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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sainsburys think I’m a thief - AIBU?

234 replies

OreganoOregano146 · 15/03/2023 09:50

Something really odd happened to me the other day and I want to see what others think of it. I’ve been shopping at sainsburys for over 3 years now using scan & go (extremely convenient!) Been selected for a random check maybe 3 or 4 times in all this time, all clear, no issues at all.
Recently I’ve noticed that every time I’m shopping the security guard seems to be following me. For instance last week I was looking for my DD’s formula on the shelf and when I turned around I noticed he walked right past me. I was the only person in that isle. Yesterday I was looking in the meat section and surprise surprise, he was there again. Now, having finished my shopping I went over to the self checkout till to pay and I suddenly get a message on my device saying “hold on, we just need to do a trolley check” - I thought okay, never mind, it happens. I suddenly notice the security guard talking to the guy who’s about to scan my shopping, they were having a random chat about something laughing. The guy comes over and says “oh today we need to scan 40 items” .. I thought whaaat? They usually scan 10max, where did 40 come from? (Unless I heard 40 but in reality he said 14, not sure now). Anyway, he starts scanning my shopping and then goes “oh shit sorry I think I’ve scanned the Maltesers twice, you’re gonna have to do a full trolley re scan now”. So I proceeded to a separate till where they scanned all my shopping again, the woman didn’t say anything at all, just apologised, I paid and that was it. When I got home I realised that my shopping ended up being £18 more expensive than what it said on the hand-held device, making me look like a thief? I did buy a lot of the same items twice so perhaps it didn’t register properly.
AIBU to think this whole experience was a bit strange?

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 15/03/2023 11:57

Meat and powdered baby milk.
Two of the most stolen items.

£18 discrepancy is a lot!

Sounds like they are onto you, OP!
” Five finger discount??”

😂

Salverus · 15/03/2023 11:57

*checking not scanning!

RichardHeed · 15/03/2023 11:58

The security guy seems to hate my guts for some reason
What makes you think he hates you? By doing his job? By existing in the store the same time you are? Nothing points to anything remotely close to hating.

Moving forward I’ll be avoiding the self scanning machines at all cost, it’s too much hassle especially with a small child. Can’t beat the good old till!
But you’ve just had a rant that it cost you more at the till. This is such a bizarre thread.

OneTC · 15/03/2023 11:58

eirlaw · 15/03/2023 11:38

Op says it was that because having now gone through the receipt the rescan didn't apply the vouchers she had which accounts for the £18.

So she should go back into the shop and talk to customer services.

Our Sainsburys went though a huge phase of making a song and dance about giving you a receipt - but often forgetting to take off all the security tags so you'd get stopped and then asked for a receipt - nice joined up thinking there.

They might just know your face, be confusing you with someone else or you fall into a demographic more likely to shop lift - personally I'd avoid scan and go for a while and go to the till or shop elsewhere for a bit or shop on-line I found that easier with young children.

Show quote history

No.

The OP just changed their story. She hasn't "now gone through the receipt". The added bit about the receipt supposedly happened on the same day it was just omitted from the original story despite being crucial.

ReliantRobyn · 15/03/2023 12:07

OP, please try to steal less.

eirlaw · 15/03/2023 12:13

The OP just changed their story. She hasn't "now gone through the receipt". The added bit about the receipt supposedly happened on the same day it was just omitted from the original story despite being crucial.

It's not hard to read all the OP posts these days - and when upset it's easier to miss things out and she apologised for that and explained further.

If you think there is something doggy about the poster report to MN.

The OP just need to talk to customer services - if what she has said in all her posts is true - if it's not it odd thing to make up and post about.

Cheeseandhoney · 15/03/2023 12:15

eirlaw · 15/03/2023 12:13

The OP just changed their story. She hasn't "now gone through the receipt". The added bit about the receipt supposedly happened on the same day it was just omitted from the original story despite being crucial.

It's not hard to read all the OP posts these days - and when upset it's easier to miss things out and she apologised for that and explained further.

If you think there is something doggy about the poster report to MN.

The OP just need to talk to customer services - if what she has said in all her posts is true - if it's not it odd thing to make up and post about.

Oh give over. 😂

KatherineJaneway · 15/03/2023 12:17

TempNCforthis · 15/03/2023 11:27

And razors, apparently.

Show quote history

I was coming on to say this. These items are frequently stolen as are batteries.

viques · 15/03/2023 12:18

They clocked you buying formula and meat products, both very popular with the light fingered.

starfishmummy · 15/03/2023 12:20

eirlaw · 15/03/2023 11:38

Op says it was that because having now gone through the receipt the rescan didn't apply the vouchers she had which accounts for the £18.

So she should go back into the shop and talk to customer services.

Our Sainsburys went though a huge phase of making a song and dance about giving you a receipt - but often forgetting to take off all the security tags so you'd get stopped and then asked for a receipt - nice joined up thinking there.

They might just know your face, be confusing you with someone else or you fall into a demographic more likely to shop lift - personally I'd avoid scan and go for a while and go to the till or shop elsewhere for a bit or shop on-line I found that easier with young children.

Show quote history

They definitely seem anti receipt at my sainsburys. Last week my receipt didn't print properly as it was out of paper so as per the instructions on screen I called for help. The assistant I got clearly didn't want to sort it and asked me several times if I really wanted the receipt. Obviously or I would l have just left!!

PriamFarrl · 15/03/2023 12:23

Why would the security guard ‘hate your guys’? That’s rather an over reaction. It makes sense that he’ll be in the baby food or meat aisles as they are frequently stolen.
As for being flagged for a check, we’ll it’s coincidence I think.
The extra is due to the deal not coming through on the till.

All a few coincidences and an over reaction on your part, OP.

weirdoboelady · 15/03/2023 12:25

OreganoOregano146 · 15/03/2023 11:51

Thank you everyone for your kind (and not so kind) replies. I shall be going into sainsburys later on, fingers crossed they can do something about it, if not well then.. as they say “it is what it is”, lesson learnt. Moving forward I’ll be avoiding the self scanning machines at all cost, it’s too much hassle especially with a small child. Can’t beat the good old till!

Good luck and let us know how it goes. Maybe then the people who haven't RTFT will get some enlightenment....

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 15/03/2023 12:29

So meat and formula and the items the light fingered go for ? How interesting and how informative. I just wonder how all these knowledgeable posters know this because I certainly did not.
I think OP was given a hard time here by you miserable buggers

viques · 15/03/2023 12:31

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 15/03/2023 12:29

So meat and formula and the items the light fingered go for ? How interesting and how informative. I just wonder how all these knowledgeable posters know this because I certainly did not.
I think OP was given a hard time here by you miserable buggers

Because supermarkets often put security tags on these items.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 15/03/2023 12:32

"please try to steal less"

As others have said, this thread is confusing but I don't think the OP has stolen anything.

If you use the scan & shop Nectar prices (totally separate from the normal extra points offers that every Nectar user gets), it really does make a big difference to the cost of a basket versus going through the till. They are multi-use offers, too, unlike the points ones. So if someone stocks up on an item that's at a special price for them, saving £18 is totally plausible.

SuperGinger · 15/03/2023 12:35

Do you not look as you scan and does it not alert you if the weight in the bagging area is incorrect? I have never had this issue ever...

Sounds iffy.

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 15/03/2023 12:36

Of course OP has not stolen anything !

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 15/03/2023 12:37

"Do you not look as you scan and does it not alert you if the weight in the bagging area is incorrect? I have never had this issue ever...
Sounds iffy."
Why don't you try reading the thread @SuperGinger ?

Tourist29 · 15/03/2023 12:38

I’ve never had £18 discounts via scan and shop offers but I won’t be starting an AIBU slating Sainsburys staff as I think they’re great. Thanks if any of you are reading this.

OneTC · 15/03/2023 12:45

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 15/03/2023 12:29

So meat and formula and the items the light fingered go for ? How interesting and how informative. I just wonder how all these knowledgeable posters know this because I certainly did not.
I think OP was given a hard time here by you miserable buggers

Cheese is also super popular

OneTC · 15/03/2023 12:46

eirlaw · 15/03/2023 12:13

The OP just changed their story. She hasn't "now gone through the receipt". The added bit about the receipt supposedly happened on the same day it was just omitted from the original story despite being crucial.

It's not hard to read all the OP posts these days - and when upset it's easier to miss things out and she apologised for that and explained further.

If you think there is something doggy about the poster report to MN.

The OP just need to talk to customer services - if what she has said in all her posts is true - if it's not it odd thing to make up and post about.

I have read them all, I'm just not fully gullible

mewkins · 15/03/2023 12:47

Tourist29 · 15/03/2023 12:38

I’ve never had £18 discounts via scan and shop offers but I won’t be starting an AIBU slating Sainsburys staff as I think they’re great. Thanks if any of you are reading this.

You're not buying multiples of things that you can save ££ on then. But the OP has explained how she was saving so much.

LordEmsworth · 15/03/2023 12:51

It's quite a leap from "a security guard was watching me suspiciously" to "everyone at Sainsbury's thinks I'm a thief" 🙄

limitedperiodonly · 15/03/2023 13:00

I've skipped to the end after the second page because I got bored with all the Miss Marples on here. It is perfectly possible for shops to make mistakes and I have been followed round by overzealous security guards who should have been keeping their eye out for people who were actually shoplifting rather than wasting their time on me.

I have no idea whether the OP is a thief though I suspect if the store had proof they would do something a bit more than allowing her to leave after paying the revised balance. Especially since the difference was £18 in her favour. Maybe they were letting her off with a warning in which case she should be more careful in future.

We should all be. People talk about human error but have a blind faith in technology and let it do their adding up for them.

I use the self scanners all the time but I always check them and my Sainsbury's friends, many of whom I am on first name terms with, agree that I'm right to do so even if they don't say it in front of the managers.

In my experience they overcharge by failing to register multi-buy discounts, reduced items and cancellations. But I have occasionally been undercharged know errors can go either way.

I never noticed it at the time, even though the biggest overcharge was £12. It was wine on a multi-buy discount in case anyone is wondering why I didn't pick it up at the time. Luckily, I keep receipts and check them at home and always go back on the next trip with the receipt and sometimes with the offending packaging.

They always apologise and rectify the mistake after checking. Funnily enough the only people to have given me trouble over this are other customers miffed that I am holding them up by querying my bill. The only way to check a bill after you're paid is at Customer Services which is combined with the fag and scratchcard till. I suspect it's because desperate addicts care more about getting their fix than you getting your money back. Though when I offered to get out of the way of the bloke behind me if only he paid me the money I'd been overcharged he didn't want to do that.

Some people care too much about what other people are doing in supermarkets.

Crazykatie · 15/03/2023 13:06

I work in a supermarket and would never use self scan handsets and only use self pack terminals for a few items, there is far too much risk of mistakes.