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?

People who are determined to steal, don’t go up to the cashier with the things they intend to steal. That’s what those of us who intend to pay do. The thieves steal stuff, put it in bags and walk out.

It has been their policy for a long time, all stores are meant to ask, personally don't have an issue as nothing to hide.

I’ve had this at Poundland, didn’t bother me, but the OP has made it sound like they searched her actual handbag ? 🤔

They don't at Aldi because they check your bags! But elsewhere, that is one trick that shoplifters use in supermarkets.

I’m sure there is some sort of social science PhD in this as it clearly varies wildly round the country about what shops do and don’t do. I live in a rural county and never seen any checks of bags, those things that scan your receipt or cheese and meat locked in boxes. I made a right dick of myself the first time I came across one of those barriers where you have to scan your receipt as I’d crumpled it up and stuffed it in one of the bags and couldn’t find it. What a country bumpkin. I don’t like it (especially in shops where they’ve done away with staff and no shit people steal at self checkout) but understand why shops do it.

Wouldn’t bother me. They check my bag going in to football. It doesn’t make me feel like I’m being treated like a criminal/terrorist. Bag checking makes the stadium safe. Similarly bag checking in supermarkets makes shoplifting harder. Some people got huffy when they put cameras over the self check out, but I’m fine with that too.

Legally, you can use reasonable force to detain them in a citizen's arrest and hold them until the police arrive. But it puts you in harms way so most companies have a "don't touch" policy.

Checked your empty bag inside what? Your handbag? Did she check your handbag? The cashier was only doing her job. She would get into trouble if she didn’t check. It’s not personal.

Stakes are lower in shop but it’s still criminality and businesses are right to try and stop it.

Don't care. Enough people nick stuff that they have to do it.

DH and I have shopped at our local Aldi for so many years that we are on first name terms with some of the staff. We still happily show them our empty bags and have a little giggle about it.

I have no issue at all especially after hearing some of the horror stories regarding the thieving bastards that frequent the store. Last year the manager had his nose broken simply by asking a guy if he could check his bags turned out he had 6 packs of steak in there and punched the manager in the face when he was rumbled - pleasant guy!

Honestly, why would you be so offended especially if you have nothing to hide?

Selfridges, no. Aldi, yes.

No, the organised gangs are much more blatant, but people do steal by "forgetting" to put everything through the till.

I wouldn’t care a single bit if they asked to check my empty plastic bag.

Exact thing happened to me a week ago. I was very offended. I will not be going back to Aldi. First time I’ve ever been asked.
if there was a sign on entry, fair enough, but it was the tin lid on a miserable shopping experience so no loss to me.
the lies told to my face by the employee that every shop checks compounded my displeasure, and I told her what she was saying was untrue, she didn’t give a jot, that she had been caught in a lie.
most grocery shops are making millions every year, whilst racking up the prices we pay at the till, clearly having no issues turning a profit.
shopped at Lidl over the weekend, no such issues, or request; I even offered my bags to be checked, as we had a laugh over it.
I don't want to be paying more for people who steal, but we already do that over and over again, council tax, water rates, shopping, taxation, gas , electricity paying extra to cover the costs of providing support to those who don’t , cannot pay. At least I’m not spoken rudely to or lied to in the process.

not a good policy treating your customers as thieves.

Wouldn't bother me one bit, I've got nothing to hide so crack on.

Good luck. Lidl do it periodically too.

This happened to me in Aldi. I had all my hessian bags and there was something from my car in one of them. Initially the cashier said it was something they were selling in the middle aisle, but when he got a proper look he quickly backtracked. I didn’t mind it being pointed out as my bags should have been completely empty, but he was a bit of a twat about it.

So having bags checked at airport security would be treating OP as a terrorist ?

Wouldnt bother me if someone wanted to check my carrier bag I do wonder what the fuck is going on though when they just let ACTUAL shoplifters walk out 🤔

Staff safety.

Which isnt an excuse for this

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/legal_matters/5394731-wrongly-accused-of-shoplifting-and-harrassment

Because it's better to do that than get stabbed with a used syringe, spat at by someone who claims to be HIV positive or punched in the face.
What would you prefer to do as a staff member in that ACTUAL situation.

You’re being ridiculous to take it so personally. The implication is that anyone can be a thief and one of the tricks of shoplifters is to hide stuff in carrier bags they’ve brought in with them, so obviously that’s going to be one of the things they check - for everyone - they can hardly pick and choose based on who looks dodgy. If you’ve nothing to hide what’s the big deal.