Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Store Customer Arrested for Shoplifting Says He Was Trying to Use EasyPay Self-Checkout

As with supermarkets, I prefer not to use self-checkout systems for the reasons that:

a) a component of the price goes towards paying for someone to do the check-out work for me. If I check myself out, I should get a discount, but I don't. Which leads to...

b) the more people that use self-checkout, the fewer employees they need.
 
I see this kid having a $1 billion fine in his future as I believe Apple has a patent on swipe to steal :D

(I couldn't help it)
 
pipa said:
I can see it now. "person accused of stealing from apple store gets charges dropped, apple gives kid $100 iTunes card"
Click to expand...

Add 1 million for the trauma and personal anguish of being held and accused in public.

Then we need to learn about his childhood and how he was abused by not getting a Mercedes for his 18th birthday and had to pay for his own Starbucks Latte at a very young age.

Family background, Mother a drinker, Father divorced twice. Brother and neighbors beat him up because he doesn't like android stuff.

He now has severe sleep anxiety and needs to be in daily therapy.

Hope I am not forgetting something, but even if I am sure some lawyer will remember all of what should be thrown in there to make it a juicy case.

Security cameras probably made by Samsung, so whatever happened is distorted (They are good at explaining why)
 
Misleading

I've tried to purchase a Bose headset through EasyPay but I couldn't because it only works on products under 150 bucks. I'm pretty sure there aren't any Bose headsets under that so he most definitely was stealing.
 
In this case it would be best to give him the benefit of the doubt and just allow him to finish paying, everything else is just over the top unless it was very clear he was trying to steal the headphones.
 
PR nightmare for Apple.

The huge flaw with EasyPay is that the first time through, how can anyone know - for sure - that they've completed the payment successfully? The payment system is opaque and the workflow unknown. Compare this to a regular checkout where convention dictates that you swipe your card and get a printed receipt and bagged merchandise in return. At that point the deal is clearly (and intuitively) complete, and you are free to leave.

That, and Apple's reputation for being 'clever' at making things easy could plausibly lead a customer into thinking that Apple "automagically" takes care of collecting payment from a linked credit card - so everything's good. Tell me, why is that an unreasonable assumption?
 
audi2009 said:
Apple store employees are suppose to assume positive intent. The last thing they are supposed to do is accuse the customer. It may be a crazy rule, but it's in apple's culture, and I believe in their credo.
Click to expand...

I think you're right. When I worked at Abercrombie I was told several times to make sure I never accused a customer of stealing. I was given alternative phrases like "Would you like us to hold *insert suspect item here* behind the counter until you're ready to check out?" or "I know a pair of sandals that'd go great with that *suspect item*." Just so they were aware that we knew they were hiding something. I'm not sure of Apple's direction on this, but I think we avoided accusing customers of stealing for legal reasons... I'm not sure of that, though.
 
Apple's logic fail...

"When you successfully complete a transaction..."

What happens when the transaction is a success is totally irrelevant. What matters is when the transaction does not go through. If it is not clear that the transaction has not gone through, then the failure is on the part of Apple, and one can not prove beyond a reasonable doubt the intentions or actions of the suspect.
 
Considering the purported facts, the Apple Store employees probably over-reacted. The alleged shoplifter neither acts nor sounds like a petty thief.

I'm glad that he intends to contest the charges. I think that he has an excellent chance of prevailing in court.
 
Arran said:
PR nightmare for Apple.

The huge flaw with EasyPay is that the first time through, how can anyone know - for sure - that they've completed the payment successfully? The payment system is opaque and the workflow unknown. Compare this to a regular checkout where convention dictates that you swipe your card and get a printed receipt and bagged merchandise in return. At that point the deal is clearly (and intuitively) complete, and you are free to leave.

That, and Apple's reputation for being 'clever' at making things easy could plausibly lead a customer into thinking that Apple "automagically" takes care of collecting payment from a linked credit card - so everything's good. Tell me, why is that an unreasonable assumption?
Click to expand...

Flaw? You will know for sure because you can either have a receipt printed right there in the store, and/or you can have it emailed to your Apple ID that you used for purchase, in which case its on your phone within a few seconds of requesting that action. There is also that little thing too where you actually have to submit your credit card security code (the first time you use that card). Don't think he did that, he never claimed he did. In fact he didnt claim to do ANYTHING. Just scanned it and put his phone away. He cant claim ignorance then, since if he had used the app before, and entered his code, he would know there were more steps involved than (in his words) "scanning the item and putting my phone away". But again, ignorance is not an excuse of the law, just because you claim you didnt know the speed limit (ignorance) doesnt mean you wont get a ticket for speeding. Nor will claiming it wasnt your intent to speed, you'll still get a ticket.
 
I disagree with everyone saying he has a chance. I think he should of took the plea bargain TBH.

Interesting case nevertheless.
 
MacSlut said:
"When you successfully complete a transaction..."

What happens when the transaction is a success is totally irrelevant. What matters is when the transaction does not go through. If it is not clear that the transaction has not gone through, then the failure is on the part of Apple, and one can not prove beyond a reasonable doubt the intentions or actions of the suspect.
Click to expand...

Ummm, if the transaction didnt go through due to the actions (or lack of) of the accused, then its not Apple's fault.

Again, nowhere does the accused say he even attempted to complete the transaction.
 
cmwade77 said:
This is exactly why I think EasyPay is a bad idea, it too easy to have major misunderstandings.
Click to expand...

I've used Easypay many times and have never been accused of shoplifting.

It's called due diligence and attention to detail on the consumers part.
 
lol that kids a scumbag or a moron.

he's lying and tryna get away with it (can't blame him)

or

hes too dumb to realize those same headphones are much cheaper on eBay and too dumb to use an easy pay system.
 
Believe me or don't, but I do have a lot of experience with this. I can tell you that the odds are that this guy had every intent to steal this item. I can also tell you that it is Apple's policy not to stop a customer who is suspected of stealing if they are using easy pay, or even fake that they are using easy pay. Just a little insight for though...
 
ezhilk said:
The other day I spent half an hour trying to figure out which shower caddy to purchase at a local Meijer here - did every single thing you describe here : staring, didn't ask for help, picking one up and putting it down again and again...So are you implying that my behavior is criminal ? Please let me know which store you are usually in so that I know never to step inside it.

I hope the kid is innocent and gets to pursue the civil suit. If I was in the kid's shoes and innocent, I would be mad with rage and never use an Apple product in my life ever again. :mad:
Click to expand...

You were staring at the ceiling looking for security cams? If you were doing that as well staring up and down the aisle you were on, and then acting different with people around vs not...yes I would keep an eye on you as an LP person. Not assuming theft just unusual behavior. When people steal 9 out of 10 times they were doing something odd for someone to notice.

How many people have asked for help, get noticed, and then take that item?

You would make a horrible LP person. We don't assume ur a criminal but we would come up and ask if you needed help and take notice...
 
davidoloan said:
We have some of these stupid machines in B&Q in the UK. They are so crap that they now man them with human beings. The whole point of them was so they didn't have to employ human beings..........

The other day when I took item 1 off the scale to scan item 2 (which is the wrong thing to do) I was asked accusingly "So you are going to pay for that aren't you?"

I prefer to pay a person until the technology is good.
Click to expand...

I can't STAND those stupid machines, why oh why did B&Q force you to use them by removing all checkouts like they have at my nearest store I have no idea. If I was in charge it would be the number one thing I would get rid of! They are utterly useless.
And then in Tesco they have a person permanently at the self checkouts for when they screw up too. If you buy a games magazine with a demo or video DVD for instance, it's usually 15 rated so the self checkout flags it and an assistant has to allow you to purchase it! So everytime I think I have something that will flag the machine I just go to a normal checkout.

KPOM said:
You'd need to ask an attorney familiar with New York law to answer that, as it would depend on the statute as well as case law. My guess (and I am not a lawyer) is that you may not need to specifically be beyond the door. I.e. you may be able to be charged if you are at the door and it is clear that you have taken the property, intend to walk out, and haven't paid.
Click to expand...

A quick google:

Exit - Wait until the suspect leaves the shop before stopping him. This is essential as it means the suspect has left the shop without paying and has committed a crime

From:
http://www.startacollectiblesbusiness.co.uk/shoplifting-laws-your-rights.html

I think you have to wait for them to leave the shop no matter what as the article in the link says.
 
HMI said:
It may be quite simple once one has already used the system the first time, but they actually need to be in the store to try using it that first time. Most people who go into the Apple retail store just want to buy something and leave. They don't want to spend 5-10 minutes playing around with an app for the first time to see how it works if they don't already know what to expect. If they are spending real money, it's reasonable to expect they should have real answers to their questions before trying to spend their money.

I like some else's idea of a playing a demo video when the app is launched, but this video should also be on their website and YouTube account.

I'm sure you think it's easy because you've already tried purchasing something with the easypay system, but calling this absurd doesn't make it any less necessary or helpful for those who want answers before using the app the first time.
Click to expand...

If you can read and follow basic instructions, you shouldn't have any problem following this app. If it takes anyone 5-10 minutes to "play around" with it, you should just go find an employee and have them check you out....

I assume they still teach children how to read and follow directions in Kindergarten/1st Grade?
 
Apple really does have a problem with the app. I went in and bought an AirDrive for my Mini. Everybody was busy, so I decided to use the app to check out. Everything went thru just fine. I picked up the air drive, walked up to a gaggle of chatting Apple associates who were just chatting and showed them the screenshot. They said great and quickly went back to their conversation.

The next day, I received an e-mail telling me to pick up my Air Drive and I figured it was just a mistake on their part. Then I got another and another and another e-mail. Customer service then called me about picking up the drive and I told them it had been picked up that day. Customer service said they would fix it. The e-mail's still kept coming for over 6 weeks. I spoke to the Apple Customer service twice, the store manager twice and finally got an e-mail that said they were going to credit my account since I had never picked it up.

I finally called the store manager for the third time and said they were now going to credit my account for an item I picked up the first day. Finally they got it straight. A less honest person would have gone and picked up another drive just to shut them up.
 
tigres said:
Hugh? There were about 50 pairs of beats (all colors of the rainbow), and about 20 sets of bose @ the 5th ave store; maybe more actually. The employees looked way to busy to be counting when I was observing the madness.
Click to expand...

5th ave and other Flagship stores are quite a bit different than your normal mall Apple stores...
 
Fruit Core said:
I've tried to purchase a Bose headset through EasyPay but I couldn't because it only works on products under 150 bucks. I'm pretty sure there aren't any Bose headsets under that so he most definitely was stealing.
Click to expand...

Bose Headset $129.99

There you go, a Bose headset from Apple that costs less than $150. Someone else earlier in this thread mentioned $129 Bose. So these are it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back