A MAJOR grocery chain has banned shoppers in Washington DC from using certain types of bags in a drastic bid to combat theft.
Harris Teeter chiefs have implemented a range of policies that will impact shoppers in Washington DC.
As part of the crackdown, shoppers are banned from bringing duffel bags and suitcases into stores.
They cannot also use oversized backpacks and roller bags, per the ABC affiliate WJLA-TV.
Harris Teeter shoppers in the state are also mandated to show their receipts.
The checks will be carried out by third-party officials.
The two-pronged approach is part of efforts to combat theft.
Chiefs hope the new measures will help ensure shoppers’ safety.
“These measures will help us maintain a safe shopping experience and continue providing the best service and goods at competitive prices to our customers,” a spokesperson told WJLA-TV.
A Harris Teeter spokesperson told The U.S. Sun that the policies will be in place for the foreseeable.
Chiefs have warned persistent theft could cause prices to rise for shoppers.
Customers at one Harris Teeter store were divided as the measures came into force.
One slammed the length of time it took for a receipt to be inspected, per the Fox affiliate WTTG.
Others are dubious about whether policies will work.
“A single policy is not going to stop people from shoplifting from Harris Teeter,” one shopper told the CBS affiliate WUSA.
“It might mitigate it for some people and mitigation tends to be what I think about when you’re thinking about crime in general.”
It remains unknown how long the policy will remain in place.
Harris Teeter has more than 250 outlets across the US and a presence in eight states.
Top 5 receipt checking tips from a lawyer
Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, spoke to The U.S. Sun about receipt checks and customer's rights and options when it came to being asked to show your receipt.
- There has been a lot of debate around the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it is within the store, it is completely legal. “There’s seemingly nothing illegal about that. You’re still on the company’s premises and their reason to do it is to prevent thefts,” Dowlatshahi confirms.
- However, if they are chasing you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location matters,” he explained. “If you’re outside of the store you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of theft and that you have to show your receipt, I think that’s a bit of a different situation because now you’re on your way.”
- While customers are allowed to say no to receipt checks, it may cause issues if you do and the store suspects you of stealing. “You can say no, maybe it creates an unnecessary hassle for yourself because now you may have the police come to your house and follow up,” said Dowlatshahi.
- If you are being barred from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you could have a legal case — but the store must have held you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus for doing so,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a customer has been emotionally traumatized by being held for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] to sue.”
- “I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s just a really simple thing to do. If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.
There are three locations in Washington, DC
The chain has locations in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Harris Teeter joins the list of retailers that have rolled out receipt checks.
Walmart shoppers at some stores claim they have been subject to the inspections.
But the company doesn’t have a policy nationwide that warns shoppers to expect the inspections.
OTHER RETAILERS THAT CHECK RECEIPTS
Receipt checks are common, however, at membership stores such as Sam’s Club and Costco.
Although Sam’s Club is making moves designed to make the process seamless for shoppers thanks to technology.
Retail bosses are trialing a new system where cameras and scanners verify purchases.
It means staffers don’t have to physically check the receipts or look at a digital version.
The technology is currently in place at 120 stores, but bosses want to expand this to almost 600 by the end of the year, per Tech Crunch.
The U.S. Sun has also reported how shoppers in Loblaw’s stores across Canada must scan their receipts at gates before they leave.
But it seemed there were teething problems when the new scanners were first rolled out.
One shopper claimed they didn’t see the scanner so unintentionally barged through the gates.
Another said alarms started blaring as carts were being driven through the barriers.
The retailer told The U.S. Sun that the scanners were brought in as part of efforts to combat theft.
Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers
Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.
- Locking items in cabinets.
- Security pegs.
- Security cameras.
- Signs warning about the impact of theft.
- Receipt scanners.
- Receipt checks.
- Carts with locking technology
- Bans on certain types of bags.