"Michael Law"

[Curtis Baillie]

I thought I'd share with the group this blog writing that was called to my attention. At Michels (craft stores), according to at least one associate, you can walk out of the store with whatever you want and they can't approach you? Read the blog here (http://heartofhospitality.blogspot.com/2008/05/you-can-shoplift-at-michaels.html).

[Deputy Dawg]

wow. I can understand why their management has put that in place, they want to avoid any and ALL issues/lawsuits/liability. This probably also means they don't have security at all either. I've been to their stores before to get drawing supplies and they don't have many noticable cameras either except near the doors and register.

But at the same time, that really is a shame. They probably feel they will save more money doing nothing about it.

[Don of the Dead]

Once they see their shrink for a year or 2 they might re-think this "law".

Of course I would have said something to "Mommy"

[Justice_Hound]

I thought I'd share with the group this blog writing that was called to my attention. At Michels (craft stores), according to at least one associate, you can walk out of the store with whatever you want and they can't approach you? Read the blog here (http://heartofhospitality.blogspot.com/2008/05/you-can-shoplift-at-michaels.html).

One should not believe everything that they read on the Internet. As the retail theft coordinator for my local PD I interact with Micheals Management regularly. According to them, "Micheal's Law" only applies to regular sales staff. Supervisors and Managers can detain shoplifters to retrieve product and DO prosecute for repeat offenders. Micheals has afairly sophisticated CCTV system for a arts/crafts store and we recently were able to use PTZ (yes, they have them) footage to ID a check fraudster. Micheals in my area is one of the most aggressive members of our retail theft task force.

Justice_Hound
LP Manager

[Curtis Baillie]

I understand - but , as you can see, it's the customers perception that is getting spread around the internet.

[Deputy Dawg]

I was kind of curious if the cashier just meant she couldn't do anything about it, but the way she came off aparently, makes it sound like not even her management cared/could do anything. It's all about how you say something. A simple, i'll inform my manager would have been sufficient in this case, cause then she doesn't have to worry about it anymore. It's good to know that they do actually handle these issues, but as Curtis said, first person experiences are what everyone hears for the most part.

[Nauticus]

I understand - but , as you can see, it's the customers perception that is getting spread around the internet.

Yeah, but that was just a silly cashier getting paid at most $8/hr. Most retail stores I've worked at, staff CAN'T interfere with shoplifters, so what she said was right. That is loss prevention's job.

The blog is just written by somebody who completely misunderstood the situation.