Start of story,

around about last year summer time in tesco

i checked a cream by taking out a tiny size amount on my finger

to check the fragrance and if it was suitable for me.

I didn't like it so put it back.

On my way out after i had paid for all my shopping

i was approached by a manager and a security guard

saying i had used the item and i had to pay for it

and if i didn't they will call the police,

the manager was being overly and unnecessarily aggressive.

I was asked to pay for the item which i did and that was that.

Or so i thought.

just recently I went in to the same store

was approached by the same manager who started saying very aggressively again

that you are banned from the store and get the f*** out right now

or i'll call to police and to be honest it was all quite threatening.

i said OK call the police,

he ran up to the security guard desk

and was on the phone to someone

by the time i got there he had gone away into a back room somewhere and didn't reappear after that at all,

leaving me with the security guard who didn't have a clue what was going on.

The security guard calls another manager

They said that the other manager last year had informed me that, after i used a cream without paying for it,

that he had banned me from the store and to leave.

She said the police are on their way but if you leave that will be the end of the matter.

I said i want to wait for the police to arrive so we can sort this matter out,

the police didn't arrive as they apparently weren't even called.

I wanted to make a complaint about all this,

was told to phone tesco head office and complain.

Asked for the managers name who "banned" me,

and was told we cant give you his name due to the data protection act.

All in all I'm very angry at this situation and would like to make a complaint about this

but feel it would get me nowhere and i just needed somewhere to vent about this

and receive some advice on what to do.

Or should i just leave it all behind me?

Needless to say i will never be shopping at tesco again.

Write to the ceos office

explain what has happened

How it has made you feel

What would you like to resolve the issue

you were only verbally banned or were you given this in writing?

dx

you were only verbally banned or were you given this in writing?

 

 

 

 

 

dx

Nothing in writing, in fact I didn't even know I was banned until the manager went crazy saying your banned.

wel they can do that for whatever reason or in all truth have no reason at all.

pers I'd get rather funny with this.

I am unaware I am banned, please produce the letter vanning me or any other evidence

whereby I was told I was banned?

apology time?

dx

Asked for the managers name who "banned" me,

and was told we cant give you his name due to the data protection act.

I find this laughable to the point of being ridiculous. The DPA covers personal information, not someone's name. Many store operatives wear name badges, and quite a few shops display posters with a mugshot & name of the manager.

Some days, I wonder if these people really understand what the DPA covers and how it should be applied.

there was a similar thing in the Daily Mail today, try phoning the reporter who covered that case and tell them about your troubles.

Start of story,

 

i checked a cream by taking out a tiny size amount on my finger

to check the fragrance and if it was suitable for me.

I didn't like it so put it back

Customers test products all the time, so it no excuse for a manger to charge you with theft, and if it was there policy to do this, they would have a lot of customers to charge, under this pretence

I will do similar to what the op has done, and will test deodorants and skin creams, to see what they smell like, especially if it a new range, now I have done this in my work place: Asda, Superdrug, Boots and poundland, and never once have I been accused of theft

Surely it doesn't matter, if the product has been tested by a customer, and they don't buy it, but someone else buys it

Its just not isolated to beauty products, anything you can think of is open to being tested, and for the customer to decide if they like the product and will buy it, the only time you may have to pay for a item you have tested, is if you break a seal, like wrinkle cream, which can come in a sealed and wrapped box

As for complaining, write to head office, and ask them, would they like to comment before you go to the local press

From a legal perspective technically an offence of theft was committed 'Theft by consumption' albeit to a very minor level

which i personally wouldn't expect warranted such a response from store or management.

I currently work within a well known high street chemist store as a retail security officer

and on a weekly basis probably see 5-10 people 'test' stock.

majority i will just ignore

however some have to be stopped and advised as ultimately breaking through a seal or use of the product

renders product no longer sellable such as in this instance as the item has been opened and is a food item. (normally baby food jars and cosmetics)

that being said i think the store have gone massively OTT.

as for DPA you can ask for their name although can refuse to give full name

and just say first name and position or surname and position.

Customers test products all the time, so it no excuse for a manger to charge you with theft, and if it was there policy to do this, they would have a lot of customers to charge, under this pretence

 

 

 

Surely it doesn't matter, if the product has been tested by a customer, and they don't buy it, but someone else buys it

 

Its just not isolated to beauty products, anything you can think of is open to being tested, and for the customer to decide if they like the product and will buy it, the only time you may have to pay for a item you have tested, is if you break a seal, like wrinkle cream, which can come in a sealed and wrapped box

 

 

As for complaining, write to head office, and ask them, would they like to comment before you go to the local press

Oh, so Its ok for me to buy something that's got stuff missing because you wanted to test it, is it ?

So what would you say if I poked my finger into some bread, or used some eye cream in front of you - would you then buy that product, or is the shop lumbered with it, having to write it off as its open and contents missing.

You look with your eyes, not with your hands.

If you want to test something, ASK the shop assistant, or look for something labelled as a tester.

as for DPA you can ask for their name although can refuse to give full name

and just say first name and position or surname and position.

I always used to give my first name.

If they wanted my surname, and became demanding, I used to reply with 'well, whats YOUR first name and surname then ?

Customers test products all the time, so it no excuse for a manger to charge you with theft, and if it was there policy to do this, they would have a lot of customers to charge, under this pretence

 

 

I will do similar to what the op has done, and will test deodorants and skin creams, to see what they smell like, especially if it a new range, now I have done this in my work place: Asda, Superdrug, Boots and poundland, and never once have I been accused of theft

 

 

Surely it doesn't matter, if the product has been tested by a customer, and they don't buy it, but someone else buys it

 

 

Its just not isolated to beauty products, anything you can think of is open to being tested, and for the customer to decide if they like the product and will buy it, the only time you may have to pay for a item you have tested, is if you break a seal, like wrinkle cream, which can come in a sealed and wrapped box

 

 

As for complaining, write to head office, and ask them, would they like to comment before you go to the local press

So if i open a box of chocolates and try one, i can just put the box back and move on?

So if i try a deoderant and dont like it, i can just put it back and move on?

So if i open a box of ice cream wafer cones and try one and dont like it i can put it back?

So if i open a hand cream, dip my grubby fingers in it and put it back i can just move on?

So if i see a scented candle, i can just light it and if i dont like it, put it back?

You are VERY wrong. A consumer has NO right to just open a product and test it! You may find that there are testers on the shelf but ultimately, if you USE some of the product without paying, its theft.

Imagine 1000 all trying the same product and then not buying it.

That said, It does sound very heavy handed. Did the OP react in any way to the store staff? kick off? Seems weird that store staff would just escalate like that.

As for asking you to leave and you failing to do so, the police could have removed you. Its private propoerty and they can ask you to leave without reason.

op has not been here since 23rd jan

seems like a few people here are goingaround certain threads creating trouble?

and not only this one.

thread closed

dx