Anti-Consumer Device
Why do large electronic retail stores choose to treat their paying customers like common thieves?
On my last trip to Best Buy to purchase a XBox game I had a rather annoying experience. After paying I had to take the game still in its anti-theft plastic cover over to that smug asshole in the yellow shirt, receipt and all, in order to free my legally purchased copy of Orange Box. I just couldn’t figure that one out. Do they not trust their own employees to only open purchased copies of games? If that’s the case treat those bastards like criminals, not the consumer.
I think i will be sticking to EBGames, but if I ever find myself in Best Buy with some schlemiel in a yellow shirt asking for my receipt I’m either taking my legally purchased goods back and returning them or I’m just going to continue out the door and cut that stupid plastic cover of myself when I get home.
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August 15th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Its all about loss prevention, methinks, but they shouldn’t be doing that for <300 dollar purchases. I can see, though, how they would want to do it, if you were to buy a $1000+ camera, or big ass-tv, but small stuff they shouldn’t worry about.
August 16th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Video games are small enough to be easily slipped into jackets, backpacks, and larger purses and generally aren’t locked way in Best Buy, unlike cameras or mp3 players. Losing a few $60 games does add up, so it makes sense to check for stolen items.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I understand that they want to limit their loss, I used to work in retail, I know how much it happens. But, they aren’t frisking people as they leave the store. They are checking the bags and receipts of paying customers, and that’s what just doesn’t add up to me.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Interesting note: strictly speaking they can’t check your receipt (with the notable exception of Costco; it’s in the fine print of their member contract); it’s illegal search and seizure. Fry’s, a California electronics store tries to pull the same sh*t (I call it the Final Indignity: bend over and prepare to receive customer service), which I respond to by ignoring them and waltzing right by.
Only once has one of them actually grabbed me to stop me. I calmly handed him my lawyer’s business card. “Okay, you’ve stopped me,” I said. “If you’re right, and I HAVE stolen something, then well done. You got me. If, however the purchases in this bag are MINE [side note: they BECOME yours as soon as you've completed the payment transaction...], then I’ll be pressing charges for illegal search and seizure and assault.”
The employee blanched and let me go without checking my purchases. Don’t stop. Don’t bother. Their “loss prevention” should occur actively, NOT retroactively.