Just go in regularly and be friendly and the staff will recognize you. Typically once they feel they know you and know you won’t steal they’ll let you in.
Sorry but this is unacceptable to me. If they default to “everyone is a possible thief” then I will avoid them. It’s a horrible way to profile the customers.
I make efforts to walk or bike everywhere, be environmentally friendly, and my backpack is a big part of that. I don’t want to become friendly with the staff of random stores I go to in order for them to let me in with it. It’s already a pain that I can’t use my reusable bags or my own cart/trolley in the stores.
It just doesn’t feel welcoming. And it also seems to be a car centric culture thing, because I live in a metropolis and this “no backpack rule” is pretty rare here, whereas when I go visit friends and family in small towns this rule is everywhere. What’s different? There’s much more people in big cities walking around and shopping with a backpack, compared to a small town where everyone goes to the store with a car.
I live in one of the biggest cities in Oklahoma, so its no New York City, but there’s a lot of people here. It’s a safe bet that 1/3 people here with a backpack are in fact stealing, which I can validate because I’ve seen it. To be clear, they’re largely stealing food, clothing, diapers, or medicine, and never once have I judged them wrong for it. But they are stealing, and as such it’s a reasonable policy for the stores here. Maybe try to avoid major corporations in smaller towns? They’re the only ones who really care about Danny stealing a Vienna sausage for his kid.
Just go in regularly and be friendly and the staff will recognize you. Typically once they feel they know you and know you won’t steal they’ll let you in.
Sorry but this is unacceptable to me. If they default to “everyone is a possible thief” then I will avoid them. It’s a horrible way to profile the customers.
I make efforts to walk or bike everywhere, be environmentally friendly, and my backpack is a big part of that. I don’t want to become friendly with the staff of random stores I go to in order for them to let me in with it. It’s already a pain that I can’t use my reusable bags or my own cart/trolley in the stores.
It just doesn’t feel welcoming. And it also seems to be a car centric culture thing, because I live in a metropolis and this “no backpack rule” is pretty rare here, whereas when I go visit friends and family in small towns this rule is everywhere. What’s different? There’s much more people in big cities walking around and shopping with a backpack, compared to a small town where everyone goes to the store with a car.
I live in one of the biggest cities in Oklahoma, so its no New York City, but there’s a lot of people here. It’s a safe bet that 1/3 people here with a backpack are in fact stealing, which I can validate because I’ve seen it. To be clear, they’re largely stealing food, clothing, diapers, or medicine, and never once have I judged them wrong for it. But they are stealing, and as such it’s a reasonable policy for the stores here. Maybe try to avoid major corporations in smaller towns? They’re the only ones who really care about Danny stealing a Vienna sausage for his kid.