What is Digg?335 Comments
- AliasHandler, on 11/25/2007, -7/+174To answer the submitter's question, #4 is most certainly true. They have no legal right to stop you at the door unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you were shoplifting. You can refuse the receipt check if you wish, but some ignorant manager could cause you problems if they aren't aware of the law.
This list seems like a list of things to do if you want to make your day longer or you want people to give you a hard time. Sure you don't have to do them but doing them will make your day go by faster with less hassle. - simplistics06, on 11/25/2007, -1/+165http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:oJ8xRPogTO0J: ...
- haterofps3, on 11/25/2007, -5/+121 1. Write in tip amounts You can just put the total amount and completely ignore the top box. Do you really think they’re not going to figure out how much it is? If you have super messy writing you might want to write it in to make sure they understand the amount, but if you aren’t a 2nd grader, you’re probably fine.
2. Stop at stop signs in parking lots These signs aren’t actually legal signs. Have you noticed how they’re often not the same size or material? That’s because they’re made by the property owners. They’re as legally valid as me putting a crosswalk in the middle of my living room. So if it’s late and no one else is in the parking lot, just drive past them. It’s exhilarating.
3. Check out at hotels There’s no real benefit to checking out at hotels. You’ve paid for a night and they’re expecting that you’ll be gone by the time you said you’d be gone. Just leave.
4. Letting stores check your receipts You know those stores like Best Buy or Fry’s who treat you like a potential shoplifter after you leave and want to verify your receipts at the door? They have no right to do it! The worst is when there’s a huge line and they expect you to wait there. Just walk past and say “no thanks” when they go to look at your receipt. They legally have to let you go. The one exception are “clubs” like Costco where you’ve agreed to allow this in your membership agreement.
5. Signing credit card receipts with your real name You’re probably supposed to sign it, but do you really think you’re not going to get charged if you write something else? I once drew a mountain range, a lake, and an indian in a canoe that was being eaten by a huge shark. When the cashier insisted I sign my name I just wrote “artwork by Tynan” at the bottom. The charge went through.
6. Give your phone numbers and address when buying things This is a pet peeve of mine. Stores (RADIOSHACK!) always ask for your info so that they can send you tons of junk. I just tell them that I don’t want to give it to them, and they never refuse to sell to me.
7. Writing out the numbers on checks How annoying is it to write out “Four thousand three hundred fifty two dollars and XX/100″? I hate it. Instead just write “————–4352.00———–”. The chances that someone is going to try to tamper with your check are basically nil. Especially if you’re writing a check to some company.
8. Get oil changes every 3000 miles The ideal amount of time between changes is actually about 4000-5000 miles, but motor oil companies have pushed the 3000 mile thing to sell more oil. - DesertDude, on 11/25/2007, -8/+118#1. You don't really need a server that can accommodate the astonishing traffic flow of 46 diggs.
- inactive, on 11/25/2007, -8/+94this is just a guide to making other people's lives a little more difficult in order to make a retarded point. lame.
- LetsGoHawks, on 11/25/2007, -2/+84#3 - Checking out at hotels.
Go ahead, don't checkout. Then when the amount they bill you is wrong, deal with them over the phone.
As someone who spent 2 years on the road for work, trust me, check out. Maids make phone calls, mini-bar charges appear when you weren't within 5 feet of it, I was once billed for a suite when I was in a regular room. Or, they may just charge you for an extra day.
It's 10 times easier to deal with this stuff at checkout time than it will be later over the phone. - diggface5000, on 11/25/2007, -0/+69In reference to #7:
I don't recommend trying this, as the written line is the legal line and must be written correctly. You aren't only writing this line in words to prevent tampering. You're also writing it so the teller can decipher your awful handwriting. Giving them a numeric (in the box) and written (on the line) number gives them a better idea of what you intended to put on your check. Trust me, after a teller is staring at checks for 7 or 8 hours, it's really easy to misread a number. - adambadam, on 11/25/2007, -1/+67No, usually just electronics stores where it is easy to steal expensive products and are easy to hide
- akatherder, on 11/25/2007, -0/+57Next week on Digg:
"A local man aroused the suspicion of a Best Buy employee when he refused to sign his name on a credit card purchase. He quickly bypassed the security at the door who attempted to check his receipt. He sped out of the parking lot, bypassing several marked stop signs but was apprehended by police when his engine seized up and he was tasered to death." - UncleCrapper, on 11/25/2007, -5/+60I regularly ignore stop signs at parking lots when the lot is empty or it is late at night. Of course, it is not a traffic infraction, but because it is private property if you abuse the situation you are like to be asked to leave by security.
As for checking out of hotels, I don't know about hotels in the United States, but in Canada just about every hotel I have ever been in will only place a pre-auth on your credit card. I suppose you could simply leave and never check out and expect a receipt in the mail, but if there are discrepancies on the bill why make life more difficult for yourself?
Regarding signing credit card receipts with your name, the terms and conditions of the cards I have require me to sign both the card and receipts in my usual signature. Of course, you could make your usual signature anything, so as long as it's consistent.
With respect to cheques, banks have ignored the written amount portion for years, possibly decades. They only care what is written in the amount box numerically. I expect that one could simply place a line through the entire written amount section of the cheque and write nothing in that area, but that might be an invitation to cheque fraud. - onimusha115, on 11/25/2007, -21/+58most of these things look like they should be on a list of ways to be a douche bag. Seriously, why would you refuse to sign a credit card slip, or show your receipt to someone. If your in such a rush that you cant stop at a door and show someone your purchase for 2 seconds, you need to loosen up your schedule a bit. You'll probably spend more time arguing with the person at the door about it anyways.
- smpx, on 11/25/2007, -4/+40The list is of guidelines that have been thought about and placed in to either make life easier, safer, or more convinent-- with the exception of number 8.
Writing out checks in full, adding the tip amount, signing your credit cards etc. are designed so YOU'RE protected, not them. Stopping at private property stop signs are to keep YOU safer, since you're following their "lanes" anyhow. The receipt check is a two second inconvenience to protect the store, but without it chances are they'd put something else equally annoying in place-- refusing to do so wouldn't put you in jail, but it would sure make everyone else's (and yours) day longer.
The author might as well have added "putting on pants in the morning" to the list. Hey, they only said "no shoes, no shirt, no service" right? - Ubersmush, on 11/25/2007, -10/+41Wait, in the US they check your receipts? That's kinda lame. In England we just buy our stuff and walk out the door. Does this happen in all US shops?
- Ryosen, on 11/25/2007, -5/+34Wrong. It's called "Unlawful Detainment", is against Federal law and is reinforced at the state level. Unless you can cite examples to the contrary, please do not try to encourage others to give up what few civil liberties remain.
- crxyem, on 11/25/2007, -0/+28in regards to #1
Write in tip amounts You can just put the total amount and completely ignore the top box. Do you really think they’re not going to figure out how much it is? If you have super messy writing you might want to write it in to make sure they understand the amount, but if you aren’t a 2nd grader, you’re probably fine.
You're setting yourself up for fraud with this one. if you don't explicitly state the tip amount and only show a total, someone can write in a tip amount and alter the total for a much larger value than you expected - glinsvad, on 11/25/2007, -7/+35"I once drew a mountain range, a lake, and an indian in a canoe that was being eaten by a huge shark. When the cashier insisted I sign my name I just wrote 'artwork by Tynan' at the bottom."
What a sellout - inactive, on 11/25/2007, -0/+27Checking out of a hotel is a good idea. If you don't and the housekeeper mistakenly thinks you are staying in the room (maybe you left your shoes behind) then expect a gigantic surprise. At least if you "officially" check out they know you don't intend to stay even if you mistakenly left some stuff behind.
- sockpuppets, on 11/25/2007, -0/+21All I got was a reacharound.
- zlintux, on 11/25/2007, -0/+19No shopping mall I've ever heard of...
The law here, as I imagine it is everywhere else, is that you aren't stealing until you leave the store. Well, stores at malls out here just lease part of the mall, and not the entire mall -- so when you leave the area they've leased, you're stealing.
Plus, in California, you can be detained by private citizens for larceny, arrested and charged as long as there is good reason to believe you're shoplifting without you even having to leave the store. Thing like shoving stuff into pockets and bags and walking quickly towards an exit would be examples..
(Not letting them check you're receipt is NOT something they can detain you for or use as evidence of larceny) - Stalks, on 11/25/2007, -5/+23With #8, regular oil changes are the single most important maintenance you can perform on your engine. The more regular, the longer your engine will last.
- RckmRobot, on 11/25/2007, -7/+25I know for a fact that this one is true. I know of a guy who tried to sue a retailer because the name he signed wasn't actually his own name.
The judge simply asked, "Sir, did you sign the name on the receipt?"
Reply: "Well, yeah, but it's not my name!"
"Doesn't matter. If you are the person who signed it, you are liable for the charges."
So there you go. #5, verified by the court system for you. - djdole, on 11/25/2007, -13/+31Our crappy cars are of the kind whose engines last for more than two oil changes.
It's called routine maintenance... like brushing your teeth...how often do you do that over in Europe? - DocHoliday22, on 11/25/2007, -6/+23This is all US stuff, we don't do any of this in the UK...
- EntropyFan, on 11/25/2007, -1/+18Incorrect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopkeeper's_privileg ...
The words 'have cause' and 'reasonable' are always dicey when it comes to the law, but they do indeed have the legal right to detain you - bodfa, on 11/25/2007, -5/+22Wait a sec? You just trolling, or do you really think it is douche-y to walk past the door monkeys? It is an annoyance, and it provides me no service except to take away my presumed innocence.
- paperhat, on 11/25/2007, -3/+19Most new cars in America come with the recommendation that you change oil at about 7,500 miles. It isn't the manufacturer or oil companies that recommend a change every 3,000 miles, it is the garages that do oil changes that make the 3,000 mile recommendation.
- honeymustardn, on 11/25/2007, -1/+17They did (bury him), then other people dugg him.
- thinkindiff, on 11/25/2007, -3/+18No, just in some electronic stores where you could potentially be walking out with expensive items that you did not pay for.
Also, club stores like Costco have this policy. Essentially you pay an annual membership to be shop there because the prices are so cheap. I believe that legally they cannot restrain from leaving, but are very much in their right to then remove your membership so you can no longer shop there after that point. - StinkyPete, on 11/25/2007, -0/+15People were stealing them blind with their free hand...
- skinrock, on 11/25/2007, -0/+15Thanks for your wise take on these subjects.
- rabidrabit, on 11/25/2007, -3/+17According to Consumer Reports you might want to pick a better argument.
"The big Japanese and the South Korean automakers have, on average, only 11 problems per 100 vehicles, the magazine said. U.S. automakers follow with 16 problems per 100, while European manufacturers have 19 problems per 100 cars.
In fact, European automakers have consistently fared poorly in recent years in Consumer Reports’ reliability surveys. Mercedes-Benz, in particular, has seen its reliability ranking decline sharply — this year, the German luxury brand placed last in the reliability list of 36 automobile brands, its reliability level 123 percent below the average for the whole industry, said Paul.
“We have seen lows in recent years for European carmakers, but this was a particularly bad year for Mercedes-Benz — it surprised a lot of people,” said Paul. "
Source: Consumer Reports - djdole, on 11/25/2007, -0/+14Why? Your 'signature' legally doesn't have to be your name, just 'your mark'.
Illiterate people have to sign legal documents too ya know. Saying otherwise would be discriminating against a WHOLE huge group of people (blind, illiterate, armless etc) - LetsGoHawks, on 11/25/2007, -1/+15Even then they just look in your bar and glance at the receipt. I don't think many shoplifters are going to pull the stuff outoftheir pocket and put it in the bag when heading for the door.
- Firehed, on 11/25/2007, -0/+13If you're okay with those douche bags at the door checking receipts, go ahead and show yours. I don't feel the need to stand around so the guy who just saw me pay at the register twenty feet away can double-check. That's what those ***** alarm scanner things are for.
- cliffzdude, on 11/25/2007, -1/+13Good points, but full of bad ideas. No, you don't *have* to do any of these things, but its a good idea. Check out of your hotel at the front desk if you have time, it gives you the best chance to eliminate spurious charges. Sign your credit card receipt, if the charge is inadvertently wrong, a good signature makes your case easier. Put the tip amount in the field as shown, it helps YOU to double check your own math *and* keeps the server honest. Obey stop signs in parking lots, if you run one and hit my kid, I'm going to pull your nuts off with a pair of vice grips. Oil change, valid, sort of. Depends on your car maker's guidelines, mine is change every 3k for stop and go traffic, which I'm in every weekday. Some are 5k-7k, so you don't *have to*, but you may *want to* if your manual says so. Writing in the amount on a check is a standard, changing this is just lazy, bad form, and not a good idea. If you are the victim of check fraud, filling in checks oddly, signing oddly, and/or entering amounts oddly hurts your case. Yes I'm certain of this.
No, most of these things you don't *have* to do, but most (not all) are possibly very good things to do... - darkzealot89, on 11/25/2007, -4/+16People that is a working mirror! Why is he getting dug down?
- drachemorder, on 11/25/2007, -0/+12If there's a line to get out the door I'll bypass it. Otherwise I don't really mind letting someone look at my receipt for a second to make sure it's in order. If I skip the line and they REALLY want to look at it, they can chase me down, in which case I'll show it to them and not have to wait in the darn line (the rest of whom probably sneaked out while the peon was chasing me anyhow).
I don't really care if they check my receipt, but I'm not going out of my way to let them. - inactive, on 11/25/2007, -5/+17Good article. Makes you think of what happened to the handshake an trusting someone, doesn't it? :-)
- samcrut, on 11/25/2007, -0/+12I'm 6'2" and 270 pounds. Aside from a stern "Sir? SIR!" they don't do jack squat to me when I walk past the stupid receipt markers.
- diggface5000, on 11/25/2007, -3/+15Without a written dollar amount in the US, the check is invalid and won't be accepted. Even if it gets accepted at the bank level, the check clearing house will usually kick them back without collecting the funds. I'm not sure if that is the same for you in Canada, though.
- xman00, on 11/25/2007, -34/+46To everyone commenting about how this is just a good way to be an ass, need I remind everyone that bucking the system what America is all about. I'm sure the British thought we were all a bunch of wankers when we dumped their tea into the harbor and refused to let their soldiers hang out in our houses. Being an uncooperative ass is our god-given (that's Nature's god for you Jeffersonians) right as Americans. We're not supposed to be a bunch of sheep passively showing our receipts to minimum-wage store clerks to prove we just purchased an item - ***** them! We're the guys who refused to bow our flag to Hitler during the 1936 Olympics. We're the guys who said F-U to Communism. We're the guys who invented the frickin A-bomb and then dropped it on Japan - twice!
And now a few pussies here are whining, "don't be an ass." To that I proudly stand up and say, "I am an American! And I am such an ass!"
America! ***** Yeah! - chrisOrbit, on 11/25/2007, -0/+12NO they cant actually. Refusing to show your receipt is not grounds for reasonable suspicion. They must personaly observe theft in order to stop you. If they detain ( IE restrain ) you against your with without evidence it is assault. The burden of proof lies with the store not you. If you have paid for your merchandise it is yours and falls under protection of the forth amendment.
- Jimgress, on 11/25/2007, -6/+17so this list is how to be a ***** ***** to low paid retail employees.
fantastic.
Seriously most of the things listed here are against procedures and would hamper up everything. Only a douchebag would adhere to these. - glinsvad, on 11/25/2007, -2/+13Sellout because he ended up signing his name... that's how.
The non-sellout ending would be saying "My indian name is mountain range with a lake and..." - Mecandes, on 11/25/2007, -4/+15After you check out, your business is concluded. You've already shown them all your purchases, and they now belong to you (not the store). What right does anyone have to look at them, or your receipts? Does a random person walking down the street have that right? If you refuse to let them look at your personal items, what do they do -- physically restrain you and call the police to come see a perfectly law-abiding citizen? I can understand them checking up on you if you are wheeling a 52" HDTV straight out of the electronics section... but checking through grocery bags packed by their own cashiers? Why do they want to make their customers feel like criminals?
And the folks who said only major electronic stores do this: Not so. Where I live in the U.S., every large store does this; from Walmart to the local grocery store. I suspect McDonalds will be doing it soon. - phronko, on 11/25/2007, -0/+11I'm curious how many of these apply to Canada.
- bodfa, on 11/25/2007, -6/+16It is a very stupid practice that was started by big warehouse stores (Costco, Sam's club). They sold it to consumers as a convenience - people were leaving their stuff at the check stand and these receipt checkers made sure you had everything. Well - waiting in line twice to get out of a store is hardly a convenience and everyone knows it is about shoplifting. Long story short - it is a crock - my wife and I will avoid any store that has this policy. If we must go we just say "no thanks" when approached. It is quite a bit of fun to watch all the door folk scramble to figure what to do when you don't comply. It is even more entertaining when they touch you - legally unwanted touching is assault. So you can just fire back - "Did you just assault me? It is illegal to restrain me" and keep walking.
- kagaku0, on 11/25/2007, -0/+10Having worked for a large international bank (JPMC) for a couple years now (specifically in lockbox, the department that deals with check processing and cashing), I can tell you right now that we'll accept a check without a written (legal amount) or numeric (courtesy amount) amount. As long as it has either or, we can take the check with a supervisor sign off. The most common thing I see is a two amount check (legal and courtesy amounts differ), in which case the written amount is the one we'll go by.
You'd be surprised at some of the stuff we'll accept, but as long as it has a couple key phrases and certain information, and it's legible - we'll accept and process it. -
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