and inconvenience to all the innocent people. I stopped shopping at Fry's years ago for this very reason and that's why I'm unhappy everyone else is starting to do it -- there'll be no place left to go. (Central Computer still doesn't do it and I like them better anyway -- thanks to Fry's for implementing their gestapo policy and helping me to look elsewhere!). You could use the same logic to say that police should be able to stop anyone on the street and submit them to a full search for no reason. I'm also not sure of the rationale that I'm in their store. After I've given them money for something, is it not yet mine? Seems to me that it is my property that they are asking to search (for the possibility that I may have stolen some of theirs). I think that if they are concerned about theft and security, that's fine, but they should not punish and insult all their honest customers in the process. By the way, as I mentioned before, I don't think it is to protect against customers adding stuff to their bag, since you can't really get back into the store proper after you've gone through the checkout; I think it is to prevent store employees from stealing (the checkout guy has his friend come in to buy a bag of corn chips, then the he throws in a few expensive computer chips into the bag). Maybe they should work on seeing what could be done to increase employee loyalty and integrity? I think there are better ways and it would only take a modest amount of thought (as well as respect and consideration of the customer) to devise them. Matt Gerrans
Matt Gerrans wrote: You could use the same logic to say that police should be able to stop anyone on the street and submit them to a full search for no reason. Sometimes they do. I've been driving along and then been subjected to a mile long traffic snarl because the cops were checking everyone's license, registration, and insurance. No reason, just they were bored, I guess. And of course there's the sobriety check points during the holidays in San Diego (or at least when I was living there. hmmmm). Another "you're guilty until proven innocent" example. Although, I certainly see good reason for those! But it's the same concept. Marc MyXaml Advanced Unit Testing
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Wasn't there something on the news recently (in maybe the last month) about a large group of people being burned alive in a store due to this very reason. I just can't remember the country. Gary
I don't recall either - but I think it was in South America.
"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him, for an investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -- Joseph E. O'Donnell Not getting the response you want from a question asked in an online forum: How to Ask Questions the Smart Way!
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
It is more of a visible messure to caution against theft. Around me only a few stroes do so on a regular basis (fry's and Sam's) although if some one acts funny then the store security will ask to check when they leave. For it to be theft they must have passed through the doors at least in my city. Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have a legal right to do this? They have the legal right to ask many things. Most likely places like Sam's which are clubs, if you read the fine print you gave them the right. (I assume) Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have the right to detain me? Actually no they do not, now if the store security finds you have stolen goods they probably will anyways and risk any jury to not find them guilty. But they actually have kidnapped you. (I am speaking for my city laws, I just went through citizen's patrol training a little while back and this issue was very clear.) I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
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Wasn't there something on the news recently (in maybe the last month) about a large group of people being burned alive in a store due to this very reason. I just can't remember the country. Gary
Paraguay, according CNN[^] 300 death. Some other newspapers[^] (more recent information?) 426 dead. CNN: Some witnesses said victims were not able to escape the flames because the exits had been locked, possibly to avoid robberies. "I ran toward the main door, but it was closed," survivor Esther Benitez told The Associated Press from her hospital bed. "Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning." - Robert Cringley
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
Our local Wal-Mart used to do this on occasion. The first time they tried this with me, I walked over to the service desk, and insisted on an immediate refund. I told the manager that every time I came into their store, and they were executing searches, I would walk out and shop in one of their competitor's stores that day, even if I had to drive to the next town (30 minutes). This infuriates me. Like you, it feels like they are accusing me of being a criminal without cause. Matt Gerrans wrote: So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? I don't know if they have a legal right to do this or not. The store is not a governmental body, so the Constitutional prohibition against illegal search and siezure would not seem to apply. Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have the right to detain me? I think the more appropriate question is: Can they detain me? If they're not a cop, they most certainly are not going to physically detain me. I will assume that I am in the process of being assaulted, and react accordingly. In most ways, I try to live and let live. This situation, however, is another example of the way civil behavior keeps being wittled away. Store owners, rather than opting for better security against shoplifting, choose the simpler route of harassing and insulting all of their customers. Final note: My Wal-Mart seems to have abandoned this practice, after a substantial uproar in the local newspaper about it.
Software Zen:
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It is more of a visible messure to caution against theft. Around me only a few stroes do so on a regular basis (fry's and Sam's) although if some one acts funny then the store security will ask to check when they leave. For it to be theft they must have passed through the doors at least in my city. Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have a legal right to do this? They have the legal right to ask many things. Most likely places like Sam's which are clubs, if you read the fine print you gave them the right. (I assume) Matt Gerrans wrote: Do they have the right to detain me? Actually no they do not, now if the store security finds you have stolen goods they probably will anyways and risk any jury to not find them guilty. But they actually have kidnapped you. (I am speaking for my city laws, I just went through citizen's patrol training a little while back and this issue was very clear.) I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Actually no they do not, now if the store security finds you have stolen goods they probably will anyways and risk any jury to not find them guilty. But they actually have kidnapped you. (I am speaking for my city laws, I just went through citizen's patrol training a little while back and this issue was very clear.) In Brazil, any citizen that caughts someone commiting a crime, can arrest the criminal until the police comes, but the police needs to be called immediately. If the person was not a criminal, or there's not enough proof of it, the citizen can be accused of "false crime communication", with very light penalties, tipically a fine of a minimum wage (~US$80). In real life, someone can rob you, kill you and no one will do nothing. Often even the police won't. Yes, even I am blogging now!
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
You might want to look at this. Most of these "jack-booted-thug-for-hire" don't give shoppers a hard time and ought to be looking to see if high priced items are accounted for, not toilet paper. Otherwise, I cut them slack because they are just doing their job. I have only seen one instance where a fake-cop was harrassing some one and that was about 7 years ago on the public trolley. I never saw him again. Come to think about it, I don't shop very often at stores that do this like WalMart, Costco and Fry's.
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
The trend among companies providing products and services to the general public has been increasingly moving away from "the customer is always right", i.e., a dedication to customer satisfaction, and more towards, "the customer is an extreme PITA, let's deal with them as little as possible, and do so in the way that is most convenient to us regardless of how it affects their shopping experience." I'm the first one to proclaim that companies owe nothing to anyone but the bottom line profitability of their enterprise. However, this prevailing attitude is short term thinking as it can, and frequently does, result in long term customer (and therefore revenue) loss. This[^] is an example of the ongoing trend of complete disregard businesses are showing towards customer satisfaction. Eventually, some companies will start making "customer service and satisfaction" their competitive edge against the otherwise apathetic competition, and will doubtless make great profits from it. And I will actively support such businesses. Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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The trend among companies providing products and services to the general public has been increasingly moving away from "the customer is always right", i.e., a dedication to customer satisfaction, and more towards, "the customer is an extreme PITA, let's deal with them as little as possible, and do so in the way that is most convenient to us regardless of how it affects their shopping experience." I'm the first one to proclaim that companies owe nothing to anyone but the bottom line profitability of their enterprise. However, this prevailing attitude is short term thinking as it can, and frequently does, result in long term customer (and therefore revenue) loss. This[^] is an example of the ongoing trend of complete disregard businesses are showing towards customer satisfaction. Eventually, some companies will start making "customer service and satisfaction" their competitive edge against the otherwise apathetic competition, and will doubtless make great profits from it. And I will actively support such businesses. Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
Nice article Christopher. Best, Jerry
Contrary to the cliche, genuinely nice guys most often finish first or very near it.--Malcolm Forbes
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Nice article Christopher. Best, Jerry
Contrary to the cliche, genuinely nice guys most often finish first or very near it.--Malcolm Forbes
Thanks, Jerry. Needless to say, I'll be eating elsewhere in the future! :) Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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I don't know if this phenomenon is statewide, nation-wide or world-wide, but these days more and more stores like to submit customers to a receipt check at the door. This is essentially saying "Thanks for shopping here, but we don't trust you, you filthy criminal." (Actually, it is probably their employees they don't trust, but they are assuming you are colluding with them in your crime). When I approach the exit after making a purchase, I usually simply walk past the jack-booted-thug-for-hire. If he is busy with the other sheep -- er, people, who are submitting to the search, I go unnoticed. If not, the guard may ask "can I see your receipt?" to which I'll reply "can I see your warrant?", or when I'm feeling more taciturn, "no." The look of shock and uncertainty on his face tells me just how rare it is for anyone to challenge this process. (Also, when other people are with me, they get very uneasy, too. Our capacity for docility is an amazing thing.) So, the question I have is regarding the legalities of this thing. Do they have a legal right to do this? Do I have the right to refuse? Do they have the right to detain me? I'm not sure whether these questions would fall under state or federal jurisdiction. Is this search process just popular with stores in California, or is it nation wide? What about those of you in other countries? Anyone else out there offer any resistence? If so, how do you deal with it? Matt Gerrans
If I ever got asked I would comply but I would demand a manager came down to check my receipt. If they want to waste my time, fine, but I will waste theirs.
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Putting the laughter back into slaughter