Costco, Sam's Club, etc.

Jay Honeck

Jay Honeck

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
11,571
Location
Ingleside, TX
Display Name
Jay Honeck
Home Airfield
KTFP - Ingleside, TX
There's a rather lively discussion in another aviation forum right now about the habit of these (and other) stores stopping every shopper at the door to "audit" their purchases. (For those who don't know, basically, some Whip Snidely type stands there with a highlighter, and pretends to check every item in your cart, and then decides whether to let you leave -- or not.)

Amazingly, to me, a fair number of pilots are claiming that they simply ignore the post-check-out-check-out, and walk right past them. This puts the double-checker in an unwinnable position -- does he chase after the rebel, risking an even longer line of angry people? -- or does he ignore the rule-breaker, risking even more rebels?

Why do they do this? Because (in their opinion) they took ownership of those items the moment they were given a receipt, and anything done after that transaction is a violation of their rights -- no different than if they tried to search your car in the parking lot.

It's never even dawned on me to NOT just stand there, like a sheep, patiently waiting for the TSA-type to make sure I wasn't ripping of a case of kleenex. But that do YOU do? Do you wait? Or do you bolt for your car, daring them to intercede?
 
I've only ever gone with my parents, I dont have a membership myself. But we've always waited.

I'm curious now. When you apply for a membership, does it say anything about a "search" as you leave?
 
I don't go out of my way to comply with some receipt checker. If I can do so without inconveniencing myself I will. But I'm not about to wait in a line of 10 carts. Of the times I've just skipped the line and went on with my life I've probably been challenged once or twice..and I just kept on walking.
 
Interesting. I must be more of a sheep than I thought, since it has never occurred to me to simply walk right out of the store.

I presume they cannot have you arrested for such an act? But can they revoke your Sam's Club membership?
 
Jay Honeck said:
Interesting. I must be more of a sheep than I thought, since it has never occurred to me to simply walk right out of the store.

I presume they cannot have you arrested for such an act? But can they revoke your Sam's Club membership?
Click to expand...

They could word the membership agreement so that you do not take title to the merchandise until it has been checked. You cant simply make up your own rules on purchasing. For example, you cant take $20 worth of goods and simply drop $20 on the floor and leave.
 
Steve Foley said:
They could word the membership agreement so that you do not take title to the merchandise until it has been checked. You cant simply make up your own rules on purchasing. For example, you cant take $20 worth of goods and simply drop $20 on the floor and leave.
Click to expand...

otoh if I've paid for the merchandise and have a receipt, I consider it mine, whether or not I've left the store. I would hope that the store can't make up its own rules either.
 
Bob Noel said:
otoh if I've paid for the merchandise and have a receipt, I consider it mine, whether or not I've left the store. I would hope that the store can't make up its own rules either.
Click to expand...

Agreed...:yesnod::yesnod:

Once funds trade hands and I have a receipt, that stuff is mine... If they were really concerned about theft they need to monitor their cashiers because they are the ones bagging up the merchandise the door cops are there to confirm the receipt matches the contents of the bag...... IMHO..
 
I have always considered it to be false arrest and have told the checker such when told I must go back to be checked.

They usually cave fairly quickly.
 
I find it insulting and irritating. I haven't gone past them at Sam's Club yet, but probably would if the line were longer than a couple of carts. It's mostly because I'd have to maneuver around the roadblocks on the way out and it would probably be faster to just wait the 30 seconds for the checker.

I have walked past the people at the door of Best Buy and Fry's when I visited places that had one. One or two of the Fry's people got downright insistent... I just said (over my shoulder, without even slowing down) that if they really thought I had stolen something, they were welcome to call the cops - otherwise p*** off.

And it's not like it actually does any good. We were at Sam's one year right before Christmas. They had these little 12" TVs with built in DVD players for a killer price, and we bought one for each of the 5 kids. We didn't even notice when we checked out, but they only charged us for one. No one caught it, certainly not us and not the person "checking" receipts at the door. When we figured it out, we went back with the receipt and paid them for the other four. I also pointed out that checking receipts at the door on the way out was obviously a waste of everyone's time.
 
Page 15. http://content.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/Member-Benefits-Costco-Services.pdf

• Costco reserves the right to inspect any container,
backpack, briefcase, etc., upon entering or leaving the
warehouse.
• To ensure that all members are correctly charged for the
merchandise purchased, all receipts and merchandise
will be inspected as you leave the warehouse
Click to expand...

It never crossed my mind to not stop until the line was consistently long, then I never stopped from that day on. Now, I just don't go and don't support a company that thinks I'm a thief.
 
Sam's is a membership club. You agree to terms when you join. I don't like it either, but wait. I like Frys less and that is open to the public.
From what I've read, most retailer losses are to employees.

Best,

Dave
 
The real reason is to get the receipt marked. They really don't care about anything else. With a marked receipt, it' more difficult to go in, pick up more items and walk out flashing the receipt.
 
I'm going to suggest that Costco hire a bunch of retired rodeo cowboys. Old guys, kind of like me, and Walmart greeters. That way, they can toss a lasso around all of the tough guy "pilots", that try to evade them. I'd like to see that! Around the legs and tripping them would work the best. Then we'll move to theater ticket lines, and roads that merge into one lane.

L.Adamson
 
They make me wait, I keep walkin'. They can hire more receipt markers and help the economy if they don't want me walking past the line.

Only really make about one big trip a year though. Two people don't go through bulk stuff very quick. Repackage the foodstuffs. Stuff the pantry. Mostly paper products and what not.

Costco AMEX kicked back over $500 this year just running crap through it and paying it off, so checkout was a money loser for them. Fuel is 3% back (to a limit) and AvGas from the self serve counts as fuel. :)
 
I'm sorry, but I think this (waiting in line) is a small price to pay to help combat the very real problem of shoplifting. And anyone that gets their panties in a wad about it is just too sensitive. I would hope that anyone that does not stop would have their membership at that club revoked, after having their receipt checked and thrown in jail if they do have anything they didn't pay for.

And by the way, one time I had a checker that noticed that I had paid twice for one product, and another time I has someone notice that I overpaid (or actually was charged for a more expensive item than the one I bought).

Another time I was behind someone that was found to have a CD player hidden side a box of C-Fold paper towels.

If you are to high and might to stand in line then get the hell out of my club.
 
Put me down as a sheep, I go to Sam's 6-8 times a year on my own and another half dozen or so with my wife for concession stand goodies. I never really mind stopping for 15-30 seconds, I don't think it's overly intrusive. :rolleyes: I have yet to see them "catch" anyone at the door, as others have suggested a lot of the theft is internal, like many businesses. :mad2:
 
denverpilot said:
Costco AMEX kicked back over $500 this year just running crap through it and paying it off, so checkout was a money loser for them. Fuel is 3% back (to a limit) and AvGas from the self serve counts as fuel. :)
Click to expand...

Everything aviation goes on my costco/amex card - fuel, the hangar, and the engine overhaul! Rebate paid for the new dish washer.
 
As a life long retailer, I know for a fact that a place like Cost Co or Sam's club would soon be out of business if their pilferage level was not kept under incredibly tight control.

A normal retailer works from a 40% all the way up to 600% mark up. It all depends on their cost of operations, which is usually in the 30% range, plus rent and so on.

Those warehouse club operations usually work on a 10% up to 40% mark up, that is what gives them their appeal. They depend on buying power to give them an edge over other retailers.

If one ten dollar item goes missing, they have to sell ten more of them before they start showing a profit again.

So...they are stuck. If they want to stay in business, they must take Draconian measures to control shrinkage. If you want to shop at such places to save a few bucks, then you should do what you can to insure they stay in business.

You have already usually driven way out of your way to get to the warehouse. You dealt with the parking mess and crowds. So what is the big deal about playing their security game?

If you like them, do what you can to keep them around. Myself, as a single person, I was not impressed with them at all. I bought an Executive membership at CostCo about six months ago for a hundred bucks. I gave Mary a card, she only went one time and bought a large package of carrots for her juicer. I went one time, and didn't buy anything. I don't think it is worth the hassle. If I was buying for a large family, then it might make sense.

-John
 
I'll wait for the 15-30 second thing. It's when they have a ten or twenty cart line and one dude checking stuff that I just go. Fairly rare.

That trip we just did we had two full carts. The dude didn't even look at most of the stuff. He took the three foot long receipt and looked at it for high dollar items, marked two, and waved us out.

Total waste of time. If we really had hidden anything in those carts a) he would have never seen it, b) the security camera operators would have caught it.

At Costco anyway, the whole point of the line is so you can eat your $2 hot dog. Hahaha.
 
John Baker said:
I went one time, and didn't buy anything. I don't think it is worth the hassle. If I was buying for a large family, then it might make sense.
Click to expand...

What?! You missed the sale on the 3-pack of Baby Grand Pianos?! ;)

Toilet paper man. Costco is all about toilet paper. A year's supply in the basement. Hahahahaha.
 
At least around here, the lines for the check-out stands are far longer than the receipt checker at the exit. By a factor of 10.
 
I hate waiting, but have never had to wait long enough for this to be an issue. Might be tempted to blow by, but suspect I'd just e creating grief for the affected employee, and I tend to have empathy for these people.
 
John Baker;876543 If you like them said:
Single here, also, but I've had a Costco membership for as long as I can remember. Why? The savings for one laser cart that's the entire cost of membership expense covered, right there. And I have 2 laser printers and a color ink jet.

Gas is usually 5 cents/gal cheaper, and that's before the 3% rebate. Paper goods, car supplies, cases of water for the monthly Young Eagle program (water at the airport tastes horrible), and so on. When my father was still alive, his drugs were considerably cheaper there.

Sam's Club? Sorry. When they first opened they insisted on a social security # for the application. As I explained to the manager, they were not allowed to require it for membership (federal law). He was adamant, and I walked out. Never been past the door since.

For me, Costco is a 5 min drive, so it's no effort to get there. Just try to avoid weekends - too much time in the checkout lanes.
Click to expand...
 
The receipt check is only a psychological barrier to theft, yah they can't possibly check everything. It's their store, they can do whatever they want. If I really dislike it I can vote with my feet. I'm still feeding off the $5 tub of hummus I bought last time I was there. Mmmmm, love hummus.
 
For us, it is a major imposition. We are literally in Sam's Club every week, buying stuff for our business, and will often have two or even three carts.

It never occurred to me to just bull right past the checker. For one thing, the space on either side of the gate nazi is extremely limited, so that "blowing by" might mean "blowing over" them. For another, I personally want every shoplifter caught.

I, for one, am sick of paying extra for everything because of these scumbags. It's estimated that store theft costs us all about $40 billion, annually, or about $425 per family per year, added onto the cost of...everything.
 
I actually got stopped by the off duty police at a Walmart for ignoring the receipt checker. This was several years ago. I got a nice apology letter from corp as a result. Same thing happened at a best buy. My response generally is polite, but to the point - "if you're accusing me of stealing, we can go down that route, otherwise, you're violating my civil rights.".

The best buy security chased me in to the parking lot. I proceeded to lock my property in my trunk, and after he touched me, I went back in to the store and spoke very firmly with the manager. Yes, I'm aware it was assault, no, I didn't bother with charges. Not worth my time.

(full disclosure- this was Bodymore city, MD.)
 
Last edited:
Jay Honeck said:
For us, it is a major imposition. We are literally in Sam's Club every week, buying stuff for our business, and will often have two or even three carts.
Click to expand...

I am assuming you are in Sam's Club because it saves you money. Therefore the "imposition" is part of a cost savings strategy. If it were truly that intrusive you would frequent another retailer and spend more.
 
Another note, trying to avoid the spin zone. Anything that infringes on a right, little or as allegedly justified as its presented, it's just another step in losing our rights, little by little. TSA is a great example of over reaching. (sorry, back on topic.....)
 
Mattl said:
Another note, trying to avoid the spin zone. Anything that infringes on a right, little or as allegedly justified as its presented, it's just another step in losing our rights, little by little. TSA is a great example of over reaching. (sorry, back on topic.....)
Click to expand...
Sorry, but your rights are not at issue here. You do not have the right to enter someone else's property and not obey their rules. Your "right" is to not enter that property in the first place.

On the other hand, the store has the right, and the duty to other club members, to reduce shoplifting by enforcing the rules that you agree to when you sign up.

If I had the level of theft occurring in my business that these stores do, you better believe I would enforce certain rules or prevent the rules violators form every coming back. That is MY RIGHT.
 
steingar said:
I am assuming you are in Sam's Club because it saves you money. Therefore the "imposition" is part of a cost savings strategy. If it were truly that intrusive you would frequent another retailer and spend more.
Click to expand...

If only. For a small business, there are few alternatives. (Which is why, you may have noticed, the checkout lines at Sam's Club is often made up of familiar faces from your local gas station, hardware store, etc.)

We do get a lot of stuff delivered. HD Supply is a good source for lots of things, and American Hotel Register delivers us towels and linens by the gross. Some suppliers charge extra to deliver to the island, which sucks but is understandable. (The wait to get on the ferry yesterday was over an hour.)

But for stuff like saran wrap, disposable silverware, laundry detergent, etc., there are few alternatives to Sam's. For example, I've never seen 3000' rolls of plastic wrap anywhere else. (We don't have Costcos in Texas, so I'm not sure if they have that sort of thing.)

Luckily, our 18 year old daughter loves to shop, and the "cost" of her using our car is that she has to go to Sam's for us. This has been a great thing, although, we've run up an extra 50K miles on the car because of it... :lol:
 
JOhnH said:
Sorry, but your rights are not at issue here. You do not have the right to enter someone else's property and not obey their rules. Your "right" is to not enter that property in the first place.
Click to expand...

To a point- if the owners want to violate civil rights as a policy, that policy needs to be available before entry. It is the customers right to forgo their right to privacy.

If it is a "right" like the 4th ammendment, US Constitution, then it would be illegal to violate that right in the first place. A club is exactly that, and the members agree to the terms of membership. That is the individuals choice to enter that agreement.

Providing a contract of sale, after the sale is complete(receipt) is not sufficient to violate someone's rights. Lastly, once the item has been paid for, it is no longer the stores responsibility and they claim no rights to inspect/verify/etc to the item. Remember, innocent until proven guilty, not assumed thief, prove to the store/etc you're not.

Have to add IANAL.
 
Last edited:
One of my pet peeves is when people don't understand their "rights" like the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable search.

These rights apply only to the government. If you go onto someone (Costco's for example) private property, these "rights" have absolutely zero application...none, zip, nada.
 
JOhnH said:
If I had the level of theft occurring in my business that these stores do, you better believe I would enforce certain rules or prevent the rules violators from every coming back. That is MY RIGHT.
Click to expand...

That is something I wish we could do. Unfortunately, there is no effective way of keeping deadbeats out of your place of business, or of sharing the information with other business owners.

I've toyed with the notion of starting a members-only website of deadbeats ("deadbeats.com"?), where we could all share information about people who habitually rip businesses off -- but it is simply too easy to circumvent given current technology. (All you have to do is change your middle initial, for example, and suddenly you're not 'Jane Doe' -- you're now 'Jane W. Doe' -- and no longer a deadbeat.)

Until we get biometric I.D.s, we will all be the victims of the habitual liars and thieves who plague society. Thus, we all must wait in line, like cattle, to have our receipts checked.
 
JeffDG said:
One of my pet peeves is when people don't understand their "rights" like the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable search.

These rights apply only to the government. If you go onto someone (Costco's for example) private property, these "rights" have absolutely zero application...none, zip, nada.
Click to expand...

If that's the case - the "right to life, liberty and the ...." can only be enforced against those that are government entities?!?

So if someone not associated with the government takes my right to life (kills me, in a manner that is illegal), they are not guilty of violating my civil right to "life" because they are not a gov entity?
 
JeffDG said:
One of my pet peeves is when people don't understand their "rights" like the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable search.

These rights apply only to the government. If you go onto someone (Costco's for example) private property, these "rights" have absolutely zero application...none, zip, nada.
Click to expand...

That was the point I was trying to make. Thanks for saying it better and more succinctly.
 
These warehouse clubs are really not that big of a savings either... The Cosco in Fla 30 years ago was alot better then Sams club was back then.. The closest Cosco to me now is 180 miles,,, the Sams club is 90 or so.. I shop at Sams for oils, printer ink, tires, batteries, and reading glasses... I do buy my cloth shop rags there but I check the price very carefully because back a few years when the ex-wife and joined, I bought 4 bundles of shop rags... Then we went right across the street to a Walmart so she could buy stuff Sams didn't carry... Like the cheapskate I am I browsed the auto section and found the EXACT same shop rags for 1.25 a bundle cheaper... Hmmm:mad::mad::mad::mad:.

So I bought one package, got the receipt and promptly walked back across the street and into Sams... Found the manager and kinda politely said WTF. :redface: My words were something like " I just paid a 19.95 membership to join a discount club and the retail place across the street had the same item cheaper..:dunno::dunno:.. I don't think I have ever seen a grown man apologize so many times in 5 minutes... Since then it is my policy of using Reagans rule... "trust but verify".:yesnod:
 
Last edited:
Mattl said:
If that's the case - the "right to life, liberty and the ...." can only be enforced against those that are government entities?!?

So if someone not associated with the government takes my right to life (kills me, in a manner that is illegal), they are not guilty of violating my civil right to "life" because they are not a gov entity?
Click to expand...

Are you serious?

Just in case there is any confusion:

"...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ..."

... is part of the Declaration of Independence; Not the Constitution of the Untied States, where our laws originate.

The Constitution of the United States is where certain specific and limited powers are granted to the Federal Government. All other powers are reserved for the States. Including the power to pass laws against transgressions like taking your life. So if someone kills you in an illegal manner (as opposed to a legal manner like provided for in Florida's "stand your ground" law) then they are guilty of the crime of murder and will be prosecuted as such by the State.
 
John Baker said:
If you want to shop at such places to save a few bucks, then you should do what you can to insure they stay in business.
Click to expand...
We do... we buy a lot of stuff there and we don't steal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top