Absolutely sick of the shop workers and there headsets

[Pjsallday]

I live in a very working class town. There's a fair bit of shop lifting etc and I know the shop assistants have alot to deal with it but I'm sick of feeling like a criminal when I walk into a shop. Went into sports direct today to buy my kid a tracksuit and immediately as I enter I hear the man on the door describe me (height, approx age, hair colour) to all staff on the headset. I was taken aback. Anyway I looked around for what I needed and couldn't find the right size i asked a assistant and he recommended i order online as theres more choice. Fair enough. I ended up purcasing some sports socks instead. Person at the asked me did I get everything I needed I replied no, there wasn't much to choose from and I'd take a look online once I got home. I put my socks in my bag. And as I walked away from the till the assistant on that served me again told.all other staff my description and that i had the purchase in my own personal shopping bag and not a sports direct one. I was then asked for my bloody receipt at the door and could they see the socks in my bag. I was embarrassed as there a 3 pack of bras I got from another sholq in the bag and he was proper peeking in. I know they have to prevent shoplifting etc but it was a uncomfortable experience. I don't really know what I expect from this thread and I probably am bring unreasonable but those headsets really wind me up!

I don’t shop there, but calling anyone waifs and strays is a bit extra.

Someone recently checked my receipt in Tesco and I good naturedly asked them what would have happened if I didn't have a receipt. 'Well we wouldn't let you have the item!' they said with surprise. But you actively have to click that yes you want a receipt so it's not a given you'd have one. Obviously in actual fact they'd need to check their electronic journal or CCTV but what a faff, having a checking system relying on receipts and yet having tills that don't give them out automatically.

This is batshit isn't it? Every effing shop asks 'do you want your receipt?' Well duh, how can I prove I have paid, especially if I have paid with cash! How silly. And as has been said Sports Direct tend to have their checkouts at the back. So with no receipt, how can you prove you haven't nicked the items you have (on the way through the aisles in the store, that lead you to the exit, that is sometimes a couple of hundred yards away?!)

I bought some solar lights from Wilkos a couple of years ago, and was asked 'do you want a receipt?' I said yeah. Lights were faulty. Guess what they asked for when I took them back?

You're lucky, on holiday in one place and even the MacDonalds had security guards with pump-action shotguns on the doors. They checked your bags on entry and exit, to the locals it was normal.

I never understand the anger around checks and cctv etc. If you've done nothing wrong what's the problem. Shops are private premises they can do what they want and you can either shop there or not. You're giving to much brain power into something you have 100% choice over

Fail to see how describing your appearance helps prevent shoplifting. Fair enough inspecting bags against receipts as you leave if they have a problem, but it would certainly discourage many people from shopping there.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I think it's in certain areas, generally those which are poorer than average, such as my area. I visited another (Northern) part of the country recently, an even poorer area, and many of the stores had a similar set up with the spirits, gated self-scan area, etc. It's very depressing. Security companies must be making a mint.

Obviously if you want to avoid this, you go to M&S, but unsurprisingly they're not in my local area and it's a bit of a faff to get there on public transport. I visited a friend in a rural area recently and it was an eye-opener - I'd forgotten how easy shopping used to be! I do wonder if supermarkets know or care how fed up honest customers are.

Is Sports Direct the store where if you want to buy something just inside the door (football or socks usually) but to pay for it you have to go upstairs and walk to the back of the store? If so it must be very tempting to just grab and go!
Most shops manage with a rack of tills at the front why don't they give it a try?
As for the op, I would assume your description matches someone of interest so you are subjected to a more intense grilling than most.

That’s appalling treatment and I would stop shopping at that branch after that experience.