Would you object if Aldi staff checked your personal bag?

[vruskin]

Are you aware that ALDI has a policy of treating cuztomers like thieves.
I was at ALDI Caterham yesterday.
The cashier checked my empty plastic bag inside even though it was very obvious that there was nothing in it.
I then complained to a manager who didn’t even apologise and said that it is their policy to treat every customer like they were thieves.
Would you object to it? I felt disrespected and humiliated. How would you feel?

It would make me want to rob something and I have never stolen anything. I wouldn’t mind showing in a plastic bag as long as they go about it the right way. They obviously haven’t done with you and I would hate that

I would refuse to let them and make it awkward

Pretty much every store has this policy, it depends on if they enforce it. Don’t like it, shops elsewhere.

I suppose when people ‘don’t object’, they don’t object being treated like thieves? I am not sure there is ‘the right’ way to do it. The implication is highly offensive. What makes it worse is that they do it routinely because they can’t be bothered with normal security methods. The principles of it remind me of Ryanair who also have a policy of humiliating their customers and they think its ok because they are cheap.

No because if people didn't have light fingers there would be no need so why make their job any harder?

No I am not stealing but they dont know that

I wouldn't even give it a second thought. Just like I don't when my bag is checked going into a theatre, or going through security at an airport. People do steal and it costs us all money. It's not personal, it's standard policy and checking everyone stops those who do have criminal intentions.

They didn't embarrass you, you embarrassed yourself making a fuss about such a non-event.

Treating all customers like a potential thief is the right approach though, it means that they didn’t check your bags because of a judgement the cashier has made about you, it is just the process of their check-out routine to help the store reduce theft.

i wouldn’t/ didn’t find it humiliating at all.

when you say that they can’t be bothered with normal security measures, what do you mean? That they don’t employ a security guard as many other supermarkets do? The thing is though, that cost savings like this by the supermarket DO help them to offer competitively priced products. But I don’t see that as a negative thing.

No, mainly because my brother-in-law (80 something) has very light fingers and often tries to pinch whatever possible, while criticising shoplifters who are always “bloody foreigners “, really looking forward to him being caught. So no. I do not and never would steal, but I understand where they are coming from. Unfortunately.

I am quite shocked that many find it ‘no bother’. Would you check bags of people leaving your house after a party because in the past someone stole your favourite cutlery. Why don’t we all go and check everyone, just in case. What kind of society do you want to live in? 🤷‍♀️

Don’t ever come to Australia then as most shops here have a policy where you have to show your bags on entry and exit of the store.

I don’t have any issue with it - it reduces that which helps keep costs down so I benefit.

As with most things in life, the actions of the few spoil it for the many.

No, I would not feel disrespected or humiliated. That is their job to check bags . I assume it was a shopping bag after all . I would only feel humiliated if I got caught trying to steal .

At my Aldi I automatically show the cashier my empty shopping bag before I start to pack it. This is normal behaviour and everyone does it.
They have never asked to look in my ‘personal’ bag, which I would take to mean my handbag, though.

No it doesn't bother me. The same as random checks at the self scan in tesco isn't an issue for me. This has been a policy for a while.

Theft from shops drives prices up and things are costly enough! They need to do something to try dissuade shop lifters.

I assumed you meant your handbag. I couldn't care less if they checked a carrier bag, what else could be in there, shopping! This is standard practise in many parts of the world.

It's unfortunate but I'm reality it seems shop lifting is on the up, there's more and more reports of people stealing, it's sad.

@vruskin Were those the managers actual words, to treat everyone customer as if they are a thief?

I’m totally unbothered by it as I have nothing to hide. There’s a reason Aldi’s price point is considerably lower on certain items, and it’s not because they let people steal stuff. If you don’t like it, you should go and shop at M&S where they are surprised at the increase in thefts as the number of staff in store has been reduced. There’s images online of people just walking out with whole bags of shopping. This approach feels more in line with your values as it seems they check nobody.

I’ve never shoplifted anything in my life so I’m completely unbothered by having my bag searched. I do object to having security guys follow me round Tesco’s, trying to pretend they aren’t.

Bag checks have been around for decades.

What planet have you been living on?

Well I don’t invite people I think are thieves round to my house.

I wouldn't object on the single occasion I was asked, but if a shop insisted on this regularly I wouldn't shop there. Not because I would steal anything but because I don't want random shop bods exercising that kind of power or that sort of relationship to exist between shop assistant and customer. In either direction, as I don't think it's a reasonable think for till staff to be asked to do.

One with better customer service than yours. Life is not a race to the bottom to make everyday experiences as shit as possible.

I'm not sure how supermarkets make any profits with all the thievery that goes on. I've been asked a few times and it doesn't bother me.

Think for five minutes. Do you think your bag is being checked at airport security for the same reasons as in a supermarket?

Was this at the till before packing and was it a bag you were about to put shopping in?

Our Aldi has a sign up saying that they check empty bags at the checkout before packing.

I guess it’s from shoplifters shoving stuff in them to steal.

If you are only buying a few bits, and have been to other shops, your shopping bag might, quite reasonably, not be empty.