Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin - Green Bay
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I will respond to questions and comments as time permits, but if you want to take issuewith any position expressed here, you first have to answer this question:
What evidence would it take to prove your beliefs wrong?
I simply will not reply to challenges that do not address this question. Refutabilityis one of the classic determinants of whether a theory can be called scientific. Moreover,I have found it to be a great general-purpose cut-through-the-crap question to determinewhether somebody is interested in serious intellectual inquiry or just playing mind games.Note, by the way, that I am assuming the burden of proof here - all youhave to do is commit to a criterion for testing.It's easy to criticize science for being "closed-minded". Are you open-mindedenough to consider whether your ideas might be wrong?
Fark.com link Insurance company sends a private fire department to a wildfire zone in an effort to protect only the homes owned by their more wealthy clients
(Twins-Falls Times News) Interesting
Saving million-dollar homes Insurance company sends in private fire crew to protect expensive homes By Matt Christensen Times-News writer KETCHUM - Yes, the rich are different than the rest of us.
A private fire crew dispatched by a national insurance company that caters to wealthy clients is guarding 22 high-end homes threatened by the Castle Rock Fire, a blaze that has forced the evacuation of hundreds of million-dollar homes west of Ketchum.
The crew will protect only homes insured by AIG Private Client Group, an insurance company that offers "loss-prevention services" to its wealthiest customers. A truck and two-man crew sent by AIG from Montana arrived in Ketchum about 2 p.m. Wednesday to start dousing properties with Phos-Chek, the same fire retardant dropped from U.S. Forest Service aircraft.
"We're not going out there to fight the fire," said Dorothy Sarna, vice president and national director of risk-management services and loss prevention for the New York-based company. "We're out there to protect our clients."
Veteran fire managers now working the Castle Rock fire say they've never heard of a private fire crew protecting individual homes in the midst of a wildfire, said Dave Olson, a spokesman for the Forest Service.
The private crew has been granted access to areas closed to residents, but not all officials with public fire agencies were thrilled by the sight of the truck scooting through a smoky web of government fire crews.
"That sounds ridiculous to me," said Kim Rogers, a Ketchum Police Department spokesman, "especially since we haven't lost any structures. I mean, this is a Forest Service fire, not a private fire."
Nevertheless, the crew has Forest Service blessing.
AIG's private fire-protection program began about three years ago, based mostly in the wealthiest communities in California and Colorado. This is the first time the crew has come to the Wood River Valley, an area as famous for mansions as the rest of the state is for potatoes.
Properties insured under the Private Client Group are all worth more than $1 million, or their owners pay more than $10,000 annually in premiums. AIG says it's not aware of any other insurance companies that offer private fire protection.
The insurance company realized several years ago that it could save money if it took a proactive approach to wildfires, said Peter Tulupman, an AIG spokesman. AIG contracts with Firebreak Spray Systems, a company that specializes in home fire-protection services that include an outdoor, sprinkler-like fire retardant system.
Firebreak, which owns seven fire trucks, was started by the inventor of produce watering systems now common in grocery stores, said co-owner Eddie Hosch.
Firebreak has saved three houses from other fires since AIG began using it three years ago, Sarna said. That's millions of dollars in claims the insurer would have paid had those high-end homes burned.
"We're not only in the business of paying claims," she said. "We're in the business of preventing them."
One privately protected home at a time.
tigerdirect-unlawfully-restrains-and-verbally-abuses-customer-for-not-submitting-to-receipt+showing-demands-292688.phphttp://consumerist.com/consumer/civil-rights/tigerdirect-unlawfully-restrains-and-verbally-abuses-customer-for-not-submitting-to-receipt+showing-demands-292688.php Consumerist.com
I was visiting a Tigerdirect (Large Electronic Retail Store) in Naperville, IL today (8/23/07)(8/22/07). All was going well until after I had paid for my merchandise and tried to leave.
A security guard demanded that I show him my receipt, which I respectfully declined with a "No Thanks" and continued walking out the door. At that point the Guard physically placed himself between me and the door and said "I can't let you leave until you show me your receipt." I attempted to walk around him, explaining I didn't have to show him anything, and he continued to block my path and called several other employees to block my retreat.
I understand the "Shopkeeper's Privilege", but under no possible interpretation of the law would refusing a voluntary receipt check constitute grounds for reasonable suspicion of shoplifting. At this point, I warned them that I was being unlawfully restrained, and unless they immediately allowed me to leave, I would call the police and press criminal charges for unlawful restraint, and also file a civil suit for false imprisonment (fortunately, I knew my rights).
None of them budged, and the store manager began verbally abusing and slandering me...
He called me a thief, and said he would have me arrested for "attempted shoplifting". Both the manager and security guard said it was corporate policy to detain customers unless they submitted to a receipt check.
At this point, I pull out my cell phone, call 911, and inform the operator I'm being illegally detained and not allowed to leave the store. The operator said an officer was on the way and would be there in a few minutes. In the meantime, the manager continued screaming at me, telling me I was banned from the store (fine by me, I've spent easily over $10,000 in the last few years at Tigerdirect and planned to take my business elsewhere if this was the kind of treatment I could expect) and so on.
Fortunately, an officer arrived within 5 minutes. The manager and security guard began to tell the officer I was trying to steal something. After they were done I calmly explained the situation to the officer. The officer agreed that they couldn't hold me unless they had seen me shoplifting, which they obviously had not. I then asked the officer to arrest the security guard for unlawful restraint, which she refused to do; she instead suggested I talk the the state's attorney if I wanted to press charges (which I plan to do). I got the security guard's name, and the officer's name and badge number. I then left, and was again verbally informed me I was banned from returning. As I was leaving, the security guard continued to taunt me, and dared me to press charges.
As soon as I got home (approximately 4 hours later, I had errands to run), I called the company the security guard was from (Securitas), explained the situation, and asked if their corporate policy was to forcibly detain customers who refuse to show their receipt. I was escalated three times, until a "supervisor" there said he didn't feel comfortable answering the question, but he would have his boss call me back shortly. I waited 2 hours, with no more response. I called back again, and after reaching the same supervisor asked why my call hadn't been returned. He informed me that they had my contact information, and if they had anything to say to me they would call. I demanded to speak to his boss, and was told that the boss was busy now, but would call me within an hour. Again, after 4 hours, no call.
Nowhere in any of this did anyone apologize to me or tell me they were mistaken. I probably would have been satisfied with an apology and a guarantee that the security staff would be properly retrained at any point after I left. But, after the shoddy treatment I received, even after they realized they had made a mistake, I want to fight this thing to the end.
How do you recommend I go about contacting the State's Attorney? I understand that the prosecutor has some discretion on filing charges, and that they have many other cases on the table. There is no dispute of the facts, there were security cameras everywhere, and the guard agreed with my version of the events when speaking with the officer. Also, I would like to file a civil suit against them, but must admit that money is an issue for me. How do you suggest I find a lawyer/firm that would take this case on a contingent fee?
Thanks for the time, Shaneal
What a story! Where was this store located? Do you have the name of the security guard and manager to share? As far as contacting the State's Attorney, I think simply an initial phone call to their office is fine. Finding a lawyer is as simple as calling your local bar association, describing in brief your case, and asking for a referral.
Thanks for the support,
The store is located at 175 Ambassador Drive Naperville, IL 60540 (630) 548-2000
The security guard's name is "Malcom Melton," and the corporate office he works out of has a number (630)963-9456.
I called the States Attorney's office for my county and spoke to a prosecutor who "said charges would not be forthcoming." Basically, his explanation was that I wasn't detained long enough for him to bother. The police report is filed with the Naperville Police Department, report number [redacted].
I also contacted the bar, and was told that no lawyer would take this case on a contingency because there weren't enough damages, but I was welcome to hire a lawyer on an hourly basis. However, they informed me that in all likelihood the attorney's fees would be ten to twenty thousand, which I can't afford.
Thanks for your quick response. No one else seemed bothered by this. All I really want is for them to change their policy and/or retrain the guards. Hopefully, with your support they will at least be shamed into doing that much.
Stinks. Did you happen to catch the manager's name? At this point, you could either complain to corporate, or try pitching your story to the local media.
I did not get the manager's name unfortunately; by the time I was leaving and got around to taking names the manager had already disappeared. I emailed corporate with the story too, but have yet to receive a response.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I doubt the local media would be very receptive to my claims. When the whole warrantless wiretapping scandal was taking place the little coverage it got was all in favor of government (e.g., "If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about"). I'm fairly certain they'd just tell me I should have showed the guard the receipt and been done with it.
The voluntariness of the receipt checking is an interesting issue that we've touched on before. Unless you've signed a membership agreement agreeing to receipt checks, or they actually see you shoplifting, stores have no right to stop you from leaving the store for refusing a receipt-check. However, in the grand scheme of things, it's probably a lot easier just to flash your receipt and get on with your life, but you're perfectly within your rights to make a stand about the issue. Furthermore, beyond the mere detainment, the Tiger Direct store definitely went "beneath and below" by verbally assaulting you.
As you said, the reason you've had a hard time getting people interested in your case is because you didn't actually incur any monetary loss. Companies care about balance sheets, not feelings, so your options for recompense are relatively limited. The most satisfaction you can probably hope to get is that I've just posted your story, informing more consumers of their rights, and casting a big stinky shame cloud on TigerDirect of Naperville, IL.
PREVIOUSLY: Ask The Consumerist: Do I Have To Let Stores Check My Receipt? The Straight Scoop On If Stores Can Legally Stop You And Check Your Receipt (Photo: Critical Miami)
7:20 PM ON THU AUG 23 2007 BY BEN POPKEN 85,931 views
* TOPIC: * civil rights * complaints * electronics * illinois * legal issues * naperville * readers * receipts * retail * tigerdirect * top
Read More:
* Executive Email Carpet Bomb Also Effective Against Cell Phone Spammers * TigerDirect Apologizes For Unlawfully Detaining Customer For Refusing To Show Receipt * Progressive Insurance Lies Its Way Into Church Support Group To Dig Up Lawsuit Dirt
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ADVERTISEMENT track Comments Image of Greasy Thumb Guzik BY GREASY THUMB GUZIK AT 08/23/07 07:43 PM
1. Contact the DuPage County state's attorney's office. 505 North County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630) 407-8000 That's a problem as Joe Birkett, the DuPage SA is a nutcase.
2. As I've been there many times, I can tell you that the checkouts are just at the exit & there's no reason that a guard there couldn't see you checkout. My guess is that this guard has gotten into trouble before & for some reason decided to pick you out as his victim.
No commenter image uploaded BY SANDTIGER AT 08/23/07 07:45 PM
Coming from Tigerdirect this doesn't surprise me one bit. They have been the worst in my experience when it comes to customer service. After over a year of refusing to shop there I decided to try them out and see if anything had changed. I went in and asked about a sound card to see if they had one in stock and the woman they had working didn't even know what one was! Why have someone working in a computer store if they dont know ANYTHING about computers??
Before I boycotted them I had spent over 3-4k there when I finally got tired of their HORRIBLE warranty and return policies.
Image of Cthulhubot BY CTHULHUBOT AT 08/23/07 07:46 PM
So you couldnt just show the guy the recipt? It was too much work to pull it out so he could just glance at it and let you leave?
Oh well, good luck with your case.
No commenter image uploaded BY FREEDOMBOY AT 08/23/07 07:46 PM
Well a nice walk around the VHS tape section with a powerful magnet taped to your hand is fun. Magnets do help with dyr skin [:-)]and using one while shopping for VHS tapes is good therapy. I hear tell the same benefit is true, for your hands that is, when stroking and shopping for 20" monitors.
I suppose that might make you feel better.
Image of Tian BY TIAN AT 08/23/07 07:51 PM
I agree with CTHULHUBOT.
This whole situation could have been avoided if the shopper would just show the receipt. That would only take a second.
Now you have to fight the store with a lawsuit.
Good luck with it.
[www.tian.cc]
Oh by the way, have you set up a Paypal account to accept donations to cover legal fees?
Image of emergeoriginal BY EMERGEORIGINAL AT 08/23/07 07:52 PM
Its tough to have sympathy for Shaneal. Ive been on both sides of the situation, and I have to say its easier to just show the receipt. Unless your buying hard core fetish porn you dont want people to know about (which is understandable at that point), what's the difference of showing them your receipt? It makes it so they dont have to raise their prices because of theft, it keeps the cashiers honest, and all around a good business practice.
I see no logical reasoning behind not showing them the receipt other then the fact you want to make your life harder.
Image of Hitchcock BY HITCHCOCK AT 08/23/07 07:53 PM
For suing them, your best bet is small claims court. At least in CA you can sue for detainment in small claims. So you are probably looking at $100 or so plus time off work to sue.
No commenter image uploaded BY ALEXANDER AT 08/23/07 07:53 PM
@Cthulhubot: I'm with you. It sucks that it went down like that...but what was the point of not showing the receipt? Just to make a point of not showing it?
No commenter image uploaded BY AQUA AT 08/23/07 07:54 PM
Just a small note, by posting his name, he will probably counter sue for slander. Your story is intriguing, but next time, I'd highly recommend consulting a free legal advice call center, there are many in the US, before posting this on a blog. In addition, by entering the store, which is private property, you agree to their terms, yes that was unlawful holding, but if showing your receipt is a policy of the store, sorry man, but you gotta do it. Like many people, I avoid Tigerdirect like the plague, I've had horrible customer service experiences there myself.
No commenter image uploaded BY JORDAN LUND AT 08/23/07 07:54 PM
Calling the cops was brilliant as it established a paper trail... but left to my own devices I simply would have fallen back on pepper spray. :^)
No commenter image uploaded BY CURMUDGEON5 AT 08/23/07 07:55 PM
Why should he have to succumb to their demands just to be able to leave the store? Those receipt check things piss me off. I'm often in a hurry and/or don't feel like having to have additional interaction; I don't see why I should be inconvenienced for something that's voluntary.
No commenter image uploaded BY HRMAN AT 08/23/07 07:55 PM
I just called the named store and spoke with the manager who was on duty yesterday. I asked her what she has to say about the incident, explaining to her that I am a customer and it makes me question my loyalty to their store. She was extremely rude to me and claimed that the reality was that the customer had two paid items on the screen and was walking out with three. Odd that the person then didn't end up arrested for shoplifting. Also would give good reason to file for defamation as they are now telling other parties the customer stole when clearly there is no proof of that.
No commenter image uploaded BY RINGOKAMENS AT 08/23/07 07:56 PM
I would certainly be willing to throw a few dollars your way if you started accepting donations. I believe if you sued in Federal District Court that you could also obtain a judgment that would force them to change their policies. I had a similar incident happen recently where I was told by an officer of the RTD (our local public bus system) that it was illegal to take pictures on public property and he ordered me to put away my camera. I called their legal department and was told that he had violated my rights. Then I called the manager of the offending officer and was told that I was in the wrong. It's unfortunate that all-to-often corruption is systematic along with the abuse of people's rights and this is one example. Is there any contact information available for this store? I would love to do some investigating and calling. Comrade Ringo Kamens
No commenter image uploaded BY CURMUDGEON5 AT 08/23/07 07:56 PM
Also, it's insulting -- it treats everyone as a potential thief. I don't particularly enjoy being insulted by a store I'm giving business too, particularly as a matter of routine practice.
No commenter image uploaded BY MWDAVIS AT 08/23/07 08:02 PM
Turn around at the door. Go to customer service and make a return.
No commenter image uploaded BY JERMJERM AT 08/23/07 08:02 PM
I know a lot of people don't like Circuit City but that was one of the things I like about them when working there. We did not bother customers with checking their receipts unless they set off an alarm. It was a breath of fresh air after working at CompUSA and ringing some one out only to have the security guard, literaly 4 feet away from me, make customers show him their receipt. It's a big waste of time for customers and having the guard walking the aisles would be a better theft deterrent than having him babysit the exit.
No commenter image uploaded BY TELEVIPER AT 08/23/07 08:05 PM
So the physical restraint was blocking your path and the verbal abuse was being called a thief. Can you say "frivolous" lawsuit or what? Sounds like someone really needs to learn to pick their battles. I mean they asked you to see the receipt, do you really expect people to be polite to you when you're obviously being a complete dick?
Image of ju-ju-eyeball BY JU-JU-EYEBALL AT 08/23/07 08:06 PM
So you couldnt just show the guy the recipt? It was too much work to pull it out so he could just glance at it and let you leave?
WOW! Just roll over let every invasion of privacy happen? You are not required to show a receipt. PERIOD.
Would you just eat dog crap to have gotten out of the store???
Image of cincifresh BY CINCIFRESH AT 08/23/07 08:06 PM
Yes this is a really dumb situation. Many stores have the policy of checking receipts at the door. It's like being carded when you're obviously over 21. This poor security guard was just doing his job and now this guy wants to sue him? Maybe they just have a lot of time on their hands and some control issues. Crazy! I'm disappointed in you consumerist for taking this guys side.
No commenter image uploaded BY IAMTRAVIS AT 08/23/07 08:07 PM
i agree, it's hard to feel bad for shaneal, but i do think it's a bit bogus for a company to refuse your exit after legally purchasing something. don't they watch the registers? don't they notice that someone walking, say, straight out of the exit, as opposed to around the corner from the registers, is probably the real theif? i wonder how many people actually got away with walking out of the store while you she was detained by the security staff....
i'd personally try saying you where detained from work, and lost valuable clients because of it (cha ching...)
No commenter image uploaded BY CHRISTO67 AT 08/23/07 08:07 PM
Is it that difficult to show them a receipt?
Is your life so empty that you have to waste your time pursuing a pointless lawsuit with a retail chain that isn't worth the effort in the first place?
I say grow up and get a life.
No commenter image uploaded BY RVLESHRAC AT 08/23/07 08:09 PM
@Cthulhubot:
Let's take the other side:
Why couldn't they just let him leave? Was it too much trouble to not do anything untoward and allow the customer to walk out of the store after *gasp* spending money there?
More importantly, there is no law stating that you must show your receipt, while there IS a law stating that you cannot hold an individual against their will in the absence of a criminal offence (and in many locales, the offence must be a felony).
No commenter image uploaded BY JINJIN1080 AT 08/23/07 08:11 PM
@Shaneal - You are part of the problem. Was this really worth it? It would have taken you less than 2 seconds to show your receipt or since you think it's some travesty of civil rights you should have just kept walking. I'd go as far as to say you were LOOKING for a fight and now you want to WASTE the state attorney's time with your frivolous suit? You're part of the problem, you litigious jackass. I'm just glad the police officer had enough sense to NOT arrest the security guard (who's just trying to do his job).
@FREEDOMBOY - Yeah that'd be great revenge if this was 1987 and stores stocked VHS tapes, you're gonna look pretty stupid trying to rub a DVD with a magnet :) .
No commenter image uploaded BY RECCASQUIRREL AT 08/23/07 08:11 PM
@alexander: How about right to privacy? What I buy isn't the business of anyone else. Beyond having to have a cashier ring the transaction up, it really doesn't need to be shared with anyone else.
People should not have to give up rights. And people certainly should not have to bend over and give up their rights on a whim because "it would have avoided the situation". The situation should not have been created in the first place.
No commenter image uploaded BY NATEA AT 08/23/07 08:11 PM
Wait, I visit Costco all the time and I'm not bugged by them asking to see my receipt.
Is it that big of an issue? I don't understand why some people are so careful about their "personal rights", and don't just compromise once in a while.
No commenter image uploaded BY RVLESHRAC AT 08/23/07 08:11 PM
@Christo67:
You too, I suppose.
Where do you draw the line? A full search of your coat and bags? Frisking you? Having to buzz you out of the store?
It isn't much of a stretch.
Image of bedofnails BY BEDOFNAILS AT 08/23/07 08:12 PM
Great email, and great post. Kudos to the OP for holding ground on this issue. Personally I despise this policy. I took a similar stand at a Walmart last week, and left the pack of uneducated, "bag checkers" scratching their heads.
However lame the story sounds when repeated, (receiving a blank stare, and the "why didn't you just show your receipt?"), I must say sometimes people like that need a little shove, knocking them down a peg.
No commenter image uploaded BY RECCASQUIRREL AT 08/23/07 08:13 PM
@Christo67: What point is there to having a life if we bend over and give up our rights anytime they are brought into question. You can have that world, I don't want to live there.
Image of bedofnails BY BEDOFNAILS AT 08/23/07 08:13 PM
@Televiper:
They have no right to do so. Standing up for yourself does not equate to being a dick.
No commenter image uploaded BY CHRISBURP AT 08/23/07 08:14 PM
I think Costco started the whole "receipt check at the door" thing. If you didn't show your receipt, they could "banish" you by canceling your membership.
No commenter image uploaded BY FREDPERRY2 AT 08/23/07 08:15 PM
It does sound to me like she was looking for trouble by refusing to show the reciept and escalting the verbal banter in the store. Perhaps a better way would have been to show the reciept then sue them for violating your right to not show them the reciept?
Image of hypnotik_jello BY HYPNOTIK_JELLO AT 08/23/07 08:15 PM
Wow, the comments on this post are pretty much par for the course of this blog. I'm not sure what's more unnerving though, that people are giving this guy grief for putting up a stink when receipt showing is *voluntary*, or that most of you can't be bothered to defend your rights because standing up for them would be an inconvenience to you.
Give me a fucking break. He was hassled for no good reason, other than the fact that the guard/company were complete pricks and didn't understand the law.
No commenter image uploaded BY BUFFTBONE AT 08/23/07 08:15 PM
Well you could've avoided the whole thing as others have stated simply by showing him the receipt. Perhaps you were in a bad mood and decided to do that. Anyways, that may or may not be the case. They broke the law by detaining you and verbally slandering you. You can contact Lisa Madigan's office. Do a google on her name and you go to the state attorney's office website. You can download complaint forms there, print them up and mail them in. They are slow though. I'm in the process of trying to get back money owed to me by a shody contractor. A week after sending in the complaint I got a letter in the mail acknowledging that they got the complaint. That was about 3 weeks ago and I have yet to hear form anyone since. If you've got the time and patience, that's a step you can take. Skip DuPage county's system and go straight to the State level.
Image of alicetheowl BY ALICETHEOWL AT 08/23/07 08:16 PM
Yes, clearly when someone's leaving a store with a bag of merchandise, he's stolen it, and it's fully warranted to risk that a person who just spent his money in your store will never do so again when you make unfound accusations.
This reminds me of my first job, when they said we had to stop giving away plastic bags for customers to put over their hair when it suddenly started pouring while they were shopping. "They might put merchandise in the bag and walk out!"
I just rolled my eyes and ignored them in favor of the customer.
No commenter image uploaded BY CRYREVOLUTION AT 08/23/07 08:16 PM
While I agree it was probably easier just showing the receipt, I think the whole point is is that you don't have to. It is the shoppers decision whether or not they show it, and if they don't want to, more power to em. It's their right. I do just out of habit. And laziness lol.
No commenter image uploaded BY JINJIN1080 AT 08/23/07 08:18 PM
@RvLeshrac: Fair enough, I'm all about civil rights but does that mean we just throw common sense out the window? Look I think we all shopped at enough Bestbuys, TDs, CCs, to know their policy. 90% of the time the security guard just stands there with a marker just to make sure you HAVE a receipt. Let's get real they are generally not going over every minute of the receipt. It takes all of 0.5 seconds to show them that little piece of paper. Is this worth a police officers time? Is this worth a state attorney's time? I'd go as far to say this isn't even worth the security company's time.
Image of JRuiz47 BY JRUIZ47 AT 08/23/07 08:18 PM
So this question is for a couple of you?
Where do you work so I can go physically restrain you without cause and then tell you later on to "Get over it, Nancy."
No commenter image uploaded BY EQC AT 08/23/07 08:20 PM
While I agree it would have been easy to "just show the receipt," that's not really the point. The logical reason to not show a receipt is simple: you don't want to. There's no legal requirement for it. There is no reason for it. Perhaps not showing the receipt is a simple objection to the policy -- a policy that involves one more person being given the "job" of snooping into your business.
As far as receipt checking goes, I can't imagine it does much to stop shop lifting of any sort. Sure, there's the occasional story of some guy with a $4 receipt trying to walk off with a plasma TV in his cart. But, if anything, all that means is that people walking off with $4000 worth of very large merchandise should be scrutinized.
See, anywhere I've been that checks receipts will either (1) look only at the receipt, or (2) look at the receipt and compare it with what's in the cart or the shopping bags in about 2 seconds.
In other words, people can still stuff whatever they want into their pockets and that receipt-checker will be none the wiser. You can put things in a purse or backpack. At best, receipt-checking creates an "air of fear" for lazy thieves, and forces them to steal small expensive things (which are easily hidden) instead of big expensive things. Sure, idiots trying to walk off with plasma TV's for free may be stopped...but they could be easily caught with other means.
So why should every honest customer be subjected to having another grubby employee touch their receipt and poke around in their merchandise, when it doesn't really stop any but the stupidest thieves? Why should anybody accept this reduction of their rights just because it's "easier" than objecting?
Receipt checking does little, if anything, to stop theft and keep prices low -- but the employment of the security guards at the door is a definite cost to the store, slows down exit from the store, and is certain to raise prices since he's got to get his paycheck from somewhere.
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