Phil & Vikki Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 Last time we were in Australia, we went into a local shop and on the door, there was a notice saying something like; the management have the right to search your bags and or prams. When we got to the till the lady asked to look at our pram, which we agreed to as we did not know any better. In the UK, shops can not do that and you have the right to refuse. Also in the UK if the alarm goes of as you walk out the door, the shop does not have the legal right to look in your bag and you do not have to come back into the shop.What is the law in Oz regarding situations like this? Does the consumer have the legal right to refuse people to look in their property or come back into the shop if the alarm goes off or is it in the powers to do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 Apparently the sign is legally meaningless and they also have no legal right to look in your bag. White Rose • Bag searches in Australian stores Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chalkyhill Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 It's stupid - I had a hard drive which I had bought in dick smiths and had a backpack so just stuffed it in there - then went to JB Hifi and they asked to see in my bag they saw the boxed drive but didnt even ask to see a receipt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moirclan Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 RIGHTS You have the right to know before entry that the store conducts bag searches. You have the right to refuse inspection of your personal handbag useless it is large, The size of a sheet of foolscap paper will be used as a guide. THIS NOTICE IS PRINTED ON A SHEET OF FOOLSCAP PAPER. ANY BAG LARGER THAN THIS SHEET OF PAPER WILL BE INSPECTED. You have thei right to refuse interference with your person or with your bags. Inspection means that staff can look and not touch. You can be asked to assist inspection, e.g., by removing obstructions to visualise inspection. You can refuse inspection of your bags but you can then be asked to leave the store with your purchases and not return. OBLIGATIONS Having entered a store knowing that bag searches are conducted, you have accepted the store's right to ask you to make your shopping bags available for inspection i have been asked in target for receipts of things i have purchased but as i said to the girtl since when does target sell milk and veg ? so you show me where they are in the shop and ill produce the receipt !!lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Vikki Posted November 23, 2010 Author Share Posted November 23, 2010 Cheers guys, Just wanted to make sure as if it happens in the UK I say to the shop assistant that they are not legally alloed to look in my bag if the alarm goes off. Just wanted to make sure I would be correct if I said that in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 I may be missing something but why would you want to refuse? I dont care if someone wants to check my bag and certainly not my pram as watching the telly thats where many shoplifters hide their stock. Cant see where the issue is sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 what if you just went to the porn-shop? Or you bought heaps of alcohol? what if you keep some other personal stuff in there? What about illegal stuff, like a weapon? I can imagine plenty of things I do not want others to just see, especially the big mess I tend to have and all the dirt. SOOOOO embarrassing. Not sharing that with anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 I may be missing something but why would you want to refuse? I dont care if someone wants to check my bag and certainly not my pram as watching the telly thats where many shoplifters hide their stock. Cant see where the issue is sorry. I guess some people are irked by the fact that shopkeepers - in just about every other country in the world - survive without seeing a need to rifle through your handbag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Some people shop lift and shops lose thousands of dollars because of it. That in turn puts the cost up for the rest of us. So to help out, flashing the contents of my handbag isnt an issue, its not a personal insult. It happens to me a lot and I dont think I look particulary dodgy, but as my OH says its probably more to do with the massive handbag I insist on carrying around :biglaugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I have absolutely NO problem with it at all. If I dont like the idea of a quick harmless check then I basically shouldnt go into the store. If I insist on carrying my "wirligig" in my handbag I therefore risk having an accident, and bringing a smile to SES faces . If I am carrying any kind of weapon I DESERVE to be checked. On NO occasion in Australia have I ever been searched unsympathetically. So simple, lets concentrate on drought!:rolleyes:floods or bushfires! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest One Hour Photo Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I find the whole thing annoying and offensive - I find it hard to believe these intrusive measures have any useful effect on stealing. A while ago I was in Melbourne for a few days shopping, and constantly setting off shop alarms (as I walked in and left) at first it was amusing, but, believe me after the 40th time its no joke. Even more annoying was having to listen the same garbage from shop workers every time, do I have a hip replacement (none of your damn business) the shoes/clothes I am wearing must have a tag on (no they don't) ..... they came up ad bloody nauseum, with every 'explanation' other than their equipment being faulty, they couldn’t understand that their alarms have one purpose only – that is to protect their goods, any other reason for the alarms going off is totally unacceptable. However, the reality is, there is nothing you can do. After one spate of this I contacted the retailers association, the privacy commission -and anyone else I could find - most didn't reply, the ones who did said 'call someone else'. I find it embarrassing to have my bags looked though, most men don't have the same experience, I could argue or course, but what would that achieve, so I mostly shop with just my purse in my hand or avoid shops where they are particularly annoying. While you can refuse I think a store can also refuse entry to anyone if they wish, as I have to shop and my options are limited, I don't want to risk a 'ban', so I try to keep cool. Online shopping is so much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Cheers guys, Just wanted to make sure as if it happens in the UK I say to the shop assistant that they are not legally alloed to look in my bag if the alarm goes off. Just wanted to make sure I would be correct if I said that in Oz. I dont know the legality of it Phil & Vikki, but I have been stopped in M & S once if my memory serves me correctly asking for a receipt by a security officer, this was done most nicely. Nike Superstore in Oxford Street, a haven for shop lifters... I have caused an alarm to be activated and the security guard was most unpleasant! What rights they have I know not, but I would assume if they had reason to believe ....etc then the Police could be called.... I still have no objection whatsoever, the price of shoplifting is ultimately passed onto the consumer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 A good friend of mine is a Manager of one of the northern branches of Coles. Shoplifting is rife. I have been witness to shoppers swopping eggs from caged eggs to organic eggs, the latter being more expensive.. this is shoplifting! Grog shoplifting is rife in Karratha. Rents and rates are at a premium in places like Central Shopping Malls, I dont see why the shopkeeper has to suffer theft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKC Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I found it ever so slightly embarrassing the first couple of times, but it doesn't bother me now. I have never, and have no intention of ever shop-lifting, and aside from assorted kid junk and the occasional tampon, there is nothing to look at in my bag anyway. I have never had a shop worker rummage through my bag, it is usually just a cursory glance. I don't feel like my privacy is being invaded or anything. Even if I didn't like it, I don't think I would kick up a stink anyway. That, to me, would be far more embarrassing than having my bag searched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yorkspud Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Stroopwaf ,WTF does anyone want to take illegal stuff into stores for anyway, they shouldn't be going into stores they should be going direct to jail not collecting $200 best place for them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janine the party queen Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 It really does not bother me even though I carry some strange stuff in my bag.Surgical gloves,lubricant gel,syringes ( no needles ) various lotions and potions.All job related honest.Even though my bags have been checked on numerous occasions it has never raised an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Yuills Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Have to say I agree with the view of it does not bother me and to be honest I open my bag before they ask now, as Janine says it is never a dive in your bag and push things about, just a quick glance! I have just started work at one of the big chains and was stunned to discover what poeple steal!!! Even taking of the wrapper of a tin can opener!!! Also just eating 1 grape as you are shopping is theft....how many times have I see mums pushing kids through the aisles with a bag of grapes being eaten to keep them quiet!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36762 Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I think the problem lies with the women, who insist on taking a bag everywhere. I think women must be pack horses in their previous lives. If I go out with my kids, I usually forget (much to the annoyance of my wife) the massive bag which basically contains enough nappies, wipes, nappy bags and snacks to deal with the unlikely event of a thermonuclear war suddenly breaking out whilst at K mart. So what if my youngest does a poo in his nappy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobj Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Apparently the sign is legally meaningless and they also have no legal right to look in your bag. White Rose • Bag searches in Australian stores Then again... Terms and conditions Just the same if one goes on an aeroplane...You are agreeing to their terms and conditions. Cheers, Bobj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 What about illegal stuff, like a weapon? If you are caught carrying illegal stuff "like a weapon" anywhere you will end up facing charges in a court. So the slight inconvenience of a bag search at a checkout will be a mere trifle in comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Have to say I agree with the view of it does not bother me and to be honest I open my bag before they ask now Because I am prone to carrying large bags - especially now that store-brand plastic bags are being discouraged - I open any bags wide so they can have a look without asking. If they want to go rifling around in there good luck to them. :laugh: With a bit of luck they may find some of the things which mysteriously disappear into the Bermudan triangle which is my handbag :arghh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I think if you refuse, they may detain you until the police arrive. Not sure they would, but if they suspect you of having shoplifted they probably would. Unless you have a guilty conscience what is the big deal ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Lass Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 I'm not the least bit bothered at the prospect of having my bags searched in a shop. I did a short stint in retail in my early twenties and had to ask a chap who had set off the alarm if I could look in his bags. He was a bit upset to be asked because it was the umpteenth time that he had been asked to do so. The reason? He had a metal plate in his skull and this would set off certain gates. He was polite as was I but he was understandably frustrated. The incident left me wondering why the manufacturers of these gates do not take the time to verify that their detectors would not be set off by the kinds of things that are added to one's body via surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Got to admit, it doesnt matter to me either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Just to put an opposing view to some of the earlier posters: Shoplifting costs stores millions every year--and those costs are passed onto the rest of us through higher prices. More power to them to do anything to minimise this problem. I rarely carry a bag into a store but, if I do, I'm happy to let them see inside. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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