What is really interesting, and funny, is watching our local stores trying to balance between what's legal and what would be nice for them. First off, around here customers are not legally required to hand over their bags or other personal belongings for inspection or to leave them anywhere during shopping. Shop managers try to get around this, mainly to reduce shoplifting.

• some shops have "friendly" "reminders" at checkout about how you should present your bag to the cashier "to maintain mutual trust"
• most bigger stores have lockers where you can leave your stuff, but they also have big signs next to the lockers, stating they accept no responsibility
• most stores have electronic theft alarms at counters, those go off every now and then for whatever reasons. I'd be interested to see what their hit/miss statistics look like. I'm sure the statistics exist, and I'm equally sure they will not be made public any time soon.
• finally, most stores and shopping malls have security personnell that like to present themselves as having the same rights as cops, or "almost" if challenged

Personally, I might consider leaving my stuff when entering the store, provided I get a proper receipt. That's not going to happen anywhere I know of. I'm with jamesdenver here, know your rights and if you find their suggestions unreasonable, shop elsewhere if remotely possible. Fortunately, I've been able to go elsewhere in the couple of cases I've felt uncomfortable with the shop's "rules".

--J