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.
They used to check the receipts at the Wal-Mart I shop at but they have stopped it because they have the built in sensors in the door and most items have the code embedded in them somewhere and if they don’t neutralize it at the check out counter the alarm goes off. Sometimes it goes off any way and then you need your receipt checked.
The issue is not whether a store has a receipt checking policy but whether you have already contractually agreed to it. These are membership clubs and in your membership agreement that you sign you pre-agreeto allow them to check the receipt....
Regardless, the agreement doesn’t give them the right to assault or detain her. The stores recourse is to cancel their membership and refuse them further admittance.
Now, stores like Best Buy and Fry’s that want to check your receipt and look in your bag are different. They have no right....I routinely refuse to let them inspect my bag or see my receipt....Once I pay for the mechandise at the register it is mine just like any other personal possession.
LOL, my kids won’t shop with me when I go to those stores....
It deserves to....I’ve never had a problem with them.
She didn’t understand you were special.
I don’t think I have to stand in line with the small people either.
These peons should be reprimanded and fired.
(sarcasm)
>>capitlaized<<
Whoa. Join the imperfect typo-prone masses. There’s plenty of room in our club. ;)
Yep. On a good day.
I think you are right about shoplifting skyrocketing. I have noticed that the Costco stores I frequent have almost no selection of music CD’s anymore and what they do have is old music. I asked an employee about this and she said that they discontinued carrying most of their music as the shoplifting is so bad that they can’t make a profit. She also pointed out that BluRay is only available once you purchase it and take your receipt to the pick-up window.
What, in the bushes. The johns are in the store.
What law did she break that the police would get involved over? She disregarded store policy. That isn’t even a civil matter, let alone criminal.
The only person who broke the law works for the store. The woman who didn’t want to wait in line was a boor, in relation to the poor shmucks waiting in line. But once she paid for her purchase it became her property.
Once I have paid for my purchases I will not wait in line to get out of the store.
She lost her job and all her wealth? That would certainly render me indignant.
I used to go to Sam’s for lunch. Now a light snack is all that is possible.
I dont think I have to stand in line with the small people either.”
The truth is, you don’t.
You do it because you think you have to.
Walmart.
if your right handed
You're.
I know witch one
Which.
Illiterates SHOULD be harassed.
If people complained to COSTCO as they should then the policy would likely end. More and more people have become willing subjects to be treated as assumed criminals by both government and private businesses until proved innocent. In the mean time a shop lifter is going to walk out of the store with several hundred dollars on their person or use an emergency exit to carry more obvious merchandise out and run like mad to a waiting vehicle. How do they get past the front door? If you don't have a purchased item then no line right?
But you need a membership to shop at Costco. One of the duties of membership is following the rules of the store.
If you dont like it, shop at Wal Mart instead. Its almost as cheap.
In Florida that would be “false imprisonment” and good for a profitable court case.
Parcopresis - fear of defecating in public places;
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