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.
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.