LesterOfPuppets

I am one of those "others". I haven't purchased anything from that Arco AM/PM for at least 8 years.

kickstart

In today's PC climate, selectivity prohibiting bags would be a lawsuit waiting to happen. The only way to avoid that is all or nothing.
I would guess location, and clientele would a major factor in why they would choose to do it.

Seems to be a big to-do about nothing, release forms, and video? Seems a lot easier to adapt or shop elsewhere, just not a issue worth hassling over.

LesterOfPuppets

Yes, they work well for some uses.

They can be unwieldy for multi-stop trips. Let's say that you want to go to work, then swim laps at the pool for a half hour, go to the bank, the grocery store, the post office, a coffee shop, a restaurant then a bar. Backpack is more convenient for this type of use since by default it comes off of the bike with you.

Also, the same stores that hassle you about a hydro pack are probably more likely to hassle you about shopping with a pair of panniers in hand.

Panniers often transfer more road shock to contents than backpacks.

Of course some panniers double as backpacks.

And vice versa : I strapped my marmot pack to my rack pannier style on my last tour. It was nice to have it in backpack mode as I rode around Seattle a bit before hitting the trail, at which point I strapped it to the rack. I also had a smaller Camelbak pack. Brought three 2-liter bladders and one water bottle with me. Wish I'd brought 4 bladders.

prathmann

Maybe in some cases, but the store clerk who is 'just following the rules' he's been given is less likely to have explicit instructions about panniers. So an argument that they are functionally equivalent to a woman's large purse would be more persuasive than in the case of a backpack where his boss directly told him that they are not allowed.

ModeratedUser

I've never found the bag to make my back "hot and sweaty". Is it more comfortable without the bag? Yes, but it's not that bad. Here is their latest design on the Fourteener;



BTW, I still like their design two generations back more than the post two. Granted their current generation gives the best ventilation. The design of the compartments is more important to me.

Rollfast

Since their Camelbak was not returned and they were potentially without water, SAFETY.

As you have been told a few times, No Grammar Nazis. That has nothing to do with anything at all here. Be civil, please.

Thank you.

I-Like-To-Bike

Apparently the OP's grammer was so bad that it caused you to think that the backpack was stolen, when it did not go anywhere, only the security guard did not stand guard over it sufficiently to satisfy the OP's sense of entitlement.

genec

Wow, is it really a "sense of entitlement" when an authority figure demands some personal item from you and implies that they will guard that item until your return?

Chris516

At an ARCO gas station? Why in the world would they have a rule like that at a gas station?

LesterOfPuppets

Yep, with an AM/PM convenience market. They're afraid you'll fill backpack with beer.

Chris516

If I was in that situation, I would show them the inside of it. Then put it right back on. I wouldn't be letting them keep it behind the counter.

I-Like-To-Bike

Yes. The OP was told it would be fine where they put it against the wall and it was there just as promised upon his return. What's the beef? The OP apparently expected Security to not only be standing guard full time over the precious backpack, but also "taking care of the mouth piece when handling the pack" whatever that is supposed to mean.

CrankyOne

Is this a situation of way over-complicating?

I'm guessing the OP is not on an upright bike so is leaning over and thus sweating a lot more. Also sweating more due to pack on back. Riding fast increases sweat even more? Helmet equals more sweat and inability for body to cool itself? Solution: Ride an upright bike at a moderate pace of maybe 13 - 15 mph and with no pack or helmet which should reduce or eliminate sweating and reduce how much water is needed or desired.

If some water is still needed carry a bottle in a pannier or basket or bottle holder or just stop in at cafe's or something.

If possible simplify how much stuff is brought along.

Keep stuff in two or three separate bags that are kept in panniers, baskets, or crates. One small and flat with the more expensive and theft prone items like phone, tablet and laptop. Either leave the non expensive stuff with the bike or carry it in and surrender it while keeping the small bag of expensive stuff with you. It's the bulk of your bag and the ability to stuff things in it that stores are concerned about.

I-Like-To-Bike

Possibly.
Another possibility is a case of someone riding a car free based moral high horse whining how not everybody appreciates and caters to his bicycling idiosyncrasies.

genec

Who ensured that the items would be fine, and would not become victim to the same theft that was supposedly being prevented? Whose responsibility was it to ensure nothing was missing after the OP had to surrender the backpack to the store guard?

JoeyBike

I also do not own a car.

I have carried backpacks into jury duty. The pack was searched on the way IN for obvious reasons. I carry backpacks into airports every time I go into an airport. Wanna search it? Be my guest.

I am always willing to let security go through my pack on the way OUT of a retail store and will tell the "greeter" this if they "demand" I leave the pack with them on the way in. If they continue to demand I leave it I tell them I will happily leave it in the spot where every female leaves their purses. No purses quarantined? Still demanding my pack? I'm outa there, and will likely suggest some anatomically impossible substitute activity for the person demanding the pack. Unless they were denying me my liver transplant, I can not imagine ANYTHING so important in a local retail establishment that I could not do without or find elsewhere.

Reminds me of my old bank denying me bicycle access to the drive through to use their ATM. They saw me on the security camera, matched the video time stamp to my ATM use, and sent me a letter asking me to stop using the drive through on a bicycle which is NOT in a position to walk up to unless no cars are in line to us it. So....I called around and found a nearby bank that does not care if I use the drive through. Been with that bank now for 20 years and through many buyouts and thankfully, they still don't care if I ride up to the ATM.

Bummer the OP lost his stuff. Lesson learned? Sounds like he is STILL willing to leave his pack with a total stranger.

ModeratedUser

Yes! Which was my question 3 pages back.

ModeratedUser

I never lost my stuff, fortunately. The original post reads in part;

At first I was understandable that, yeah it's for loss prevention for the store, but I'm starting to wonder about my lost! I have surrendered my pack to security at the door and they put it against the wall and was told it would be fine there, only to comeback to it and security is gone! I'm also PO'd by them not taking care of the mouth piece when handling the pack. Making my hydro-pack pretty much useless till I get home to wash it.

And no, I'm not ok with leaving my pack with a total stranger. This is why I posted this question. I also had an incident regarding picking up my meds at the local pharmacy. At first they said they can't have bikes coming through to do this. I explained that my bike is perfectly legal for the roads and am legal for the roads day or night. They tried to explain that it was a "safety" reason. I tried to explain to them that it's far more dangerous on the roads. In the end they let me go through the drive through. Everything has been fine since. I was ready to move my operations to another pharmacy too.

ModeratedUser

This has been interesting reading, although it the examples provided doesn't really pertain to my case. Most of the examples, (read all the examples) stated that there was so form of payment given to the bailee (store). Such as surrendering a car to parking valet or valuables given for safe keeping when checking in at a motel for example. My case is a demand from the bailee to handover valuables from the bailor. So they are to be the utmost careful with valuables.

A good page I found regarding bailment was here;
Bailment

CrankyOne

Yep, good point. Perhaps a combination of the two.

genec

But do they make women surrender large purses? If not it seems like an inconsistency in their policy.

Then again, they may just not like cyclists... bwahahaha!

I-Like-To-Bike

No, the lesson to be learned by OP is to post messages that make grammatical sense and do not confuse other posters into thinking that a dramatic event (theft of his backpack with its expensive contents) actually occurred, requiring dramatic solutions.

I-Like-To-Bike

Good luck whining this argument, anywhere.

LesterOfPuppets

It was, however, left unguarded at a store which presumably has a bit of a theft problem.

genec

"No man... I am not giving you my backpack... it's my purse... "