Sam's Club Finally Getting to me

[james_bond_007]

Sam's Club is finally getting to me.

I'm getting annoyed at having to wait in line TWICE to get out of Sam's Club: once to PAY for my purchases, and a second time to exonerate myself as an alleged thief, as they check me at the exit door.

Waiting in line to purchase merchandise is understandable. At times they can have over 20 or so "checkout" stations working in parallel to help speed purchasing process. If ALL the lines are long, so be it. I can be patient and wait my turn.

However, once the purchase is completed, one has to stand in one or two (on a good day) lines into which ALL the patrons of the 20 checkout lines are merged while Sam's employees search your cart. Essentially they are assuming EVERY customer may be a thief and every employee operating the cash registers may be an accomplice.

I'm curious as to the legal authority they have to detain me and search through my property (yes, now that I paid for the items they are MY property, not Sam's Club's).

Typically, to detain a person for shoplifting, probable cause is needed. They need to have evidence that theft has occurred : EX: Videos or eyewitness accounts showing that a suspect has concealed an item etc.

Typically search cannot take place without a warrant or an arrest, both also requiring probably cause of some sort, or permission of the search-ee.
Yet Sam's continues to search without any of these.

Yes, I understand that Sam's may be trying to control theft.
Yes, I understand that since I'm not stealing, I have nothing to fear.
Yes, I understand that I can shop somewhere else if I don't like their practice and policies.

Yes, I understand that as Christmas approaches, and lines get longer, the wait to get out of Sam's will only get worse.
Yes, I understand that Sam's has probably had a team of legal experts review the practice of "exit searches".
Yes, I understand that MOST people consent to the search and don't have an issue with it.
Yes, I understand that laws in this area vary from state to state and the 4th Amendment "Illegal Search and Seizure" applies.

Yes...it still annoys me to have to wait to exit and be searched at Sam's after I buy something.

[hurley842002]

Sam's and Costco been doing it for years, I don't like it any more than the next guy, but when you become a member, you agree to ALL of their terms.

[TheGrey]

If you're speaking specifically of the Sam's Club that's up around 84th and I-25, I agree with you. That's an appalling store to try and get out of.

The one we have in Lone Tree is not too bad, unless you're near a big holiday like Christmas. One of the quickest Sam's Clubs I've experienced is in the Southlands in Aurora.

The "club stores" (Costco, Sam's, BJs) all have this insulting policy locked into the contract you sign. We agree to the reciept-checking, payment-proving business when we sign up for the membership. It certainly is an insult to one's integrity! It's not like people can continue to shop after check-out; it's set up to funnel people out after extracting their money.

I like to believe the elderly folks that check the receipts at the door also feel a bit pained at the idea; they always make gentle jokes and seem to make an effort to wish everyone a good day/night/holiday.

It's frustrating, and I agree with your complaint/rant. Well said.

[Eric P]

Just walk past the checker. I do it every visit and argue with them at the car as I am loading it up. I refuse to hand over the receipt. Its fun watching them scrabble before I drive away.

[esaabye]

Walmart started doing this last your at the lower income area stores in Colorado Springs. I refused to let them check and told them to call the cops if they wanted a search. Also pointed out it does happen at the high end areas. I have not seen them doing it in some time.

[brutal]

Put up with it, walk around them, or stop shopping there.

There, problem solved.

[roberth]

Put up with it, walk around them, or stop shopping there.

There, problem solved.

Yup, an agreement is an agreement.

I go to Costco during low volume times, like today during the Bronco game or after 730PM on weekdays.

[Ridge]

I'm curious as to the legal authority they have to detain me and search through my property

You signed a contract when you became a member of the club. You have already given them permission to do so.

[Madeinhb]

I walk last them. When they give me crap, I say that i purchased this therefor they are now my possessions and to detain me is against the law.

[Madeinhb]

You signed a contract when you became a member of the club. You have already given them permission to do so.

Federal law supersedes costco agreement. Sorry.