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

[greytmom]

1) If I were to use this app, I'd make damn sure I had proof of purchase before I walked out the door.

2) Owning a rMBP doesn't automatically mean this kid couldn't possibly be a thief.

I think the kid intended to steal, and I think he'll probably beat the charges.

 

[albusseverus]

Wish I'd thought of this when I bought my Thunderbolt drive, the other week.

Strangely, the cast member with the blue shirt told me I could have used the App for the drive, but not the Thunderbolt cable. They had to send-out for that. That's Downunder for you.

 

[Mark Booth]

I've got the app on my iPhone but I've never used it. I get an employee purchase plan discount on all of my Apple Store purchases so I order the stuff at home (on my Mac) for pickup in the store. THAT works like a charm! I just show up with my credit card, a specialist swipes it through their little iPod Touch doo-hicky and someone else shows up in a few minutes to give me my purchases. Sweet!

Mark

 

[renegad3]

Have you never done a web-based payment where you see a page that looks like a receipt, but way down near the bottom there's a "submit" button to commit?

If you don't press "submit", it never happened.

I got a "we're going to disconnect" message from the phone company, and I was sure that I'd made the payment. Apparently I looked at what I thought was the receipt, but didn't notice that it was just a confirmation and that there was a "submit" button that I didn't click. (I'd taken a screen cap of the page and filed it, so when I started to protest my mistake had been captured in RGB....)

Apple is wrong here. Even if Apple is right, they're wrong to persecute a customer over a failing in their shopping system.

Apple is becoming the "big bully".

No, I have never mistakenly thought I paid for something online, but didn't. I look for a confirmation email before I consider the transaction closed. No confirmation, I immediately begin to investigate.

But what your comparing to is not even remotely what happened in this case.
Have you ever even used this app? There is a giant button that says "PAY NOW" on it, you have to click it, if you don't, nothing happens. I don't understand how you can equate your example to him, and I quote "...I scanned the bar code with the Apple Store app, put my phone away..." to him mistakenly thinking he hit a button to pay and never confirmed that it was a completed transaction.

Again, I would like you to explain how a customer purposely "put his phone away" without ever clicking a button of any kind to commit to a transaction is a "failing in their shopping system."

The only failing was the customer in paying...

 

[DWilliamson5002]

One of the Apple store employees did kinda sorta admit to me how the security works with this easy pay thing, because I point blank asked her, wondering about it. She said that they can monitor the transactions being completed in that store at the same time as they can see people leaving with items on the security cameras. So apparently there is someone in the back or someplace who is monitoring the cameras and matching that up with completed transactions coming through the system.

Well that is a lie. The Apple Store app does know when you are near or in a store but know one is watching cameras all the time. They are watched when people are acting suspicious or something is missing...

 

[renegad3]

He has no personal liability. At least once. Apple created the app. They didn't train any customers on it. They didn't require some sort of assistance the first time or anything like that. So, yeah. He gets a pass. He very well could've made the mistake.

Well, sorry again. They don't have to train you, you read the screen and follow the directions? It really is a simple process, but only if you actually try and use it. In this case, the user admitted he didn't even bother to do that!

General Motors didn't train me to drive my car. So when I get in an accident (my fault or not) am I not personally responsible? Should I now say it was GM's fault?

Also, if it truly was the first time he had used the app, he was REQUIRED to enter the security PIN of his credit card. But wait, he didn't even bother to enter any credit card info, did he? From his quote, he doesn't even know if he scanned it. Oh, wait, when he did actually bother to look at his screen, what did it say?

"PAY NOW"

 

[greytmom]

Read the MacWorld article

The kid was stealing. He went to a different Apple store the next day and bought the headphones because he "really wanted" them.

If I was falsely accused by a company and spent the night in jail, I sure as hell wouldn't have rushed back the next day to give them a dime. Unless I thought it would look good in court.

 

[Lark.Landon]

"For his part, Shine hasn't sworn off EasyPay for good. In fact, it wasn’t long after the Fifth Avenue store incident that he was again turning to Apple's mobile checkout system. “The day I got released, I went to the Grand Central Apple Store, because I still wanted those Bose headphones.” He again used EasyPay to ring up his purchase.

This time, he checked to make sure the receipt was there—and asked an Apple Store employee to do the same."

Macworld.com


Yeah, I would go to another Apple Retail Store too and buy the headphones. So that *next* month, when I go to court I can tell the jury... hey look, I really *did* buy the headphones! See!? See!?

 

[SchneiderMan]

I'm against those employees, an error in the app can very easily happen and that's Apple's fault. They should place clearer tactics to go about EasyPay.

 

[SpyderBite]

That's what happened with me and a 27" iMac.

Huh? You can't use EasyPay on products with a serial number. Besides, the 27" macs are in the back not hanging in pegs next to the earbuds and smart covers

 

[linkgx1]

"For his part, Shine hasn't sworn off EasyPay for good. In fact, it wasn’t long after the Fifth Avenue store incident that he was again turning to Apple's mobile checkout system. “The day I got released, I went to the Grand Central Apple Store, because I still wanted those Bose headphones.” He again used EasyPay to ring up his purchase.

This time, he checked to make sure the receipt was there—and asked an Apple Store employee to do the same."

Macworld.com


Yeah, I would go to another Apple Retail Store too and buy the headphones. So that *next* month, when I go to court I can tell the jury... hey look, I really *did* buy the headphones! See!? See!?

......and return them the next day and ask the bank to wave that overdraft fee@

 

[greytmom]

Huh? You can't use EasyPay on products with a serial number. Besides, the 27" macs are in the back not hanging in pegs next to the earbuds and smart covers

He was joking.

 

[renegad3]

He has no personal liability. At least once. Apple created the app. They didn't train any customers on it. They didn't require some sort of assistance the first time or anything like that. So, yeah. He gets a pass. He very well could've made the mistake.

Watch this video, doesn't appear to me that the person had any training in using the app. And again, what exactly was the kids mistake?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h22AItU4_GE

Now come back and tell me how the kid in the story could have mistakenly thought he paid for it, when he didn't.

 

[Jett0516]

his mistake was to shoplift at apple store.

should've done it at walmart.

 

[ricardobeat]

The problem is, we're supposed live to in a society that is "innocent until proven guilty." In this case, it's guilty, until proven innocent. Ridiculous. Could he be guilty? Sure. But at least hear him out, don't just assume. […] I'd rather we live in a world that is too trusting, and be hurt by that, than live in one where we doubt everyone and everything.

How more trusting can a store be than let the customer grab a product and pay by itself without talking to an employee?

I wonder why he didn't just complete the purchase after being questioned? Pay and walk away. There's gotta be more to this story than that.

 

[ezhilk]

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...

Well, I don't blame you for doing what you do as part of your duty, but as a paying customer, it just infuriates me that I would be suspected in the first place for what could just be my way of shopping. I do act differently with people around when I am shopping and staring at the said item because it embarrasses the crap out of me to be not able to choose between one product or the other, but that is just the way I shop when it is something very important. Like the shower caddy .

Next time someone comes and asks me if I need help, I will make it a point to ask them why they thought I needed help.

 

[Yumbo]

The app tracks that you are in the store, and assumably whether you complete a transaction, and therefore if you walk out incomplete, it will set off an alert. If you're carrying something as well, that would be a concern.
What about multiple checkouts on several items, with one or more non-starters or incomplete?
Normally they tape up the bag or at least sticker it.

 

[725032]

I'm starting to dislike Apple.

I completely agree... Im seriously thinking about moving my personal and business needs else where

 

[Maltz]

1) If I were to use this app, I'd make damn sure I had proof of purchase before I walked out the door.

2) Owning a rMBP doesn't automatically mean this kid couldn't possibly be a thief.

I think the kid intended to steal, and I think he'll probably beat the charges.

This. And all of this is as it should be. He probably meant to steal - I'm sure this IS a common method to work the system and steal with a safety net if you get caught. So the store was right to call the police. BUT it's impossible to prove the intent, so he should get off in court.

However, if the kid has a history of shoplifting, then it's MUCH more likely his intent really was to steal, and he probably will not get off. Or if he's never stolen anything before then now this incident is on record, so if it is the start of a pattern, then next time the charges will almost certainly stick.

Seems to me like the system is working as intended.

 

[linkgx1]

I completely agree... Im seriously thinking about moving my personal and business needs else where

Vote with your dollar. Capitalism 101.

 

[725032]

This. And all of this is as it should be. He probably meant to steal - I'm sure this IS a common method to work the system and steal with a safety net if you get caught. So the store was right to call the police. BUT it's impossible to prove the intent, so he should get off in court.

However, if the kid has a history of shoplifting, then it's MUCH more likely his intent really was to steal, and he probably will not get off. Or if he's never stolen anything before then now this incident is on record, so if it is the start of a pattern, then next time the charges will almost certainly stick.

Seems to me like the system is working as intended.

Prior convictions are only emitted in a case upon a final verdict during sentencing... Otherwise an individual case can be tainted

 

[BroadcastDoc]

You guys just kill me!

You read one article (and not even a very thorough one) and all of a sudden you're an expert on the law, loss prevention, and Apple's policies, procedures, and purchasing policies!

Every single one of you who states as an absolute fact that Apple or the customer was right or wrong in this case is talking out of your butt. You weren't there, therefore you do not have enough information about what actually happened.

Also, if you don't like Easy Pay, then don't use it! The Apple store near me is always busy, and I appreciate being able to just scan something and hit the road. You probably have a better chance of getting mowed down by mall security on a Segue then you do getting "busted" after making a legitimate purchase with Easy Pay. Just because you may not fully understand how it works doesn't make it a bad idea.

Opinions are one thing, but really - you can't say for 100% certainty that the kid didn't break the law, or on the flip side that Apple didn't screw something up. That's why we have the courts, folks.

 

[Swordylove]

We haven't heard Apple's side of the story.

 

[linkgx1]

You guys just kill me!

You read one article (and not even a very thorough one) and all of a sudden you're an expert on the law, loss prevention, and Apple's policies, procedures, and purchasing policies!

Every single one of you who states as an absolute fact that Apple or the customer was right or wrong in this case is talking out of your butt. You weren't there, therefore you do not have enough information about what actually happened.

Also, if you don't like Easy Pay, then don't use it! The Apple store near me is always busy, and I appreciate being able to just scan something and hit the road. You probably have a better chance of getting mowed down by mall security on a Segue then you do getting "busted" after making a legitimate purchase with Easy Pay. Just because you may not fully understand how it works doesn't make it a bad idea.

Opinions are one thing, but really - you can't say for 100% certainty that the kid didn't break the law, or on the flip side that Apple didn't screw something up. That's why we have the courts, folks.

I was there.

In my mind.

Apple Store-ception!

 

[3282868]

Have you never done a web-based payment where you see a page that looks like a receipt, but way down near the bottom there's a "submit" button to commit?

If you don't press "submit", it never happened.

I got a "we're going to disconnect" message from the phone company, and I was sure that I'd made the payment. Apparently I looked at what I thought was the receipt, but didn't notice that it was just a confirmation and that there was a "submit" button that I didn't click. (I'd taken a screen cap of the page and filed it, so when I started to protest my mistake had been captured in RGB....)

Apple is wrong here. Even if Apple is right, they're wrong to persecute a customer over a failing in their shopping system.

Apple is becoming the "big bully".

Agreed, this seems rather excessive by Apple.

Honestly, I've been in tech for years, using OS X for many of those, and lately I've been disappointed in Apple's actions. The company is growing too large, too quickly (not getting into the iOS vs OS X debate), and seems to be using their newfound power in ways I believe questionable. We don't know all the facts, however from what I've read in the past 30-45 min's on the matter, I can understand how this may have happened. The juvenile doesn't have a record (from what we've been told), and this is the first time it's happened with him at an Apple store. I'm surprised Apple didn't give him a reprimand and either ban him or keep tabs on him with local Apple stores (used to work in Apple Corp, it's not difficult in putting stores on notice for possible shoplifters). Done.

The courts will decide. He was given the chance in having a clean record with a day of community service. He chose to go to court. Buying the same headphones the next day, sure, may be taken as a way to excuse what he did in court, however that's circumstantial evidence. In the end, Apple chose to push this issue. Whatever becomes of it is on their hands.