Best Buy "receipt check" story

[Burnt]

they were just doing their job...although a bit excessively (ie trying to block his car).

 

[astroview]

I'm on the guys side, I'm just an honest guy trying to buy something from their store and I don't need anymore hassles.

First its the moron salesman who don't know anything not being helpful, then its them trying to sell me the extended warranty over and over again after I say no, and then its being hassled at exit unlawfully. Best Buy sucks!

 

[slipperyslope]

Best Buy got their asses sued off by crooks in my town because of idiot door people.

The security guys should think be doing stupid sh*t.

When the best buy in my hometown first openned they saw someone steal some stuff. They chased him out of the store and instead of being smart, they proceeded to get into a fight with the guy. They beat the crap out of him and he had a heart attack. The guy was a theft but it ended up being like $20 the guy stole. Is a confrontation and death worth $20? Not for a major chain like Best Buy. They were sued and they lost. All because some macho guys decided to beat the crap out of a guy instead of just getting his license plate and turning it over to the cops.

On to this guys story. I have no problem with what he did. He is in the right and you can call him a jerk. The jerk off security people blocking his car were dumbasses. I would have caused a huge scene.

Here is another Best Buy infant story. A few months after the best buy opened in my hometown my best friend went to best buy to buy some games. He picked up a few things. He went over to the consoles and started playing a game(To top it off he was with his parents). He was stupid and put a cd in his pocket because there was no place to put it besides the ground while he played. The idiot security guard busted him for shoplifting while he was still playing the display game. He was 16 so didn't know the legal law on it. They eventually let him go without charges but they said he was no longer allowed at the store. All because he didn't want to place the cd on the ground for it to get stepped on.

I agree it was stupid to put it in his pocket but it was really stupid to bust him while he was standing in one place in the store playing a game......

Jim

 

[Jzero]

<< The security guys should think be doing stupid sh*t. >>



Well yeah...they were all jerks He should have just showed his receipt.
And when he didn't they should have either let it go or called the cops.



<< Here is another Best Buy infant story. >>


Same kinda crap....although it's been fairly well established that you haven't stolen anything until you've taken it out of the store. If I was workign there I would have just flagged the kid and waited somewhere were I could see him check out....

Ah well.

 

[DoubleN]

By the end of this article I grew annoyed with the writer of the webpage. He doesn't actually know the law, but rather "thinks" he knows what it should be. I don't mind at all when stores check my receipt because I'm not trying to rip them off in the first place. Perhaps it is different in his store, but in the stores that I go to, it rarely takes more than 30 seconds for all my items to be checked and then I can go on my way. I'd much rather stores take the time to prevent shoplifters in any way possible to help reduce overall costs than to just leave the doors wide open because it is an inconvenience.

As for the security guards and the whole parking lot scene. Obviously those people were in the wrong, but I bet they didn't know it. They were probably doing just what they thought was right for that situation, and the way the guy said things happened and refusing to show his receipt, it's no wonder people thought he was shoplifting. I worked at CircuitCity and there they made us watch hours and hours of training tapes to let us know what was acceptable and what wasn't, and I for sure would know not to do anything about someone shoplifting, but since this was during the X-mas season, it's possible that these guys were new recruits (or Best Buy doesn't do the same type of training) so their mistake is understandable.

 

[Dood]

I heard G. Gordon Liddy (radio show) discussing a similar situation involving himself. Very similar situation (Gordon telling the door checker "No, you can't see my receipt", citing the laws, etc.). Liddy's did not end in a parking lot confrontation, though. Anyone else hear this a couple of months ago?

 

[OutHouse]

Its the 'law' that someone has not stolen anything until they LEAVE the store. While they are still IN the store, they have not removed anything from the store, therefor it cannot be considered stolen.


Nope that is not correct. If you are observed concealing an item you can be charged with shoplifting. Just by concealing you are showing the intent of stealing the item. Case in point look at what happend to Slipperyslope's friend a few post up.

 

[guyver01]

<< Nope that is not correct. If you are observed concealing an item you can be charged with shoplifting. Just by concealing you are showing the intent of stealing the item. Case in point look at what happend to Slipperyslope's friend a few post up. >>



I worked in retail for 10+ years (before my current job in the IT field) and have dealt with police, lawyers, and loss prevention departments regarding theft and shoplifters. If the customer has NOT left the store, nothing has been stolen. As SlipperySlope said, he put the item in his pocket because he didn't want it damaged on the floor. Whether or not that is the truth, it's his version.

I have placed items in my pocket because they were too small to even bother using a shopping cart, and didn't want to carry the damn things around before going to the registers.

 

[Amused]

<< If I was the BB employee I would have "detained him" because I was suspicious of him shoplifting on the grounds that if he had nothing to hide, he wouldn't be so adamantly trying to do so. >>



The truely sad part is, too many people think like this. And that scares the sh!t out of me. "Why demand privacy if you have nothing to hide?"

Well, if you can't understand the concept, at least respect the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. Moreover, demanding privacy is NOT probable cause.

Was this guy a jerk? Yes. If you shop at a store, you should at least agree with their policies. If you don't, don't shop there.

However, he was within his legal right.... Morally he's an @sshole.

 

[Jzero]

<<

<< If I was the BB employee I would have "detained him" because I was suspicious of him shoplifting on the grounds that if he had nothing to hide, he wouldn't be so adamantly trying to do so. >>



The truely sad part is, too many people think like this. And that scares the sh!t out of me. "Why demand privacy if you have nothing to hide?" >>


I rarely espouse this viewpoint, especially when it comes to government agencies demanding free access to whatever privacy they want whenever they want it. This seems an exception to me--the guy knew he would likely be asked to see his receipt, it's not like the guy randomly picked him out of all the people inthe store and this person knew that.



<< Well, if you can't understand the concept, at least respect the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. Moreover, demanding privacy is NOT probable cause. >>


LMAO. Since when was asking to see someone's receipt to verify that they actually paid for something an unreasonable search? Especially if it's not from a cop or federal agent....it's hardly a constitutionality issue here.



<< Was this guy a jerk? Yes. If you shop at a store, you should at least agree with their policies. If you don't, don't shop there. >>


Absolutely. Especially since he knew the policy before he even set foot in the store, as he says he's been making a case of this for quite some time now.



<< However, he was within his legal right.... Morally he's an @sshole. >>


And you would be perfectly within your legal rights to call the cops and try to get them after him, which is exactly what I said to do.

 

[notfred]

I won't shop at places that check reciepts. I find it insulting that they automatically assume thier cusotmers are thieves until they prove otherwise. If you people are perfectly content to shop there and have people sort through your stuff, go right ahead. I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[OutHouse]

I worked in retail for 10+ years (before my current job in the IT field) and have dealt with police, lawyers, and loss prevention departments regarding theft and shoplifters. If the customer has NOT left the store, nothing has been stolen. As SlipperySlope said, he put the item in his pocket because he didn't want it damaged on the floor. Whether or not that is the truth, it's his version.


Humm interesting. I was a cop in the military for 10+ years (before my current job in the IT field) and i can tell you from my personal experience as a Law Enforcement officer that if you are caught on tape or observed by a store employee to be stuffing a drill in your pants or a carton of cigarettes in you trench coat or what ever.... by such action you are showing intent of not paying for the item,
you will be charged with shoplifting.

 

[Jzero]

<< if you are caught on tape stuffing a drill in your pants... >>


Last time I tried that it was a sexual assault charge, actually.

 

[StageLeft]

<< I won't shop at places that check reciepts. I find it insulting that they automatically assume thier cusotmers are thieves until they prove otherwise. If you people are perfectly content to shop there and have people sort through your stuff, go right ahead. I'll take my business elsewhere. >>

That means you can't visit far too many stores unfortunately

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

<<

<< if you are caught on tape stuffing a drill in your pants... >>

Last time I tried that it was a sexual assault charge, actually. >>



ROFL!

 

[notfred]

<<

<< I won't shop at places that check reciepts. I find it insulting that they automatically assume thier cusotmers are thieves until they prove otherwise. If you people are perfectly content to shop there and have people sort through your stuff, go right ahead. I'll take my business elsewhere. >>

That means you can't visit far too many stores unfortunately >>



Well, the only stores I've been to around here that do that are Best Buy, Fry's, and Costco. I can live without them.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< However, he was within his legal right.... Morally he's an @sshole. >>


And you would be perfectly within your legal rights to call the cops and try to get them after him, which is exactly what I said to do. >>



And the cops would have NO probable cause to stop, much less search the guy.

 

[Thrillhou]

Since checking the receipt is part of their policy then would the transaction be complete when he pays for it or would it not be complete until all store policies regarding sales have been followed? In this case checking the receipt completes the transaction?

Also the store manager was very wrong for letting or possibly making his employees stop him outside the store. What if he was crazy and pulled a gun on the employees? That manager needs to learn not to put his employees in jeopardy in order to prevent theft.

 

[aldamon]

Apparently Best Buy hasn't taken the time to properly scan and tag their merchandise so the alarm sounds. So instead of doing it right, they pay someone else to stand at the front door and waste my time. WTF is the point of having the door alarm if some buffoon is going to check your receipt at the door? I mean, this guy was buying satellite TV receivers. Wouldn't you think that Best Buy would at least have that stuff in their security system?

Regardless, it's not a big deal to show my receipt, but it's still laughable that BB's door security is that faulty.

 

[Jzero]

<< Apparently Best Buy hasn't taken the time to properly scan and tag their merchandise so the alarm sounds. So instead of doing it right, they pay someone else to stand at the front door and waste my time. WTF is the point of having the door alarm if some buffoon is going to check your receipt at the door? I mean, this guy was buying satellite TV receivers. Wouldn't you think that Best Buy would at least have that stuff in their security system? >>



Huh. Excellent point....

 

[spanky]

thanx for the read...that took a good 20 minutes...only 40 minutes left til i can get off work! wooohoo!!!

 

[DrizztDoUrden]

Taken from fatwalle t

Under California law, Best Buy, or any other store cannot force customers to show their receipts
at the exit doors.



California Penal Code. Scroll down to Sec 490.5(f)


Here is a news reporter testing the law on the Fry's door receipt guard
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/campbell.reporter/06.21.00/frys-0025.html





Actually make that WorstBuy. The only good deals they have is when they make their
regular pricing mistakes and goofs. Anyone remember the time they misinterpeted California
law (actually Microsoft did) which resulted in people getting $400 of free merchandise?
Damn those were the days

 

[OutHouse]

Excellent post dark elf!

oh hows is the underdark lately?

 

[Forever42]

<< What a worthless individual. >>



My thoughts exactly

 

[reitz]

I don't understand the venom towards the guy who wrote this story...

I never allow my receipt to be checked (which is why I generally make purchases at Circuit City when I can), and I'm well within my rights to do so. I've never had a problem walking past the door guard, though. A simple, polite "I'm sorry, I don't allow that" has always been enough.

<< I dodge the line and head for an unused automatic door, countering an insistent "Sir, can I see your receipt?" with a polite "No, thank you." (emphasis mine) >>

If he is telling the story honestly, he handled himself properly and politely. If I was chased into a parking lot, and had my car blocked by a store employee (something they have absolutely no legal right to do), there'd be holy hell to pay. Why should anyone have to subject himself to further inconvenience (and in this case, harrassment) when the store's already made its money off of him?