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Original poster

Random check with scan as you shop

134 replies

Summerofcontent · 22/12/2021 21:14

I was in Tesco this morning doing my Christmas food shop and the people at the next checkout got a random check.
They had 3 trolley loads and refused the check.
They just walked out leaving their shopping at the checkout.
I was wondering whether these people will now have a mark put on their clubcard so they get checked each time or whether they'll just carry on being selected randomly.
Does anyone know?

OP posts:
Chakraleaf · 22/12/2021 21:47

@Itstheprinciple

A couple of years ago, I once got stopped for a random check in Tesco and, typically, I'd forgotten to scan one of the items they checked (nothing expensive, something daft like a yoghurt, I think I'd bought two but only scanned one). So they had to do a complete rescan of everything I'd bought, fair enough, everything else was scanned. However, for the next few times after that I got stopped for a 'random' check every time so there is definitely something that registers on your card to say you have the potential to be dodgy.
Same Missed off some value noodles and had to have a full check. Was no issue though.
grey129 · 22/12/2021 21:48

I work in a supermarket and the rescans are completely random. Although we can see what every customer is scanning on our computer so if we notice you aren't scanning much but you have a big trolly full we can enforce scans.

The random scans come from head office nothing to do with the actual store.

If you've had a rescan and you haven't scanned 1 or more items you will get rescans for the next couple of shops you make.

whynotwhatknot · 22/12/2021 21:49

I would say theyve been flagged now-3 trollies and refusing to be checked yeah we know what theyre upto

Southlandssue · 22/12/2021 21:50

I was checked on both visits to Tesco this week. On both occasions I had just a few items but had been in the store for ages, the first time because I was in a queue for the salmon filleting at the fish counter and the second because I couldn’t find something. I have been checked before when I have been in the shop for a long time relative to the number of opens purchased so that is definitely a trigger for a check.

MrsLeclerc · 22/12/2021 21:54

DH and I have a linked club card account and are forever getting stopped for scans. Sometimes it’s to check 5 items, others it’s the entire shop. We’ve never missed scanning an item or had an issue been raised from their checks. It’s extremely frustrating when it happens almost every shop.

In our case I think it’s the store we visit (unfortunately it’s our local within walking distance). We’re in a deprived area and they seem to be on high alert for shoplifters.

Even pre-self scan days they were difficult. I refuse to return things to that store as even with a receipt they treat you like you’ve stolen it and are getting away with murder. I once had to take back a PJ set that was in a plastic bag that had a big plastic security tag attached to them. Obviously only noticed once I’d opened the bag and pulled them out. Had the receipt and all I wanted was for them to remove the forgotten tag. I had a 10 minute interrogation on why I hadn’t stopped when it set the alarms off (it didn’t), why I hadn’t immediately come back (because I only saw it when I opened them the next day, it was hardly 3 months!) and my receipt was analysed so much I’m surprised they didn’t call in Robert Langdon.

For the people you saw, it may have been the straw that broke the camels back!

MadisonAvenue · 22/12/2021 21:56

Before I started getting our shopping delivered I used to scan and shop or whatever Tesco call it and went through a spell of being checked every single week for about six weeks, nothing was ever found that hadn’t been scanned and it was so frustrating.
It was always the same assistant who did the check too and she couldn’t understand why it was a weekly occurrence.

backinthebox · 22/12/2021 22:19

I get selected for a rescan nearly every time I go in our local Sainsbury’s. I don’t steal stuff. It’s really bloody annoying, especially when I’m short on time. I was tempted to just leave my trolley there once when I’d bought a trolley full and I had 10 minutes to pay and get to school to pick DC up, and I was told I had to have a complete trolley rescan. I’ve never had to have a rescan in Waitrose, but in Sainsbury’s I must have ‘scan me’ stamped on my forehead. And they are always so slow!

Mountaintrip · 22/12/2021 22:21

@Morechocmorechoc

I abandoned my 1 trolley in waitrose, it was 3 scans in a row, I was fed up, had two toddlers, a builder at home to get back to and just couldn't deal with it. The woman started scanning every single item to check it at super slow speed. I had to leave. Won't self scan ever again.
Same, no idea why, have never not scanned anything, it was a real pain. Waitrose said it was because I put something back on the shelf and deducted it. The worst part was other customers demanding that we be abandoned and their queries attended to.
justasking111 · 22/12/2021 22:29

I tried the scanning once it took me longer than usual shop, I then had the scan lady. So between my ineptitude and the secondary scanning I decided not to bother again

WonderfulYou · 22/12/2021 22:30

I highly suspect that they hadn’t scanned half their stuff through!

Definitely! There’s no other reason they’d just leave all their shopping behind else.

I always thought the checking was random.
I have had my shopping checked on several occasions Blush it’s annoying but I never show my annoyance as it’s not their fault but there’s always the worry you haven’t scanned something properly!

frazzledasarock · 22/12/2021 22:34

I find I get spot checked if I’ve returned something back to the shelf. It happened today. I was really tired and accidentally scanned some items twice then had to remove one item.

Obviously got through the check, and I’m pretty sure that’s what triggers most of the times I get checked it’s because I’ve put something I back after scanning it.

EvilPea · 22/12/2021 22:34

I abandoned a scan once when I realised I couldn’t pay in cash, in the trial stores you could but when rolled out you couldn’t.
It then meant the next time I couldn’t take out a scanner.

HollowTalk · 22/12/2021 22:38

Guilty as hell.

RustyBear · 22/12/2021 22:38

I had a missed item on a random check - I'd bought loose fruit, weighed it and printed the label, but then forgot to scan it. I was checked again on the first & 3rd subsequent visits, but not the second.

Newbabynewhouse · 22/12/2021 22:42

Doesn't look good does it... then again i can imagine how stressed i would get after doing 3 trolly loads of shopping id just want to go home and think it could be the straw that broke the camels back if i was in a rush and in a particularly shit mood, i might abandon it too purely out of spite (cut my nose off)

Lucinda7 · 22/12/2021 22:42

It you abandon your shopping in Tesco when scanning it yourself they cancel your Clubcard. It happened to me. I didn't actually abandon my shopping, I finished and paid. But they thought I abandoned it for some reason. I had to have a new card.

VexedofVirginiaWater · 22/12/2021 22:43

I've tried this at Tesco 3 times. I only buy a few things at Tesco - it isn't my main shop. Each time an assistant rescanned every item, so I decided it wasn't worth the bother as it took longer than just shopping the normal way. Haven't bothered since.

Justkeeppedaling · 22/12/2021 22:44

Maybe the check wasn't all that random 🤔

Homerenonovice · 22/12/2021 22:46

I used to go to Asda weekly and use their scan and go. Everything was fine and the suddenly every week, without fail, for about two months I got selected for a random check.

It wound me up so much but I got friendly with the lady and knew which items to keep near the top for her to “randomly” scan.

She assured me it was just a coincidence and I learnt that the prompt told her the minimum number of items she had to scan and had to reach a certain value. It was different every time.

Anyway, I can only think of one reason you’d walk away and leave your shopping!

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 22/12/2021 22:50

If I'd been arsed to select enough food for 3 trollies I wouldn't abandon it because I'd still have to get myself out again, fill the three trollies and buy it all. So no matter how annoyed it made me, I'd let them do their thing so I could get out and not have to start again!

My guess is up to something.

I've been checked twice in Asda this week alone. Think I have a suspicious face as I always get selected for "random" checks.

CookieMumsters · 22/12/2021 22:51

I don't self scan at tesco. I'm checked far more than not. Asda is fine, maybe 1 check in 10 or 15 shops.

TangfasticsAreFantastic · 22/12/2021 22:54

I get checked occasionally but they only do a random sample.

I've come to the conclusion, however, that if you want to steal from a supermarket, put all the stuff you don't scan at the bottom of a bag. Every single checker I've had has scanned the items on the top!

These people in question had definitely deliberately not scanned things but with 3 trolleys worth of stuff I'd have been expected a check!

I bought the booze for our work Xmas party on self scan the other week and was not at all surprised to be called for a check!

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 22/12/2021 22:54

We’re random scanned in Sainsbury’s almost every time! We only shop there once a month (usually a £250 plus trolley) and the self scan supervisor just laughs now & says, “Oh no, not you again!” It’s mainly animal food (we have giant boys & 5 cats of all ages groups, hence lots of different types of cat & dog food).

It’s a pain, but it’s theft prevention.

3 trollies & a refusal to be checked? I’d reckon there was a bit of a five finger discount going on. And costs a fortune in wastage of refrigerated & frozen food, which gets tacked onto all our bills (at least food which is nicked is eaten, trolley dumper’s fresh & frozen is only destined for the bin).

Fluffybeebee · 22/12/2021 22:55

I once had a random rescan. The person that came over was new. As he scanned my items, something came up that I had forgotten. It was something I chucked in just before the till, less than £1.

They called over a supervisor and I apologised profusely. He told the till scanner to check the rest of my shopping and if that was the only thing I had forgotten they would put it down to a mistake but if he found anything else they would "take it further". I immediately broke out is a cold sweat and my stomach dropped. I was tired, ill and at that moment had no faith that I hadn't missed anything else. It was the longest minute of my life and I starting feeling faint.

Everything was fine, but I left the shop shaking and vowed never to use scan and shop again.

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 22/12/2021 22:59

If you are found to have (accidentally) not scanned something, surely if you've not left the shop it's not yet a theft/shoplifting (until you have left)?
All they could do is request you pay or take the item back, surely?
Interested if anyone knows the actual policy (not for an dodgy purposes, just a very curious person!)

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