Sainsburys think I’m a thief - AIBU?

[OreganoOregano146]

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?

Apologies for hijacking this thread slightly, and if I'm missing something obvious (I shop in Sainsbury's only occasionally), but by not using a scanner when I shop there am I missing out on offers on the stuff I buy? I have a Nectar card and use the occasional "spend £20 get £3 off" offers which come through the post together with the odd coupon, but I didn't think there would be another way of accessing offers.

I don't think she falls into that demographic, no. I might be wrong but I'd put money on white and/or middle-class. Otherwise, I can't see them jumping through so many ridiculous hoops to make excuses to check her shopping.

I do now after many mistakes in the shop's favour. I never get the "unexpected item in the bagging area"alert because I put things straight into my shopping bag after scanning them and then pay the total at the till. Why would anyone put them in the bagging area? A member of staff would stop what they were doing and come and sort out your mistake for you.

Theft by under-scanning is a big issue now at self service and self scan tills. Sainsburys have introduced barriers where you need to present a receipt to get through, although not sure how this addresses the problem if you scan some of the items.

Milk formula and meat are the most shoplifted items in supermarkets (apart from razors).

You almost took £18 worth of stuff and you're complaining that you're the injured party? Grow up.

You are paranoid. This has happened to me lots. Though, it turns out you were a thief so I'm glad you were caught! (It's easy to see on your screen how many items you've scanned!)

I gave up using the self scans at Tesco - I only do small shops and used the self scan a few times, and every single time someone insisted on rescanning my whole shop - took me twice as long, so now I just go through the till.

(BTW no discrepancies came up on any of the rescans.)

Strange? It's a security guard who's noticed you and thinks you've got goods that you haven't scanned. He's acted on his suspicion and he's right. Not one item, but a few. You You've not been detained, you've just been charged for the goods you were about to steal. Why is that odd? Lucky escape I'd say.

How though? There isn't a separate system for the tills and the self scan. The same barcodes are read by the same technology, which are then compared to the same database to check the prices. The only risk of mistake is by the user - which is why they have the random checks.

Yes, you are missing out. If you register for scan as you shop, you will get additional offers that only apply when you use it. They are in the form of lowered prices rather than extra Nectar points.

They feed round from stuff you already buy; so for instance I get them on a specific cheese that we like, and most of the time it's about 2.60 for me instead of 3.75.

Sometimes I get one for Lurpak spread, the Holy Grail of discounts now that it's almost literally worth its weight in actual gold

I'm not sure how well this would work if you only shop there occasionally though. I get loads, but it's our local shop and I'm in there frequently.

I hate the self scanning system. I have adhd and the stress of trying to make sure I didn’t absent mindedly put something in the trolley wasn’t worth the so called convenience at all.

I got targeted by security guards a few times when I had little ones in the buggy. Probably because I was barely managing to shower at the time. I rather enjoyed leading them a merry dance around a store ; it broke up the monotony.

Although I have to admit that dd was a bit of a shoplifter and I had to return things I found in the bottom of the buggy on more than one occasion. Funny that no one was ever paying attention those times.

This seems confusing and likely is! I never use the self scan as it seems complicated to me.Maybe just use normal till ATM?

If you've no luck in the shop, try online customer service, I've found them quite helpful - they'll likely send you a discount voucher for your next shop.

OP didn’t under scan. Read the thread or all her posts. The £18 was her Nectar self scan only offers which didn’t get applied.

Just wanted to add that I sent an email Sainsburys this week as my son and I were barged by shoplifters stealing arm loads of formula. Perhaps they are having a big issue with it causing the security staff to be overly vigilant.

Complain on twitter op. They will probably refund via your nectar. Twitter is monitored and I found pretty quick outcomes. Explain you did your smart shop and then the error (which is theirs) it went through a till so the offers that you had via smart shop had gone. Also mention the security guard via twitter as well. Good luck

All sounds normal. Having worked in Sainsbury's I know the security have to walk a "red route" down aisles that have the most theft which include the baby and meat aisles.

I often used to get followed think it's because I don't drive so go in with bags from other shops. Home bargains B&M Poundland etc. Even had a woman following me around Morrisons once with a clipboard writing everything down I picked up. I just think if you've nothing to hide then let them. But are they really that thick to think I would go in bargain shops to buy brand names cheaper. Then go shop lifting in there?🤣🤣🤣 Plus the fact I sometimes had one of my children with me who both quite obviously have disabilities. So they either think they can run fast enough to keep up with me if I left it. Or I would abandon them which I wouldn't.

I've never used the scan as you shop. I'll leave that job for those paid to do it.

@OreganoOregano146 In the main I shop on-line for groceries. On the occasions I do venture in store I avoid self scanning like the plague as I’m wary of making an honest mistake. That said I once did self scan whilst shopping around a store after being strong armed by (who I’ve since known to be vindictive and malicious) a relatively new neighbour who’d invited me to go shopping with her. My spidery senses were alerted and I didn’t once take my eyes of the trolley as i thought she was capable of dropping ‘extras’ in my trolley. I was also stopped for a re-scan and it was found all in order. I think in my instance I was checked as it was the first time id ever self scanned.

I feel total empathy for you as it’s quite mortifying to be stopped. Hope you get your discount that wasn’t applied refunded.

Yes I think people are missing this point so OP should complain to Sainsbury’s.

However, Sainsburys and other supermarkets are obviously having issues with under scanning and shop lifting or they wouldn’t be targeting OP especially in the formula and meat aisles.

I get Sainsburys to deliver my shopping and do small top up shops as and when required.

That’s really rude to have someone following you and writing down what you’re buying as you shop! A complaint would be valid there despite you daring to use another supermarkets shopping bags.

The same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. The Nectar app offers didn't go through on Scan & Go. I noticed when I was paying and asked a member of staff for help but they couldn't correct the error.

Called customer service who said this happens sometimes and they offered to send me a voucher for the inconvenience.

You're not a thief LOL

So the self scan is too much hassle and you can't beat a till, but you've been using the self scan repeatedly because you prefer it. Right.

I'd just make it obvious you know he's following you. Oh hello, can you reach that item off the top shelf for me?
Oh loom Petunia, it's the security guard. Wave hello. Ooh look, here he is again, peek a boo safe human!!

I have to put most of my shopping around the pushchair as I shop, I'm desperate for security to comment so I can get them to push me a trolley 😂. I also set off the alarm every time in Aldi. First time I offered to let him search my entire buggy. Now he looks, I shrug, he tells me to have a nice day 😂

They scanned our shopping twice in tesco - big trolley full of stuff, but they made a mistake and started again, we missed a 25p item in a £330 shop. Errors happen....

🙈 grammar

My local Sainsbury's (quite a big one, not a Local) doesn't offer Scan as you go. I had no idea I was missing out on discounts. How annoying!