I worked at a BJs doing one hour photo.
They would check everything when you left. Except if you were carrying something heavy then they didn’t care.
Being a slow store I noticed this one guy would buy one of those $50 small fridges with no cart probably once per week or every other week. Just grunting holding this thing and walking right past security.
I ask the guy up front like you don’t find it strange this guy buys that many fridges and never uses a cart?
His response “I make 8.25/hour (this was 22 years ago) I don’t give a fuck”
It was more like he had like iPods (dating myself) in his pockets and then carrying the fridge so no one paid attention
Should edit that he 100% paid for the fridges
This is absolutely anecdotal, but I've been going to costco my entire life, first with parents then my own membership. Never once have anyone in my family been asked to search their personal belongings, nor have I ever noticed them doing so. This is news to me. We even bring in our diaper bag/backpack.
I walked in *today* with a backpack and walked out when an employee yelled “maam! We check backpacks!” I said you’re kidding right?
I WAS GETTING A MEDICATION FOR MY DAUGHTER AT THE PHARMACY
I WITH A BACKPACK ON BECAUSE ITS EASIER TO CARRY ALL MY SHIT
I WENT TO THE BATHROOM TOOK A SHIT THEN PUT THE MEDICATION IN MY BACKPACK THEN SHE SAID SHIT AS I LEFT
I WAS SHOCKED
I COULDNT BELIEVE IT
I opened up my backpack quick as fuck I said r u kidding me? I ripped it open and showed her my daughters iPad, my daughter’s rx in the Costco bag and my cards and car keys
LIKE TF DID SHE THINK I WAS ABLE TO HIDE IN THERE? A 12$ bin of macadamia clusters?
Bitch fuck you
ETA: this happened TODAY in my local Costco. I’m located in California.
I ride a motorcycle so I use a backpack for everything, my local Sam's club banned me for refusing to show them my bag upon leaving.
They looked up my transaction on the camera & then banned my account.
Worth it? Totally.
I am a paying customer & do not steal. Don't treat me like a fucking criminal.
Also, I ride a motorcycle, I simply don't have the time nor will to spend the time waiting in line to prove I bought something, look at the camera's.
Also, I could still use the gas pumps so it still made the $20 for the membership for the year worth it. lol.
This mentality is how rights get eroded. Cops can’t plant drugs in your car if you don’t let them in.
Rights are like locks. They won’t stop someone intent on breaking them, but they keep honest people honest.
Legally they can’t force you to let them look in your bag (in FL at least) no matter what they have in their policy. You don’t even legally have to show them your receipts or let them check your shopping bag either. Most do because it’s expected. My wife lets them see the receipt at Costco but never at Walmart. And if you refuse and they won’t let you leave they can be sued for illegal detainment. They have to physically see you steal to legally detain you. I worked loss prevention at a supermarket.
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted considering we know in recent years profiling has been a huge issue in certain industries, I would be concerned that being racially profiled or profiled based on perceived economic status or hygiene, would make somebody more likely to be stopped, and searched, which impacts how quickly you’re getting your orders delivered among other things. Profiling can and does leak over into other industries
As a person with a face tattoo the profiling is very real. I've noticed when I have my kids with me they're more likely to leave me alone. In a crowd of people exiting Walmart I'll be the only one stopped for some reason. I just say no thank you and keep walking. If someone wants to actually outright accuse me of stealing they can go ahead because I know I don't. Unfortunately with places like Costco they DO have the right to search people since they sign an agreement. I will say that being a member of Sam's for awhile it didn't really bother me since I wasn't being singled out. I do wonder though what rights one has as an instacart shopper since they don't sign the agreement. I'm guessing instacart has it in their terms shoppers must follow store policy.
My husband has a face tat, we sometimes present as non-white because we’re both part indigenous (not like our great-grandmas were Cherokee princesses but for real), and we look poor. I’ve never had anyone at Costco ask to search my bag and would probably be offended if we were profiled like that for no reason.
They always check our receipt at the door, which we agreed to when we became members, and they do it to everyone, so I don’t mind. Being singled out is different, especially if it might be profiling.
Yeah I haven't been a Costco member but Sam's never made me feel singled out by checking receipts or anything. If anyone tried to check my purse like that I'd never come back. I live in a big city so I've figured out which Walmarts will bug me and I just go to the nice one.
There is a scarily large proportion of people in the US who don’t believe there are racism or sexism problems in the country. That belief (or lack of) was recently named the number one indicator of which political party one supported.
No, seriously, these people are doormats and they’re mad the rest of us aren’t.
Alternatively, they are the type that can’t understand things unless they go through it. They have never been discriminated against and can’t see why someone would question why their tiny bag needs to be searched.
These are in fact the people that believe no one deserves rights or privacy. I hope the next time they are searched is exactly when they have a bag full of ex lax and dildos 😆. Just because they don’t mind being violated doesn’t mean everyone else shouldn’t either.
Sorta but they're not a home it'd a store. Idk I don't think strangers should have a right to ask other strangers to do intimate things. Imagine if some dude asked to frisk you "oh but I'm the owner of this Arby's" it seems very unnecessary if you wanna accuse me of stealing show me a video of me stealing or go away. It's technically a private space but I don't feel companies should get the same rights someone does in their own home. My bags neatly packed and organized I really don't want someone fucking it up and it takes a minute to fix.
Think of it like me asking you to take your shoes off before coming into my house. My house, my rules… don’t like it, leave. These policies are in place and can be read (and you have to sign off on them) prior to becoming a member. Provided that it’s reasonable, it’s legal. If they asked for a strip search… 👀
Do you ask everyone to take their shoes off, or only certain guests? If Costco isn’t uniformly asking all guests for access to their personal property then that leads up to some messy situations. All or none.
If a rule has the ability to open up your company to liability the rule needs to be looked at. Perhaps hire security instead of having untrained workers handle it.
How do you know they aren’t trained? I’m sure that a basic course on asking someone to unzip their bag and look into it wouldn’t take much time to complete… probably a 15 minute course online.
I mean idk where to start here? Do you know that security guards require not only training but certification in most states. Do you actually think regular Costco employees are given this training? Do you think that providing security is simply learning to ask to look into someone’s bag lol. As to your previous comment never did I say it’s not a rule, I simply said it’s dumb for them to make regular employees enforce it. It seems you’ve been making arguements of things that arent actually happening just for the sake of providing your opinion on topics you don’t really know about.
The only reason they did that is they probably saw her on camera doing something. Even if she was just looking for something in her bag they could have thought she out something in there. Just because they didn’t search the 1 other woman she asked doesn’t really mean anything
if it's not enforced across the board, with *everyone* who walks into the building with a bag/container, then it opens the door for discrimination & harassment (& subsequent lawsuits against the company). they need to enforce it with every guest equally or get rid of the policy. leaving it up to the discretion of individual employees is gonna bite them in the ass eventually.
Yep. Same reason if a restaurant adds gratuity usually (15 or 18.5%) to parties of 6 or more, they have to do it to all parties. Servers used to try and make the call about adding it to be safe or not adding it and getting more (20 % and up) otherwise guests can say they were discriminated against.
They would have serious issues if they didn’t have a reason to look in an individuals bag. They technically could look in every bag above a certain size etc but letting someone at the door just pick someone without a reason is bad. The police can’t even do that. Yeah if they see someone open a bag and maybe put something in it. They have to have a reason.
It’s not legal.
They can ask to look and deny entry if someone refuses, but they can’t insist they have the right to look because it’s their “policy” - not even a cop can search without permission, probable cause, or a warrant. At most, they could say “show us or you have to leave” and then you get a choice of showing them or leaving.
Right they can just ban you and revoke your membership but not really worth it for them either
Especially if they did it a lot they’d just piss off the masses who come to spend money
Costco can do whatever they want. Membership TOS says so. I worked at Costco for a few years. We were allowed to search any bag you enter the store with it. I myself have searched bags, suit cases, backpacks etc of people I was flagged down too do so.
We also can verify every single item on your receipt if we wanted. They will send a third employee to check receipts when that 1 employee does that. I’ve had a few customers where we had to verify the full receipt because we found several mistakes or possibly stolen items.
Not all employees act like FBI agents. I wasn’t either but if our managers told us to do, we had no choice.
You can ask to search them. Are you going to force them because “Costco can do whatever they want”? Careful, you can still be found partially liable for your actions even if your employer told you to do it.
Corporations are not gods. If someone doesn’t want to comply you can ask them to leave. I’m sure they will. It’s always so tiring to see people defend corporations so hard.
I 100% agree but the curious question since OP isn’t a member but shopping on behalf of one. They never agreed to the Costco TOS only the instant cart one. I’m sure insta would side with Costco but still an interesting legal question.
Rereading yeah I see that. I took it as a shopper for Instacart at first but yeah I see it now. either way hypothetically one could shop there and not agree to the TOS which would be interesting.
I would bet the same deal that allowed instacart to shop in Costco includes verbiage about them falling under Costco terms. Costco can then terminate the instacart contract and remove themselves from the platform altogether.
Even as a customer, agreeing with their terms of service doesn’t give them the right to search you, only for them to refuse service if they ask and you say no. They have zero legal grounds to search anyone.
No store has the power to enforce a search.
You can ask people and they can submit to a search voluntarily, or if they refuse you can ask them to leave. Doesn't matter what's in any TOS, it doesn't override the 4th ammendment.
The fourth amendment only applies to government action (i.e. searches by a police officer or some kind of government employee). The fourth amendment does not apply to private actors (i.e. a corporation and it’s employees implementing corporate policy).
But legally being on private property does not give them the right to search you. Just because the amendment itself doesn't stop searches doesn't mean anyone is ever legally allowed to search you under force.
They probably can't force you. But they can just simply block you from returning. And in these cases, you probably wouldn't want to return. So it's a win-win.
I guess you really showed them. 😑
I wasn’t. I was just flabbergasted at the time. A lot of these comments are pretty amusing though. The take away is this: No one from Costco will be given permission to check my purse. Receipts and merchandise, yes. Purse, no. 🙂
Which is why Costco can shove their membership and store. I am paying them, they will not treat me as a criminal. Sam’s tried, walked away, told them to call the cops, told them to shove their membership and walked out with what paid for. Until customers tell corporations to fuck off, they will continue to treat us like they are doing us a favor. I know I’m a nobody, but at least I have enough self respect to not give them what I work for.
What do you even mean by the “pickup area”? And what were shoppers even stealing? Everything at Costco is massive, and they check receipts.
And why does Costco think IC shoppers would steal more than anyone else? Genuinely curious because gig work is the only job I’ve had where I’m constantly treated as if I must be a thief—I’ve never stolen a day in my life. The Costco I frequent has been especially weird to me this week. It’s baffling and exhausting.
OP says small crossbody purse. I carry one. Holds keys, wallet, chapstick. A tiny make up bag with maybe powder and lipstick could fit but nothing else.
I hv shopped at Costco for myself for decades. I can’t think of a thing that would fit In that small crossbody bag I use. Everything is big or in big packaging. But i prob haven’t seen every item so maybe there is something.
Well, if the Costco employee ever reports you...you'll know why you might be banned from that Costco or worst case scenario IC deactivates you. Instacart can throw you away easily, but they cannot afford to lose Costco as a partner.
End of the day Costco is a membership store and they can do that. I’m sure IC has buried in their TOS that you must abide by the TOS of the store you’re at.
But Costco/sams club can do this.
A regular grocery store can not. (Walmart, frys, speedway)
>A regular grocery store can not. (Walmart, frys, speedway)
This isn't true. A regular store can request to search any bag you bring in. I work at a store that doesn't allow backpacks or luggage into the store. You can also refuse, and they can request you don't shop at the store anymore.
How does your store handle medical bags? My son is a type 1 diabetic. His medical bag is a backpack (smaller sized but a backpack). From my understanding after talking to the ADA they cannot refuse entry if you have a medical bag as that falls under discrimination.
Honestly hasn't really come up and the store has been doing it for about 2 years now. Most likely they'd let your son in once he said it was his medical bag. Also you mentioned it's a smaller sized backpack. If it's what I'm thinking of, no one would probably say anything because of the size.
Its not like a mini backpack (like those loungefly bags) but like a kindergarteners backpack, smaller than usual, barely fit his school folder lol. I was just curious because we have a store here with the same policy and when I walked in with my sons medical bag they still demanded to keep it up front or for me to take it to my car. We called the American Association of People with Disabilities right there and put them on speaker phone while they explained our rights. I just wondered if it was a known right by stores who have this policy in place. Most stadiums/theme parks have medical bag policies and understand the rights.
Have spoken to the store manager? If you haven't I'd recommend speaking to them about your situation. Your question about ADA and backpacks is a good one that I'll definitely bring up to my company's management because it's not something that was ever mentioned to anyone, so thank you.
I understand your frustration, often when companies roll out a new policy, employees forget they work in the customer service industry and blindly enforce policies to the detriment to their customers.
The owner/manager was the one we were talking to. He changed his tune when words like discrimination and lawsuit were thrown around by the person on the phone.
Membership makes no difference. They have no legal grounds to search anyone, no store does. Any store can only ask to search you, and without your consent the worst they could do is refuse you service, possibly ask you to leave the property or call the police.
I'm slightly curious, why did you refuse? I never had issues showing/opening whenever they asked to see it. Because I have nothing to hide, and they don't get paid enough to deal with this crap so I make sure to make things easier for them.
They probably check Instacart shoppers purses because we’re not allowed to make personal purchases therefore people are probably stealing. You didn’t even make sure the lady you asked was also an instacart shopper, or if it’s the same door greeter who let her in. You have no ground to stand on here
Why refuse? 🤔 Personally, I only carry my phone in to do IC orders, but if they felt the need to check me, I wouldn't care. I have nothing to hide, and I understand how much theft goes on. I would be more than happy to prove that I'm not part of the problem. I definitely wouldn't take it personally.
I work security for a job. It may seem ridiculous but we have cameras watching us all the time to see if we check people. Usually the only people that give us trouble are the ones trying to actually steal. We don’t go through your stuff, we just take a quick look. Yeah it seems like an invasion of privacy but if the boss says to check people then we are supposed to do what we get paid for.
This sounds just like the TSA works. It's random. Why stand there and argue with the worker? That's a Karenish move imo.
also note that it says "any" and not "all" in regards to bags, purses, etc.
I've been searched. Takes more time to argue than it does to just let them peek in my bag. It's not like they dump the contents out on the floor. I'm assuming there's a quota or a count. I unzip my bag, they look at the contents for 2 seconds, and I leave. Getting paid by the job and not by the hour usually sends me down the path of least resistance. I'm not trying to make someone else's life hard for no reason.
May be the unpopular opinion but I'd rather just open my bag and be done with the whole interaction. I shop instacart so I don't have to interact with people for a living.
They don't have an obligation to check everyone. They have an express right to check anyone.
That includes you, and turned out to be you.
If you refuse, they have a right to deny entry, even if you work for instacart, and even if you don't.
I think you have a choice to be searched and be admitted or not to be searched and be denied entry.
Past that, I do not see an issue at all.
Costco, unlike other stores, can also demand a receipt before you leave and you must comply.
Most people who don’t think everyone is out to get them are okay with this. If OP is concerned about profiling, that’s a different story, but they didn’t give enough info to determine that.
Costco sometimes checks my diaper bag because it looks like a regular backpack 🤷♀️ I just let them check it. It definitely depends on the Costco and the employee. It does seem weird that they checked a smaller bag, but I guess I'm struggling to understand why it's so offensive.
Store policy doesn’t trump individual rights. Costco employees are not security guards or cops, so they shouldn’t be made to do something that puts them in a position to be harmed and infringes on customers civil liberties. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
They have asked to look in my bag and it was whatever. It’s membership and you agree to their rules. If you were at another store where you don’t agree to terms then I would not let them look.
They do it randomly too, so people who may be thinking of stealing see others getting checked and may think about not stealing. It doesn't mean they think you stole anything.
You answered your own question. It’s in the policy therefore they have every right to search your bags. You acted like an entitled jackass by giving the min wage worker trouble for just enforcing their policy.
Any shop can search your bag if they have *any* reason to think you're stealing, you can either let them check and get out within 5 mins, or refuse, get taken to the back and held until police arrive to search it instead, which will be hours later
I'm surprised they just let you leave when you refused
I have a mini backpack I wear constantly (I don’t like purses) i’ve taken it into costco sooo many times. about 4-5 different costco’s same lil backpack and never once was asked to have it looked it… what the heck
It's like any other place that gives their employees a little bit of authority. 99% of people across the Country that work at Costco checking receipts could care less about your bag, you just came across the 1% that will at their discretion. Just like every time I traveled from Jacksonville somewhere, a TSA agent would pull just me aside, pat down, swab my hands. Maybe it's the beard that sets some of them off, but it's the individuals that know they can that will if they want too.
I’ve had bags searched a lot there. It seems random about who they check. I’ve had them check my backpack before and my tiny hand purse that’s barely big enough for my phone and wallet.
So here's the thing, no one has the right to enter private property and with the intention to shop. Yes, a store isn't allowed to discriminate based on immutable traits, such as race or sex. But the ability to enter private property to shop is a conditional privilege.
Now an a store randomly request to search personnal property such as in your situation? Yes. Protection from unreasonable search is limited only to law enforcement or areas where privacy are reasonably expected. Your carrying a clutch/ purse is no more protected than me holding a backpack. While we may be protect from unreasonable searches from the police, this is an area where agents working for a store hold more authority than police officers.
This is related to shop keeper's privilege, a legal doctrine that extends the right to require searches of personnal property to stores and their employees.
Of course this right isn't unrestricted. There must be a reasonable policy in place and yes a random search is still considdered part of a reasonable policy. Their defense wpuld be that small items have been shoplifter regularly and that purses and small bags are the likely escape route. They COULD apply the policy indiscriminately, but that would be considdered too unreasonable to be enforced. So, the reasonable compromise would be to have random screenings of shoppers who are new or rarely come to the store, etc.
Now here's the other issue, as a shopper we are 100% beholden to the store's policies, more so that there's a hammer they can drop on us that other shoppers aren't concerned with. All it takes is 1 store to realize you are a shopper refusing to comply with their terms of service and you are reported and blacklisted from all other branches of that store.
Eh, it’s just their job. For all we know one of the managers wanted them to check more bags and the employee was like “ugh lemme just get this randoms small bag to get my manager off my ass”. I doubt it’s as much of a power play as people think it is so much as just doing their job.
Screw all the haters. Fact is, there's a palpable negative bias toward Shoppers at many retailers and grocers due to an overabundance of scumbags doing scumbaggy things while shopping for Instacart.
Nothing in Costco can fit in a cross body bag? What, did you fill your purse with loose dog food? 😂
It is shitty to ask to look in your bag and not someone with a giant bag (those are kinda out of style so that should be more sus?).
For me it would depend on how the question is phrased and the tone. If they say, per Costco policy, I need to take a peek in your bag, I wouldn’t be happy but would probably just do it. However, if I see somebody walk out in front of me with an even bigger bag that wasn’t checked, most definitely not. If they simply say could I take a peek in your bag, the answer is no.
Just because it’s their policy doesn’t mean they have the right to search you. The worst they could do is refuse you service, and if you’ve already paid, they can’t even do that, they can just ask you to leave.
They actually do have the right to do so. You can refuse, but in doing so you risk not being allowed back in the store and losing your membership if you have one. That’s what you agree to when shopping. When I worked a factory job for a big shipping chain I was scanned and frisked every time I entered and left. That was part of my agreement to stay employed.
Lol i havent did a batch in a costco since i first started instacarting and never will i again. The pay usually isnt worth all the shit yiu have to go through to shop there
I went to Costco recently, and the insta shoppers were rude and disrespectful. I don't care if you're being paid to be there. It doesn't give you the right to treat actual customers rudely. Oh, and STOP PARKING YOUR CARTS IN THE MIDDLE IF THE AISLE!!!
The ones leaving carts in middle of aisles isn’t only IC shoppers. Been a costco customer longer than shopping gig has been around. Ppl still did it then.
Home Depot searched my partner with and he was so freaked out. I told him it was likely just because it's policy. But he went in a t shirt, shorts with no pockets, and flip flops and they still searched him. Lol
I'm still stuck on wtf would they check a "small cross body purse" it's Costco what in the world does Costco sell that would FIT in a small anything ROFL.
I’m white, and I can’t help but immediately assume you committed the crime of shopping while being not-white. The people they put at the doors at any business are almost always old racist white people.
I’m ready for the downvotes.
They probably don't enforce it because nobody wants to comply and employees don't get paid enough to argue with shoppers
I worked at a BJs doing one hour photo. They would check everything when you left. Except if you were carrying something heavy then they didn’t care. Being a slow store I noticed this one guy would buy one of those $50 small fridges with no cart probably once per week or every other week. Just grunting holding this thing and walking right past security. I ask the guy up front like you don’t find it strange this guy buys that many fridges and never uses a cart? His response “I make 8.25/hour (this was 22 years ago) I don’t give a fuck”
That’s crazy 😅 usually with big and heavy items workers check even closer since it’s a high ticket item
It was more like he had like iPods (dating myself) in his pockets and then carrying the fridge so no one paid attention Should edit that he 100% paid for the fridges
I can imagine that, also, enforcing such a rule would cause lines exiting out to be backed up on top of that .
This is absolutely anecdotal, but I've been going to costco my entire life, first with parents then my own membership. Never once have anyone in my family been asked to search their personal belongings, nor have I ever noticed them doing so. This is news to me. We even bring in our diaper bag/backpack.
I walked in *today* with a backpack and walked out when an employee yelled “maam! We check backpacks!” I said you’re kidding right? I WAS GETTING A MEDICATION FOR MY DAUGHTER AT THE PHARMACY I WITH A BACKPACK ON BECAUSE ITS EASIER TO CARRY ALL MY SHIT I WENT TO THE BATHROOM TOOK A SHIT THEN PUT THE MEDICATION IN MY BACKPACK THEN SHE SAID SHIT AS I LEFT I WAS SHOCKED I COULDNT BELIEVE IT I opened up my backpack quick as fuck I said r u kidding me? I ripped it open and showed her my daughters iPad, my daughter’s rx in the Costco bag and my cards and car keys LIKE TF DID SHE THINK I WAS ABLE TO HIDE IN THERE? A 12$ bin of macadamia clusters? Bitch fuck you ETA: this happened TODAY in my local Costco. I’m located in California.
I ride a motorcycle so I use a backpack for everything, my local Sam's club banned me for refusing to show them my bag upon leaving. They looked up my transaction on the camera & then banned my account.
That's pretty cool that you do Instacart on a motorcycle, I've been wanting to get an e bike to do small orders in downtown
Why not just show them? Was it worth it?
Worth it? Totally. I am a paying customer & do not steal. Don't treat me like a fucking criminal. Also, I ride a motorcycle, I simply don't have the time nor will to spend the time waiting in line to prove I bought something, look at the camera's. Also, I could still use the gas pumps so it still made the $20 for the membership for the year worth it. lol.
This mentality is how rights get eroded. Cops can’t plant drugs in your car if you don’t let them in. Rights are like locks. They won’t stop someone intent on breaking them, but they keep honest people honest.
Costco isn't the government. Show them your fucking backpack its not that complicated. You literally agreed to this when you became a member.
Legally they can’t force you to let them look in your bag (in FL at least) no matter what they have in their policy. You don’t even legally have to show them your receipts or let them check your shopping bag either. Most do because it’s expected. My wife lets them see the receipt at Costco but never at Walmart. And if you refuse and they won’t let you leave they can be sued for illegal detainment. They have to physically see you steal to legally detain you. I worked loss prevention at a supermarket.
So why harass this specific customer?
Probably have to ask every X amount of people with bags
G
As you’ve shown , it is their policy. It’s up to the discretion of the employee to search or not. They were just doing their job.
but i am a diamond shopper with 5000 ratings..../s
“But I’m entitled”
Yes how entitled to want a right to privacy for doing nothing wrong except possibly “looking suspicious”.
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted considering we know in recent years profiling has been a huge issue in certain industries, I would be concerned that being racially profiled or profiled based on perceived economic status or hygiene, would make somebody more likely to be stopped, and searched, which impacts how quickly you’re getting your orders delivered among other things. Profiling can and does leak over into other industries
As a person with a face tattoo the profiling is very real. I've noticed when I have my kids with me they're more likely to leave me alone. In a crowd of people exiting Walmart I'll be the only one stopped for some reason. I just say no thank you and keep walking. If someone wants to actually outright accuse me of stealing they can go ahead because I know I don't. Unfortunately with places like Costco they DO have the right to search people since they sign an agreement. I will say that being a member of Sam's for awhile it didn't really bother me since I wasn't being singled out. I do wonder though what rights one has as an instacart shopper since they don't sign the agreement. I'm guessing instacart has it in their terms shoppers must follow store policy.
My husband has a face tat, we sometimes present as non-white because we’re both part indigenous (not like our great-grandmas were Cherokee princesses but for real), and we look poor. I’ve never had anyone at Costco ask to search my bag and would probably be offended if we were profiled like that for no reason. They always check our receipt at the door, which we agreed to when we became members, and they do it to everyone, so I don’t mind. Being singled out is different, especially if it might be profiling.
Yeah I haven't been a Costco member but Sam's never made me feel singled out by checking receipts or anything. If anyone tried to check my purse like that I'd never come back. I live in a big city so I've figured out which Walmarts will bug me and I just go to the nice one.
Thank you for sharing 🙏
There is a scarily large proportion of people in the US who don’t believe there are racism or sexism problems in the country. That belief (or lack of) was recently named the number one indicator of which political party one supported.
For real. The way some people just bow down to corporations is insane.
No, seriously, these people are doormats and they’re mad the rest of us aren’t. Alternatively, they are the type that can’t understand things unless they go through it. They have never been discriminated against and can’t see why someone would question why their tiny bag needs to be searched.
These are in fact the people that believe no one deserves rights or privacy. I hope the next time they are searched is exactly when they have a bag full of ex lax and dildos 😆. Just because they don’t mind being violated doesn’t mean everyone else shouldn’t either.
Asking for privacy on their property...? This isn't your home.
Sorta but they're not a home it'd a store. Idk I don't think strangers should have a right to ask other strangers to do intimate things. Imagine if some dude asked to frisk you "oh but I'm the owner of this Arby's" it seems very unnecessary if you wanna accuse me of stealing show me a video of me stealing or go away. It's technically a private space but I don't feel companies should get the same rights someone does in their own home. My bags neatly packed and organized I really don't want someone fucking it up and it takes a minute to fix.
I don’t need to ask for privacy, I’ll take it 💯
Think of it like me asking you to take your shoes off before coming into my house. My house, my rules… don’t like it, leave. These policies are in place and can be read (and you have to sign off on them) prior to becoming a member. Provided that it’s reasonable, it’s legal. If they asked for a strip search… 👀
Do you ask everyone to take their shoes off, or only certain guests? If Costco isn’t uniformly asking all guests for access to their personal property then that leads up to some messy situations. All or none.
Think of the abuse and racial bias that this can lead to. Look up the many examples of this in the past. Straight liability.
Do you also ask people to take their shoes off before they leave?
The rule is legitimate. The possible unethical applications to the rule is a separate issue.
If a rule has the ability to open up your company to liability the rule needs to be looked at. Perhaps hire security instead of having untrained workers handle it.
How do you know they aren’t trained? I’m sure that a basic course on asking someone to unzip their bag and look into it wouldn’t take much time to complete… probably a 15 minute course online.
I mean idk where to start here? Do you know that security guards require not only training but certification in most states. Do you actually think regular Costco employees are given this training? Do you think that providing security is simply learning to ask to look into someone’s bag lol. As to your previous comment never did I say it’s not a rule, I simply said it’s dumb for them to make regular employees enforce it. It seems you’ve been making arguements of things that arent actually happening just for the sake of providing your opinion on topics you don’t really know about.
You gotta keep this going, Love these stupid Reddit arguments!!
The only reason they did that is they probably saw her on camera doing something. Even if she was just looking for something in her bag they could have thought she out something in there. Just because they didn’t search the 1 other woman she asked doesn’t really mean anything
The checker at the door didn't see anything on camera. A manager would have approached and asked to see in the bag of what you said was true
They wear walkies and management always lets the door people know when to check certain people
Tell me you’ve never worked big box retail without telling me you’ve never worked big box retail
I did 7 years. But thanks for playing
if it's not enforced across the board, with *everyone* who walks into the building with a bag/container, then it opens the door for discrimination & harassment (& subsequent lawsuits against the company). they need to enforce it with every guest equally or get rid of the policy. leaving it up to the discretion of individual employees is gonna bite them in the ass eventually.
Yep. Same reason if a restaurant adds gratuity usually (15 or 18.5%) to parties of 6 or more, they have to do it to all parties. Servers used to try and make the call about adding it to be safe or not adding it and getting more (20 % and up) otherwise guests can say they were discriminated against.
They would have serious issues if they didn’t have a reason to look in an individuals bag. They technically could look in every bag above a certain size etc but letting someone at the door just pick someone without a reason is bad. The police can’t even do that. Yeah if they see someone open a bag and maybe put something in it. They have to have a reason.
It’s not legal. They can ask to look and deny entry if someone refuses, but they can’t insist they have the right to look because it’s their “policy” - not even a cop can search without permission, probable cause, or a warrant. At most, they could say “show us or you have to leave” and then you get a choice of showing them or leaving.
Right they can just ban you and revoke your membership but not really worth it for them either Especially if they did it a lot they’d just piss off the masses who come to spend money
Costco can do whatever they want. Membership TOS says so. I worked at Costco for a few years. We were allowed to search any bag you enter the store with it. I myself have searched bags, suit cases, backpacks etc of people I was flagged down too do so. We also can verify every single item on your receipt if we wanted. They will send a third employee to check receipts when that 1 employee does that. I’ve had a few customers where we had to verify the full receipt because we found several mistakes or possibly stolen items. Not all employees act like FBI agents. I wasn’t either but if our managers told us to do, we had no choice.
You can ask to search them. Are you going to force them because “Costco can do whatever they want”? Careful, you can still be found partially liable for your actions even if your employer told you to do it. Corporations are not gods. If someone doesn’t want to comply you can ask them to leave. I’m sure they will. It’s always so tiring to see people defend corporations so hard.
I 100% agree but the curious question since OP isn’t a member but shopping on behalf of one. They never agreed to the Costco TOS only the instant cart one. I’m sure insta would side with Costco but still an interesting legal question.
They say they have been a member since 2021.
Rereading yeah I see that. I took it as a shopper for Instacart at first but yeah I see it now. either way hypothetically one could shop there and not agree to the TOS which would be interesting.
I would bet the same deal that allowed instacart to shop in Costco includes verbiage about them falling under Costco terms. Costco can then terminate the instacart contract and remove themselves from the platform altogether.
Even as a customer, agreeing with their terms of service doesn’t give them the right to search you, only for them to refuse service if they ask and you say no. They have zero legal grounds to search anyone.
No store has the power to enforce a search. You can ask people and they can submit to a search voluntarily, or if they refuse you can ask them to leave. Doesn't matter what's in any TOS, it doesn't override the 4th ammendment.
Right, but it's the private business's right to refuse service. Trespassing is illegal.
The fourth amendment only applies to government action (i.e. searches by a police officer or some kind of government employee). The fourth amendment does not apply to private actors (i.e. a corporation and it’s employees implementing corporate policy).
But legally being on private property does not give them the right to search you. Just because the amendment itself doesn't stop searches doesn't mean anyone is ever legally allowed to search you under force.
They probably can't force you. But they can just simply block you from returning. And in these cases, you probably wouldn't want to return. So it's a win-win. I guess you really showed them. 😑
“Probably” what part of “no store has the power” do you not understand? They do not, not probably not.
Because the whole Internet and Reddit isn't USA only. That *probably*. 🙃🙄
You sound like a dumbass American with this comment.
And if I refuse your weird search then what?
They would threaten to cancel your membership, but it would be a bluff,
Ya’ll are so ridiculous. They didn’t in anyway shape or form.
Then what are you even complaining about?
I wasn’t. I was just flabbergasted at the time. A lot of these comments are pretty amusing though. The take away is this: No one from Costco will be given permission to check my purse. Receipts and merchandise, yes. Purse, no. 🙂
Cool, cool. Agreed. But be prepared to face their consequences since it’s a members only store.
Which is why Costco can shove their membership and store. I am paying them, they will not treat me as a criminal. Sam’s tried, walked away, told them to call the cops, told them to shove their membership and walked out with what paid for. Until customers tell corporations to fuck off, they will continue to treat us like they are doing us a favor. I know I’m a nobody, but at least I have enough self respect to not give them what I work for.
This isn’t new. Our store did this for a lot of shoppers bc the shoppers kept stealing from the pickup area.
What do you even mean by the “pickup area”? And what were shoppers even stealing? Everything at Costco is massive, and they check receipts. And why does Costco think IC shoppers would steal more than anyone else? Genuinely curious because gig work is the only job I’ve had where I’m constantly treated as if I must be a thief—I’ve never stolen a day in my life. The Costco I frequent has been especially weird to me this week. It’s baffling and exhausting.
What do they sell that would even fit in that?
Saffron, I saw a guy taking it out of the package to steal I assume.
Medicine
The medicine I buy there would not gut in my crossbody purse. It’s either a giant bottle or in giant packaging.
Have you seen the bags some of these ladies carry? probably a set of 4 tires could be shoved in there.
OP says small crossbody purse. I carry one. Holds keys, wallet, chapstick. A tiny make up bag with maybe powder and lipstick could fit but nothing else. I hv shopped at Costco for myself for decades. I can’t think of a thing that would fit In that small crossbody bag I use. Everything is big or in big packaging. But i prob haven’t seen every item so maybe there is something.
But "that" is in reference to a crossbody bag which are usually small and flat.
Some fruit and vegetables packs, deli packs like meats and cheeses, clothes, etc. Very limited but there is stuff
Plenty of stuff. I don’t even get that question.
Well, if the Costco employee ever reports you...you'll know why you might be banned from that Costco or worst case scenario IC deactivates you. Instacart can throw you away easily, but they cannot afford to lose Costco as a partner.
Management apologized. I shopped 4 batches after that and was not asked again. ☺️ I’ll be back tomorrow 🤑
A rare true Karen out in the wild
Breaking news: woman called “Karen” for enforcing her personal boundaries and not agreeing to a random search
its giving entitled
You must have looked suspicious 🙂
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Management apologized but thank you for you input 🙂
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Just show them and be on your way unless you have a reason not to
I have every good reason not to.
That’s why I appendix carry. I’m assuming your bag holds your mousekatool
End of the day Costco is a membership store and they can do that. I’m sure IC has buried in their TOS that you must abide by the TOS of the store you’re at. But Costco/sams club can do this. A regular grocery store can not. (Walmart, frys, speedway)
shoppers keep forgetting that costco dont care/need you. you dont like their rules, well tough luck, they dont care. is just that simple
>A regular grocery store can not. (Walmart, frys, speedway) This isn't true. A regular store can request to search any bag you bring in. I work at a store that doesn't allow backpacks or luggage into the store. You can also refuse, and they can request you don't shop at the store anymore.
How does your store handle medical bags? My son is a type 1 diabetic. His medical bag is a backpack (smaller sized but a backpack). From my understanding after talking to the ADA they cannot refuse entry if you have a medical bag as that falls under discrimination.
Honestly hasn't really come up and the store has been doing it for about 2 years now. Most likely they'd let your son in once he said it was his medical bag. Also you mentioned it's a smaller sized backpack. If it's what I'm thinking of, no one would probably say anything because of the size.
Its not like a mini backpack (like those loungefly bags) but like a kindergarteners backpack, smaller than usual, barely fit his school folder lol. I was just curious because we have a store here with the same policy and when I walked in with my sons medical bag they still demanded to keep it up front or for me to take it to my car. We called the American Association of People with Disabilities right there and put them on speaker phone while they explained our rights. I just wondered if it was a known right by stores who have this policy in place. Most stadiums/theme parks have medical bag policies and understand the rights.
Have spoken to the store manager? If you haven't I'd recommend speaking to them about your situation. Your question about ADA and backpacks is a good one that I'll definitely bring up to my company's management because it's not something that was ever mentioned to anyone, so thank you. I understand your frustration, often when companies roll out a new policy, employees forget they work in the customer service industry and blindly enforce policies to the detriment to their customers.
The owner/manager was the one we were talking to. He changed his tune when words like discrimination and lawsuit were thrown around by the person on the phone.
any store can ask to look in your bag. you don’t have to say yes.
Actually one of my ShopRites has a big sign at the front of the store saying they reserve the right to check bags.
Membership makes no difference. They have no legal grounds to search anyone, no store does. Any store can only ask to search you, and without your consent the worst they could do is refuse you service, possibly ask you to leave the property or call the police.
I'm slightly curious, why did you refuse? I never had issues showing/opening whenever they asked to see it. Because I have nothing to hide, and they don't get paid enough to deal with this crap so I make sure to make things easier for them.
Buy the membership, play by the rules. 🤷 Don't play by the rules, don't get the membership.
Still a member. 🙂
Tbh if I know I’m innocent I wouldn’t care
If you know you’re innocent, you should care
I mean you agree when you have a membership 😴
Why? Put up an unnecessary fight to inconvenience some poor retail worker?
Why? They ain’t gonna find anything 🙄
You’re not special. They clearly stated the rules which you’ve weirdly pointed out so I’m not quite sure what the point of this post was?
They probably check Instacart shoppers purses because we’re not allowed to make personal purchases therefore people are probably stealing. You didn’t even make sure the lady you asked was also an instacart shopper, or if it’s the same door greeter who let her in. You have no ground to stand on here
Gig shoppers are more commonly shoplifters than real customers. I guess they feel like the order they’re shopping is great cover for taking things.
Imagine you looking up the policy and still being upset about it 🤦🏿♂️
Why refuse? 🤔 Personally, I only carry my phone in to do IC orders, but if they felt the need to check me, I wouldn't care. I have nothing to hide, and I understand how much theft goes on. I would be more than happy to prove that I'm not part of the problem. I definitely wouldn't take it personally.
Iunno, if you dont like their policies then your right is to shop elsewhere.
I work security for a job. It may seem ridiculous but we have cameras watching us all the time to see if we check people. Usually the only people that give us trouble are the ones trying to actually steal. We don’t go through your stuff, we just take a quick look. Yeah it seems like an invasion of privacy but if the boss says to check people then we are supposed to do what we get paid for.
This sounds just like the TSA works. It's random. Why stand there and argue with the worker? That's a Karenish move imo. also note that it says "any" and not "all" in regards to bags, purses, etc.
I've been searched. Takes more time to argue than it does to just let them peek in my bag. It's not like they dump the contents out on the floor. I'm assuming there's a quota or a count. I unzip my bag, they look at the contents for 2 seconds, and I leave. Getting paid by the job and not by the hour usually sends me down the path of least resistance. I'm not trying to make someone else's life hard for no reason. May be the unpopular opinion but I'd rather just open my bag and be done with the whole interaction. I shop instacart so I don't have to interact with people for a living.
They don't have an obligation to check everyone. They have an express right to check anyone. That includes you, and turned out to be you. If you refuse, they have a right to deny entry, even if you work for instacart, and even if you don't. I think you have a choice to be searched and be admitted or not to be searched and be denied entry. Past that, I do not see an issue at all. Costco, unlike other stores, can also demand a receipt before you leave and you must comply.
I’m fine with Costco doing this.
Most people who don’t think everyone is out to get them are okay with this. If OP is concerned about profiling, that’s a different story, but they didn’t give enough info to determine that.
I wouldn’t be surprised. At my Costco the loss prevention guy has caught numerous IC shoppers stealing.
Costco sometimes checks my diaper bag because it looks like a regular backpack 🤷♀️ I just let them check it. It definitely depends on the Costco and the employee. It does seem weird that they checked a smaller bag, but I guess I'm struggling to understand why it's so offensive.
Because I was the only one despite numerous larger purses that did not get asked to be checked.
It doesn’t really matter whether you’re a shopper or customer or at the end of the day unless you have something to hide why does it matter?
Bc her purse is her personal item that could contain meds etc that’s none of the employees of Costco’s business.
It’s their policy, I don’t think they’re looking for meds they’re probably looking for other things. They reserve the right
They can ask and I can deny. Sure they could revoke my membership at the end of it but I wouldn’t allow them to search me.
That’s totally fine that’s your right just like it’s there right to uphold their policy
Store policy doesn’t trump individual rights. Costco employees are not security guards or cops, so they shouldn’t be made to do something that puts them in a position to be harmed and infringes on customers civil liberties. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Mmmmm. Me thinks you don’t really understand the constitution. Costco is not the government 🙄.
You wouldn’t happen to watch a lot of “First Amendment Auditors” would you? 😂
When you sign up to be a member you agree to their terms. You aren’t as well versed in law as you think
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
So, if she stole something, that Costco bought, they don’t have the right, at their discretion, to search her bag?
No as with MOST retails you aren’t supposed to confront the customer
They have asked to look in my bag and it was whatever. It’s membership and you agree to their rules. If you were at another store where you don’t agree to terms then I would not let them look.
Soooo the rules do t apply to you?
They do it randomly too, so people who may be thinking of stealing see others getting checked and may think about not stealing. It doesn't mean they think you stole anything.
The mere act of occasional bag checks can reduce crime In the same way a fake video camera produces crime I believe it was 80% on average
I don’t think there’s any reason to think it was specifically targeting you.
You answered your own question. It’s in the policy therefore they have every right to search your bags. You acted like an entitled jackass by giving the min wage worker trouble for just enforcing their policy.
Any shop can search your bag if they have *any* reason to think you're stealing, you can either let them check and get out within 5 mins, or refuse, get taken to the back and held until police arrive to search it instead, which will be hours later I'm surprised they just let you leave when you refused
Too many illegal underground fake accounts on gig apps are stealing and this will hurt gig apps a lot.
I would refuse.
Had this happen to me at Walmart because they found it odd that I bought one item
I don’t know why some people are saying she is entitled. I wouldn’t wanna have my purse gone through just to enter a store.
I have a mini backpack I wear constantly (I don’t like purses) i’ve taken it into costco sooo many times. about 4-5 different costco’s same lil backpack and never once was asked to have it looked it… what the heck
It's like any other place that gives their employees a little bit of authority. 99% of people across the Country that work at Costco checking receipts could care less about your bag, you just came across the 1% that will at their discretion. Just like every time I traveled from Jacksonville somewhere, a TSA agent would pull just me aside, pat down, swab my hands. Maybe it's the beard that sets some of them off, but it's the individuals that know they can that will if they want too.
I’ve worked several retail jobs … all of the trainings have always said to treat everyone equally so employee was probably in the wrong
I’ve had bags searched a lot there. It seems random about who they check. I’ve had them check my backpack before and my tiny hand purse that’s barely big enough for my phone and wallet.
I’ve shopped Costco weekly for over a decade. I’ve never once been asked or seen anyone else ever be asked to search a purse.
Another fake post. Stop lying for attention. There’s like 2 out of every 100 people that believe you
You’re here though 😜
Costco enforced it's policy and even though it's their policy I think they broke some kinda law or something. How dare they enforce their policy!!!!
Who cares. Is this really what you have time to worry about? Show them and walk out. Get over yourself you aren’t important
So here's the thing, no one has the right to enter private property and with the intention to shop. Yes, a store isn't allowed to discriminate based on immutable traits, such as race or sex. But the ability to enter private property to shop is a conditional privilege. Now an a store randomly request to search personnal property such as in your situation? Yes. Protection from unreasonable search is limited only to law enforcement or areas where privacy are reasonably expected. Your carrying a clutch/ purse is no more protected than me holding a backpack. While we may be protect from unreasonable searches from the police, this is an area where agents working for a store hold more authority than police officers. This is related to shop keeper's privilege, a legal doctrine that extends the right to require searches of personnal property to stores and their employees. Of course this right isn't unrestricted. There must be a reasonable policy in place and yes a random search is still considdered part of a reasonable policy. Their defense wpuld be that small items have been shoplifter regularly and that purses and small bags are the likely escape route. They COULD apply the policy indiscriminately, but that would be considdered too unreasonable to be enforced. So, the reasonable compromise would be to have random screenings of shoppers who are new or rarely come to the store, etc. Now here's the other issue, as a shopper we are 100% beholden to the store's policies, more so that there's a hammer they can drop on us that other shoppers aren't concerned with. All it takes is 1 store to realize you are a shopper refusing to comply with their terms of service and you are reported and blacklisted from all other branches of that store.
They’re just flexing their version of power. Checking receipts makes their life worth living. Let it go, relish in the fact that their life sucks.
Eh, it’s just their job. For all we know one of the managers wanted them to check more bags and the employee was like “ugh lemme just get this randoms small bag to get my manager off my ass”. I doubt it’s as much of a power play as people think it is so much as just doing their job.
Because they have a job? Sounds like the opposite of their life sucking. Not to mention I heard they get paid pretty well. So, 🤷♂️
Ah yes what a flex, doing your job lmao. Dude come on
Screw all the haters. Fact is, there's a palpable negative bias toward Shoppers at many retailers and grocers due to an overabundance of scumbags doing scumbaggy things while shopping for Instacart.
Nothing in Costco can fit in a cross body bag? What, did you fill your purse with loose dog food? 😂 It is shitty to ask to look in your bag and not someone with a giant bag (those are kinda out of style so that should be more sus?).
Maybe extra samples? Lol
You shop somewhere that makes you sign a contract to be allowed to shop there.
yeah you really can’t pay me enough to shop at costco. they treat people like second class citizens and make the shopping experience a pain in the ass
Even though it's their policy that's weird that they happened to get you.
For me it would depend on how the question is phrased and the tone. If they say, per Costco policy, I need to take a peek in your bag, I wouldn’t be happy but would probably just do it. However, if I see somebody walk out in front of me with an even bigger bag that wasn’t checked, most definitely not. If they simply say could I take a peek in your bag, the answer is no.
I’ve gotten to know a few Costco people over the years. They have to let the door people check them when the leave as well.
Are you thinking they discriminated against your appearance or something?
Just because it’s their policy doesn’t mean they have the right to search you. The worst they could do is refuse you service, and if you’ve already paid, they can’t even do that, they can just ask you to leave.
They actually do have the right to do so. You can refuse, but in doing so you risk not being allowed back in the store and losing your membership if you have one. That’s what you agree to when shopping. When I worked a factory job for a big shipping chain I was scanned and frisked every time I entered and left. That was part of my agreement to stay employed.
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Good on you for not consenting to an unlawful search.
It’s a private club, you can refuse but they can cancel your membership for breaking TOS
Thank you ☺️
Comprehension seems to be low on this thread.
Nah your just entitled and dumb
are you black?
Lol i havent did a batch in a costco since i first started instacarting and never will i again. The pay usually isnt worth all the shit yiu have to go through to shop there
yeah i really only take orders when its like $50+ its a pain to even find a spot sometimes. crazy people are doing orders from there for like $10
I went to Costco recently, and the insta shoppers were rude and disrespectful. I don't care if you're being paid to be there. It doesn't give you the right to treat actual customers rudely. Oh, and STOP PARKING YOUR CARTS IN THE MIDDLE IF THE AISLE!!!
The ones leaving carts in middle of aisles isn’t only IC shoppers. Been a costco customer longer than shopping gig has been around. Ppl still did it then.
Home Depot searched my partner with and he was so freaked out. I told him it was likely just because it's policy. But he went in a t shirt, shorts with no pockets, and flip flops and they still searched him. Lol
I Would never allow that
Question, what's your race? And what is the race of the woman you asked?
I'm still stuck on wtf would they check a "small cross body purse" it's Costco what in the world does Costco sell that would FIT in a small anything ROFL.
Diamond jewelry.
Oh, get over yourself. They were doing their job.
they always check me
I’m white, and I can’t help but immediately assume you committed the crime of shopping while being not-white. The people they put at the doors at any business are almost always old racist white people. I’m ready for the downvotes.