Would you have unpacked your shopping and repacked?

[SweeetFemaleAttitude]

Just did a huge weekly shop at Tesco and as I was leaving I was asked for my receipt, that was fine. Then after a pause the shop assistant and security explained they were doing random trolley checks, and asked to check the receipt against the shipping.

I wasn’t impressed, but calmly stood back and said ‘please ensure everything goes back in the correct bags, I’ve sorted it for a reason’.

They then said they expected ME to unpack items as they ticked it off the receipt.

I just laughed a bit inside at the idea. I’d just done a big shop and pissed around with a self service machine wasting a lot of time compared to a human scanner. Red lights for no reason, waiting for tag removal, waiting for another random fault, waiting to weigh my own bags and check them before I started. The idea of then standing there and unpacking for their pleasure was not something I was prepared to do! I’m talking a big trolley load of stuff, and a big job to stand there bending over it lifting. Not like a Costco check for the big items, loads and loads of tiny bits and cans.

I just calmly said ‘no’. I was told it was a policy to do random checks and I wasn’t suspected of theft. I said they may have a policy, but I didn’t work for Tesco and therefore they were unable to direct me to complete any tasks. I’d fulfilled my contract, paying for goods. If they had reason for concern then I’d wait for them to check it themselves, or go through cctv but I expected it to not delay me unreasonably or my shopping to be left unpacked or manhandled.

Ended up with ‘permission’ from a grumpy manager to leave, who had been watching from a distance and came over. I was honestly calm and kept my tone polite, I was quite annoyed by the self check out already and was making an effort to remain calm knowing I was a bit irate. Never been to this store before, not planning to go again! My usual store always has a open checkout to use with a person.

aibu- you’d have stood there and unpacked, it’s policy

yanbu- nope, you don’t work there and it’s not your job to facilitate their security checks.

Impressed by your assertiveness to be honest!

I think you handled that very well!

I am in awe, you handled the situation perfectly

I think you handled that very well. If they want to check it they can check it. I could only dream of being so calm under pressure. I don’t think you sounded pompous at all.

You don’t sound pompous AT ALL. These retailers have saved how much money installing self service tills which require the customer to provide all the labour. If you want to unpack it because you don’t trust my integrity then crack on but I’m not helping.

Well done! I think it is appalling that customers are being treated this way. Just open some checkouts if you are worried about petty theft.

I would've said pretty much what you said, and my RBF would have been very much in evidence.

I wouldn't have done it but you were embarrassingly pompous

@SawX

Nothing pompous there at all. It’s OP was setting and sticking to a reasonable boundary backed by a reasonable argument.

YANBU, lovely customer service. Wouldn't shop with Tesco again.

Yanbu. I’ve had random checks loads of times and they’ve always unpacked and repacked themselves.

If they want to check your bags, fine, they can do it but they've got a nerve expecting YOU to do it for them.

Are you the poster who’s obsessed with ranting about self checkouts?
A lot of the same language “I’ve fulfilled my contract”…

And THIS is why I absolutely refuse to use self-service checkouts.

I would say they are welcome to poke through the bags and check items against receipts, but there is zero chance I would unpack or wait for them to unpack and repack. If they need to do more than a quick check, I’ll just take a refund and find somewhere else to spend my money that doesn’t waste my time.

I’d like to think I’d have refused as you did. I know that I’d probably have done what they asked while seething and huffing. So good for you!

"You are unable to direct me to complete tasks. I have fulfilled my contract and paid for my goods." Not pompous at all.

I wouldn't have done it either. I also would expect them to do it quickly if they wanted to check it. On the self scan, I don't often get a receipt, as I'm sure may people do not, so not sure what their procedure is then.

I'd have asked for a full refund and left them with the shopping.

Not pompous at all OP - you handled that brilliantly- well done!

Brilliant!

good point - I rarely get a receipt.

Local big Sainsbury has recently installed gates operated by the receipt; I don't go there often enough to remember to pick it up, or I lose it in the shopping.

You. Were. Bloody marvellous. Well done you.

Why is a woman stating the facts pompous? Would you say that to a man? Doubt it.

Well done @SweeetFemaleAttitude