This trend in retailing annoys me so much that I've become One Of Those People. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

But every time I leave Fry's, where they try to do this, I walk straight past the checker at the door. I suspect that Fry's has gotten sued for battery in the past or something, because nobody's tried to lay a hand on me or stop me otherwise. Which is good, because I would sue them.

It's also one of the reasons I do so much shopping online: not only do I not have to endure the depression and inventorial eccentricities of the store, I don't have to put up with crap like this. Win all around!

Amen re: shopping online. Shopping in NYC is always such a headache, which is probably good- saves me money!

Although it's so easy to spend, spend, spend online...

I want to try this. I've made it habit to say no to a cashier when they ask me for my phone number (you can always do this, hopefully preventing telemarketers). However, I will have to try it when I'm shopping on my own. The boyfriend doesn't much like the confrontational side of my personality.

Sometimes it’s worth being an ass just to see the response on people’s faces.

I like this line, very much.

I agree about the hassle of shopping vs. the attractiveness of online ordering. I loved that time on the Simpsons when they went to one of those giant stores, and a banner across the top of the store read, "We Turn Shopping Into A Baffling Ordeal."

I do miss out on the pleasures of browsing, though, when I shop online. There doesn't seem to be any good way to fix that.

"One Of Those People" are people who don't mindlessly give up their rights to "corporate policy?" If so, please sign me up. We need more.

I was in the habit of giving fake ZIP codes or whatever to bricks and mortar shops that requested them back in the day (why do they need to know?). Unfortunately, last time I went to the U.S., gas station pay-at-the-pump machines would not authorize my credit card if the wrong ZIP were used. Whoops.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Best Buy has stopped with the receipt checking. Frys is the only place that still checks receipts. I find it totally stupid since the receipt checked does not even look at the bag or the receipt as he mindlessly puts the mark on the receipt. I try to avoid going to a stores that do this.

[and grouse, the zip code thing was to figure out where to build their next store.]

I did have my receipt checked at Best Buy about a week ago. We were walking out with a cart piled with speakers and a subwofer. I almost understand this policy when it applies to items that are not bagged. We also had bags full of DVD's and DVR's and flash drives. The guy cheking the receipt did actually look in the bags to make sure the items matched the receipt. I think this is the only time I've had that happen.

I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughnut...I don't need a receipt for the doughnut - I'll just give you money and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario in which I would need to prove that I bought a doughnut...Some skeptical friend, don’t even act like I didn't buy a doughnut, I've got the documentation right here...oh wait it's back home in the file...under "D", for doughnut.
The late Mitch Hedberg

I don't see the problem with this at major electronics stores. They want to make sure you paid for the big box in your hands, and didn't just pick it up and walk out with it. Unless there's been a change in technology since the last time I bought anything at such a store (4 years ago?) and everything is now RFID chipped and they are just busting your balls.

And anyone shopping at Wal-Mart deserves everything they get. Make whatever excuses you want; there's no reason to shop there. Ever.

They want to make sure you paid for the big box in your hands, and didn't just pick it up and walk out with it.

That's what the cashier and the anti-theft tags are for. Seriously, I already paid; if the rent-a-cop was watching he would have seen me paying.

The rent-a-cop has 20 or so aisles to watch. Will he see every single item every single customer purchases? Not that I've ever actually seen any rent-a-cops at electronics stores where I've shopped; just the store personnel. I've also never seen a TV box with an anti-theft tag; they're too big to pick up and run across a magnet fixed to the countertop. Like I said, things may have changed since I made my last big box purchase.

And as for the cashiers; well, if you didn't actually pay, how will the cashier have seen you? They will see you if you have paid, but they cannot walk you to the door; the next customer would have a shitfit as their brats ran around destroying any displays within armsreach.

I dunno; I'm a pretty fierce libertarian, and I'm never above making a scene, but I can't seem to muster outrage on this issue.

(For reference, the stores I can remember shopping at are, in no particular order: The Wiz, Circuit City, Best Buy (I'm not too proud about that one), and CompUSA.)

Crumple up your receipts and keep them in a coat pocket. When asked, produce a handful of tightly waded bits of paper and say "I know it's ONE of these".

Hooray for passive aggression!

Go rent-a-cops! No, wait...

arse_hat: YES! That's it! :)