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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aldi bag search

184 replies

tiger2691 · 04/03/2023 07:35

Motorcycle panniers, on the baggage hook on the trolley, not in the trolley, reasonable or unreasonable? I told the checkout operator that it was unacceptable, and he said it was company policy. Strangely enough my fairly big shoulder bag, which I was wearing, was ignored. I felt a bit sorry for the bloke tbh, I don't think he really wanted to do it.

I shop there weekly, it's not like I'm new. Anyway, I consented, but I wont necessarily do so if it happens too often. Profiling perhaps, because I bought a bottle of rum, ha!

OP posts:
Crumpetdisappointment · 04/03/2023 10:33

The easiest thing might be to just not put the bags in your trolley.

no the Easiest thing is not to shoplift!

RelentlessForwardProgress · 04/03/2023 10:33

If I'm running late trying to do a quick food shop before school pick up I will often change out of running gear in the Aldi loo after I have been through the tills.....so I've got a bag hanging off the trolley under the handle. Sometimes they ask to check what's in it, sometimes not. I think its fine

ItsRainingCatsAndDogsAgain · 04/03/2023 10:37

I've never had this happen to me and I wouldn't shop anywhere it was company policy. It would change the whole shopping experience and 'relationship'. There has to be trust both ways between shop and customer, unless either is seen to do anything to breach that.

whatsup00 · 04/03/2023 10:40

I had a really bad experience with Aldi. The security guard followed me in the store and then followed me outside, walking about a metre behind me, he was massive and it felt really threatening. He followed me all the way down the street, never said a word. I looked at him but didn't say anything as tbh I felt intimidated and didn't want to engage with him. It actually completely put me off going there.

Regarding them searching you, maybe they've had a run of people taking things by putting them in panniers.

viques · 04/03/2023 10:41

Skyeheather · 04/03/2023 08:42

I was in ASDA last week and the women on the self service till asked to search my pram basket as she believed I had items in there which I had not scanned - I told her to crack on and have a look if she wanted, I knew I had nothing in there except my changing bag and some random toddler stuff. Then I enjoyed smirking at her when she found nothing.

You are allowed to refuse but if you do that you'd look like you have something to hide so they'd probably call the police..... I did think about refusing and telling her to call the police if she believed me to be stealing something but decided better of it - it would have been a waste of everyone's time.

Interesting. I wonder if you also smirk at security staff at airports on the grounds that anyone can tell you are not a terrorist. Or is it only minimum wage cashiers that you feel so superior towards?

viques · 04/03/2023 10:44

Hellsmovie · 04/03/2023 10:17

I'd have to side with op. Unless they saw you putting item in it ,I do t think they had any grounds to search your panniers.

Switch panniers for prams and ask if it would acceptable to search without good reason

What do you mean? Are you implying that lovely mummies with lovely babies in lovely prams are all lovely people who never shop lift?

StickofVeg · 04/03/2023 10:46

I think a bag search is perfectly acceptable. You're in their store, they are just checking, no big deal unless you do something dodgy.

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/03/2023 10:53

Nearly 60, I’ve never had my supermarket bags searched.
I must look really dull 😁

Butchyrestingface · 04/03/2023 10:54

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/03/2023 10:53

Nearly 60, I’ve never had my supermarket bags searched.
I must look really dull 😁

Or leafy.

Giggorata · 04/03/2023 11:00

Butchyrestingface · 04/03/2023 10:54

Or leafy.

Show quote history

😂

Hellsmovie · 04/03/2023 11:02

viques · 04/03/2023 10:44

What do you mean? Are you implying that lovely mummies with lovely babies in lovely prams are all lovely people who never shop lift?

Show quote history

No not at all. I'm saying just just because you have a bag/panniers/pram doest mean they have the right to search you without a good reason. for example seeing you conceal something in the bag/panniers/pram

OheeOheeOh · 04/03/2023 11:04

You could have half the shop in there! Why can't you leave them on your bike? I'd be more surprised if you weren't challenged especially at the moment.

NevieSticks · 04/03/2023 11:07

tiger2691 · 04/03/2023 09:23

One set of panniers, secured via the strap onto the trolley hook, under the trolley handle.

Show quote history

Would you have felt differently if it was a different kind of bag?

OheeOheeOh · 04/03/2023 11:08

Skyeheather · 04/03/2023 08:42

I was in ASDA last week and the women on the self service till asked to search my pram basket as she believed I had items in there which I had not scanned - I told her to crack on and have a look if she wanted, I knew I had nothing in there except my changing bag and some random toddler stuff. Then I enjoyed smirking at her when she found nothing.

You are allowed to refuse but if you do that you'd look like you have something to hide so they'd probably call the police..... I did think about refusing and telling her to call the police if she believed me to be stealing something but decided better of it - it would have been a waste of everyone's time.

It's all fun and games until you realise your toddler has shoved something under there without you noticing 😅

ferneytorro · 04/03/2023 11:08

Crumpetdisappointment · 04/03/2023 09:58

i bought a bra in M & S and they have to open the box and check

Worked there as a student and we had to do this but it was to check that the bra in the box was the same size as the box said.

Timeforchangeithink · 04/03/2023 11:09

viques · 04/03/2023 10:41

Interesting. I wonder if you also smirk at security staff at airports on the grounds that anyone can tell you are not a terrorist. Or is it only minimum wage cashiers that you feel so superior towards?

Show quote history

Absolutely no comparison at all.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 04/03/2023 11:11

ferneytorro · 04/03/2023 11:08

Worked there as a student and we had to do this but it was to check that the bra in the box was the same size as the box said.

Show quote history

Yes, I always thought the box checking for bras, shoes and so on was to make sure you had the correct sizes; size is what they seem to be looking at rather than rummaging around to see if anything else was in the box - but perhaps that is skilful diplomacy on the salesperson's part!

viques · 04/03/2023 11:13

Timeforchangeithink · 04/03/2023 11:09

Absolutely no comparison at all.

Show quote history

Really? So some people doing their job are more deserving of respect and courtesy than other people doing their job? Because that’s what “smirking” comes down to.

jessycake · 04/03/2023 11:14

It is policy now, but I think a polite notice wouldn't go amiss .

Elphame · 04/03/2023 11:15

ClairDeLaLune · 04/03/2023 10:07

I honestly don’t understand why people on this thread have an issue with bags being searched. Surely it’s better that theft is reduced and prices are kept low? Smirking at a poor employee just doing their job? Grow up!

The presumption that we are all guilty until proven innocent maybe which is the complete opposite of the laws of this country?

Invasion of personal privacy?

Luckily I never shop in Aldi.

MaggieFS · 04/03/2023 11:24

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 04/03/2023 09:39

I imagine shoplifting has got quite a bit easier since the introduction of charges for carrier bags and the normalisation of people bringing their own bags or other receptacles. It will have been the pannier bags, and it would likely have been the same if you had had a pram with a large basket (my sister had hers checked recently).

Yes, I expect so. As a pp mentioned, I remember when I was small in the 80s if you had any other bags with you, lots of shops made you leave them with customer services in a cubby and gave you a token to retrieve it when you'd finished in that shop.

RemoteControlDoobry · 04/03/2023 11:27

i always make a big show of turning my bags upside down and shaking them around like a massive twit!

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 04/03/2023 11:32

Shoplifting literately costs retailers millions each year. This cost is factored into the price of goods, so passed on to the customers who do pay. I would prefer to shop somewhere which is taking the problem seriously and introducing new measures, as this means that I will have less to pay towards covering shoplifting costs. It would be interesting to hear what measures those who object to things like bag searches would want instead, or are you happy to pay extra for your shopping while the stores allow shoplifters to take as much as they want?

Hellsmovie · 04/03/2023 11:38

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 04/03/2023 11:32

Shoplifting literately costs retailers millions each year. This cost is factored into the price of goods, so passed on to the customers who do pay. I would prefer to shop somewhere which is taking the problem seriously and introducing new measures, as this means that I will have less to pay towards covering shoplifting costs. It would be interesting to hear what measures those who object to things like bag searches would want instead, or are you happy to pay extra for your shopping while the stores allow shoplifters to take as much as they want?

Do you remember the mantra on here as the cost of things was going up?

"If you see someone stealing food, no you didnt"

It was ridiculous. But I dont think you should be presumed guilty until they confirm your not.

If you want to stop theft get more security staff and target the actual shoplifters. If theft is as big of a problem as I think it is .it would soon pay for itself in savings

Imtryingnottobother · 04/03/2023 11:52

Unless it’s a clearly displayed policy and being visibly implemented to everyone with a bag near the trolley basket, I would offended at them asking to search my bag. The same way it pisses me off when random security guard has decided I am acting suspiciously and is following me around the shop.
My understanding is they have to have reasonable suspicion to perform a search, you are not being unreasonable. Surprised at all these mumsnetters that are happy to be suspected of shop lifting and comply with an invasion of privacy.