Sam's Club Complaint - Being treated like a criminal

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-10-20:

Why would you pay a membership fee to shop in a store you obviously dislike? That doesn't make sense to me.

Posted by Mike in FL on 2010-10-20:

As many gripes as I may have with Wal-Mart, I have to say that I actually understand and approve of this procedure. YOU may feel inconvenienced by this because YOU have never stolen from them, but you can bet that the policy is in place because SOMEBODY has. Also, if you think Costco or any other warehouse club will just let you waltz out without checking your receipt against what's in your cart, you're mistaken.

Posted by werelucky on 2010-10-20:

It's the price everyone has to pay for all the thieves out there. You would be surprised at the number of shoplifters and thieves there really are. If there is a line they should hire extra people to check you out.

Posted by fast327 on 2010-10-20:

I have nothing to hide, therefore I don't mind the two minutes it takes to check my receipt. It's been my experience that the checkers are very nice and engaging.

Posted by tnchuck100 on 2010-10-20:

We all pay the price for shoplifters. The retailer has two choices: Try to reduce the loss through security measures as you just experienced OR raise prices to cover the losses.

How about a 15% surcharge at the checkout instead of checking customers leaving the store? Would that suit your style a bit better?

Posted by SteveWiginowski on 2010-10-20:

As it's been said, you're not the reason that you're being checked, it's because other people have stolen items and have made this needed.

For example, getting through security at the airport use to be quick. Now it can take a while. Do you go to the airport and refuse to adhere to their security rules because you know that you're not doing anything illegal?

Posted by LinusOno on 2010-10-20:

I hope you have a similar epiphany about this as I did. This is a common complaint against the member-only warehouse stores like Sam's and Costco. I, too, was quite annoyed with being stopped on my way out so someone could give what I perceived to be a cursory glance at my receipt and cart.

That is, until I checked what I signed up for. I *agreed* to allow this check when I became a member. As such, it is part of the price of membership and I no longer consider it an intrusion. That's something I had to suddenly *see* to appreciate.

Posted by clutzycook on 2010-10-20:

All warehouse clubs do this. Most of the time, the people at the door don't even inspect the carts. They just swipe their highlighter on the receipt and send you on your merry way. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a cart be inspected more thoroughly (they actually lifted up stuff to look at what was underneath) and that was back when I was a kid and Sams had just opened up in my area. If you still think that's too much of an intrusio, then maybe it's best if you go elsewhere.

Posted by yoke on 2010-10-20:

When you joined Sam's Club and paid your fee you agreed to allow them to check your cart.
NOW, when I went to Walmart I had a problem with it since I did not pay a fee to have my cart checked and Walmart was the only store in my area that does this. Best bet is go to Target or other retailers where they do not treat you like a criminal as you are leaving and appreciate your business.

Posted by clutzycook on 2010-10-20:

I've only seen Walmart do this during Christmas season and even then only rarely.

Posted by momsey on 2010-10-20:

So instead of complaining, why not do your shopping at your local grocery store, who I can almost guarantee does not do this? You'll save the price of the membership fee, and you won't have to be so angry and trying to get away without doing something you agreed to.

Posted by yoke on 2010-10-20:

At my walmart it is done all the time. The "greeters" ignore you as you walk in and then harass you as you leave. If you go across the street to Target you get treated like a human being and thanked as you are leaving. Maybe not all walmarts are like the one near me, but it has turned me and many others in our area away from walmart and made Target very busy.

Posted by Preacher Man on 2010-10-20:

As others have stated, upon signing the membership form, you agreed to this security check.

Other stores such as Walmart that don't have membership sign-ups, may try and enforce this as well, but as I've been told by law enforcement, you simply have to say "No thank you" and continue walking. They have a right to ask, and you have a right to refuse. Period. As mentioned by others, it is the criminal element in society that has brought this type of behavior upon us, and until the entire mentality of the situation changes, you can either fight it or just deal with it. Depends upon what type of person you are? No judging here. To each their own.

Posted by MRM on 2010-10-20:

I, for one, just deal with the harrassment because I gotta have my Walmart!

Posted by Sheldonrs on 2010-10-20:

Their store; their rules. Don't like it? Don't shop there.

Posted by bluediamond98 on 2010-10-20:

I don't really mind Sams. They check everyone and I expect it. What ticks me off are the stores that decide to do random checks and set up extra security for holiday shopping, etc... I DO refuse those. If 5 people walk by, then they want to stop me and look in my bag and check against my receipt I feel I have a right to refuse and have no trouble doing so. "Ma'am, can I look in your bag?" "No, thank you. Have an awesome day!"

Posted by Kitten with a Whip on 2010-10-20:

I have the priviledge of shopping at the world's very first Sam's Club. Impressive, huh?

I don't care about the door stop although I must say they seldom check a thing. Most of the time they just mark the receipt without ever comparing it with the merchandise leaving the store. I have to wonder what's with this charade. As master Yoda would say, 'Do or do not... there is no try.'.

Posted by Ytropious on 2010-10-20:

OP, I suggest you do Sam's a favor and cancel your membership. Don't shop anywhere that you feel the need to gripe about their rules. It's a warehouse club, and part of keeping their prices low is good asset protection. This includes checking receipts. It's not like they're singling YOU out, saying you're stealing. They do it to everyone!

Posted by trmn8r on 2010-10-20:

I'm going out on a limb, and not reading other replies before posting.

At any store I shop, I adhere to whatever policies they have, including security. It is their right to implement whatever procedures they care to short of a pat down, IMO. If I don't like the procedures, I go elsewhere.

I don't like the "Greeter" at WalMart. It is one of several reasons I don't shop there.

Posted by trmn8r on 2010-10-20:

OK I read the comments. It appears that when you sign up, the fact that you will be checked upon leaving is mentioned(!). That sounds like fair warning to prospective members.

Posted by leet60 on 2010-10-20:

While I feel the OP's post seemed like a bit of an overreaction in reality he has a valid point. While Sam's club and other membership stores may put wording in their membership agreement that you are subject to "bag or receipt" checks, it gives them no legal standing.

The cart, bag, receipt check is only legal as long as the inspection is voluntary. It is not legal if the bag check is involuntary or coerced. This is a rather fine legal distinction that is subject to misunderstanding and abuse. Basically, nothing in the law gives the merchant the right to detain a customer for the purpose of searching a shopping bag unless there is a reasonable suspicion of retail theft.

While they can cancel your membership. Unless they have reason to believe you have shoplifted they have no authority to stop or detain you.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-10-20:

sorry leet, it is in the agreement that they agreed and signed, and does have legal standing. While a sign on the wall may be on the borderline, the agreement they sign is a binding legal document. Walmut, walgreeds,etc and others that are not membership clubs fall in the category you are describing.