Was in the self-check out today at Costco. A grand total of 5 items. Staff came up to me, checked my cart after I had paid. As he was scrutinizing every item, I asked if this was a new protocol. He took the receipt, scribbled something on it, saying he was doing that to mitigate audits, or some such. Still got stopped on the way out, per usual, with the sharpie down the receipt routine. Going to this Costco makes me feel like I’ve done something egregious. I’ve been to other Costco’s and there is never this level of scrutiny, and staff are very chill. Anyone else experience this??
Comments
accepteverything t1_jdnz6xl wrote
Nope. I think costco employees are top-notch.
Eagle_Arm t1_jdo0tkk wrote
If don't like it, don't shop there. I also hate lines at stores, but still go to them.
[deleted] OP t1_jdnzxqi wrote
They have being this for years here.
TheKingSlacker t1_jdqypk9 wrote
💯. I remember this even back in the early 80 in Phoenix Az when Costco was Price Club.
districtdathi t1_jdsmvjd wrote
Lol, I called it Price Club to my teenage daughter the other day and she had no idea what I was talking about. I felt old and I'm not even 40.
EscapedAlcatraz t1_jdo9ee8 wrote
Self checkouts are high theft risk registers. Extra auditing is part of the business controls practice.
Effinehright t1_jdov02d wrote
You trust me to ring it that’s your fault I don’t work here
Corey307 t1_jdqybh5 wrote
The concern isn’t that a regular shopper accidentally rings up 3 boxes of mac and cheese. It’s the cunts that try to steal.
IcyEdge6526 t1_jdo9hwv wrote
I find the self check out to ruin my Costco experience. I prefer the check out lines.
bigtimesauce t1_jdqychx wrote
Muffins always fuck me up at self checkout
Lundgren_pup t1_jdofa0y wrote
Don't take it personally. In recent years Vermont has had high retail theft rates, both in terms of frequency and $ value. It sucks because 99.9% of the population here are honest enough to literally correct an under charge, but many stores across the state have become targets for theft-- Costco, Walmart, Shaws, Hannafords, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. all now have new loss prevention strategies because of how often stuff was disappearing. Just a couple years ago whole carts full of expensive stuff were being wheeled out of big box stores-- surveillance video was ending up on the news with pleas for help and everything. So, now the checkouts are a little slower. It sucks especially because it's Vermont, but the policies are no more extreme than NY/NH/MA/CT etc.
thisoneisnotasbad t1_jdqf51p wrote
The biggest difference is at Costco you agree to let them look at your receipt. At Walmart my common reply after self checkout when asked “can I see your receipt?” is “no thank you” and to keep walking.
We have so few basic civil liberties left there is no fucking chance in hell I will agree to let some giant retail operation infringe of them.
Random_Jabroni864 t1_jdv5idq wrote
Good job man. You keep it up. Fighting the good fight 😂
thisoneisnotasbad t1_jdvbwxj wrote
You laugh but it starts with little things. The road to giving up your right to privacy is paved with the phrase, if you have nothing to hide why do you care. Little by little business chips away and one day you look up and realize you have given a private company access into your personal life.
Random_Jabroni864 t1_jdwmx3z wrote
😂 Your neck must be sore from constantly looking behind your back
thisoneisnotasbad t1_jdwvxkw wrote
What? Why would I constantly be looking behind my back?
sixteenpoundblanket t1_jdr7emd wrote
Walmart Williston is getting very serious. They put men's underwear under lock and key - the glass cases with a lock like they do for electronics.
lantonas t1_jdtej4k wrote
Once upon a time Walmart in Rutland had $1 Hot Wheels under lock and key.
sixteenpoundblanket t1_jdv3lpj wrote
They have so much damn money you'd think maybe they could go the other way. Give away underwear for anyone who is so down they feel the need to steal underwear.
hippiepotluck t1_jdux1y9 wrote
I went into Price Chopper (or Market 32 maybe) a couple of months ago and realized I had forgotten my wallet in the car. I turned around with my cart to go get it and the cart’s wheels locked at the door! Employee told me that the carts have sensors and that know whether the cart has gone through the check out line.
Few_Wrangler4068 t1_jdp1z0g wrote
Are you kidding?
Kink4202 t1_jdonfup wrote
Just curious, were you buying a bakery item, that is mix and match? Those items don't have have codes, and they circle it in the receipt.
d-cent t1_jdrmt3k wrote
Costco had been doing this forever, even with no self checkout. I always assumed it's an insurance thing. It's not like it takes long. Who cares?
illusivealchemist t1_jdqreic wrote
this has happened to everyone i see in every costco i’ve been to around the country. It’s not unique to you nor vt. Don’t take it personally and just let them do their jobs. If you don’t like it, don’t shop there i guess lol 🤷♀️
WantDastardlyBack t1_jdqrse7 wrote
I was told it's a new policy to prevent theft. The self-checkout staff has to sign off on your order first and then the door check people do it again.
WhatTheCluck802 t1_jdoy8iz wrote
I don’t understand why they do that Sharpie thing with the receipt at the door. I literally spend $1K on groceries there on average and have a Supermarket Sweep style cart that I can barely see over/steer. If I wanted to steal something it would be pretty easy to stick it in the middle of my Leaning Tower of Groceries. IDK what value that Sharpie Lady adds to their business model. It’s a pain in my ass to wait to get out the door and do the game of Tetris to fit my haul in my car.
Maleficent_Rope_7844 t1_jdra8p2 wrote
I heard somewhere it's to make the customer "feel special" or something to that effect. That does seem to fit with their membership model, gives a feeling of exclusivity.
WhatTheCluck802 t1_jdrb5b0 wrote
Ugh. A big thumbs down to that if so! They already ostensibly check my card at the door - which they never really look at so I could be flashing them my library card from 25 years ago for all they know. 🧐
2_and_a_half_men t1_jdpgvls wrote
They do this to every single shopper at every Costco in Quebec, must just be reaching VT.
Corey307 t1_jdqyhm5 wrote
It’s normal OP, retail theft is a severe problem these days and if it’s bad enough a store can close. You aren’t being singled out, shitty people caused this situation.
Comprehensive-Sale79 t1_jds48v3 wrote
in my part of VT we don’t have Costco, BJs is our only warehouse store option (and I cross over into NH to go there) At BJs they have always checked receipts at the door for as long as I can recall. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone be particularly hard assed about it tho
Random_Jabroni864 t1_jdv5cpf wrote
If you didn’t do anything wrong why are you so worried about it? Takes an extra 10 seconds from your day. Move on and be happy. Life’s a gift
Witty-Chocolate-8213 t1_jdqkunx wrote
You are not legally obliged to wait on Costco to check your cart or receipt. If you don’t like it, just say “no thanks” and walk out with your stuff. The most they can do is revoke your membership.
bigtimesauce t1_jdqyii0 wrote
Yes, you are. You don’t have to stop at Walmart, but when you sign your membership agreement at Costco you agree to this check.
Witty-Chocolate-8213 t1_jdrpje7 wrote
You are confounding the law with the desire of a private company.
If you have paid for goods or services, a private company cannot legally hold you. You have done nothing wrong.
stockuponlife t1_jdny0mt wrote
No. It must be you