How hard is it to open your backpack?

[VComps]

One thing I *can't* stand is when places ask that I put my bag behind their counter or somewhere else where it will not always be in my sight. School bookstores and this one shoe store near my house are the one's I always get that. The employees could be thieves too, just give me a bag search! (The stores have signs stating that the bags are to be left behind counters and such.)

IANAL, but if I know the law well enough, if a store requests you to leave a bag/purse in their custody while you shop in their store and you voluntarily deliver it to them, a bailment is created (similar to when you leave your car in the custody of a valet).

If I'm not mistaken, that means that the store is responsible for anything that may happen to your possessions while they're in the custody of the staff. (Actually, I just looked up US case law on the subject. As the bailment is to the sole benefit of the bailee; ie, the store gets all the benefit, there's nothing in it for the customer. In a case like this, if anything happens to your bag, even from slight negligence, like the staff turning their back and a polar bear pulling the bag through the motel window, the store is held responsible.)

The next time a store asks that you leave a bag with them, just look them square in the eye and say, "Can you guarantee the safety of my items while they're in your care?" If the answer is 'no,' then ask why on earth they would expect you to leave something with them if they can't ensure its safety. If the answer is 'yes,' and anything happens, now you not only have case law on your side, but the verbal assurance of the staff that they would guarantee the safety of your property.

[dianek93]

Maybe you're embarrassed by the mess that is inside your purse? Maybe you're someone who has to carry things you're embarrassed by (for instance, some women could be embarrassed by having a need to carry tampons)? (…) Maybe you don't like the accusation that you're a thief that comes along with "Show me the contents of your bag"? Maybe you're just a private person who doesn't want to show random strangers whatever stuff she's carrying around?

There's plenty of valid reasons to refuse to show someone the contents of your bag that are not "I'm a thief and therefore don't want to get caught." Please don't support the idea that that is the only reason to refuse a bag check. It just gives people unnecessary grief.

If I were actually embarassed by the mess in my purse, I would take more care to clean it, since many places I go to (not just stores) do bag checks. Personal items that I don't want easily seen (like tampons) actually go in a small zippered area in my purse, a spot where most bag checkers don't bother to look. Since I know I am not the only one being asked to open my bag, I know it's not an accusation, it's just a precaution for the stores. I am a private person, I don't like showing my belongings to strangers, but I know why they do it, and take no offense to it. But what you quoted from me is my personal opinion on the matter, stating that I am not a thief and don't care if my bag is checked.

Well, if you know that they always do that, then why not leave the purse in the car, and just carry what you need to do your shopping?

Some people don't have cars And lots of times I need more than just my wallet with me when I take a day out to go shopping or I just plain didn't plan on stopping in that store until I was outside it.

[Peppergirl]

I don't give bag-checkers any grief because I know that they don't have any say in whether they check bags or not; that's up to management/corporate. Honestly, the doorway of a random retail establishment really isn't the place to make a stand for personal privacy.

*This*

This is EXACTLY how I feel about it. If a person has a problem with it, they should vote with their feet and leave, or ask to speak to a manager. I have no problem with that. Just because I *personally* don't have a problem with having my stuff searched doesn't mean I don't respect the rights of others who *do* have a problem with it.

The ones I can't stand, similar to Andara, are the ones that take it out on the person attempting to do their job. Assuming, of course, that they're conducting searches in a fair/respectful manner, not 'profiling' and only searching certain peoples bags.

Unfortunately the concept of 'shooting the messenger' is an SC act we're ALL too familiar with.

[RayvenQ]

I'm lucky, I usually never cary bags around unless I've been shopping somewhere else (one time at HMV I went in with a bag from and a game from GAME and somehow, it set off HMV's security things despite going on the deactivator in GAME)

Hopefully I'd never be searched, yeah that might take a while as I usually have up to like a dozen pockets on me

[crazylegs]

Hopefully I'd never be searched, yeah that might take a while as I usually have up to like a dozen pockets on me

I'm pretty sure you're in the UK, and as such only the Police (and certain PCSOs in certain circumstances) can search you. No store can.

[RayvenQ]

Yeah I am.

I wouldn't be bothered anyway, they'd just have a job on their hands

Of course, if anything like what happened in HMV happens, I'd just stop, wait for the security person to catch up with me and show them my bag and receipts.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I don't give bag-checkers any grief because I know that they don't have any say in whether they check bags or not; that's up to management/corporate. Honestly, the doorway of a random retail establishment really isn't the place to make a stand for personal privacy.

*This*

This is EXACTLY how I feel about it. If a person has a problem with it, they should vote with their feet and leave, or ask to speak to a manager. I have no problem with that. Just because I *personally* don't have a problem with having my stuff searched doesn't mean I don't respect the rights of others who *do* have a problem with it.

The ones I can't stand, similar to Andara, are the ones that take it out on the person attempting to do their job. Assuming, of course, that they're conducting searches in a fair/respectful manner, not 'profiling' and only searching certain peoples bags.

Unfortunately the concept of 'shooting the messenger' is an SC act we're ALL too familiar with.

What they said.

Unfortunately, there are many people who will go out of their way to make life miserable for the peon checking bags who's only doing as he/she is told, some of them have posted about doing so here, and others have defended them here.

[crazylegs]

Nice to know people listen to us...

Oh, wait. They didn't.

Thread Closed.