Aldi today

[funnygirl]

Today I popped into Aldi as I usualy do and when proceeding through the checkout the cashier asked to look in my other shopping bags that I had with me.

I said no and then she says I will have to leave the shop without my shopping.

So I let her look, but I was fuming as I was made to feel like a shoplifter.

What legal standing I have got here if it happens to me again??

Have I got the right to refuse them looking into my bags??

Fuming Funnygirl.

[DaisyMae]

There is so much theft from supermarkets that I'm not one bit surprised that such searches take place. I think co-operation of the customer is one way of making it harder for the theives to get away with it, and if everyone is asked then it shouldn't make you feel as though you are being singled out. Remember that shoplifting adds quite considerably to the prices we pay - cut the shoplifting and bingo, the prices will come down.

[simonruss]

If it were me I would make a point of never shopping there again and put a nasty letter to their head office.

[Ethel]

I wish the UK had the same system as a lot of other countries - lockers where bags must be deposited before walking round the store.

You have indeed got the right to refuse the search; they have the right to refuse to serve you.

[Nannyjillx2]

Our Aldi usually ask you to take any bags out of your trolley at the checkout and will look in them sometimes not however if the shop is really busy

I guess they have the right as they can refuse you entry to the shop - not a lot you can do I don't think

[Gormless]

I would have made an increasingly noisy issue, and demanded to see the manager. Accusations of this kind should be taken seriously.

You have every reason to say NO when they want to search your bags. Let them call the police. Then sue the bast***s

[terambulan]

When you enter shops or other businesses you are on their property and they have the right to check you out before you leave their premises. You can't sue as you entered their premises.

Its important to keep receipts for all your purchases till you return to your own property as you can be stopped & searched in any public place by the police.

[Eve]

Ethel, that's such a great idea! I'd love to be able to have a locker to stash stuff in so I could be hands free for shopping.

When I worked in a supermarket we were searched regularly and randomly by the security guard when leaving work, bags, pockets, everything, to make sure that no staff were nicking anything.

We weren't allowed to carry any money on us while on duty either, think that was just the checkout staff though.

it might be they do it to lots of people. A sign would be a good idea though to make people aware that bags can be checked to avoid problems.

I have to say I never mind as I have nothing to hide, just one of those things and a sign on the times I guess.

[Rollo]

"I said no and then she says I will have to leave the shop without my shopping. "

How does that help them?

They lose the profit on what you are buying from them, and they still don't know if you have anything of theirs in your shopping bags.

What they are doing is plain stupid!

[Ethel]

Gormless - what accusations were there?
The store could claim to be simply helping absent minded customers to pay for any goods they mistakenly put in their bag instead of the trolley.

I wouldn't object to it.

[TCL-MUMPING]

I was in a well-know national store this afternoon and bought some headphones. I used one of the self-service checkouts and set off the alarms as I went through the exits wi ma messages in one hand and the headphones in the other.

The security guy asked if it was me that set it off. I said it was and showed him the headphones. He took them off me did what to do to clear it and then gave them back to me. At no point did he ask to see a receipt.

[funnygirl]

When this happened to me, the shop was full, so I guess I am more mortified than anything!

Does put you off from going back though.

[bednobs]

"I would have made an increasingly noisy issue, and demanded to see the manager. Accusations of this kind should be taken seriously.

You have every reason to say NO when they want to search your bags. Let them call the police. Then sue the bast***s""

no accusations made
what would be the point for FG to have got noisier and noisier, when she states it was the humilation that was the problem? surely shouting would just make more people notice?
Sue them for what exactly?

[pink-kittens]

If you use Toys 'r' Us you have to put all bags, except handbags,m behind the customer service desk as you enter - why not? Seems a reasonable request too me.

Personally, I think I may have felt the same as you OP, but would have walked out without my shopping if the check out girl had replied to me as she did to you

Were there any signs up in the shop at all stating that checkout staff may ask to look in your bag?

[cassa333]

I think I would be tempted to let them look. Then when they have totted everything up and put it back in the trolly just look at it and say "no, I don't think I want to shop here anymore and walk out.

[gina32]

cassa, i like it, very good

[tigwig]

I was once in toys r us with my young daughter in the pushchair and I had a small plastic bag with me with stuff I had bought elsewhere in it. They took it off me at the desk as you go in and I was very annoyed. I know the sign says they can do this but when they gave me the bag back what if there had have been something missing from it? They don't want you to take stuff but how do they know their staff aren't nicking things from customers bags?

[Twenty20]

I wonder what would happen if the person searching your bag found something that could have come from their store but you had bought elsewhere but had no receipt for?

Also, I really think they'd have to be searching everyone and not just selected individuals. How do they choose the person to search? I can't think they'd get away with only searching certain individuals because of they way they look. Sounds like a recipe for trouble. It may be legal to ask to search but they are leaving themselves wide open to claims of discrimination or even racism depending on who they pick.

[thugulike]

I don't think it's an unreasonable request as long as it's done with courtesy and an explanation. The first time I went into Aldi I didn't have a pound for a trolley but I was only going in for milk so I just charged in without anything to put my shopping in. As I walked round I saw quite a few items which were really cheap so I picked them up. I thought I'd put my purse in my pocket but when I got to the checkout and put the goods on the counter the manager, who was operating the till, asked me about the gingernuts. I said I had bought gingernuts but I couldn't see them on the counter. He told me that they were in my pocket. And they were, sticking out about 8". I was mortified but he was very pleasant and said if I was going to steal them I'd have hidden them better than that. They are a low cost supermarket and they have to be careful I have shopped in Aldi ever since and wouldn't go anywhere else.

[Nannyjillx2]

There is a difference between being searched and having your bags looked at. In our nearest Aldi they ask everyone unless they are really busy...