Although some may think that tormenting people is wrong I believe that anyone that approaches you pushing their unrequested agenda is fair game. Recently I was walking from one of the larger retailers when a staff member intercepted me and asked to inspect my bag. I said “sure” and attempted to hand it to him. He refused to accept it saying he was not permitted to touch the bag and I’d have to open it and show him the contents. I then announced, while holding my hand out, that this would attract an “Inspection Facilitation Fee” of $10 to be paid in advance. This threw him a little but he went on to recite that it was a condition of entry that I submit my bag for inspection when leaving the store. I reasoned that I was complying with this condition but I was also reserving my “right” to be compensated for the imposition and indignity of doing so and held out my hand again. It all became too much for him and he allowed me to leave even though I did offer to accept an IOU. This not only amused me it also has me wondering if I’d stumbled upon a legitimate response. Did I comply with the condition of entry?
When compiling a brief account of other instances (
http://www.mocs.com.au/pages/dumb-rules.php ) where I’ve tormented store staff I researched but couldn’t find any accounts of people actually being banned from stores for refusing a bag inspection. (I was also wondering how that would be enforced when they don’t know who you are.) And finally I found mention of other merchandiser recourse which includes suing for breach of condition of entry and the detaining of shoppers as their refusal of a bag inspection provided reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed. Unlikely as these sound I’d be very interested in hearing if this has actually happened.
