Three days ago, my wife and I entered a Wal Mart to purchase a few items. We spent about $150 during that trip, which included a new crock pot. We went through the checkout stand, paid for our purchases, and then headed directly to the nearby exit. As we neared the doors, the so-called "greeter" (she did NOT greet us on our way in) stopped us and required us to show our receipt... which she went down and poked through our cart to make sure the items we had were listed on the receipt. The delay was less than a minute, but I left Wal Mart angry.
This is not the first time this has happened... I estimate that a greeter does this to us 1 out of every 5 trips to the mega-store. This time was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Each time this happens, I leave the store angry and fuming. Why? Because I do not like being accused of theft.
Make no mistake, Wal Mart, that is exactly what you are doing. By checking my receipt against the contents of the bags in my buggy, you are telling me in clear language that you think I may have stolen some merchandise, and this step is necessary to stop me from doing that. The fact that nobody has EVER discovered stolen merchandise on me seems to be beside the point.
I'm no thief, and being treated as one is insulting and demeaning.
I mean, really, how do you think we managed to sneak stolen merchandise into my cart during a straight walk from the check-out register to the exit door? Or do we just look like hardened criminals to you?
Every Wal Mart store I've been in has surveillance cameras hanging from the ceiling... I can accept that to a great extent. But that's a general measure, not a specific one. Singling us out to search from all of the people exiting at that time tells us that you think WE are thieves, you think that WE have stolen something from you.
If you do not trust me, then why in the world should I trust you?
As long as Wal Mart maintains the policy of accusing shoppers of theft by searching their bags and checking their receipt on the way out, I will have major reservations about shopping there. I am not a thief, and strongly resent being treated as one. I demand respect.
If a reason exists for suspicion, then by all means have at it. That's what those surveillance cameras are for, to spot thieves so you can apprehend them as they try to leave. But conducting searches without that suspicion, which is what you did to us, is wrong.
I repeat, I am not a thief, and if you continue a policy that treats me as one, then I must conclude that I can shop elsewhere for what I need.
As a side note, is what that greeter did even legal? The moment I paid for the items in my bags, they belonged to me. That makes the bags and their contents private property, and I doubt you have the legal right to search my private property without my consent.
I request that you discontinue your policy that treats shoppers like criminals by searching their purchases prior to exiting the store. Treat your customers with respect, please, and stop treating us like thieves who have to be watched every moment. Insulting your customers is never a sound business strategy.
Sincerely,
Matthew Givens
http://politicsalabama.blogspot.com/
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This is not the first time this has happened... I estimate that a greeter does this to us 1 out of every 5 trips to the mega-store. This time was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Each time this happens, I leave the store angry and fuming. Why? Because I do not like being accused of theft.
Make no mistake, Wal Mart, that is exactly what you are doing. By checking my receipt against the contents of the bags in my buggy, you are telling me in clear language that you think I may have stolen some merchandise, and this step is necessary to stop me from doing that. The fact that nobody has EVER discovered stolen merchandise on me seems to be beside the point.
I'm no thief, and being treated as one is insulting and demeaning.
I mean, really, how do you think we managed to sneak stolen merchandise into my cart during a straight walk from the check-out register to the exit door? Or do we just look like hardened criminals to you?
Every Wal Mart store I've been in has surveillance cameras hanging from the ceiling... I can accept that to a great extent. But that's a general measure, not a specific one. Singling us out to search from all of the people exiting at that time tells us that you think WE are thieves, you think that WE have stolen something from you.
If you do not trust me, then why in the world should I trust you?
As long as Wal Mart maintains the policy of accusing shoppers of theft by searching their bags and checking their receipt on the way out, I will have major reservations about shopping there. I am not a thief, and strongly resent being treated as one. I demand respect.
If a reason exists for suspicion, then by all means have at it. That's what those surveillance cameras are for, to spot thieves so you can apprehend them as they try to leave. But conducting searches without that suspicion, which is what you did to us, is wrong.
I repeat, I am not a thief, and if you continue a policy that treats me as one, then I must conclude that I can shop elsewhere for what I need.
As a side note, is what that greeter did even legal? The moment I paid for the items in my bags, they belonged to me. That makes the bags and their contents private property, and I doubt you have the legal right to search my private property without my consent.
I request that you discontinue your policy that treats shoppers like criminals by searching their purchases prior to exiting the store. Treat your customers with respect, please, and stop treating us like thieves who have to be watched every moment. Insulting your customers is never a sound business strategy.
Sincerely,
Matthew Givens
http://politicsalabama.blogspot.com/