Why does Costco inspect your receipt and items at the exit?

[MrSquished]

i trust in costco. they have a progressive business model so i'll give them the benefit of the doubt here. i enjoy spending my money there.

 

[dabuddha]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

 

[squarecut1]

Seriously - you don't have to stop at the door in public stores even if an employee tells you to. Ignoring the alarms beeping is also acceptable.

Hmm.. Under what legality do they catch shoplifters near the exit at stores then? I believe once you are OUTSIDE the store they can't do anything. But while you are still inside...

 

[HopJokey]

They check your receipt at Fry's too, but you can walk past them as they can't legally stop you.

BTW one time I bought a single handle of Grey Goose at Costco and there was a huge line to exit the store. I simply walk past the line and a lady worker was chasing me outside the parking lot screaming at me. I ignore her and walk briskly to my car without any problems as she eventually stopped chasing me.

 

[CZroe]

...
Besides, it is much easier to do what you are saying in other stores, like Target etc etc, and yet they don't do that.

Says you. Many years ago they did it regularly at Walmart and Target in Newnan, GA and Carrollton, GA. Pretty sure I've been checked at K-Mart too. Fry's Electronics still does this in Alpharetta and Duluth, GA and they still did it in San Diego and Carlsbad, CA when I lived there in 2011.

Edit Best Buy in Newnan and Peachtree City, GA also used to check regularly.

Question: does Costco have self check-out?

 

[CZroe]

Hmm.. Under what legality do they catch shoplifters near the exit at stores then? I believe once you are OUTSIDE the store they can't do anything. But while you are still inside...

Only if they don't own the property outside the store, which they often don't. Even then, they are allowed to go further than just the door (usually the entire storefront/curb).

They can also coordinate with the property owners who do control the area outside the store. I communicate with both the security guards in my store and the security guards outside to coordinate. If we don't catch them here then mall security can tell the next retailer they visit to watch and see if it leads to actually beneficial stop based on their own observations.

 

[squarecut1]

Hmm.. So how ARE people caught stealing, which happens all the time

 

[iGas]

At the beginning I dislike my bag and receipt check, because the act make me feel like a criminal. However, I'm now use to it as it is a reality, and the reality is that 1.5% of $105.16 billions is a lost of $1.5774 billion per year.

According to The Wall Street Journal Global Retail Theft Barometer Finds Shrink Cost Retailers $112 Billion, Averaging 1.4 Percent of Sales. Japan has a rate of 1% lost, Hong Kong/Australia/Germany at 1.1%, Brazil/Mexico at 1.6%, and USA at 1.5% (cost $300 per household per annum).

 

[CZroe]

Hmm.. So how ARE people caught stealing, which happens all the time

See edit above. Also, understand that the police do not need to give you the opportunity to buy or ditch it to make a stop. Technically, stores don't either but they better be sure and have proof to avoid civil liabilities.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Hmm.. Under what legality do they catch shoplifters near the exit at stores then? I believe once you are OUTSIDE the store they can't do anything. But while you are still inside...

I'm not sure they really catch anyone at the doors. I always thought it was more of a psychological ploy than anything else. Even if you know it's going to be a disinterested, half-stoned teenager, the fact that someone is going to be looking at your receipt is still a deterrent to theft.

 

[PottedMeat]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

lol

just walk in close behind a family going in

or if someone forwards you to the desk, walk over there and just wander into the store through the exit lanes

or say you're there to use the pharmacy

 

[KLin]

Don't like it? Shop somewhere else.

 

[OutHouse]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

did you have a costco membership?

 

[mvbighead]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

Eh, when I bought my jack (prior to having a membership), they allowed me in with no issues.

It does make me wonder why teh want to see the card going in if they'll allow me in anyway, but whatever.

 

[holden j caufield]

probably to deter theft from employees/friends. A cashier could just not swipe something and put it in the cart and their friend/family would make out like a bandit if that were the case. Kids working at fast food joints and other crappy jobs would just charge someone some fries and throw a bunch of food into the bag

 

[WaTaGuMp]

How many of you knew you can buy alcohol at Costco without a membership?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

BJ's sucks. Their selection of items and quality of their fresh/frozen foods is about 30 miles below costco

 

[ponyo]

How many of you knew you can buy alcohol at Costco without a membership?

Not every Costco carry alcohol. It depends on the local and state laws.

The easiest way into Costco without a membership is to say you're using the pharmacy. You don't need a membership to shop at the pharmacy. It's the law.

 

[waggy]

Sams club makes you go through the line too.
I don't care. it's in the terms of joining the store. I have never had to wait more then a minute anyway.

from what i gather they just count the items unless you have a high ticket item.

 

[MtnMan]

Cut down on losses which keeps costs down. You gotta figure that 1 in 10 people you see in any store are a scumbag that would have no problem stealing stuff if they thought they could get away with it.

 

[MrSquished]

BJ's sucks. Their selection of items and quality of their fresh/frozen foods is about 30 miles below costco

seriously. BJ's doesn't hold a candle to Costco in any way imaginable.

 

[MtnMan]

Fuck Costcos. The one here in Woodbridge, VA refused to let me run in and look at the price on their flooring without first going to their customer service desk. Which is fine except that at their desk, they wanted to make a copy of my drivers license. Walked out and went elsewhere.

Besides, I like BJs better. Cheaper prices and they accept manufacturer coupons as well as their own (you can stack em as well)

Or you could be a member and just show your membership card. Oh wait....

 

[MrSquished]

Not every Costco carry alcohol. It depends on the local and state laws.

The easiest way into Costco without a membership is to say you're using the pharmacy. You don't need a membership to shop at the pharmacy. It's the law.

definitely varies. in NJ the Costco in Wayne has alcohol in-store. But at the other two towns I go to, Hackensack and Clifton, no such thing. You have to go to a separate store also in the same building, but it's not Costco. No Kirkland branded alcohol in those. Still good prices, just not as good.

 

[jmai87]

I believe there was a case awhile ago with Fry's Electronics being sued for checking receipts at the door. Fry's lost.

I for one refuse to have my receipt checked at ANY store regardless of what I bought. I refuse to be treated like a thief after paying good cash for goods.

 

[Muse]

I was just there today. They've always done that, it seems to me. I have always figured it's to prevent someone from putting stuff in their cart either without paying or after having gone through checkout. They often (usually) seem to do a cursory job of it, but it probably does discourage shoplifting to some degree. That has to be the reason for it.

Sams does this aswell and I assume BJs Wholesale does too

Home Depot does IIRC.