A new sign seems to have popped up between the self-checkouts at a specific Pak’nSave (note that this is after you’ve entered the store, in fact just before you’re going to leave):
It would be a shame if they had to do this because people were challenging their self-given right to unreasonably search customers.
Their reply to “Random” Pak’nSave Bag Searches. No comment on women with handbags or what happens if I did have something in my bag that I had bought from another supermarket.
Dear Matt,
I can confirm that our bag policy is applicable regardless of a customer’s age and is simply designed to prevent an ongoing shoplifting issue which we are trying to manage. We have a prominent sign in-store which clearly states that ‘We reserve the right to check all bags and may require you to leave large bags with a staff member while shopping.’
While I do appreciate having your bag checked is an inconvenience, unfortunately due to the level of shoplifting we experience in-store, it is an unavoidable part of how we are forced to do business, we would certainly prefer to not check customer’s bags but sometimes even with cameras and other security measures we are left with no option. I apologise if you felt you were unfairly treated and I hope you will continue to shop at my store.
My staff remain committed to giving our customers the best possible shopping experience, and by endeavouring to keep shoplifting to a minimum we hope we can deliver the lowest everyday prices.
Kind regards,
Steven McDonald
Owner
PAK’nSAVE Riccarton
Image credit: Naomi
Update: Pak’nSave responds.
An open letter.
Dear People of Pak’nSave Riccarton,
On 15 December I shopped at Riccarton Pak’nSave with a group of other young people.
After purchasing items at a self-checkout directly in front of one of your staff (really, she was right beside me), she requested to search my bag. I had not touched the bag during my visit so this request was not based on any actual evidence that I had attempted to steal something, like from a store detective or a camera.
It was extremely obvious that this was not a random search, as she called it. It was because of my age. Three other people from our group were selected for a “random” search. I wonder how many women with handbags were searched that day? I know my friend that came through the self-checkout after us wasn’t.
I declined the request.
I waited for the rest of our group and left the store. I was followed by a store manager who put his arm touching up against me, and tried to stop me from leaving. I declined again, which I have the right to do, no matter your signage, and walked away.
It’s disgusting to treat your paying customers like this.
Do you consider that bags contain personal possessions? That most people wouldn’t decline your request to search, because it makes them look and feel like a criminal? That searching personal possessions could reveal, say, a private medical condition?
I wonder what the purpose of these “random” searches are. Say I did consent to the search, I had items in my bag that I didn’t buy or steal from Pak’nSave, but that you sell. I didn’t have the receipt. What would happen then? Would you accuse me of stealing those items? Would you call the police on me? If not, why are you searching young people? Scare tactics? That isn’t the definition of a reasonable search.
If it is your policy to target young people or people with backpacks (read: young people), it needs to change. It is discriminatory and wrong.
If you weren’t the only supermarket at Westfield Riccarton, I wouldn’t shop with you again.
Kind regards
Matt Taylor
Image credit: bfick
Update: Here’s Aliza Eveleigh on bag searches (click for larger version): 
Information empowers businesses and consumers, so it’s little surprise that stores with horrible pricing dislike it when people record said pricing in store.
Tesco’s staff dislike it so much, they threatened The Guardian’s Patrick Collinson, saying that it was against the law to write the store’s prices down in a notebook:
“The security cameras had spotted me with a pen and paper in hand, noting the prices of goods on the shelves. “Excuse me, what are you doing?” he said. I told him I was, well, writing down prices.
‘You’re not allowed to do that. It’s illegal. Where are you from? Are you from the media?’…
‘It’s illegal to write things down and you can’t take any photographs, either. If you want to check the prices, take the item to the till and pay for it there. The price will be on the receipt,’ he said, pointing me to the exit.”
A Guardian commenter accurately analyzes this:
“Just for the avoidance of doubt, in legal terms this is what is technically known as ABSOLUTE BALLS.”
This intrigued me, so I decided to test it out in New Zealand’s supermarkets.
I visited Countdown, FreshChoice, New World and Pak’nSave with notebook in hand and hunted down six items in each store:
I thought this would be a good range, and took me down the toiletries aisle, which invariably seems to be under video surveillance.
And…
Nothing happened. I wasn’t approached by anyone, and left each store without buying anything and without being questioned.
Because it would be anti-climatic to end on that note, let’s end with an exciting price comparison competition pseudo-table.
Colgate Triple Action, in various sizes. ($price) is per 100g.
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: New World. Everyone else is disqualified for their batshit pricing, like the 110g and 160g tube prices being the same, and stores thinking it’s cool to keep the 110g one on the shelf; and the 220g bulk value tube actually ending up more expensive.
Wattie’s 300g can.
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: Pak’nSave
1.5L Coca-Cola.
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: Pak’nSave
Cheapest per kg
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: FreshChoice
What looked like the cheapest 600g and 700g loaves (there are lots of loaves). ($price) is per 100g.
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: Pak’nSave
Cheapest 2L trim.
Countdown:
FreshChoice:
New World:
Pak’nSave:
Winner: If we were in school: EVERYONE!!! But because this is the real world, no one wins.
Pak’nSave is the grand winner. New World and Pak’nSave win bonus prizes for actually doing price per 100g etc. price comparison on their labels.
See, that was fun.
Image credit: Richard Giles and Erin! Nekervis