Batboard

Got stopped today by Co-Manager Darain stating the HT750 I was carrying was a security issue and I could not have this in the store. I asked to see the sign saying it could not be inside and was given more attitude about why I haven't left yet.

Just an FYI, be on the look out for Walmart management walking toward you if your carrying that Motorola, they may just want you to leave with that Security Issue.


CoM

I've had numerous M radios in my local Walmart from 900 GTX's to UHF Astro Sabers & no one's said a word. They were all on Ham freq's only. I would tell them to take a flying leap & demand they call the cops. I would then pull out my Ham Radio Permit & say where does it say I can't bring this radio into Walmart. Of course if I had PD trunking systems I was not permitted to have in the radio, I would probably leave quietly. Maybe that store has had interference on their in store radios. GARY N4KVE

I would ask to see their license, then if they can not produce oneshow them yours, They are probably using FRS or MURS and do not have a leg to stand on

N4KVE wrote:I've had numerous M radios in my local Walmart from 900 GTX's to UHF Astro Sabers & no one's said a word. They were all on Ham freq's only. I would tell them to take a flying leap & demand they call the cops. I would then pull out my Ham Radio Permit & say where does it say I can't bring this radio into Walmart. Of course if I had PD trunking systems I was not permitted to have in the radio, I would probably leave quietly. Maybe that store has had interference on their in store radios. GARY N4KVE

If the owner of premises tells you to leave, responding about flying leaps is a good way to get arrested, properly so, for criminal trespass. No Amateur Radio Station License authorizes you to enter or remain in a store that has asked you to leave.

Hmm, I carry an XTS5000 M3 on my belt all the time and have never had anyone say a word about it.

I'd be sending a letter to Walmart Corporate.

so if the cops that would show up have the same radio would they be asked to leave too?

I'm with RKG on this one... It's a privately owned business estabilshment, and therefore; private property. They have the right to refuse service or entry to anyone they please for any reason they wish. Now; on the flip side; I do question why in the hell they asked you to leave. I can't see any reason in the world that it would create a "security" risk. That not withstanding; I would quietly leave, and then contact Walmart corporate offices and find out what the hecks going on with that ridiculous request. Then would be a good time to ask for their license, etc, etc.

And, yes; Walmart DOES use FRS/GMRS and other non-approved radios for thier communications. I've seen it many a time, in many a store. They even sell the radios! There's a good chance that someone had been monkeying around on "their" frequency and you just got mistaken for the offender. That's not right, and you have a legitimate gripe. But; challenging the store manager when they are already pissed off is a good way to wind up in jail for the above mentioned reasons. Best to take it up with someone higher up who has an IQ higher than room temperature.

Jim

I've been into our local Walmart many times with my MTS2000, Astro Saber (in my back pocket), etc. and no one has said a peep to me. I agree with everyone here on this issue, call or send a letter to the corporate HQ and let them know what they did. IMO, they took it way over the edge. However, when I do go into a Walmart (or any other public/private store for that matter), I also don't have my audio blasting either.
Just my .02 cents.
Mike

i have carried my ht 1550 into wal-mart and home depot both on my belt. and also using the truck mans shoulder harness never a word

RKG wrote:

N4KVE wrote:I've had numerous M radios in my local Walmart from 900 GTX's to UHF Astro Sabers & no one's said a word. They were all on Ham freq's only. I would tell them to take a flying leap & demand they call the cops. I would then pull out my Ham Radio Permit & say where does it say I can't bring this radio into Walmart. Of course if I had PD trunking systems I was not permitted to have in the radio, I would probably leave quietly. Maybe that store has had interference on their in store radios. GARY N4KVE

If the owner of premises tells you to leave, responding about flying leaps is a good way to get arrested, properly so, for criminal trespass. No Amateur Radio Station License authorizes you to enter or remain in a store that has asked you to leave.

Don't you have to be breaking some law, like shoplifting in the store, or maybe selling drugs in the store, or wearing my pants down to my knees in the store, or making a nuisence of myself in the store, or something like that, to be asked to leave the store? The license doesn't mean I can come in the store, but it means the radio can go anywhere I do. Besides, if I fall down with the employee yelling at me, it's an easy way to pick up a quick $50,000 in a lawsuit. LOL GARY N4KVE

Update,

Took this to the top, the Manager of the store was unavailable until his lunch break was up, good to hear he got his . . .

Corporate did not have a copy of store policy on hand for a phone jockey to answer questions when I called.

I did not have the patience to wait 3-5 business days for a return call so I called after Mr. Bird got back, had a 10 minute conversation and hit the point, I'm a Joe trying to buy lunch, I had a Motorola brand communications device in my hand, your Co-Manager tells me its a Security Issue and will not explain more, I ask for an explanation, and without one I tell the Co-whatever I will buy lunch somewhere else, he didn't care. I then get sympathy from the Manager saying the Co-Manager misspoke, it was wrong for him to say this, and yes that's a horrible image for Walmart to present and agreed this could have been a Public Servant off duty in tee shirt and jeans that would rely on the device being carried in the store to serve the public and the store associates. We don't want our hometown hero's harassed by people misspeaking.

I stopped back by the store after work and had a face to face with Mr. Bird, he was not savvy on customer support as there was a 5 minute Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, sounded like I was on the phone with corporate again, Yes, Yes, Yes . . . It was relayed the Co-Manager did get the boot for the rest of the day.

I already shot a letter to Corporate after the face to face.

Its over for now, the store has absolutely no policy on restricting communications devices from entering into the store, if they did they shouldn't be selling them, FRS radios in the electronics dept.

From the Manager: Motorola radios can be carried in the open or in the hand without repercussions at least in the stores near where I frequent.

Thanks for the backing, glad to hear it is isolated I was hoping this wasn't the first sign of nasty things to come.

CoM

Oh, the radio was fully squelched in scan although I was quietly monitoring a system problem during my swing for a bite to eat.

The radio was not distracting others and I'm not quite the slick sleuth that "cool-dude" thought he was probably getting the jump on.

The battle is over for today,

Batwings: 1
Walmart: None

CoM

HLA wrote:so if the cops that would show up have the same radio would they be asked to leave too?

That is up to the owner of the premises.

N4KVE wrote:Don't you have to be breaking some law, like shoplifting in the store, or maybe selling drugs in the store, or wearing my pants down to my knees in the store, or making a nuisence of myself in the store, or something like that, to be asked to leave the store?

No.

N4KVE wrote:The license doesn't mean I can come in the store, but it means the radio can go anywhere I do.

No.

N4KVE wrote: Besides, if I fall down with the employee yelling at me, it's an easy way to pick up a quick $50,000 in a lawsuit. LOL GARY N4KVE

Doubtful.

wow, I've been to every Wal-Mart in Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb counties in Metro Atlanta with everything from an Icom H16 (on their unlicensed 154.57 CSQ channel they bootleg on) to a work issued XTS2500 on county's Astro25 DTRS and never gotten any attention. The security is more concerned about stopping the 88 year old bat who sets off the Sensormatic with her metal implants than my radios...

your treatment reminds me of being accosted by Six Flags Over Georgia security dickheads way back in 1992...but then I was a 17 year old kid toting an HT600 (same exact radio they carried and NO it was NOT on their freqs), but the director of security came out himself, and no less than 6 guards in tow, and attempted to confiscate my radio. I told him I would have him arrested for theft by taking, OCGA 16-8-2, felony (item value over 500 bucks at the time- HT600's sold for that much USED if not more!) and to call Cobb county 911 and request a PCT 2 officer. He asked me to leave my radio with guest relations- I told him to f-off I will gladly leave the park, I'm not entrusting my radio to strangers. He went on to threaten to CT me, eject me from the park (didn't I say I was leaving?) and went on to say that SFOG didn't allow radios, pagers or "mobile" phones in their parks, they did not allow people to bring Walkman radios to "listen to the ballgame". Of course none of this was printed on the ticket or posted at the entrance or anywhere in the park. Mr. Peckerhead went on to say "the only exception is we allow doctors to carry their pagers". So I put the HT600 in my dad's car and raised holy hell with Guest Relations who said they weren't aware of this policy but if security says it, it goes.

Fast forward to August 2001, right before 9/11- first time I went to SFOG since the incident (I was so pissed I would not go back). A group of us hamsexuals decided to make it a "ham" outing. My friend had a backpack FULL of radios (my HT1000, MTS2000, Vertex VX10's, etc). Now they had installed metal detectors at all the gates. The security guys opened the bag, looked, and handed it back to us! We carried two radios (me my 800 MTS2000 and UHF HT1000) and no one said a word or batted an eye. Another one of our crew had their security channel dialed up on his FT-50 and we passed by dozens of their guards "taunting" them with their radio traffic. They could have cared less. Only thing we had happen was a couple of ghetto hood rats asking us for directions (they ASSUmed we were park employees I guess). But than by 2001, every Tom, Dick and Harry had their cellphones, FRS, Nextel, etc so I guess Mr. Peckerhead had to chill.

But yes, I left the park with my radio in 1992 and put it in our vehicle which Mr. Peckerhead said was my only option other than to check it with their Guest Relations or leave the park. I did not want to get CT'ed but some people are just ignorant assclowns but at the end of the day, on private property it's follow the house rules, go home, or go to jail.

I guess I should feel pretty satisfied that TSA has never busted my balls for bringing radios in my carry on. I figure if you can get it on an airplane, you should be able to take it anywhere else.

escomm wrote:I guess I should feel pretty satisfied that TSA has never busted my balls for bringing radios in my carry on. I figure if you can get it on an airplane, you should be able to take it anywhere else.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing about bringing radios on the plane. I beleive there was a thread about that while back.
I'm going to Arizona in September, and I was thinking about bringing my MTS2000's along as well. However, with the additional security at the gates, I'll probably just leave them home and stick with my IPhone instead.
Speaking of bringing radios in public (WalMart, the mall, etc) I remember when we took a cruise back in 2002 EVERYONE had an FRS bubble-pack radio. The FRS channels were PACKED. That was back then, imagine now. Unbelievable ! I remember coming back home from CT, you had to be checking in with Customs, and (the all had Astro Saber I's and II's at the time) had some poor old ladies bags TORN apart looking for something. Luckily we got through without so much as a second look.

Guys, this topic really doesn't belong here.