Is there a legitimate reason to search all bags that aren't purses?

SirMike · 2013-06-28T20:39:00+00:00

I've worked in retail a few times over the past 4-6 years. One thing they always tell you regarding theft is that you cannot force somebody to stay in the store; it qualifies as "holding someone against their will" or some shit. We were trained to call the police immediately and do everything in our power not to let the thief know we were suspicious. If they every tried to leave, we were not allowed to even tell them to stay... much less try to use force.

If you return to this hardware store, just kindly decline to be searched without cause and continue walking. If they try to stop you, it can be considered assault.

As far as Men's Rights are concerned, I think it's a bullshit double standard. What is their exact definition of a purse? If it's a medium-sized bag, is the fact that a woman is carrying it the only distinctive characteristic? A purse us defined as "a small bag used especially by women to carry personal items". If a man has a small bag to carry everyday personal items and is searched, they are just saying men are more likely to steal... I haven't seen any data to back that claim up. I'm also curious about the monstrous bags I see some women carrying around; are those still "purses"? They violate the definition more than a man carrying a small bag.

Rufert · 2013-06-28T20:12:52+00:00

Not really, but in many cases a store policy like that can't truly be enforced if you refuse. I rarely let anybody inspect my bags when leaving a store, especially if there is any sort of line to do so.

I've heard from several LP personnel that they can't do much outside of calling the police. They can ask you to stay, but in some cases they can't use force to detain you.

Kuonji · 2013-06-28T22:32:05+00:00

Just tell them it's your purse, next time.

TracyMorganFreeman · 2013-06-28T23:28:40+00:00

Considering the most common shoplifters are middle aged women, this strikes me as a "we're going to look hard on crime, but only in appearance because inconveniencing women will not be tolerated like it will men".

Of course you could have just said your bag was a purse.

Quarkster · 2013-06-28T20:41:03+00:00

There might be tampons in a purse. Someone could get offended.

EDIT: Whoever downvoted missed the dark sarcasm.

nathan8999 · 2013-06-28T22:29:27+00:00

Next time don't let them check it. They have no right to.

Pecanpig · 2013-06-29T03:40:20+00:00

Not that I can think of. If anything I'd only search purses.

I for one would say "well that's convenient, good thing my man-purse doesn't need to be searched", I'd be carrying a fucking hockey bag.

Always_Doubtful · 2013-06-28T21:20:57+00:00

with the size of some purses i am offended that they don't check them.

dungone · 2013-06-28T22:31:40+00:00

There's a few things to it. If they had to search every purse then there would be a line to get in as long as the women's bathroom lines at the mall, which I suspect also has something to do with searching through purses. And then I'd never go anywhere with a woman because that would just be too annoying. Second, purses are used as more like a wallet, so a bunch of lowly paid employees would be rifling through loose money and social security cards and that probably wouldn't end well.

I think that store employees are well aware of the fact that women steal stuff and generally aren't always the best of shoppers to have in your store. Just ask anyone who worked at a women's clothing store about the sort of things they have found left behind in the dressing rooms... such as bloody tampons. So I think the whole thing is sort of a copout, they bug the people they can, create a double standard, but not necessarily because they really think that only men steal stuff.

tessie999 · 2013-06-29T12:11:40+00:00

Isn't a purse very small though? I'm not sure what a purse implies in America, but int he UK you really could not hide very much in a purse. It's like a wide, flat wallet like this or this - generally just used for spare change or pads/tampons.

Maybe they don't search them so they don't cause discomfort to their employees, having to rustle through other women's sanitary towels/tampons? People may have complained about it. Maybe you should ask about why their policy is to avoid purses.

A handbag is a non-purse and will be searched like everything else - and rightfully so since it is big and can carry lotsa stuff.

Again, I don't know if "purse" applies to a regular handbag in the states or not.

2013-06-29T15:08:55+00:00

For one season I worked security for a major league baseball team and part of our job was to search all bags, purses included. We were given sections of broom handle to root around in the bags with instead of our hands. I didnt get it at first, but some purses are disturbingly disgusting on the inside. Women carry some truly bizarre things around with them. When groups tried to sneak in alcohol, it was always women's purses. When we caught them with liter bottles of vodka or a six pack of beer, they would act surprised and claim they "forgot" that was in there.

snafubaby · 2013-10-05T02:20:27+00:00

I've been told that as well. "You gotta leave your bag at the front counter". Whether it's a plastic bag you get from 7-Eleven, or even a backpack, you gotta leave it at the front counter. Meanwhile, women are all through the store, carrying their purses. NOT fair. That crap is discriminatory and it needs to go away.

avantvernacular · 2013-06-28T20:06:35+00:00

It's up to them how they want to handle theft. If it really bothers you, I'm sure there are other hardware stores.

rightsbot · 2013-06-28T19:56:22+00:00

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Title	Is there a legitimate reason to search all bags that aren't purses?
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	43
Comments	47
Date	June 28, 2013 7:54 PM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/1h9oqe/is_there_a_legitimate_reason_to_search_all_bags/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/is-there-a-legitimate-reason-to-search-all-bags.1169948 https://theredarchive.com/post/1169948

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