Costco receipt checking

It's interesting that so little has been said in so many words in this thread. It's patently obvious that they check receipts to ensure you don't fill up a trolley and walk out.

In Colombia it's standard practice for most shops to give you a bag and staple the receipt to it i.e. stapling the bag shut so you can't open it. When you walk out the (armed in more expensive shops) security guard will double-check it. You can object if you like but I heard the bribes can get expensive and the prisons aren't nice ;)

They also have body scanners on the way into shopping malls, and check cars on entrance to the car park too. This is the rule rather than the exception.

In the UK there's been a few stories of outrage over even the though of implemeting this, yet people don't realise the end goal is to save lives.

The shopping mall I went to almost every day in Colombia, in the richest part of the capital city, was bombed two weeks after I left. Nobody hurt fortunately, but many people in the UK don't know they're born...
 
Did you actually argue against not being allowed to leave the store? if not then you were not illegally detained as you made no effort to put across the fact you didnt want to be there
 
In australia, your standard supermarkets and department stores ask to inspect customer bags, not just ones with goods from the store! This seems a rights storm in a tea cup in comparison! You can refuse and the only action they can legally take is to ask you to leave, which as they do this at the check out is usually no big deal.

So a members (god what a con) store doing that? Think you're arguing something almost impossible there mate.
 
gambitt said:
Can you be more specific? Or are you just jumping on the bandwagon? ;)
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By bandwagon I assume you mean siding with the majority opinion based on the replies from others reading through this thread and my own personal thoughts on the matter.

More specific, your inability to understand simple T&Cs of Costco membership (be it a direct member or guest of one). :p
 
GSXRMovistar said:
By bandwagon I assume you mean siding with the majority opinion based on the replies from others reading through this thread and my own personal thoughts on the matter.

More specific, your inability to understand simple T&Cs of Costco membership (be it a direct member or guest of one). :p
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If you can't answer a question, it's a lot quicker to just say "no". :)
 
InvaderGIR said:
This...



Along with this...




Brings us back to this really...
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Lol, I dunno.

Company policy is that. It's in place for a reason, tough luck if you don't like it. No one else has an issue with and I have to say what they do jusified and fair.
Oddly enough, I'm just off to Costco now :)
 
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GSXRMovistar said:
Err but I did answer?!?! And wow again you really do seem to stuggle with understanding the most simple of things. :p
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You weren't specific, you just said "you don't understand the T&C's" like a mindless drone. Could you please highlight the exact section of your beloved T&C's which states that they have a legal right (not just "it's our policy") to check receipts and the consequences if this service is refused?
 
I know this thread died a little while ago, but I feel I need to respond.

Firstly, it's dubious to whether you are bound by the T&Cs of the membership. I'll be honest and say I'm not really qualified to give a determination either way.

Secondly, if you are not allowed to purchase items in the store, I see no reason why the member couldn't purchase them on your behalf and then transfer ownership before leaving the shop. This only needs to be a verbal understanding.

Thirdly, on leaving the store, the employee is perfectly within his rights to ask you to look in the trolley/bags. Anyone can ask. Whether you agree is another thing. If you don't consent to the search the condition of membership is a civil dispute and I assume the worst thing they could do is cancel your friend's membership. No member of the public may require a search forcibly, it can be a condition of entry though, although you still have the right to decline. Only a Police officer can forcibly search you.

However, if they have reasonable suspicion to believe you are shoplifting (and I believe the absence of a receipt would be enough to satisfy this) they may arrest you on suspicion on theft until the Police arrive. The Police would then investigate find that you bought the good legally (through card statements, CCTV or otherwise) and then take no further action. You could be arrested and taken to a Police station during this process. At no time are Costco doing anything illegal.

Obviously it is in your interest to have the receipt to prevent this hassle, but that is completely up to you.

So, in summary, costco haven't done anything illegal, but you didn't have to leave anything there either.
 
gambitt said:
You weren't specific, you just said "you don't understand the T&C's" like a mindless drone. Could you please highlight the exact section of your beloved T&C's which states that they have a legal right (not just "it's our policy") to check receipts and the consequences if this service is refused?
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Christ I never said that they have a legal right, I was commenting on the ability to understand the T&Cs. It doesn't matter what they are, whether it's you must only enter the store dressed as a chicken, or allow staff to check you on the way out, when the member signs up for membership they are agreeing to these terms and coniditions and signing up forms the basis of a contract.
 
GSXRMovistar said:
Christ I never said that they have a legal right, I was commenting on the ability to understand the T&Cs. It doesn't matter what they are, whether it's you must only enter the store dressed as a chicken, or allow staff to check you on the way out, when the member signs up for membership they are agreeing to these terms and coniditions and signing up forms the basis of a contract.
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Whether those terms are enforceable if you don't follow them is another thing though.
 
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