Sam’s Club Security Check

[jfn111]

Our Sams Club just activated the new exit scanning system. It was slick and the exit person just waived us through after looking at their hand-held device.

 

[jollystomper]

I've always wondered why the "club" stores are the only ones who feel the need to pay an employee to block the exits and check every customer. I'm all for stopping shoplifting, but surely these can't be the only stores who have this problem.

Because they can afford to deploy employees to perform this task, along with any extra security they choose to deploy. Smaller stores cannot do this.

 

[Teacher Terry]

When I still had a teenager at home I joined Costco for one year and didn’t save money. Locally we have Winco and they are cheaper, easier and faster to get through the store and no waiting to leave the store.

It’s incredibly sad that stealing is so common that stores feel the need to lock things up. None have enough employees to unlock them and if you want a bunch of stuff are you going to drag them with you while you shop. I needed a blow dryer the other day and they were locked up. I have to be able to spend time reading the boxes to see what I am getting. I left and ordered online.

 

[Chuckanut]

It’s a membership store. People are free to not join or cancel their membership. Please don’t ruin it for the rest of us who like the idea that stores like Costco discourage thievery. Who wants to shop in a store that’s a favorite of criminals?

 

[CaptTom]

Because they can afford to deploy employees to perform this task, along with any extra security they choose to deploy. Smaller stores cannot do this.

Smaller stores? You mean like Walmart?

I know there are regional differences, but in our area the big-box stores, and supermarkets, don't have gate-guard style security. But the "club" stores do. I'm legitimately curious why. I'd think the "membership" model keeps out at least some of the thieves. Do the clubs really have that much higher profit margin?

And, BTW, I have nothing against these places, I have a membership to the closest one, and would join others if they came to town. But I do hate having to go through the inspection line.

 

[jollystomper]

Smaller stores? You mean like Walmart?

I know there are regional differences, but in our area the big-box stores, and supermarkets, don't have gate-guard style security. But the "club" stores do. I'm legitimately curious why. I'd think the "membership" model keeps out at least some of the thieves. Do the clubs really have that much higher profit margin?

And, BTW, I have nothing against these places, I have a membership to the closest one, and would join others if they came to town. But I do hate having to go through the inspection line.

Walmart may not block the exits. They just have extra folk monitoring the self-checkouts. And they have undercover security. The "membership" model simply makes those who want to be thieves come up with different methods. It is the stores smaller than Walmart that have little or no security. Look at how some of the pharmacy chains are faring.

The club stores drive their profit margins through high volumes. That contributes to their focus on security.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the "bulk" store theft is more likely done by those wanting to resell items that they get in bulk, so the potential for theft in terms of size is greater.

I am fine with whatever method store owners use for security. The stores are simply reacting to what some would say are "societal trends" .

 

[Lorenzo]

Walmart may not block the exits. They just have extra folk monitoring the self-checkouts. And they have undercover security. The "membership" model simply makes those who want to be thieves come up with different methods. It is the stores smaller than Walmart that have little or no security. Look at how some of the pharmacy chains are faring.

The club stores drive their profit margins through high volumes. That contributes to their focus on security.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the "bulk" store theft is more likely done by those wanting to resell items that they get in bulk, so the potential for theft in terms of size is greater.

I am fine with whatever method store owners use for security. The stores are simply reacting to what some would say are "societal trends" .

I'm fine with Costco's employee taking three seconds to look at a receipt as the customer walks out the door. What bothers me is the creepy feeling I get at Walmart from those Loss Prevention employees scrutinizing me from afar. Sometimes I feel the amount of scrutiny depends on how cleanly dressed or unkempt my appearance at the time. I would prefer they treat every customer the same, even if that means taking a 3-second look at my receipt as I walk out the door.

 

[Aerides]

I'm fine with Costco's employee taking three seconds to look at a receipt as the customer walks out the door.

The 3 seconds is fine. It's all the nudnicks in line who stop and stand halfway, already stuffed their receipt somewhere, or switch lanes at the last second, or actually have a messed up cart...then all bets are off and you're basically checking out twice.

Doesn't always happen like that, but I have one of those always busy costcos, and there's always a nudnick.

 

[pacergal]

Early in the Costco exit process, we actually had an employee scanner note that we were charged for two bags of coffee and only had one in the cart. He pulled us over to the side, and had a runner take our receipt and go get our refund for us!

I don't mind the check out process, it is part of doing business/shopping there.

 

[jollystomper]

I'm fine with Costco's employee taking three seconds to look at a receipt as the customer walks out the door. What bothers me is the creepy feeling I get at Walmart from those Loss Prevention employees scrutinizing me from afar. Sometimes I feel the amount of scrutiny depends on how cleanly dressed or unkempt my appearance at the time. I would prefer they treat every customer the same, even if that means taking a 3-second look at my receipt as I walk out the door.

As someone who, in my younger past, was scrutinized in many stores as a potential thief from the time I entered, due to the color of my skin, all I can say is "welcome to my world" .

But, time and grace has a way of healing those wounds. These days those things do not concern me, and I try to be more understanding and try to understand the positions others have been put in, for this situation. So I take the delays and this checking with a grain of salt. Maybe it is just me, but 99% of the time the folks doing this have been very gracious and apologetic about it. I often kid with them "no worries, I 'm retired, I'm not in a rush ."

I just work ensure that FIRE does not stand for "Financially Independent, Retired Entitled".

 

[brett]

Early in the Costco exit process, we actually had an employee scanner note that we were charged for two bags of coffee and only had one in the cart. He pulled us over to the side, and had a runner take our receipt and go get our refund for us!

I don't mind the check out process, it is part of doing business/shopping there.

Had exactly the same experience at Costco a few months ago. Charged for 2 pineapples, only had one. Checker spotted it and we got a refund.

I really do not see what the big deal is about having to show a receipt as we leave Costco. Hardly a big deal.

 

[jollystomper]

I should disclose my financial bias about this. I have been a Walmart stock owner since the 1990s. It has been, to quote baseball legend Chico Escuela, "berry, berry, good to me." A close relative works for Costco (at a distribution center) and has received very good pay and employee benefits. So obviously I want both companies to continue to do well .

 

[gwill1010]

I do not believe you can be legally stopped from exiting a store without having your receipt checked, unless the store believes you have stolen something, in which case they would need to call the police.

Personally, I refuse to shop at any store that deploys a receipt check. So no Costco, Sam's Club or Walmart for me. I prefer to shop where they don't treat everyone like potential criminals.

When you "Joined" Sam's "Club" you agreed to this search. Perfectly legal.

 

[gwill1010]

I really do not see what the big deal is about having to show a receipt as we leave Costco. Hardly a big deal.

It's not the showing it's the waiting in a long line.

 

[tulak]

Jim Cramer noted that Amazon is killing chains like CVS and Walgreen's for the same reason- everything is locked up and it's easier to order on-line.

Rite-Aid purchased a local drugstore chain and it has gone downhill since. I was there the other day to buy some staples for travel and the shelves were practically empty. This wasn’t the first time, but it was definitely the last. I don’t see how they can compete with minimal merchandise on the shelves.

I went to Amazon and had the items I was looking for delivered same day.

 

[sengsational]

It's not the showing it's the waiting in a long line.

Right. They don't hire enough employees or the management doesn't manage the employees that don't show up, and customers have a long wait in the check out line and a long wait to get out the door. But it's like the undisclosed credit card fees at some restaurants... just don't go back. Unfortunately you've already paid an annual membership, and then start giving you a bad customer experience. Here's a case where social media or online reviews might be a pretty reasonable way to keep it from getting totally out of whack. Or maybe looking up the store manager and making direct contact. Complaining at the service desk is probably going to have zero effect except to remind you how annoyed you used to be while waiting through two long lines.

 

[big-papa]

We have that, works pretty well, the clerk says "you're good" and we continue walking.

Yep - we have it at ours as well. The line has all but disappeared now.

Saw the same thing at Costco a while back where a customer decided she could bypass the line and just exit because she somehow thought the whole receipt check was optional. It was explained to her that it's not. They checked her outside on the spot, instead of sending her to the back of the line.

Cheers

 

[Texas Proud]

It's not the showing it's the waiting in a long line.

Being retired I have a choice of when I go shopping... I try and get there when less people are there...

I do not have a problem with the exit line, but the food line!!! Man that can be slow...

Also, you never know about timing of people... I was recently at the grocery store and had to wait to get a self checkout spot... I had maybe 8 or so items... when I finished and looked around I was the only one standing at a register!! So if I had come 1 or so minutes later it was wide open...

 

[disneysteve]

They do it at BJs too. It rarely takes more than a minute even when there are a few people in line. It's seconds per customer so no big hassle. They also do it at Walmart.

Like most "security" checks, it's really more theater and profiling than anything else. They aren't literally checking every item on your receipt and matching it up with every item in your cart. That would take way too long.

I suspect they're just trained to look at the number of items on the receipt and eyeballing your cart to see if they look about the same. If the receipt says 8 items and your cart is overflowing, something's wrong, but if the receipt says 32 items and your cart is full, they send you on your way. They probably also check for high value items. If you're wheeling out a 70" TV, there better be one on your receipt.

 

[Badger]

As someone who, in my younger past, was scrutinized in many stores as a potential thief from the time I entered, due to the color of my skin, all I can say is "welcome to my world" .

But, time and grace has a way of healing those wounds. These days those things do not concern me, and I try to be more understanding and try to understand the positions others have been put in, for this situation. So I take the delays and this checking with a grain of salt. Maybe it is just me, but 99% of the time the folks doing this have been very gracious and apologetic about it. I often kid with them "no worries, I 'm retired, I'm not in a rush ."

I just work ensure that FIRE does not stand for "Financially Independent, Retired Entitled".

I have found this to be the case whether it is Costco or checkout at the grocery store and say the same thing. I may be a little frustrated with some of the inconsiderate customers while I wait but I'm not about to take it out on the "check out" person.

 

[Jerry1]

Right. They don't hire enough employees or the management doesn't manage the employees that don't show up, and customers have a long wait in the check out line and a long wait to get out the door.

I think Costco is a great example of a company doing checkout right. I’m always amazed how fast they get people through the checkout. I look at the long lines and am always impressed at how quickly we get through. Seems like their method is to have the helper at the checkout - something most stores don’t do. I’ve been similarly impressed at Chick-fil-a. I think these are both example of where the company hires enough people. I’ve also heard that both of these are good places to work. I think Buc-ee’s is another example of that. I’m sure there are others.

I don’t mind the checkout at Costco. During busy times they usually have two people and their process is cursory so it doesn’t take long. I’ve never had them find a mistake but me and DW are pretty good about watching the scanner as the cashier runs our stuff through.

 

[sparky08]

Our local Walmart has closed the self checkouts because of theft.

I don't mind the receipt checkers at Costco. I wouldn't want them to make a special exception because of me.

 

[ElizabethT]

When you "Joined" Sam's "Club" you agreed to this search. Perfectly legal.

I didn't say the search (?) was illegal. I said I did not believe you can be legally stopped from exiting the store. In researching this, it appears membership can be revoked as a result of failure to comply, but you cannot be literally prevented from exiting.

My preference is to shop elsewhere as a result.

 

[Koolau]

It’s a membership store. People are free to not join or cancel their membership. Please don’t ruin it for the rest of us who like the idea that stores like Costco discourage thievery. Who wants to shop in a store that’s a favorite of criminals?

Yeah, I actually blame the situation (mostly) on jurisdiction "powers that be" who have decided not to prosecute "low-level" crime. It's virtually a "license to steal."

The Sams and Costco type stores have found a legal way to deal with most of this kind of theft. (No need to lock most things up and they can keep prices low.) What's not to like other than a small bit of inconvenience. YMMV as always.

 

[Texas Proud]

Heck, they are not even prosecuting the people who trespass and say they have a valid lease... that is stealing big time compared to shoplifting...

Put some of these people in jail and it will become less of a problem..