Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 15

Circuit City boycott

At the Circuit City store in NYC's Union Sq. (the very last place on the face of the Earth you would want to bully someone, strong-arm, them, or in any way at all behave non-PC) they've just hired / instituted a policy of having an ape force you to "show them your bags" before you exit.
The ape is some skin-head wannabe - who insisted looking through my bags even though I bought nothing at CC!!! (Maybe that's what made him want to bully me.) Not only that, but one was full of my mail!!! Isn't that a Federal Crime or something?
I think this whole "looking through your bags," in fact, is against the law. (Even tho I know CompUSA does it, too.) They said so on a news program once.
Anyway, I'd appreciate anyone else in on the boycott. Go to Staples, I guess - I don't ever remem being stopped there.

I know it's after 9/11, and it's NYC (but I was stopped going out of the store w/my bags, remem), but it's still America, isn't it? Did we switch USA to USSR yesterday or something?

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

quote:

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They said so on a news program once.

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Eh...I don't think that would hold up in court...

Besides, it's not like we need another reason not to go to Circuit City

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 158

Far be it from me to diss any form of civil disobedience, but this is one case where speaking to management might be more productive. And if you find them less than open to your suggestion, a letter to the corporate offices might reach a receptive ear.

But I believe that unless they have a sign prominently displayed reserving the right to inspect personal belongings, they do not have the right to do so. Check with the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. (They have a pretty helpful web site, last I checked.)

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

I have boycotted the C-City since it opened locally. Never been back, never will, never recommend it to others- but that is because I never got any help in the store, even when ready to buy standing by a departmental register with money in hand.

Bag checking- the rule of thumb on personal property like that is that they may not have the right to check our bags, but they do have the right to keep you out if you choose to not let them check them.

Shoplifting costs stores so much, and the 'new' threats of terrorism and shooting rampages has everyone a bit psyched out. Some measures are clearly short-sighted over-kill, others are laughably lame.

Question, though- if you were in that store and a shooting broke out and you were injured, wouldn't you (or your lawyer) be among the first to wonder (probably quite loudly) why they were not checking bags in this day and age?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

quote:

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Originally posted by Madkins007
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Question, though- if you were in that store and a shooting broke out and you were injured, wouldn't you (or your lawyer) be among the first to wonder (probably quite loudly) why they were not checking bags in this day and age?

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Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

quote:

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Originally posted by sdoersam

As an example, during the past Christmas/New Years holidays, I went to a Walmart, walked in the door, saw a line that wrapped through the isles (at least 20 to 30 deep) of people that had bought electronics (paid for at the electronics are vs the front checkout lines), and were waiting to get out while their purchases were checked. I had stuff that I wanted to buy that day, but quickly turned around and left. I wasn't about to deal with that hassle. I went and bought the stuff somewhere else.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

quote:

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Originally posted by sdoersam
I had stuff that I wanted to buy that day, but quickly turned around and left. I wasn't about to deal with that hassle. I went and bought the stuff somewhere else.

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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

quote:

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Originally posted by Madkins007
that would almost guaranteedly be a part of the lawsuit!

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Guaranteedly?

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Mike
I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than rightside up at my desk.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

What happened to the little chip thing they place in electronics to prevent people from stealing that? Wouldn't the buzzer go off if you tried to slide through the door?
I also HATE when they don't get that thing deactivated and the buzzer goes off as I'm walking throught it. I have never stopped the three times this has ever happened, and have never been stopped. I must be scary, or repulsive.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

quote:

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Originally posted by dampeoples
What happened to the little chip thing they place in electronics to prevent people from stealing that?

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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Out of my skull, back in five minutes
Posts: 1435

Once, I bought something in one store, and they supposedly deactivated the tag -- it didn't set off their scanners at the exit. However, next store I went into, their scanner *did* go off. A clerk happened to be right there and he & I figured out what was happening (pretty easy, since I only had the one item). The scanner went off again when I left.

I've had the scanners at the K-Mart go off for stupid things -- things you wouldn't think there would be an electronic tag on, but which they tag as a part of daily business. A hammer, once.
KMart's scanners make a big stink with a recorded voice and a gronking noise when they detect the tag, it's very embarassing. (It's bad enough I'm shoping at K-Mart, I don't need the point-and-laugh crowd.) At least someone always comes over.

I also know that some CD's and other things now have a little electonic tag inside the sealed package, placed there by the manufacturer. I don't know how those get deactivated.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

I saw somewhere an article about what may be a new UPC-type tag that woudl have security incorporated into it- literally making EVERYTHING tagged. It deactivates when scanned and rung-up (although how it will differentiate between an inventory count scan or a price check and being sold, I don't know!)

I bet it does not catch on. Too expensive, too annoying unless it is practically foolproof.

I really do feel badly for the stores in some ways, but I also seem to recall (from training and articles, etc.) that the very best shoplifting deterrent is trained and motivated staff.

Hey- isn't that a key to a lot of problems in the retail stores??

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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 27

Re: Circuit City boycott

quote:

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Originally posted by ertonbel
At the Circuit City store in NYC's Union Sq. (the very last place on the face of the Earth you would want to bully someone, strong-arm, them, or in any way at all behave non-PC) they've just hired / instituted a policy of having an ape force you to "show them your bags" before you exit.

I know it's after 9/11, and it's NYC (but I was stopped going out of the store w/my bags, remem), but it's still America, isn't it? Did we switch USA to USSR yesterday or something?

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The Java Disciple

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 6

I've been checked in so many places I hardly notice any more.
Fry's, CompUSA, various record stores...

As long as you see it ahead and have your stuff ready, should be
no problem...

-G

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Impatience makes you UGLY.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

I still won't go back to Circuit City, but...

I am reading the book "Piloting Palm" about Jeff and Donna and Palm and Handspring (so far, a good read. They are just getting sued by the Pilot Pen company and changing the name to PalmPilot).

Turns out that Circuit City was the first retailer to sign on with Palms. Best Buy basically laughed them out of the store. The sales at the City gave them the leverage to go to OfficeMax and others.

Dang. I hate having things I hate being instrumental in things I love!

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