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This is why, at least in this specific case, the word "shakedown" is appropriate.The guy spends near 1,500 bucks and they're going spastic over two pairs of $4 gloves? :roll:
From the linked article:
"Chen was taken to what he calls a “stew room” and questioned..."
Home Depot Is Accused of Shaking Down Suspected Shoplifters
Home Depot Is Accused of Shaking Down Suspected Shoplifters - Yahoo Finance
I would have said put the gloves on my card.If you were faced with being accused of shoplifting... actual guilt vs innocence is irrelevant for this question... would you go into their little room?
I don't think I would. I sure as hell wouldn't sign anything. I'd be tempted to tell them, "If you think I stole something, call the police. I will wait right here on this bench until they arrive. You have 20 minutes."
Yep. The attorneys are an outside party, but they're hired by corporate management, and act in their name and with their approval. They also split the proceeds.I was all SET to attack the headline, thinking it was employees doing the shaking down. Wrong. The suspected thieves received letters from Home Depot's attorneys.
I can see demanding restitution. After due process. I can see a store demanding the stolen merchandise be paid for right on the spot or pressing charges. I can't see not doing anything at the site and then following up with a blackmail letter later.
As an aside, who the HELL steals a $3.99 pair of gloves when they bought, at the same time, $1500 worth of stuff? No wonder the guy filed suit. Sounds ludicrous.
Yep. The attorneys are an outside party, but they're hired by corporate management, and act in their name and with their approval. They also split the proceeds.
We are only hearing one side of the story here, it's possible this Chen guy isn't telling the whole tale. It sounds suspicious to me, very suspicious.
Unless he's incredibly stupid, he wouldn't be filing a lawsuit knowing that anything he's holding back will come out in court.
....Chen says that on June 6 he and a friend went shopping at a Home Depot in San Leandro, Calif. Before loading some lumber into the cart, he says, they put on work gloves. When they checked out, all the merchandise was scanned, except for the gloves, which Chen had belatedly added to the pile. He paid $1,445.90 with his Home Depot credit card. As he and his friend were walking toward the door, they were stopped by a security guard, who accused Chen of stealing the gloves. Chen was taken to what he calls a “stew room” and questioned; while there he suffered an asthma attack, became agitated, and was handcuffed. After about 30 minutes he agreed to sign a document promising to stay out of the store for 90 days. He also provided contact information......
I don't. Companies anymore are looking for any way they can to pull in some more cash. I never thought I'd see the day when airlines would charge for carry-on bags, but that day is here.I just have a hard time believing he was busted for shoplifting a pair of gloves in the way he claims, makes no sense to me.
It might have been an oversight, but does appear Chen tried to steal the gloves.
On the other hand, make sure you check your reciepts and/or your home depot credit card statements because I've had them charge me twice many times. I stopped using their credit card for that reason.
The key word is "tried". Did he try to steal them, as in an intentional act, or did he inadvertently put them down and forget about them?
Legally, there may or may not be a difference. But, not everything illegal must be pursued, and if it was an inadvertent mistake, the money HD loses from what is apparently a very good customer never shopping there again would suggest that HD's actions are short-sighted. They're trading a lifetime of a profitable customer for a couple hundred bucks (their share of the take) right now.
Then again, many companies are beholden to their shareholders, and shareholders only care about this quarter, not next.
I wouldn't make that assumption. People get busy in complex situations and forget little things all the time.He didn't take the gloves off until after all the other items had been scanned and then he threw them on top of the cart as he was leaving the store? I think he knew he didn't pay for the gloves.
I wouldn't make that assumption. People get busy in complex situations and forget little things all the time.
If you were faced with being accused of shoplifting... actual guilt vs innocence is irrelevant for this question... would you go into their little room?
I don't think I would. I sure as hell wouldn't sign anything. I'd be tempted to tell them, "If you think I stole something, call the police. I will wait right here on this bench until they arrive. You have 20 minutes."
Yes, it happens. But he knew all the other items had been scanned when he threw the gloves on the pile. So he must have known the gloves weren't scanned when he tried to leave the store.
The guy spends near 1,500 bucks and they're going spastic over two pairs of $4 gloves? :roll:
If you were faced with being accused of shoplifting... actual guilt vs innocence is irrelevant for this question... would you go into their little room?
I don't think I would. I sure as hell wouldn't sign anything. I'd be tempted to tell them, "If you think I stole something, call the police. I will wait right here on this bench until they arrive. You have 20 minutes."
It might have been an oversight, but does appear Chen tried to steal the gloves.
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