JB Hi Fi draconian door security policy

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#317782 13-Apr-2010 13:30

Let's face it guys, it is the sign of the times. There is so much stuff in JB (and stuff that are small enough to fit into pockets) that you can understand their policy on bag searches. If they don't, they would lose more stock and therefore as a consequence have to jack up the prices.

JB stores tend to be packed with people, shelves, aisles etc which makes monitoring difficult.

Since moving to Aussie, I find bag searches at JB as "part of the lifestyle". Walk out, open your bag, takes 1 second, and then you are out.

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NonprayingMantis

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#317783 13-Apr-2010 13:34

they have bag searches at Eden park too.

Try refusing them there and see if you get in.

Quidam

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#317786 13-Apr-2010 13:37

magu:
Quidam:
magu:
Quidam:
NonprayingMantis: Yes, what they should do is issue security guards with photo IDs of every single person that has spent more than $1000 there. That way the guard will treat you with the reverence you so richly deserve.
:rolls eyes:

Yeah, I expect to be treated like I'm not a criminal but a paying customer. What the hell was I thinking

You think you were treated like a criminal just because they asked to search your bag? Don't EVER fly to the US, then.

I have flown to the U.S. and suffered the same delays everyone else did, including bag searches and even taking shoes off etc. Difference is I was expecting it, everyone was.

I repeat, this guy had no grounds except some sort of stereo-type/prejudice for singling me out. That will teach me not to bother shaving in the morning

If you think you were discriminated, go and complain. But if you're just ranting because they asked to check your bags, then I don't see the issue.

You are being disingenenious and it's blatently obvious you think their behaviour was acceptable. I do not, and I'll express that opinion on this forum because in my view it may make others think twice about spending their money there.

"There is no way to Peace -Peace is the Way" (A. J. Muste)

Quidam

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#317790 13-Apr-2010 13:39

NonprayingMantis: they have bag searches at Eden park too.

Try refusing them there and see if you get in.

people don't go to JB to drink beer

"There is no way to Peace -Peace is the Way" (A. J. Muste)

xpd

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#317791 13-Apr-2010 13:40

Friend of my wifes went to the Warehouse recently.... always has a back pack with her out of habit with change of clothes for her daughter etc (who wasnt with her this day)...wandered around, went to leave - got asked to open her bag to be searched etc - she went to hand it to the security guy and he said "no, you have to open it" - she just said "No, you wanted to look in it, YOU can open it" - she took her bag and walked off.

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NonprayingMantis

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#317792 13-Apr-2010 13:40

Quidam: The point is, I got searched for no good reason other than they didn't like the look of me. They didn't search the woman in front of me. If they are willing to risk offending customers who have previously spent money at their store based on their current policy, they are not getting any more of my money because in my view that's not customer service.

There are other ways to improve security without offending customers.

Big finger to JB HiFi

the point is that you are upset not jut because they searched your bag, but because they searched your bag even though you had spent money there before.

The point of my post was that you cannot expect the security to guard to know that, and you cannot expect JB Hifi to issue their guards with lists of 'paying' customers so they can then not search them.

If you think you are getting searched because you look dodgy, then my suggeston is that you stop looking dodgy.

friedCrumpet

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#317797 13-Apr-2010 13:44

It's amazing to me how people are so willing to have their rights violated. All in the name of getting cheap shiny trinkets.

Just because it is becoming 'the norm' doesn't mean you have to accept it. In fact the only reason these lazy store policies get enacted is because people are so willing to bend over and accept it.

NonprayingMantis

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#317800 13-Apr-2010 13:45

xpd: Friend of my wifes went to the Warehouse recently.... always has a back pack with her out of habit with change of clothes for her daughter etc (who wasnt with her this day)...wandered around, went to leave - got asked to open her bag to be searched etc - she went to hand it to the security guy and he said "no, you have to open it" - she just said "No, you wanted to look in it, YOU can open it" - she took her bag and walked off.

There ate several good reasons why the security guards ask customer to open the bags themselves

1)     a customer could have anything in there – needles, knives, other dangerous items etc. Safer if the customer, who knows what to expect, opens it themselves.

2)     if the security guard opens it himself and finds stolen goods the customer can more easily accuse the guard of planting the item in there. Getting the customer to open it helps to avoid that problem

3)     people generally don’t like other people touching their property. Customers would generally prefer to open the bag themselves than to have some stranger do it. (this friend of your wife is obviously one of the exceptions to this rule since she prefers to have a security guard open her bag then to do it herself)

magu

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#317801 13-Apr-2010 13:46

Quidam:
magu:
Quidam:
magu:
Quidam:
NonprayingMantis: Yes, what they should do is issue security guards with photo IDs of every single person that has spent more than $1000 there. That way the guard will treat you with the reverence you so richly deserve.
:rolls eyes:

Yeah, I expect to be treated like I'm not a criminal but a paying customer. What the hell was I thinking

You think you were treated like a criminal just because they asked to search your bag? Don't EVER fly to the US, then.

I have flown to the U.S. and suffered the same delays everyone else did, including bag searches and even taking shoes off etc. Difference is I was expecting it, everyone was.

I repeat, this guy had no grounds except some sort of stereo-type/prejudice for singling me out. That will teach me not to bother shaving in the morning

If you think you were discriminated, go and complain. But if you're just ranting because they asked to check your bags, then I don't see the issue.

You are being disingenenious and it's blatently obvious you think their behaviour was acceptable. I do not, and I'll express that opinion on this forum because in my view it may make others think twice about spending their money there.

All I'm pointing is to the fact that you're not the first, nor the last person who had their bag searched in a store like JB. You're free to express your opinion here. You're encouraged, in fact, seeing as JB appeals to us geeks a lot due to their prices.

I do think their behavior is acceptable seeing how easy it is for someone to just walk out of the store with merchandise without paying. As pointed out earlier, it may be a sign of the times.

At least now you know you can also say 'no' to the bag search. Let us know how that goes. (Genuinely curious!)

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maverick

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#317803 13-Apr-2010 13:49

Quidam:
magu:
Quidam:
magu:
Quidam:
NonprayingMantis: Yes, what they should do is issue security guards with photo IDs of every single person that has spent more than $1000 there. That way the guard will treat you with the reverence you so richly deserve.
:rolls eyes:

Yeah, I expect to be treated like I'm not a criminal but a paying customer. What the hell was I thinking

You think you were treated like a criminal just because they asked to search your bag? Don't EVER fly to the US, then.

I have flown to the U.S. and suffered the same delays everyone else did, including bag searches and even taking shoes off etc. Difference is I was expecting it, everyone was.

I repeat, this guy had no grounds except some sort of stereo-type/prejudice for singling me out. That will teach me not to bother shaving in the morning

If you think you were discriminated, go and complain. But if you're just ranting because they asked to check your bags, then I don't see the issue.

You are being disingenenious and it's blatently obvious you think their behaviour was acceptable. I do not, and I'll express that opinion on this forum because in my view it may make others think twice about spending their money there.

My wife and I both had had to open our shopping bags when being in JB Hifi....no big deal and trust me I'm just a normal looking 40 yeart old (my wife on the other hand is Drop dead geougous (in case you read this honey) ...

I think your being a bit precious about it... Bag inspections are part of life sometimes they ask to inspect your bag sometimes they don't .... If you don't like it you won't go as you have said but most people accept it if it stops the shop lifters I'm all for it.

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jaymz

1132 posts

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#317805 13-Apr-2010 13:52

Quidam:
So I wandered through JB here in Wellington during my lunchbreak, browsed through the bluray section and noted a couple of titles I'd like to buy next payday.

When leaving, the door security guy demands I show him the contents of my bag. Embarrassing and insulting, especially given I've spent (conservatively estimated) around a grand at the place since they opened. As annoyed as I am, I'm not focusing it on the guy just doing his job. I'm focusing it on an organisation that is willing to treat previous customers like criminals because they don't like the way you look.

I have no idea how much they loose to shoplifting, but I can tell you they have lost me as a future customer.

Although I agree that it can be a pain and embarrassing when you get asked to look in your bags, I do think that it is unfair of you to assume that because you have spent money there in the past that the staff will remember you.

It is like going to a hairdresser that you saw 6 months ago and saying "Just the same as last time" Unless you know the person really well it is unfair to expect them to remember every customer that they have ever had.

Oh and my two cents worth on the bag searching policy, if they ask then I will let them look. I know that I have nothing to hide and it only takes a few seconds for them to have a quick look.

friedCrumpet

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#317806 13-Apr-2010 13:53

magu:

I do think their behavior is acceptable seeing how easy it is for someone to just walk out of the store with merchandise without paying. As pointed out earlier, it may be a sign of the times.

Maybe JB should design their stores differently, in a way that discourages casual theft. They could start by security tagging all of their stock like other retailers do. Keep the discs out of their packets like a music store does. And maybe they could put their checkout next to the exit like at Harvey Norman, so they don't have to insist on looking at your receipt and your bag of legitimately purchased goods.

Quidam

291 posts

Ultimate Geek

#317807 13-Apr-2010 13:53

heavenly_wild: Let's face it guys, it is the sign of the times. There is so much stuff in JB (and stuff that are small enough to fit into pockets) that you can understand their policy on bag searches. If they don't, they would lose more stock and therefore as a consequence have to jack up the prices.

JB stores tend to be packed with people, shelves, aisles etc which makes monitoring difficult.

Since moving to Aussie, I find bag searches at JB as "part of the lifestyle". Walk out, open your bag, takes 1 second, and then you are out.

You are right it is a sign of the times, but it's also the digital age, and store-front businesses are competing against a whole new type of retailing, I buy a lot of my stuff over the web these days (trademe; Ascent etc) and this experience leans me more strongly towards e-tailers. Another way to think of it is that there is at least the perception that if you are dealing with an actual person (rather than an online form) then the purchase becomes more than just a faceless financial transaction. But that's an illusion, so why bother with the hassle? In fact, I'd have to say that having dealt with Ascent on a number of occassions, e-tailing is actually more individualised, because you develop a history of customership. The same can be said for trademe via the feedback system.

"There is no way to Peace -Peace is the Way" (A. J. Muste)

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#317808 13-Apr-2010 13:53

friedCrumpet: It's amazing to me how people are so willing to have their rights violated. All in the name of getting cheap shiny trinkets.

Just because it is becoming 'the norm' doesn't mean you have to accept it. In fact the only reason these lazy store policies get enacted is because people are so willing to bend over and accept it.

If you are 'willing', then it is not a rights violation by definition.

The guard may well have no legal right to search your bag, but he can request it, and if you choose to let him then there has been no violation of rights.

same for a cop searching your house without a warrant. He has no legal right to do so, but if he asks your permission and you give it to him, then he has not violated your right at all.

friedCrumpet

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#317814 13-Apr-2010 14:02

NonprayingMantis:
friedCrumpet: It's amazing to me how people are so willing to have their rights violated. All in the name of getting cheap shiny trinkets.

Just because it is becoming 'the norm' doesn't mean you have to accept it. In fact the only reason these lazy store policies get enacted is because people are so willing to bend over and accept it.

If you are 'willing', then it is not a rights violation by definition.

Semantics.

Fine let me revise. It's amazing to me how people are so willing to discard their rights, all in the name of getting cheap shiny trinkets.

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