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I have a question for Islander, East Ender, Ronnie and other long-term residents.
At most of the island's stores marketing to the residents (not so much the tourist-oriented stores) there is a person who must look at your receipt before you can exit the store. This is true at both K-Marts, Home Depot, Cost U less, most of the grocery stores, etc.
It seems to me to be a rather ineffective security measure, as it only protects the store from theft that would occur between the time a customer passes through the checkout and the time they make it to the exit. This is a very short time, and in most places there really isn't anything to steal past the checkouts anyway.
Where did this practice come from?
It seems to me that there are only 2 reasons to do this. First, they think the society is full of a bunch of crooks. Second, the society is full of unfounded suspicion. Frankly, neither is very attractive.
Posted : March 19, 2004 3:18 pm
stt,
The Best Buy stores in DC have been doing this for years. Their security people even have to initial the receipt after they look at it. I never understood it either as they've never bothered to look in my bags to see if what I'm carrying shows up on the receipts! Seems dumb to me to do the former without the latter -- I'm hoping someone can explain why this practice came about.
The HipCrip
Posted : March 19, 2004 4:56 pm
Some Walmarts & every Sam's Club I have been in does the same thing. It is probably a psychological deterrent to theft more than anything else.
PH
Posted : March 19, 2004 5:14 pm
stt: Like many things here, there is no WHY...it just IS!!
Posted : March 19, 2004 5:36 pm
It's not just in the islands. They do it in every Sam's Club, Best Buy, Costco and Circuit City Ive ever been in throughout US. Don't know why though, it never made much sense to me, especially when the "checker" briefly scans a shopping cart filled with scores of items. They can't possibly tell if everything was paid for at the check out counter. Besides, if someone was going to steal something why would they put it in the cart?
Posted : March 19, 2004 5:46 pm
I understand that they count the items or at least try to. Theft they are looking for is cashiers that give the stuff away to their friends!
Ronnie
Posted : March 19, 2004 9:25 pm
Worked in Personnel at Best Buy a long time ago. The security is counting and most of the time has watched you proceed through checkout. The verification is in the pricing as well. Had lots of cases were the little scan stickers of CDs for instance are pulled off and placed on large expensive items. The checkout person not paying attention sell a TV for 11.99. Security is watching for this on the reciepts as well. Still surprises me what people will do to get stuff for next to free.
Posted : March 20, 2004 3:18 pm
Eve,
You, too, are an a amazing wealth of information! Cannot wait to meet you and Mark and have that rum drink with little umberellas when we toast our new homes!
HC
Posted : March 20, 2004 6:36 pm
HC
I Can't wait either. It sounds like it will be a lot sooner than we have all anticipated. BUT WE CAN DO IT!!!!
Boy, you and Kelly sound like a couple of great friends already. And for all you "snoopers" out there... This is a message board (thanks to islander) out of millions that really works... Friendships, Business etc... Can be formed right on line!
Thank You All
Mark
&
Posted : March 21, 2004 3:40 am