Posted on 06/27/2010 1:57:46 PM PDT by Daffynition
Let's say you're in a rush after buying a fan at Costco. You look past the line packed with people and carts and spy a lone employee standing by the exit. Do you walk over and show your receipt? What's the worst that could happen? Let's ask Reader Shay.
On June 23, 2010 at the [redacted] Costco Center at around 11am I made a quick stop in to return a couple items and to pick a fan. Both the returns process and the checkout went wonderfully as usual. It only took me 2 minutes to get in line and pay for the one item I had.
However when I reached the exit door there was a line of 8 people with baskets of stuff waiting to get out the door. So I went to the other door which does have exit illuminated above it and showed the lady standing there my receipt and one item. She shook her head at me and pointed at the line. When I started to walk out the exit anyways she grabbed a hold of my arm and told me to go to the other line. I told her that I was already running late and the line was moving very slowly, so I continued out the exit. At this point her hand slipped off of my arm and she grabbed a hold of my purse. The first time I politely asked her to let go of me, to which she promptly ignored me. So I continued to walk out the door as she still held onto my purse, eventually grabbing onto it with a second hand and began tugging it. I finally started yelling at her to let go of me when we were in front of the exit area (directly center to both entrances). Even after people started stopping and staring at us, She continued to tug on my purse and would not let go no matter how loud I yelled. She finally let go when I knocked her hands off of my purse with pretty reasonable force.
I was honestly pretty shaken up over this. I really couldnt believe someone would do this in a public place especially an employee of that store. I sat in my car for about 5 minutes and calmed down. Then I had to find the number for Costco, because no where on my receipt does it list a phone number. I finally got a hold of the stores assistant manger and explained what had happened. He was polite and apologetic and end up meeting me in front of the store so I could point out who had done this to me. He said that he would speak with this Employee and that the Store Manger would call me when he came in.
True to his word the store manger did give me a call a few hours later. He once again apologized for the situation. I explained to what had happened and he confirmed that the statement that the employee had to fill out stated exactly what I had told him.
I have also mailed a letter to the regional manger letting him know exactly what happen as well. This should have never happen to me and I will continue writing to members of Costco Management, to ensure that this doesnt happen to anyone else. There should be a Zero Tolerance Policy for this type of employee behavior.
I love amazon.com but you can’t buy everything there that you can at Costco. Don’t their stand in line policy for them to check the receipt; don’t shop there.
She signed up for just like my post stated. I posted the policy.
I do not support assault. You can keep writing that because all you have left is spin.
I’m sorry your ego is bruised along with that ladies purse.
You have nothing but personal attacks now. No facts—just like a liberal.
Don’t shop at Costco if you don’t like it....I don’t.
What about the non-members who just go in to buy alcohol?
They didn’t sign a membership agreement.
Costco [PDF, pg 14]: To ensure that all members are correctly charged for the merchandise purchased, all receipts and merchandise will be inspected as you leave the warehouse.
Gee, I hope so.
Next time you need a fan, maybe Home Depot or Lowes might be a better option.
How does the employee know whether I was charged correctly or not for what I already purchased, as this policy indicates? Do they know the price of every item I purchased? This is asinine!
I agree. It is garbage.
We all know its just to make sure that customers are not walking out with extra items that aren’t on the receipt.
I just posted it to make a point: This is what you sign up for when you shop there.
I know what you mean. The closest grocery store to me is a Randall's which is a unit of Safeway and every month there's a new ribbon or some other questionable cause being pushed. This month they're pushing blue ribbons to help "raise awareness" for prostate cancer. Note that they don't promise to do anything with your money other than to give you a blue ribbon, presumably so you can spread "awareness".
Fortunately here in Austin we have Central Market which is one of the premiere full-service groceries in the country. It's a pleasure doing business with them each week and well worth the drive.
When I have to run into Randall's for something quick I always use the automated checkout lines just so I can avoid the human cashier's programmed begging.
It's amazing how few businesses bother with real customer service. Brick and mortar stores that can't figure this out will wither and die over the coming years. They simply can't compete with online sources for most things.
Nope, they wouldn't. Security has no authority to detain without reasonable suspicion of theft, etc. Simply walking out is not evidence of shoplifting.
If waiting in line for receipt check is really in the membership agreement that she signed, then she should have done it. Otherwise, it's just store policy, which apples to employees, not customers. In either case, the other woman had no business laying a hand on her.
She followed the rule that says she has to show her receipt to a store employee. That doesn’t seem to sink in. So I will make it even more plain.
You are an obvious Obama supporter. Your arguments come from the Chicago playbook. Following the rules don’t seem to matter. Spin? BS. That is a favored argument of the left. You have supported the assault from the beginning, even calling for store security to hold her for the police to arrest her for the horrendous crime of ignoring a door Nazi.
You are FOS. You have been wrong at every turn. When I am wrong, I admit it. I have eaten the required crow, more than once, and publically, and recently.
But this? Call me a liberal?! Nah. If you want to support the assault of women, that is your business. Call me a liberal? That is beyond the pale.
“She followed the rule that says she has to show her receipt to a store employee”
And she was directed WHERE her inspection was to take place.
Keep up with the insults Alinsky. They won’t work. You basically call me a communist, and I call you liberal, and your feathers ruffle.
Sorry Mr.Me, but you’re wrong.
I love Free Republic.
“I have eaten the required crow, more than once, and publically, and recently.”
I have NO DOUBT about that.
“You have supported the assault from the beginning, even calling for store security to hold her for the police to arrest her for the horrendous crime of ignoring a door Nazi”
Do you have the post number? :-)
Wow. You have problems. You’re willing to go this far?
why would anyone shop in a store where you had to stand in line to pay for something then stand in line again to leave?
Because it is a news story n00bie.
She was buying a fan, and here in AZ you can’t buy alcohol without being a member.
I am running late so I don't have to wait in line like everybody else.
Don't you know who I am?
What are you going to do? Stop me?
Here are lots of pages that say you can:
http://www.google.com/search?q=arizona+alcohol+warehouse+clubs+non-members&btnG=Search&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&sa=2
I know we can in California.
I have to admit Costco’s website doesn’t list Arizona.
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