Bag Check Right of The Store

Ash-Say on 28/09/2020 - 21:17
Last edited 28/09/2020 - 21:23

My partner and I were shopping earlier today. She was visiting $2 type shop and I was buying some shirts 10 stores away. She didn't buy anything from this store and when me outside shirt shop, $2 shop staff came running and demanded to check the bags.

She happily assisted and obviously nothing was found, however I wasn't happy with the experience. My partner also felt quite embarrassed as lot of people walking past stared at us as if we were theives. No apology was offered by staff.

I completely understand the stores need to check bag upon exit, however does it apply if the customer is about 30 to 40 meters away?

Where does the store authority stop?

Poll Options

  • 11
    Store can do it
  • 88
    Store staff was wrong
  • 19
    I am overthinking
Home & Garden

Comments

  • garetz on 28/09/2020 - 21:25
    +9

    They can only ask to check your bags within the store, outside of the store you are within your rights to refuse.

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 28/09/2020 - 21:26
      +1

      This ^ if you’re not on their property then they cannot request to check your bags. In a case like that it’s no different to a random stranger asking to check your bags (unlawful).

      • oscargamer on 28/09/2020 - 22:29
        +9

        Wrong. They can never check your bags without your consent. They can ask. You can say no. They can ban you if you say no.

        • saintpotter on 28/09/2020 - 22:33
          -1

          Yeah but remember, it's more effort if you say no. They call the police then on suspicion and you deal with cops. Sometimes it's easier to just show them and allow everyone to continue on with their day.

          • oscargamer on 29/09/2020 - 09:38
            +2

            @saintpotter: Yes and no.

            They can call the cops, but you can walk off before they arrive.

      • picklewizard on 29/09/2020 - 10:00

        Nah, nobody has a right to go through your shit, but then again everyone should try to not be a dick.

        If the shop are polite about it, I have no issue!

  • Melb69 on 28/09/2020 - 21:27
    +5

    They should have apologised, but I assume alot of stuff gets stolen. It's hard enough for these shops to survive. No biggy if it happened to me. On a side note someone stole some money from me and I caught up with them in the $2 shop. They denied it. I later found out on CCTV cam they did take it, but long gone.

    • trustnoone on 28/09/2020 - 22:07

      I find it super odd, but there's a 2 dollar like shop near me, and in my 2 years where I am I've outright witnessed someone stealing from the shop twice (teens). I have no idea why they go for them.

  • lunchbox99 on 28/09/2020 - 21:36
    +8

    In Qld stores are not able to check your bag unless you agree - inside the store or outside the store. If you refuse, they can only ask you to leave the store and not re-enter until you agree to their conditions of entry, which must be displayed on a sign at the store entrance.

  • ssquid on 28/09/2020 - 21:47
    +13

    Does it happen consistently? No.
    Was there harm done? No.
    Forget it and move on. Don't be a Karen.

    • gyrex on 29/09/2020 - 14:53

      … Waits patiently for the Karen to complain about using 'Karen' as a derogatory expression.

      • try2bhelpful on 29/09/2020 - 17:07

        Hasn’t that Burmese group suffered enough without being insulted as well?

  • bobbified on 28/09/2020 - 21:47
    +3

    They can put it as a condition of entry in their store.
    Upon leaving, they can ask and you can still refuse. But if you refuse, they can ban you from their store.

    • Ash-Say on 28/09/2020 - 21:56

      Yes I understand this aspect and it's clearly defined on Fair Trading Website. My concern is their authority to check bags when they are no longer inside the shop. I couldn't find anything relevant via Google search and hence I made this post.

      https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-servi….

      • bobbified on 28/09/2020 - 21:58

        They can ask, but they can't do anything if you refuse. If they suspect you of stealing, then they can detain you (but they better be damn sure that you've stolen something, otherwise it opens them up for all sorts of legal problems) or call the cops.

        Most people just show them anyway rather than cause a fuss.

        • dizzle on 28/09/2020 - 22:48
          +1

          I don't believe they can actually detain you. I've known security guards in stores like Myers and David Jones and they've admitted they can't grab someone and stop them leaving the store.

          They have to block the way with their bodies and use tactics that suggest they can physically stop you ("We know you stole, we have it on camera. You NEED to come with us now), but if you carry on walking they just follow you until police catch up.

          Maybe they could use a form of citizens arrest, but I don't know the policy around that.

          • bobbified on 28/09/2020 - 23:18

            @dizzle: It is the citizen's arrest. Security guards don't have any additional arrest powers. Hence the reason they better be sure you have actually stolen something, otherwise they open themselves (and the store they work for) up to being sued. Most guards err on the side of caution and just won't detain a suspected thief.

      • Melb69 on 28/09/2020 - 22:01
        +1

        Look if you were just the staff nember and thought someone had taken something. Better to say to your boss you at least chased the person down and checked. Than being caught looking at your phone all day. No harm done. No one that saw your partner probably knows her. Don't over think it. Are you going to complain to the store owner. Why. Move on. There are bigger things to deal with.

        • bobbified on 28/09/2020 - 22:22
          +1

          It's within our rights to refuse, but often it's not even worth the fuss to say no. The retail workers have a tough job as it is.

  • render on 28/09/2020 - 21:58
    +1

    From NSW Fair Trading

    Bag checks are voluntary. Retailers can only conduct a bag check if you agree. However, if you refuse to allow a check, you may be asked to leave the shop and not return until you agree to a bag check.

    https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-servi…

    Guidelines don't really go into much more detail.

  • plmko on 28/09/2020 - 21:59
    +5

    Lots of thieves. I don't blame them being paranoid. I work with lots of businesses and the theft levels are very high these days in that kind of retailer, it's as if people think shoplifting is a victimless crime as long as it's a 'cheap' item.

    And generally cops just don't care, too many cases.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2020 - 22:24
    +9

    Are you mainly offended that they thought you looked like someone who would go to the $2 store to steal?

  • cheeseandbacon on 28/09/2020 - 23:24
    +1

    however does it apply if the customer is about 30 to 40 meters away?

    30 to 40 meters is excellent social distancing, very commendable effort by the store.

    I'd let them check my bags while they're anywhere from 1.5m and greater away.

  • Euphemistic on 29/09/2020 - 06:57

    Would you rather they had you arrested on suspicion of stealing and detained you until police arrived?

  • fullmetal on 29/09/2020 - 09:28
    +1

    I work in a big store when I asked to checked bags I was abused even though they are regular shoplifter. Security did nothing but just stare. The ban never really work as only a few staffs know the ban. So you can walk away nobody can stop you.

  • big1964 on 29/09/2020 - 09:40

    It’s nothing personal when you are asked to have your bags checked it’s the minority who stuff it up for the majority of people who do the right thing you would be amazed to what lengths people go to pinch things that ain’t worth a lot of money.

  • try2bhelpful on 29/09/2020 - 11:17

    I think chasing you down was wrong but being asked to check at the store door is OK.

    If I was feeling like being a dick I would’ve been tempted to put down a hanky and start pulling things out of my bag, one at a time, and itemising everything in it. You could, also, give them the backstory on why you have each item. If your missus is anything like the rest of us females she would have a few “sanitary” products that should kick up the embarrassment of the store employee.

    However, what is more concerning is why, in this COVID era, the shop assistants are actually going through people’s bags. What happened to social distancing and hygiene?

    • samcro on 29/09/2020 - 17:28

      They are not allowed to touch. They can only "look" in the bag.

      • try2bhelpful on 29/09/2020 - 18:16
        +2

        So they can see into my bag from 1.5m? Good luck to them on seeing anything in that.

        We went through a few American airports after 911 happened and the security queues were horrific. However, even though the queues were long the actual checks were cursory. We figured if you put the bomb under your wind cheater you could, probably, smuggle one on. :)

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 29/09/2020 - 11:25

    I was shopping with a guy and purchased my stuff and then when he got to the car he pulled out some cheap $2 tap connector he stole and I felt like I was used as an unwitting accomplice. Maybe check your wife's handbag and bags yourself in case you were used in the same way.

    • Euphemistic on 29/09/2020 - 17:19
      +1

      Probably a real shoplifter said to the staff ‘that woman stole something’ in order to divert attention.

  • samcro on 29/09/2020 - 17:29

    A bag check request is ok as you are leaving the store. You can still refuse if you really insist. But, chasing you out of the store is a no no. I would have told them to shove it.

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