Reason not to shop at Circuit City

Michael was shopping at a Circuit City in Brooklyn Ohio. When he failed to show a receipt to the Circuit City door-minder, he was arrested:

Of course Joe wasn’t able to name the law that gives him, a U.S. citizen and Circuit City employee the right to examine anything that I, a U.S. citizen and Circuit City customer am carrying out of the store. I’ve dealt with these scare tactics at other stores in the past including other Circuit Cities, Best Buys and Guitar Centers. I’ve always taken the stance that retail stores shouldn’t treat their loyal customers as criminals and that customers shouldn’t so willingly give up their rights along with their money. Theft sucks and I wish that shoplifters were treated more harshly than they are, but the fact is that I am not a shoplifter and shouldn’t have to forfeit my civil rights when leaving a store.

This is one of the major reasons that I don't like shopping at big box stores. It's also one of the reasons that I, increasingly, refuse to shop at Circuit City and Best Buy (the two worst offenders of this type, IMHO). I don't understand how a business can think it's ok to treat it's customers like criminals. They have driven me away, and I used to spend a great deal of money in their stores. I wonder how many others are being driven away. I recommend that people keep this incident in mind, and next time just shop online. Who needs Circuit City anyways? Personally, I've decided not to shop at any store that requires a receipt check on the way out. If I find myself in such a store, then I'll return my purchase right there, and take my business to a more customer friendly establishment. I encourage like-minded people to do the same.