Not allowed in Iceland because I had shopping bags??

[tulippa]

Went into Iceland this morning after visiting two other shops. I was carrying one bag with items in from the other shops and one empty shopping bag.
I was approached by the security guard who told me I wasn't allowed to bring bags into the shop. Don't know if it was because of the full bag or the empty bag or both.
I responded 'Really??', he said 'yes'. I wasn't in the mood for an argument so just left to go and buy ice creams elsewhere.
Is this a thing in shops now or did I just encounter an over zealous security employee?

I am followed every time I go into my local Tesco by the security guard which is bizarre as his daughter is the class below at the school i teach at

the pay ain’t that bad … yet!😂

I work in retail and having empty bags is a red flag. Though the dodgy ones round here prefer a massive sports direct bag!
We just keep an eye on them.

Never heard of that, I imagine it's a blanket policy not your shiftiness.

If you write an imperious complaint you might get a voucher...

How can having empty shopping bags be a red flag? Surely a large majority of people now take empty shopping bags with them to fill once they have completed their shop. Wasn't that the idea when they introduced the bag charges?

They probably see you coming out of Waitrose so know you are a Decent Type

Sorry that maybe wasn’t clear.
obviously loads of people bring in reusable bags.
I meant the ones who come in with a large empty bag fully open, often it’s so they can quickly chuck something in when they think no one is looking.

Does your godmother dress somewhat like the lovechild of Vivienne Westwood and Miss Marple, @LadyMonicaBaddingham ? I've seen her a few times in Marylebone since so I guess she lives or works in the area... or does an awful lot of shopping in the West End. If it is her, tell her I am a little bit in love with her 😂

Yes but you can’t take as much in your hands as you can with a bag.

If he'd have asked to do that I would have been happy to show him the receipt. Though I don't know how I could nick a whole bag's worth of shopping in the two seconds I had been in the shop for. I've emailed Iceland to ask them to explain the policy in more detail.

Finland is much more accepting.

I came out of Home Bargains so am obviously iffy!

Happened to me in Lidl several years ago, so I guess not totally a new thing.

Had a couple of big bags from other shops, already full of shopping so couldn't have concealed much more than a packet of gum in them anyway Security guard wouldn't let me in with them, and told me to leave them at the front of the shop by the exit, where anybody who took a fancy to my stuff could just pick up the bags and step straight out of the shop with them. Obviously I declined 🤣

The irritating part was that half an hour later, DP went into Lidl carrying the exact same bags and was left alone.

I understand why they do it, and I get that they must have appalling numbers of people trying to nick stuff, but it can end up leaving honest shoppers with a bit of a lingering negative feeling about a place. I'm less likely to fancy going into that branch of Lidl for a browse and a bit of a shop (which would always end up with me buying far more than I expected).

Carrefour has those clear bags you heat seal your shopping into 🤣 I always thought it was quite sensible

@MargotBamborough You put your shopping in your handbag before you pay for it?!

Just in case everyone's desperate for an update on Iceland's policy (I know you all must be having trouble sleeping at night not knowing ) I have had a response after going backwards and forwards a bit.
Iceland will back up any security guard who does not allow customers to enter the store if they already have bags of shopping from other stores. They expect customers to put previous shopping in their cars before visiting Iceland. Not sure what customers without cars are meant to do? I always used to make Iceland my last shop as I didn't want the frozen items I was buying to start defrosting and whilst I do have a car I don't always use it if I have time to walk.
Oh well, guess I'll be getting my ice creams elsewhere from now on.

I am shocked at this. How unfriendly of them.

@tulippa unfortunatly due to high levels of shoplifting retailers often do have to bring in over the top rules.
However Iceland do an excellent home delivery service. Just order online and get it delivered.

This, or they can seal your bags with a ziplock or tape.
Id be open about it and ask to leave other bags behind a till or in a safe place. Chances are they just wave you in.

At our local Aldi they tried to bring in a new policy a few weeks ago, every customers bags for life had to be searched at the till by the cashier before they put your shopping through. It caused chaos, slowed everyone down and upset a lot of customers. By the following week they had given up and stopped it!

Blimey! That sounds crazy

Well I guess I’m no longer shopping at Iceland! I use a Sholley trolley and don’t take the car into town - it’s too potholey, full of road works and expensive to park, so I just walk.
I wonder if Iceland will start to lose other customers?

What a stupid response. I would be struggling to stop myself replying and asking them to provide me with a vehicle to store my belongings in.

I know they do delivery but same day delivery is only free if you spend over £40 otherwise it's about £4 and surely most people are popping in for a few bits like sole I've creams not a full weeks shop so having to got online order it and then get it delivered sort of defeats the point.

@MargotBamborough , I did just that once. Baby Gdd in pram, buying a few items for dd, inc. cat food. Got to checkout, thinking I must be going bonkers - surely I’d picked up 2 packs of the expensive cat food their fussy moggy demanded?

Only realised once nearly back at dd’s, once it had started to rain and I put the hood down, that I’d put the 2nd pack on the folded hood (limited room in basket) and it had slipped down right out of sight. 😱
I went cold, thinking how easily I could have been done for shoplifting. Who would ever have believed me?

I think we should start a fanclub for this lady!!

I did send a reply saying it's disappointing that they've chosen to inconvenience a core section of their clientele who are less likely to have a car to go shopping in. And a bit about treating all their customers as potential thieves as not great customer service.
Agree it's not worth doing an online shop for a couple of boxes of ice cream and their surprisingly nice houmous (the only things I really bought from there anyway) so I'll just go elsewhere from now on.