Photo by Mr. T in DC.

UPDATE: Well, that was fast — a couple of DCist tipsters let us know that a gauntlet of greeters at the store’s main exit are indeed checking receipts today — and that refusing search is going to be tougher than simply walking away. One Safeway customer tells us that “calmly refusing doesn’t appear to be an option,” given greeters’ “body language” and “them nearly blocking [the] exit.” However, based on our tipsters, receipt checkers were apparently only stationed at the main exit and not the secondary one leading to the parking garage.

First Metro, now Safeway? Southwest…the Little Quadrant That Could has some interesting news about security procedures at the Waterfront Station Safeway at 1100 4th Street SW — store management has reportedly instituted a Walmart-esque security system which will require customers to show their receipts before leaving the store:

Starting on Monday, Safeway’s security plan for its Waterfront Station store will change. According to Craig Muckle, Safeway’s Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations, there will no longer be uniformed security officers at the entrance to the store. Instead, there will be plain-clothed greeters at the store entrances that will welcome customers when they walk in and check receipts before they depart. Muckle described the greeters as part of a “Quality Assurance Program” at the store, similar to what is done at Costco and Walmart. These greeters will not have security duties; plain-clothed security officers will still be in the store as they are now.

Of course, there’s nothing like treating all of your customers as potential shoplifters to increase “quality assurance.” Stores are completely within their rights to ask you for a receipt as you leave — by the same token, unless the store requires it as a condition of membership (like Costco), you are usually fully within your rights to refuse a search of your bag. In our experience, if you politely refuse and remain calm about it while continuing the exit such stores, there’s usually not a problem. But every now and then, there are issues — then again, we have no idea if Safeway’s receipt checkers will possess the same kind of passion that Walmart’s do.

Has anyone stopped by the store so far and experienced the bag check? If so, shoot us an email and let us know how it went.