Target falsely searched paid merchandise and demanded receipts? Do I have legal recourse?

I picked up my prescriptions at Target which you have to pay for at the pharmacy. I had the pharmacy ring up the rest of my merchandise. I had them put my merchandise in a green bag which customers use quite commonly now and are encouraged to use to save the stores money keeping the prices lower while at the same time helping the environment. I was having a good day at Target and was thinking how much nicer the people were there than other stores, but this good day came to a crashing halt. I was getting ready to leave through the exit. Then I decided to stop by the snack bar right near the exit and buy some popcorn which you have to pay for at the snack bar. I asked for my receipt. The security guard witnessed all this standing in the near distance towards the exit. I could tell my Obama 鈥?8 button with a rainbow on it caught his attention. I proceeded to go out the exit and then he asked for my receipt for the popcorn. I gave him the receipt and stated that one is required to pay for the popcorn upon receiving it. He asked for the receipts for my prescriptions next and then for the rest of my merchandise. I produced them and he searched my bag and compared every item with the receipt and asking me about specific items. He claimed there were a few customers who had stuffed these green bags full of stolen merchandise in the past but I didn鈥檛 see him stopping other customers with these bags going out the door. He did not give probable cause and no one had previously accused me of shoplifting. Why did he single me out? Was it perhaps my perceived political affiliation or perceived sexual orientation and my age as a young man? Isn鈥檛 the age thing profiling? Would they do this to me if I were an old man? Is it a race thing because I want to vote for a black man? I鈥檝e never stolen from them. I don鈥檛 have a record of doing such things. He let me go on my way. I was insulted. Do I have legal recourse? Can I sue Target? Were any of my rights violated? Is it weird that I have doubts about going back there to shop? Was I being suspected or accused of shoplifting? Do you feel I was being singled out and discriminated against? Should I contact an attorney or the ACLU?

You could have refused. But you consented. So there is no case and no damages.

I would exercise my right to shop elsewhere and let the store know. I find it more practical boycott for a specific length of time rather then forever. For the next 3 months I will not be buying anything from your store except my prescriptions.

they have every legal right and i think you are reading far too much into this, like he said, it was probably the bags and the fact that they maybe had people actually shoplifting using said bags. stop looking so far into this and realize that there are really some bad apples who do steal and ruin shopping for all. I don't think you would have a leg to stand on to sue them. sorry.

Let them search your bag, let them find nothing, and leave them behind you. Perhaps the more they suspect young people and find nothing wrong, the more they will have to reflect on their perceptions. This security guard has the right to search anyone's bags though I presume, young or old, so any legal action would be fruitless and unnecessary.

In order to file a civil suit you have to show damages. You have no damages.


You are only assuming he singled you out because you have a "poor choice" in political affiliation, or because of your age. (Age discrimination Act only applies to 40+ workers, profiling is legal). (You only have assumptions and no evidence to back your claim, another reason why you have no case. You need to show PROOF that he was doing it because of "this" or "that" not, I "think" he did it because of "this")
Many stores do want customers to show receipts, how much they look into it is based on policy or what the person might be looking for.

The other customers may not have gone and gotten a snack while holding their reusable bags (or the ones you saw). His reasoning is not far fetched and is quite legit.
Stores have the right to do that search. You were not harmed, suffered no damages or losses and unfortunately you have no legal basis to sue.

If you want to be 100% sure look for a lawyer who does free consultations, but you will most likely get the same response.

I don't blame you for being mad or thinking about never shopping there again, because the guard was rude about it. But that is his job to prevent shoplifters from smuggling out food or any other items. He had no knowledge of what you had bought earlier and was only checking, you can talk to Target's Corporate Headquarters or the store manager about this but you won't get anything from it.

I understand you're offended, that being stopped feels just like being accused. I've gotten more philosophical with age, and reading about these store policies. The truth is, they stop everybody at one time or another. They are allowed to check for receipts at the door. They do not need probable cause in the store. This has been well established. These are very routine security procedures at a big store like Target. I've been stopped, and I'm a stereotype middle aged white male, well dressed.

So no to most of your many questions. And there is no way to know if he really was reacting to your Obama button. (How do you know he wasn't pro Obama...you're making an assumption.)

He wasn't stopping other customers at that moment because of course he had stopped you. They handle one at a time. If you're really curious, set yourself up and watch this guard for two hours straight and see if he is discriminating. You have offered us a sample of one, which is not very useful on that question.

No.
You have the recourse of not shopping there again if you wish.
They did not break any rules or laws, however the guard was a pain in the a@@ for asking about your purchases which was none of his concern. If your receipts match your items he should have simple thanked you and said have nice day, sorry for the delay.
They have the right to check outgoing bags to match purchase receipts however they should be polite.