Yes, they can check my reciept

There is a new partiularly rabid strain of libertarian thought going around right now regarding the current practice of many stores to check your reciept on the way out, as a way of preventing theft. I have some sympathy when these policies are applied overly strictly at retailers like Circuit City and Best Buy. Especially as in the case of a recent Circuit City customer who was arrested for refusing to produce a reciept. (Technically, he was arrested for failure to produce ID, but CC did everything in their power to force the issue.) However, you always have the alternative to NOT give your money to these retailers. (If you don't have another local electronics store, remember Amazon.Com or any number of small internet retailers are only a click and UPS away.)

But the newest strain of this meme is fury over big-box retailers like BJ's and CostCo doing the same thing. This truly makes no sense, for a simple reason. YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY THAT GIVES THEM THAT PRIVILEGE. The way that stores like BJ and Costco keep down prices is by buying in bulk, and minimizing staffing. They lack sophisticated security systems or an oppressive watchful staff to prevent shoplifting, and instead place a single pimply-faced person at the door to check your reciept against your cart. This is annoying, but hardly a violation of anyone's rights.

So, let's all calm down out there, okay? If you feel a need to express your annoyance at these practices, complain to the local manager or the regional directors of the stores in question. And don't patronize any place you feel violates your rights. But stop making a Federal Case out of a hung over teenager earning minimum wage checking reciepts.