That's part of my original point. When they confiscate your possessions(assuming it is legal), since they had made you do it involuntarily, they have the legal obligation to take the highest care of your goods to ensure that they don't get damaged and that you get them back in their entirety. Just putting it in a cubbyhole, or carelessly putting it "behind the counter" doesn't provide that level of care. That's what the store managers don't get. And since its more trouble for them, and just having a backpack has put you in the position of being under suspicion, it's hard to convince them of the facts. They need some kind of claim ticket at the very least.

Actually, Bus Lockers would be about right and you keep the key. But I'm sure in these paranoid times, that wouldn't fly.

You have been fooled.

yep, i remember, and i totally agree. it isn't right. they're asking you to grant them a level of trust they won't grant you.

who mentioned that there is a place that uses heat-sealed bags to keep the backpacks from being openable? i really like that idea except for the waste. it'd be cool if they had reusable bags with locks on them, that the store could open but you couldn't. you'd drop your bag inside, and they'd lock it up. maybe they could make it so you could get the bag opened at any cash register, too.

maybe it isn't a big enough problem for enough people yet. but i think it will be addressed as more people are forced into alternative transportation and need to carry their necessities with them. it only takes a couple of disappearing laptops to make it expensive enough for a store to worry about.

ps: the last time i looked, two of the college bookstores i know of had bus lockers right at the front, without attendants. you'd just throw your bag in and take the key. it seemed to work for them! i don't know what the holdup is everywhere else.

Surely this is sarcasm? You can't really believe in that Baby-Bush drivel? After bringing down the Twin Towers, I have a feeling that self-respecting Islamic terrorists won't bother blowing up local convencience stores.

ya it does suck but I've always just done it. I just take out my wallet, etc and hand it over. It's only happened to me once maybe twice and it was at a store near my highschool right after they had had a huge problem with theft. But now days I walk all the time through stores with a backpack and just smile at the security guards. Sometimes they look at me like they want to say something but they never do, I guess because I don't really fit the "demographics." But if I was ever asked to show them my bag I gladly would, I have nothing to hide, and maybe they pick up that vibe off me too.

Not only have I never been asked to leave a backpack with someone in a grocery store, but I often use it as a shopping bag. Only once did someone had an issue with it, and it was an obviously *****y pathetic lowlife cashier clearly looking to be mean to someone.

You know, Artkansas, I didn't read all of your posts about your town, of course, but if memory serves every one I did read seemed to have been quite negative. Nasty drivers, crime, monopolistic fascist grocery stores. I would seriously consider moving.

...

But, Arkansas needs more people like me.

That's probably true. But do people like you need more Arkansas? That, to me, would be a far more important question if I were you.

NO WAY. Is that the only store in Little Rock? Go somewhere else. It starts with you. Next, your local Krogers will start asking housewives to check their purses at the door. The housewives will have bigger kahoonas than you did and tell the manager to shove it and they will shop somewhere else.

Krogers will give in to the pressure, return to common sense, let shoppers bring in their bags, and you can shop at Krogers again. Be sure to thank the housewives with big Kahoonas when you get your privelages to shop at Krogers again.

Jeesh.

Yeah, I'm like, "So you're admitting that you can't take reasonable care of your items, and yet you expect me to entrust mine to you?" I haven't purposefully stopped shopping there, but I mostly avoid it. Actually, come to think about it, I've only gone there twice and once was with a friend (his car) and the other time on the way home from a trip in a rental.

M@

Yes there are other places to shop in Little Rock. There are other Krogers, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kroger.

I do tend to shop in another Kroger that is much more tolerant. Though they have had their moments as well. At least it appears that the manager there did listen to me. Kroger will listen to pressure. But there are a lot fewer bicyclists in their stores than women, don't you think.

Now, about the size of my testicles. That's a pretty ungrounded personal attack don't you think? I really hope you are ashamed of that comment.

You haven't heard the conversations that I've had with several Kroger managers. And you are supposing about the actions of the women. Your comments are fantasy.

By the way, the term you meant to use was "cojones". A Kahuna is a "Priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession."

I know you're from Canada. I think that's the closest place to Arkansas that wouldn't raise an issue about backpacks, in at least some of the stores.

IOW, this is more an issue of the country that Artkansas lives in, not the individual state or town. Looking back at this thread should convince you of that fact.

I have been to the grocery store twice with my backpack and have had no problems. If I go to ACE hardware they take it from me.

Ya, sorry about that. Didn't mean to be rough, but it sounded that way after I re-read it. Anyway, I hope it works out for you. Don't let those guys push you around. Sounds like you are being singled out. How about all the green folks that bring in their own cloth grocery bags? Are they going to turn them away too?

Good luck, man.

When I first started shopping via bicycle I would wear my backpack in. I'd been in several stores a few times before I was asked at a sporting goods store to check my backpack. That time I did, but after that, I started attaching my bike helmet on the outside of the pack so it was clear that I was riding my bike there. Haven't had any trouble since in any store around here.

"Your money don't count. You ride a bike." is the parting shot the convenience store cashier gave me a few minutes ago.

The store is across the intersection from my apartment complex. I've been going there frequently for over 3 years. But no more.

They demanded that I leave my backpack on the counter. That's new. I've never had to leave it in that store before. After being at work for two days and one night straight, I was tired and fed up. I just went to the items I wanted and got them. It took maybe 2 seconds. They refused to take my money.

The manager came out while I was unlocking my bike and tried to convince me that I should just leave my backpack. He tried to convince me that despite his statement that "everyone steals from me" that my backpack would be safe because people want his stuff instead. He extolled how many cameras he had, they would prevent it from being stolen. But he refused to go for any kind of check system that would prevent it from being taken saying that his clerk was able to care for it. And on it went. I didn't buy it. The manager went in and the clerk said she was going to call the cops. I said fine. She called. I waited long enough to make sure she had placed the call and rolled off into the night.

"Your money don't count. You ride a bike." That sums up the opinion of so many people.

After being unable to shrug off tonight's incident, I decided to boot it up to the next level. I wrote to a bicycle advocate friend of mine who is a professor at the local law school. I asked him for information on what level of care a store is required to provide if they impound a backpack. So we'll see.

Wow, I think it's time for you to move to Fayetteville or Eureka Springs.......

good lord. best of luck, artkansas. it sucks that you're having to deal with this crap.

wow that's crazy! in seattle it's only the music/book shops that take your bags.

and besides, plenty of people can steal with just a big jacket, you don't need a bag anyway!

good luck.

This might have been mentioned already (it's such a long thread that I can't remember), but it often helps to put your backpack in the shopping cart before you walk into the store. Backpacks in the cart seem to fly under the radar. Not sure why, but it often works.

Well, there is something to be said for changing countries too, sometimes. As an immigrant I can certainly attest to that. But even in the U.S. there must be less backwards and aggressive places than Artkansas's hometown. And it's not just about backpacks.

same MOST places I think. And too true about being able to steal with anything, I knew a guy (knew not "friends") who stole a whole bunch of stuff he put down his pants--and he wore really tight pants.

BAILMENT

That's the magic word. The store is the bailee, and I am the bailor. I checked with my lawyer friend and of course he confirmed the store's right to do as they please.

But by impounding my backpack, they are creating a state of bailment. While most are "bailments for hire" in which the custodian (bailee) is paid, there is also "constructive bailment" when the circumstances create an obligation upon the custodian to protect the goods, and "gratuitous bailment" in which there is no payment, but the bailee is still responsible.

In all bailment situations, the bailee has a minimum duty of care to ensure the safety of the property.

The bailee's standard of care is determined based upon the purpose of the bailment, and whether it is for the benefit of the bailee alone, the bailor alone, or for the benefit of both parties. If the bailment is for the benefit of the bailee alone, then the bailee owes a duty of extraordinary care.

This is the point where I object. I don't think that putting my backpack behind a counter without any kind of claim check system, that may or may not be attended quite reaches the definition of extraordinary care.

I'm contemplating getting a short "contract" drawn up for this. They get my backpack if they sign the contract. Seems fair, but also seems like it's likely to just get me kicked out. I suspect that the "raffle ticket" system may be more acceptable. We'll see what happens.