Receipt checking is stupid
I just submitted [on 10/20] this at www.gardenridge.com:
I recently had a very negative experience at the round rock store. I
frequent this store at least monthly, but I feel I wont ever again.
They instituted some new "door receipt checker" policy which blindly
labels every patron as a crook. Upon leaving the checkout stand, I
removed my two bags and box (with a handle) and proceeded to walk out
the store. A person asked me for my receipt.
As I just checked out,
and have my hands full, I said "no thank you". Upon walking to my
car, putting my items i just purchased away, and I notice this same
person writing something down about 30 feet from my car. Naturally,
this angered me. I asked him why he was taking down my plates, and to
get a manager. The manager was very non-challant and lackadaisical.
He was not very "there". I proceeded to tell him I'm not a crook. It
was inconvenient to put my stuff down to dig out a receipt. "Thats
just the way it is". I asked him "why do people check receipts" the
response "to make sure you got everything" "I just walked away from
the checkout, I have everything". I then asked for my information to
be removed from wherever it was written. He refused to give me the
"incident report" paper, but scratched my information off. As if no
one can go back and get the original writing back?
I will not return to this store, this is unjustified profiling because
of a stupid policy. I can understand the deterrent so that less
merchandise walks away. I have no problem w/ the door person, the
problem lies in him following me out. During the time he followed me
out, how many customers left the store w/ no receipt check? Please
call me to rectify this situation, or you will lose the patronage of
not only myself, but my friends and extended family.
UPDATE [10/24]: The GM for the store called me 2-3 days later, and we discussed my complaints. I basically told her the deterrent is the right idea, but it has to be passive, not some dork asking for a receipt and following you out. She agreed and told me the two employees involved in the incident have been reprimanded and retrained.
UPDATE2 [11/26]: We went back to show for x-mas stuff, they had a security guard spitting out pleasantries and NOT asking for receipts. Its nice to see someone listens.
I just read this post by Vanderleun, and he brings up a GREAT point:
Merchants basically have two rights covering people entering and exiting their stores. They can refuse to let you enter the premises and/or to sell you anything, and they can place you under citizens arrest for attempting to leave the premises with any property that you haven't paid for. But the second you hand over the appropriate amount of cash, they lose all rights to the items. They can't legally impair you from leaving the store with your property.
Wow, I wish I used that argument in my email!