Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
Mar 20th 2007, 5:47 pm
#136
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 78
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
Particularly:
"Shopper Sues Wal-Mart After Being Detained and Searched on Suspicion of Shoplifting -- $300,000 Texas Award
Plaintiff, age 39, sued Wal-Mart after being detained, escorted to a store office, and searched on the suspicion that he had stolen something from the store. As plaintiff was leaving the store, a Wal-Mart loss prevention associate grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and, with two other employees, took him to the back office.
Sue them! They can afford it. It may be a bit of an uphill battle, but the chances of settlement are good. It's amazing how much companies will pay just to get you to "go away". I work for a law firm and see this kind of thing on a regular basis.
BTW, congratulations re: the baby-to-be
"Shopper Sues Wal-Mart After Being Detained and Searched on Suspicion of Shoplifting -- $300,000 Texas Award
Plaintiff, age 39, sued Wal-Mart after being detained, escorted to a store office, and searched on the suspicion that he had stolen something from the store. As plaintiff was leaving the store, a Wal-Mart loss prevention associate grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and, with two other employees, took him to the back office.
Sue them! They can afford it. It may be a bit of an uphill battle, but the chances of settlement are good. It's amazing how much companies will pay just to get you to "go away". I work for a law firm and see this kind of thing on a regular basis.
BTW, congratulations re: the baby-to-be
Mar 20th 2007, 10:11 pm
#137
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
I'm with snowbunny all the way here.
My favorite store in town in a little mom and pop art supply/education store run by two old German dears. Walking in there is like a breath of fresh air. The crowded, dusty shelves, the genuine smiles from the folk who work there, not the fake, clown-like forced smiles from the blue aproned brigade, makes me spend a tad more in there than I would at Walmart, but I would rather do that than have this particular store close down.
Yes, Walmart is cheaper, but then their stuff is utter shite for the most part. Target has goodies at a comparable price and don't suck as badly as a corporation. If any of you who haven't, had to really research the corporation, you'd feel genuinely ashamed of even crossing their threshold.
http://www.amazon.com/Wal-Mart-High-...4428767&sr=8-1
My favorite store in town in a little mom and pop art supply/education store run by two old German dears. Walking in there is like a breath of fresh air. The crowded, dusty shelves, the genuine smiles from the folk who work there, not the fake, clown-like forced smiles from the blue aproned brigade, makes me spend a tad more in there than I would at Walmart, but I would rather do that than have this particular store close down.
Yes, Walmart is cheaper, but then their stuff is utter shite for the most part. Target has goodies at a comparable price and don't suck as badly as a corporation. If any of you who haven't, had to really research the corporation, you'd feel genuinely ashamed of even crossing their threshold.
http://www.amazon.com/Wal-Mart-High-...4428767&sr=8-1
Last edited by TouristTrap; Mar 20th 2007 at 10:14 pm.
Mar 20th 2007, 10:20 pm
#138
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
Yes, Walmart is cheaper, but then their stuff is utter shite for the most part. Target has goodies at a comparable price and don't suck as badly as a corporation. If any of you who haven't, had to really research the corporation, you'd feel genuinely ashamed of even crossing their threshold.
http://www.amazon.com/Wal-Mart-High-...4428767&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Wal-Mart-High-...4428767&sr=8-1
Mar 21st 2007, 1:08 am
#139
Bugger Off!
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,858
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
As a former Wal-Mart cashier and clerk I agree with this statement. But I would also like to mention that in my hometown (Pop. 12,000), if you were a young adult or other person with only a high school education, and you didn't want to work in grimy factory, Wal-Mart paid higher than any retail store in town. Also offered lots of benefits, including stock purchases and profit sharing (which, coming from Wal-Mart, is pretty valuable). If I had worked at a mom and pop place in town, I would be making exactly minimum wage and no benefits. Compare $5.15/hour with $7.00/hour + benefits. Wal-Mart employees are regularly taken advantage of by their supervisors and the company, there is almost no chance of promotion, you will always be working on weekends and holidays. But for a lot of small towns they pay better than the rest.
Mar 21st 2007, 11:52 am
#140
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
Mar 21st 2007, 3:40 pm
#141
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29
Re: Stopped for shoplifting (stealing, not trying to lift the shop up ;))
About ten years ago I was traveling across the state on my way to a friend's farm for some recreational shooting. I was pulled over for speeding. The state trooper let me off with a warning but asked if he could first search my vehicle as the route I was traveling was a "drug corridor". I assented as I had nothing to hide. He then asked if I had any weapons or contraband that I wished to tell him about before he began the search. I told him about the two rifles properly cased and stored as well as a couple of knives.
I sat in his vehicle and watched as he searched my truck. After inspecting my firearms he returned and with a much more serious demeanor, asked me to get out of the vehicle and put my hands on the hood, spread my legs etc... etc... (you've probably seen the routine on Cops
) It turns out that one of my rifles had been reported as stolen. Oddly enough, the company that reported the theft was the store where my parents had purchased the rifle as a birthday present for me ten years prior. If you knew my parents you would understand that the thought of them heisting a firearm from a major retailer would have been extremely funny had I not been currently handcuffed and in the back of a police car.
I was taken to the local jail where I was fingerprinted and had a mugshot taken. My clothing and personal belongings were taken and I was given an orange jumpsuit and slippers to wear and told that I could now place a phone call. My wife was at work and my Mother, bless her, would not accept a collect call from "Johnson County Jail" . I finally contacted my BIL and told him to tell my family where I was and what was going on. I was then taken to a cell which was my home for the next twelve hours at which time I was suddenly released. My clothing and personal items were returned and I was told that the company had decided not to press charges and I was free to go.
It turned out that the company (which no longer sells firearms and I think may even be out of business, BTW) had had problems with the sporting counter employees stealing firearms and then switching the serial numbers around on the paperwork to cover thier tracks.
After paying to get my truck out of impound it took about 2 years time and hiring a lawyer to get my arrest record expunged (It jepardized my security clearance for work) and have my rifle returned to me. In addition to the "trauma" of the original incident, I was out about $1500.00 in legal and various other beaurocratic fees as well as several days wages because I had to take off of work for court appearances and to eventually retrieve my rifle, both of which entailed me driving across the state.
I didn't expect compensation from the retailer nor did I sue for any.
/WARNING! CLICHES AHEAD!/
Shit happens. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.
I think if I were in the OP's position I would have emptied my pockets and been on my way. In about 20 minutes time I imagine I would have forgotten it ever happened, much less considering a call to a lawyer.
Incidentally, nothing makes you appreciate freedom like a brief stay in a jail cell.
Sorry for the voluminous post.
I sat in his vehicle and watched as he searched my truck. After inspecting my firearms he returned and with a much more serious demeanor, asked me to get out of the vehicle and put my hands on the hood, spread my legs etc... etc... (you've probably seen the routine on Cops
) It turns out that one of my rifles had been reported as stolen. Oddly enough, the company that reported the theft was the store where my parents had purchased the rifle as a birthday present for me ten years prior. If you knew my parents you would understand that the thought of them heisting a firearm from a major retailer would have been extremely funny had I not been currently handcuffed and in the back of a police car. I was taken to the local jail where I was fingerprinted and had a mugshot taken. My clothing and personal belongings were taken and I was given an orange jumpsuit and slippers to wear and told that I could now place a phone call. My wife was at work and my Mother, bless her, would not accept a collect call from "Johnson County Jail"
. I finally contacted my BIL and told him to tell my family where I was and what was going on. I was then taken to a cell which was my home for the next twelve hours at which time I was suddenly released. My clothing and personal items were returned and I was told that the company had decided not to press charges and I was free to go. It turned out that the company (which no longer sells firearms and I think may even be out of business, BTW) had had problems with the sporting counter employees stealing firearms and then switching the serial numbers around on the paperwork to cover thier tracks.
After paying to get my truck out of impound it took about 2 years time and hiring a lawyer to get my arrest record expunged (It jepardized my security clearance for work) and have my rifle returned to me. In addition to the "trauma" of the original incident, I was out about $1500.00 in legal and various other beaurocratic fees as well as several days wages because I had to take off of work for court appearances and to eventually retrieve my rifle, both of which entailed me driving across the state.
I didn't expect compensation from the retailer nor did I sue for any.
/WARNING! CLICHES AHEAD!/
Shit happens. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.
I think if I were in the OP's position I would have emptied my pockets and been on my way. In about 20 minutes time I imagine I would have forgotten it ever happened, much less considering a call to a lawyer.
Incidentally, nothing makes you appreciate freedom like a brief stay in a jail cell.
Sorry for the voluminous post.
As for our original poster. An employee of the store made an attempt to detain you by blocking your exit. If you felt that you would have been unable to leave without getting physical with the guy you have a case. Don't take anything from the store manager and I would at least threaten to sue.
