Kmart Ashfield NSW Bag Search

Today I went to Kmart Ashfield.

The woman conducting the bag searches was very rude and impatient. When she wanted to see into my backpack she said "bag" - no "please" or "can I"

Has anyone had any trouble with bag searches with Kmart, in particular with the Ashfield(NSW) branch?

If so what did you do?

I find it so unpleasant I'll avoid this store altogether. Also there are no signs either inside or outside saying that Kmart would be conducting bag searches.

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Comments

  • Why do stores need to check bags anyway? What happened to their store detectives?

    • They were normally only at one each store for one or two short shifts per week, and they normally only identified shady people and followed them. It's not like they actually prevented all theft.

  • +2

    You found JV at her day-job!

    • +3

      Bag

  • +5

    I think the practice of retailers searching your bags as you leave the store is a personal affront. It is tantamount to an accusation of theft. They are asking to check your begs for no other reason than to ensure you have not stolen anything.

    Retailers deliberately setup their stores to save employing staff to increase their profits knowing this makes it much easier for shoplifters. Their solution to this problem they created for themselves is to place a sentry on the exit, regard every customer as a potential thief and search their bags on the way out.

    In this country only the police can search your property or your person and only with probable cause. Retailers and shop assistants do not gain powers exceeding those of the police simply by placing a sign at the entrance to their store.

    How did we become so complacent that we allow retailers to search our bags?

    Everyone should simply say "No, you may not'" and keep walking when asked for permission to search your bags. This is nothing more than the exercise of one of the freedoms we hold dear in this country - the right to be free to walk around without being stopped and searched for no good reason.

    • +1

      "This is nothing more than the exercise of one of the freedoms we hold dear in this country - the right to be free to walk around without being stopped and searched for no good reason"
      I guess the private store owner also wants to exercise their freedom, to control what happens within their own property, and if a person doesn't agree, they are not welcome and should not enter.

      • -2

        Taking away a freedom is not the same as exercising one.

        • +6

          You get to exercise your FrEeDuM!!1! by choosing not to enter a private property that has terms and conditions you do not agree with.

          No one is taking anything away from you in this scenario. You are not being "forced" into their stores. If you don't agree to their T&C's, you are free to find another store, or to order online, or have it bought out to your vehicle in the car park.

          But you are happy to give up your "FrEeDuM" of speech and give that power to the government to determine what's ok and what isnt, all because of a "minority" of online trolls say some bad things.

          Replace "trolls" with "thieves" and "say bad things" with "steal items" and you can see how this minority affects the majority.

    • +6

      Ok "champ".

      the practice of retailers searching your bags as you leave the store is a personal affront.

      Then don't enter the store. If you don't agree to the terms and conditions of entry, simply don't enter. It's private property. I am sure you have some rules at your house about what you let go on in there.

      regard every customer as a potential thief and search their bags on the way out.

      Correct. Basically because it's a way of treating everyone equally. And they have to check everyone because of the minority who thieve affect it for the majority who do do the right thing.

      And it's kind of weird that shops have to "put into place" these "terms and conditions"… if only the thieves could take some "personal responsibility" and not steal from these stores… (Seems you want "rules" for some situations but not others. You're happy to let the government control free speech, but don't want to let a check out chick have a quick look in your man-bag.)

      Retailers and shop assistants do not gain powers exceeding those of the police simply by placing a sign at the entrance to their store.

      Then you don't understand the laws around what retailers can and cant do and what your rights are in return.

      How did we become so complacent that we allow retailers to search our bags?

      Because it's part of the terms and conditions of entry. Don't like it, don't enter.

      Everyone should simply say "No, you may not'" and keep walking when asked for permission to search your bags.

      A: For a start, don't like the conditions of entry, vote with your feet and find a store that doesn't have these conditions of entry.
      B: Let's look at it from a different angle. If I come to your house and you ask me to take off my muddy work boots before I enter your house. I say "no, I will not" and walk right on past you…

      the right to be free to walk around without being stopped and searched for no good reason.

      This is not a right when you enter onto "private property". The same goes if you invited people over for a party and one of them was stealing your shit. The condition of entry to your house was "Don't steal my shit." If they are stealing your shit, you have a right to ask them "are you stealing my shit?" because the terms and conditions to entering your house was "Don't steal my shit".

      You are being stopped and it is for good reason. Having a quick look in your bag for stolen shit is a good way to deter many petty thieves. Checking everyone's bags is a good deterrent to theft if everyone gets checked, as it doesn't single any person or demographic out.

      • -1

        I don't know if you're deliberately misunderstanding what I'm saying but you're drawing some tenuous links and some strange comparisons. I was simply expressing my own personal opinion. If you are happy to be accused of being a thief and submitting your bags to be searched every time you leave a store good for you.

        • +6

          Nothing to misunderstand. You have seperate rules based on "personal opinions" that don't correlate to each other. Government removing your rights to express your opinion because a few online trolls, that's ok. A business wanting to protect its stock by asking to have a quick look in a bag, "dEsTrOyiNg mUh FrEeDuMz!!!1!"

          And no one is accusing anyone of being a thief by putting up terms and conditions that say they reserve the right to ask to look in your bag if you choose to enter their property. You are not being forced to enter and you are not being forced to open your bag. You can say no, but don't act surprised if you are asked to leave and never come back.

          Asking to see if you have stolen goods in your bag on the way out is no different to asking someone who enters your house if they have dog shit on their shoes. You're not accusing them of being "dog shit in the house vandals", you just are making sure so you can protect your assets.

          "They can check our bags! But they can never take our FrEeDuMz!!!" - William Wallace, emperor of Scotland, 1653.

        • -2

          Gave you a +1 . How dare you have a personal opinion that goes against someone elses. Your opinion and words must be nitpicked to exhaustion. End of debate is ensured and winner is called…. What a lovely society we are creating. /s

  • Any one know why Kmart moved the checkout from the store entry/exit to the centre of the store.

  • This is the ultimate cool story.

  • +2

    People that get paid the minimum wage should only do minimum work to complete their tasks or duties.

    Customers that want high-end service should shop elsewhere.

  • +4

    Fun fact: Products you buy from Kmart are made in a country where laborers (women, men, kids) are strip-searched after every shift.

    • Must be due to all those expensive quality products they're making lol.

  • +2

    I went to Ashfield (Kmart and Coles) for the first time 2 weeks ago when I flew into Sydney for a couple of days and needed to quickly pick up a tshirt. What a shithole. It's like the gene pool consists of all the worst traits of humanity; the people there just look off. And that's not just kart, but the suburb as a whole (hole?) I also noticed that the Kmart staff were happy to drop loud F bombs in front of customers in their casual conversation. Never experienced that in a corporate store before.

    • ashfield is the ass end of the inner west. absolute toilet

      • I only drive through Ashfield on my way further west, but in previous decades it was a kind of Shanghai central with people speaking Shanghainese being the most obvious group

        people from China are used to crowds - I learned this in Beijing - how do locals get on a bus in China ?

        use your elbows !

      • +1

        Pretty much most of Sydney is a toilet. Overcrowded, Dirty and live in shit boxes.

    • There is a lot of theft and petty crime in and around Ashfield Mall which is why KMart inspect bags on exit. It’s my local shopping centre and I’m just used to automatically having to show my bags on exit.

      OP is just an over sensitive selfish prince/princess who expects white gloved service from a bottom-of-the-barrel retailer.

  • -1

    I wouldn't care either way. She's just doing her job. I'd rather that then the stupid "How's your day going?" crud.

  • +6

    "I find it so unpleasant I'll avoid this store altogether"

    She has achieved her goal to reduce her workload.

    • "I find it so unpleasant I'll avoid this store altogether"

      The phrase every retail employee wants to here from an annoying customer.

    • +3

      Work smarter, not harder.

  • Sounds like you had a great Christmas

  • Just don’t go to stores with bag checks

    I’m sure no one is holding a gun to your head to go right?

    If you believe your rights are paramount, bring UN observers and peacekeepers along when you go shopping, just in case.

  • +1

    Hey OP, watch this video or the first 10 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NTIY8Qy2f0
    Then delete this useless post you sensitive little flower :)

  • What are you trying to say…. someone snatched your bag…. security wanted to check your bag….

    I think you pose a problem… these people have a stressful job…. you know what to expect when exiting…. have your bag ready for presentation…. you probable acted suspicious .

    Yous foresight and realise that if you see people ahead having their bags checked then it will probably happen to you so present your bag for inspection… it is rather simple if you have the house to look ahead and anticipate what is occurring around you…. otherwise we would all be crashing into each other.

  • are you new to the planet Earth?

  • +3

    I feel sorry for the people working the door at k-mart.

    whichever shiny arse thought it was a 'good idea' to put all the registers in the middle of the floor, and then make people wander through the merchandise to get out (with the potential of some pinching something, of course) and then sticking some poor low-paid person to check the bags and receipts - that shiny arse was an absolute moron.

    one reason why, when I go looking for the kind of stuff k-mart has, I prefer big-w or target.

    I also avoid jb-hifi for the same stupid setup - only worse! the checkouts are usually all the way at the back!

  • +2

    You do not need to show your bag to anyone regardless of ‘what the sign says’. I do it out of courtesy but if the person is a d*ck, I just keep walking.

    If a person witnessed (as in directly saw - not suspected or ‘someone told them’) you taking something, not paying and you have exited the store, they may detain you and contact police. Most won’t as it’s disastrous if they get it wrong.

    Don’t mistake ‘being asked’ with ‘being forced’.

  • Yeah I always found Ashfield shops a bit rough, even though the area in general isn’t too bad. Try Rhodes/Top Ryde/Macquarie instead; or even perhaps Burwood or Parramatta.

    Ashfield woolies is good for pallets of D grade fruit and veg for $1/kg. Everyone there must like making juices.

  • +1

    Remember you are under no legal obligation to show the contents of your bag when you exit the store. You can simply say 'no' and continue to exit the store.

    Store staff cannot prevent you from leaving the store or they open themselves and the store to being charged with unlawful detention. If, in the highly unlikely scenario, they threaten to detain you, inform them you will call the police and request they are charged with unlawful detention.

    Keep in mind they may prevent you entering the store in the future, as it is also within their rights to require customers allow a visual bag search as a condition of entry. Usually these conditions of entry are posted at all entry points to a store (although sometimes they can be hard to find).

    In 99.9% of the time, unless they are really stepping outside what is reasonable, its best just to let them look. Keep in mind that staff member has been instructed to do that and its probably not their favourite task. If you have nothing to hide, just show your bag, they very seldom look carefully or take a lot of time.

    • +1

      Staff/Security legally can arrest you if they have seen you stealing something. But if they are wrong they are in a world of trouble. Anyone can preform a citizens arrest.

      • +1

        Yes, anyone can perform a citizen's arrest if you have witnessed a crime occurring. You would also need to be very sure of what crime you were detaining the person for. Unlike members of the police force, who can arrest you on suspicion of a crime, normal citizens must have witnessed the crime themselves.

        But back to the question of a bag search, you cannot be detained/citizen's arrested for refusing a bag search. Similarly, the staff member would be on very rocky ground trying to justify a citizen's arrest due to what they see in your bag; they could not be sure they have witnessed any crime. They couldn't say for sure that a suspected stolen product has not been paid for and could not legally detain on the suspicion it hasn't been paid for.

      • +2

        I should add, the requirements of a citizen's arrest are why store security personnel will never stop you before you exit the store. You haven't committed the crime of theft until you have past outside the boundary of the store. Store security personnel need to witness you placing the stolen goods into your bag or concealing them on your person and they need to witness you to fully exit the store before they can execute a citizen's arrest. If they don't do both they are in a difficult place legally.

        In years gone past it wasn't uncommon for stores to have 1 or 2 plain clothes 'stock loss control officers' patrolling the store / monitoring security cameras. That isn't as common now due to all the legal issues around stopping a thief. Today it is more common to have uniformed security staff around to act as a visible deterrent. Seldom will they execute a citizen's arrest unless it was a very very soft target. Think young kids, little old ladies, or other people who present little to no threat. Very unlikely they will try to stop an adult thief.

        Stores are more comfortable accepting the loss of theft over accepting the legal risks and liabilities of trying to detain an adult thief.

        Deterrent is where it is mainly at today and visual bag checks are one of those deterrents.

        • If the theft is captured by the security camera, what are the legal risks of detaining an adult thief?
          I think it is also because the police and perhaps courts don't really care about small theft and don't really want to deal with it. They rather spend time fining people for something of non-criminal nature…

          • @leiiv: The person witnessing the theft with their eyes or via camera should perform the arrest. They must exit the store before the arrest. If the person doesn't have the stolen product still on them you are then liable for all types of charges and civil action. You also risk assault charges if they haven't stolen or you use too much force.

  • -1

    OP sounds like he is off his rocker.

  • +3

    Kmart Employee: "Bag"
    Me: "You like my bag? Oh yea I got it from Target, you should go get one too"….Walk away…

  • +7

    You can tell who has worked retail and who hasn't just from the replies in this thread.

    • +1

      Disagree, you can tell who Should or Shouldn't work in retail from this thread

  • +2

    Normally I just walk away without acknowledge anything. They don't have entitlement to search bag, and you don't have liability to allow the search. A sign does not create straight forward entitlements.

  • +2

    She gets paid to do the job and I am pretty sure as part of her job training she was advised to be polite and respectful. Maybe she had a bad day so if this is one-off I would say we are all humans so give her a break. If she does this all the time on all occasions I'd say the store manager should have a chat with her. Either she could be reassigned to other jobs or cop up if everyone in the store frontline does it on rotation basis.

  • +2

    OP's never worked a few xmas's in retail and suffered the general public.
    People should be forced to do 3-5 years of soul crushing retail work out of school \ uni to ground them, then when they go shopping in the years to come we'd have less Karens and people would be less likely to be a-holes to the people stuck working there.

  • You should sue Kmart for violating your rights

  • +3

    i personally always had a negative experince with K mart in terms of customer service. employees seem dull and hating the job in all the K marts ive been to.
    bunnings however i find the staff are pretty polite and friendly majority of the times.

  • I also post all of this stuff on Ozbargain for the best advice and empathy

  • +3

    A few years back I was trying a face cream tester, on my face, and a staff member got really snarky, threatened to get security and throw me out

    • Hi Pam!

  • -2

    You have not been to Kmart before? Most Kmarts I've been to I've seen both security and bag checkers at the door. Kmart's are massive and busy I'd assume there would be a lot of thieves. Shouldn't be a problem to show your receipt and bags, as long as they don't touch.

    Retail is tough work with low to average pay, we can't expect premium service.

    • +2

      Don't confuse the people who work there with the entity that you are actually dealing with. Despite all of Kmart's difficulties they still managed to rake in almost $10 billion dollars in revenue and a 12% increase in sales this year.

      They could afford to pay their staff a bit more and implement a less intrusive and offensive theft control program.

      • If there wasn't theft at the store, there wouldn't be bag searchers and security guards at the entry. They're clearly there for a reason, because theft is a problem at the store. If you don't want to shop there you're welcome to shop at a local competitor such as Big W or Target who sell similar products. Kmart is not a monopoly, everything they sell can be found at a competitors store. If you feel offended by someone scanning your bag and saying 'bag', then you can take your business elsewhere and read the signs at the front of the store.

      • I agree. But many either can't understand or refuse to understand your point and the larger concept itself.

    • They do have big problems with theft at Ashfield Mall. OP is just rude and naive.

    • Notwithstanding the content, this is one of the most poorly worded articles I have ever read. It implies things about legal rights to search then uses words like ‘ask.’ It’s problematic as it’s at best open to causing confusion to untrained/unqualified persons

  • +2

    This is when "Customer Service" jobs become "Customer Surveillance" job.

  • +4

    I unzip my backpack as I walk to the exit, smile and show the door person inside. I have nothing to hide. The door person usually smiles, thanks me and appreciates this. I think OP could try being polite first if they are expecting courtesy from others - especially if they feel it will ruin their day or expirence.
    I've worked door shifts when I was younger at Target. I can remember how my feet ached all day.

  • I had a shit bag (colostomy) and used to get questions from security of bulge under my shirt in summer as it did looks weird as i was young, skinny and wore light tops. I was questioned once when shit bag was full in a small shop and i showed them the shit bag and they were so embarrassed and gave me a free pillow case. I suppose people working doors have to deal with all sorts of ways people steal and the possibility that bulges, bumps and bags could be medical as well. As others who worked store security stated it must be an awful job as you annoy honest people and get abuse from frustrated/tired and crims.

  • +1

    As far as I know, stores aren't legally allowed to search your bag (they are allowed to request). So you have every right to refuse and walk out. It's a bit of a Karen move, but just sayin.

    On the other hand, they are within their right to ban you from their store in the future.

    • Karen move

      They have no legal right to do it with out your express permission, so it's not like the customer is even complaining.

    • +1

      You're right, they can request, and if you say yes and they search, they can't touch anything in your bag or move items. They can request for you to move the items yourself.

      But Aldi, in two stores, I have purchased items from Woolies and the person wanted to check on the counter as they can't see while sitting down, they actually move my items in my bag. Of course, I didn't steal anything but one day I wasn't having it for some reason and I said: "you know, legally, you're not meant to touch my items in my bag when you search". The rep didn't say anything, I guess it happened to me so many times, that I was just sick of it.

      Now I buy my stuff from Aldi then head over to Coles then Woolies. They don't search your bag.

  • +1

    I only read about half a dozen comments here but I just wanted to say that whenever I walk into those department stores and I see the person at the door, I feel good about knowing they're there. I was buying a toy for my daughter for her birthday and I was trying to discreet about it because she was with me. I went to pay at the self service counter while she was looking at some other toys close by.
    That was a bad mistake because she went walk-about. I don't think I've ever experienced any feeling like that before when you realise you've lost your child. I can't even explain it in words but a major failure as a father. I had to get a staff member to help me and they put the call out to all the other staff on the multiple exits to watch out for my daughter. So I think maybe a lot of people take for granted what those staff at the door are there doing and what their responsibilities are.

    • +4

      They aren't there to look after you children. Get real.

  • +2

    I don't think it's a great idea to treat your customers as criminals.

    As for searching your bag , ask them if they have a search warrant.

    Really if you suspect that everybody has stolen something then call the police.

    Why are people so FREEDOM when it comes to Covid, but total lemmings when they think a condition of entry allows anyone to rummage through your stuff?

  • +2

    'I find it so unpleasant I'll avoid this store altogether'

    OK Karen.

  • cheap can be nasty

  • +3

    I've had a woman working at Dan Murphys ask me to show them what's inside my pockets. I'm pretty sure they have no right to do that whatsoever, I complied with her strange request but as I was walking out it hit me how wrong it was that she did that.

    • +3

      Maybe it looked like you stole a bottle of vodka but it was actually your 'wink wink'. (Assuming you have a ding a ling)

      But in all seriousness…… who the hell checks pockets? What small item can you even steal in Dan M?

  • +2

    Cairns has some of the most horrible customer service staff on power trips I've encounted in Australia. Had one staff member physically go through my bag to see if I'd weighed the right nut mix at self service.

  • +1

    One day I remember buying a naughty toy from a store, then I went shopping as per usual. I forgot which store wanted to search my bag but I showed them and they saw it. And she was like: "oh, sorry" and I'm like: "all good" and walked off. She must had a good little water cooler chat with her workmates lol.

  • Surely a troll post

  • +1

    OP doesn't realise they are entering private property. If they don't like it they can leave. It isn't a public right of way.

  • +2

    You can politely refuse to show your bag.
    They can request.
    You can say no, or ignore and keep walking.
    They can't do anything about it, nor would they.

    I usually just politely decline, especially if I've come from the checkouts.

    They must never, ever touch your belongings. That could be considered assault.

    Such a stupid store layout with registers in the middle.

    It's the first of January, 2022. Why are we still discussing this?

    Because it seems a lot of OzBers didn't know it is voluntary to show your bag at the front door.
    So much wrong information and misinformed people.

    We are polite people, we avoid conflict, so most oblige.

    I have nothing to show (nor anything to hide).

    Happy new year!

    • They can by law stop you entering if you refuse the bag check. If you refuse to leave you are then trespassing. Highly unlikely that they would though. Not worth the hassle.

      • -1

        But you are leaving anyway?

        • -1

          After the fact.

        • If you are entering you are not leaving anyway.
          If you are exiting you can just ignore them and keep walking. Signs saying you agree to a bag search when you enter have no legal binding.

  • +6

    I always show my bag without being asked and I have not had a unhappy bag check yet

    The mother in law was complaining about her being asked to show her bag in Aldi's and said she wont go there again so maybe I should ask to check her bag when she comes over and maybe she will stop coming over

  • +2

    I do wonder what bag searches actually achieve, because it's usually no more than a quick glance from a low paid person who doesn't give a toss. If I wanted to steal anything, I'm confident I could get it past most of these people.

    I just find it annoying and will decide whether or not to bother looking in JB Hi-fi based on if I have a bag with me or not. Unsure why they feel the need when other electrical shops don't.

    • It's mental. It has been proven that theft is reduced significantly if there is a bag checker.

    • I do wonder what bag searches actually achieve

      A lot of theft is opportunist. The mere fact there is someone at the door checking bags will deter most shoplifters (at least most of those that didn't go there planning to steal). The best theft prevention is customer service. I saw a customer stuffing shirts into a bag through a shelving unit (probably $2000 worth), and she didn't think I could see her. I approached and asked if she wanted any help with selection. By the time I got to the counter to call security she had put all the shirts back. It can be as simple as showing that someone is paying attention.

      JB often work on lower margins than somewhere like Harveys, often discounting even reduced items and basing sales more on quantity rather than individual product profit. So they are more likley to have hired security doing bag checks. This provides an extra layer of visual security, as well as these guards being more thorough with the checks (but they are also more likely to know you can refuse).

      • Interesting on JB, as I don't find them to be particularly cheap compared with their competitors. My view of their business model is that they look to appear as a discount seller (brightly coloured CRAZY PRICES type signs, cheapest brand/lowest quality TVs prominently displayed etc) without actually being one.

        I would also say that, while theft may well often be opportunist, there's a type of person that does it. The type that will know what you can and can't get away with. Such as refusing a bag search.

        • +1

          Those are your hardcore shoplifters who do it frequently and become very good at it through experience.

          I'm guessing there would be a lot of people who would just do it very occasionally in particularly favourable situations. The mere sight of a working security guard or a bag checking agent at the exit is enough to thoroughly deter this type of shoplifter.

    • I know someone who steals shit from Coles. He said once he was asked to show his bag as he was leaving (without paying) the person checking the bag saw it was full of Coles grocery items and still let him leave without any further questioning or being made to produce a receipt.

      Goes to show that bag checkers are basically there just for show, or at least in some shops they are. Wouldn't surprise me if they are explicitly instructed not to do anything if someone actually has stolen anything.

  • +1

    Just remember that by law they can't look in your bag as you are exiting the store. Tell them if they think you have stolen something they can arrest/detain you. If they do and you have not stolen anything you can take civil action against them and the store. Also Police can charge them with false arrest and possibly assault.. They will only detain you if they are certain you have stolen something.

    They can look in your bag as you enter a store but you can choose not to enter. They can refuse entry if you don't show them inside your bag. They can physically stop you from entering. If they do look in your bag they can not touch anything or put their hand in your bag, they must ask you to move things around in there. If they do put a hand in your bag you might say "where's my money gone" and tell the manager that they have taken something from your bag !

    I am a Security Guard in Victoria and I know we are told only to arrest if we are 100% certain someone has stolen something and still have it with them.
    I know people will say I'm wrong about something here but this is what we are taught in the licensing course .
    Guards are mainly a deterrent and will rarely actually stop you. Many stores will instruct you not to arrest anyone.

    • What's the point of checking customers bag when they enter the store? Checking for explosives and guns?

      And also, why can't the store decide if it is 100% certain that someone has stolen something by making use of the cameras?

      • You can't be certain with camera footage. Stores are not monitoring security footage live. It can be used in court as evidence after the fact.
        There are stories of people that put things in their pockets and make sure plenty of people see them do it, but before leaving the store they get rid of the product. They have holes in their pockets and drop the item out of the leg of their pants . They want to be arrested so they can then sue the store or demand a settlement for false arrest.
        There are many tricks that I will not mention on here. It's just not worth any guard risking the legal problems involved with arresting a shoplifter.

    • Many major stores don't stop people they know are stealing. What they do is inform the person that they are banned from the store as they leave. If they return Police are called and trespass charges can be laid.

      • How can you ban someone without knowing their identity?

        • Facial recognition technology is improving in CCTV systems
          Facial recognition in humans has been a thing for quite some time

          • @2024: That's fine but if you don't get at least the person's ID you can't really prove they are the same person the next time they come in.

            Facial recognition is by no means 100% accurate. Everytime I go through customs at LAX I get reminded of that when their system can't recognise me and I have to speak to the customs agents instead.

  • Ask her if she has a Warrant.

  • +2

    Most of the experiences I've had with bag checkers are relatively positive and I've found most of them friendly, particularly if they're older staff. The rude ones are usually younger staff who've had to frequently deal with crappy irate customers. Part of this is also due to Kmart's crappy central checkout layout forcing checkers to look through more bags increasing the probability of dealing with shtheads.

    Also ignore the out of touch boomers on here validating this behaviour or posting videos of 3rd world countries(this is a bargain website after all, don't expect majority of the people on here to be emotionally rational, lol). Getting crappy customers isn't an excuse to take out your frustration on every single customer walking through the door as some sort of defence mechanism. I've worked customer facing retail back in uni and managed to contain my emotions. When I felt it starting to get to me after a few years, I moved on. Now is the best time to switch jobs anyway considering there is a labour shortage in many places, so not sure why anyone would stick around these jobs continuing to be miserable.

  • I used to work in retail quite a while back and when I went through bag check part of my retail training we were taught that while performing a bag check, we were to under no circumstances touch the bags ourself. The reason being is that if they had stolen something and we touched their property they could twist it back onto us and say we put it into there. This was drilled into us. We were allowed to ask them to move contents in their bag if we needed to look deeper.

    So it really irks me when a retail staff member touches my shopping bag during a bag check. It’s totally inappropriate and I simply don’t like strangers touching my stuff. There’s no need to touch someone’s property to simply do a bag check.

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