zzand wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2019 12:49 pm
No Metalhead, they check things that aren't bagged like Soda, beer Kitty litter and of course big ticket items. Take maybe 5 or 10 seconds like at Sam's Club or Costco. No rights being infringed upon, they have the right to make sure that shoplifting isn't happening and if you not tried to steal something then there is no reason to cause a stink, they scan, check the items out of bags or big things, takes seconds and you are on your way.
True. Sam's Club checks items on the way out because they aren't bagged. When I used to shop there the greeter would ask for my receipt, quickly eye the items in my cart, check the receipt with a marker, and that was that. Costco does the same thing.
There have been many stories about people who have attempted to shoplift big-ticket items such as computers and TV's from retail stores, as these items obviously can't be bagged. They'll place the item in the cart, walk around the store for a bit, and head for the exit when they think nobody's looking. Many are caught, but many thefts aren't detected until the store takes inventory and comes up short. Hence the reason why stores have wall-to-wall video surveillance and recording. They can go back through the footage and attempt to identify potential thieves after the fact. Parking lots are also covered by video cameras so plate numbers can be identified if need be. The advent of electronic anti-theft tags and store entrance sensors has made it more difficult to steal such items, but some thieves have discovered ways to even defeat those systems. There is no way to prevent theft 100%, but stores have to minimize it as best they can.
Theft drives prices upward, and honest shoppers are left to foot the bill for stolen items. I understand that some store employees can be rude in the way they handle security checks, and such instances should certainly be addressed. Security checks can be conducted in ways that are both efficient and respectful to the customer. It doesn't change the fact that stores need to minimize theft as best they can for the sake of the rest of us who actually pay for our stuff. We can pay the price of an occasional security check, or we can pay higher prices out-of-pocket in the long run. Our choice. Either way we pay a price.