OT - Walmart receipt check - what's the point?

[LadyyRedd]

Actually that's not necessarily true. It varies by state.

An example of Massachusetts law can be found at

http://www.masscriminal-lawyers.com/pages/massachusetts_shoplifting.html

As to checking at the door, I don't mind. The time it takes is minimal, and I have nothing to hide. In fact, my kids like to ask for smiley faces on the receipt (from the stores that mark them).

I learned something. I didn't know it varied by state. I guess all the states I've ever worked in (all of 1!), you can't.

I don't mind stopping if it takes all of 5 seconds. But if there is a line of 10 people and a 'receipt checker' slower than molasses in january, I am not interested in waiting in line!

Kimya

 

[Adi12982]

I HATE HATE HATE IT at Sam's and Costco!!!! There is nothing to steal between the registers and the door!! And the cashier can see your cart that you have not forgotten anything in it. Sometimes it takes 10 mins just to get thru the receipt check area if the people in front of you have cart loads of stuff.

While I agree that it it annoying and I often have to dig my receipt out or there is a line, it would be easy for someone to fill a cart in our store, then cut in front of customer service (or at my mom's BJs you go in/out of the same door, so you could literally skip the cashier) and walk out with a cart full of stuff.

I agree it does nothing at Wal-Mart, people can still shop lift, put stuff in pockets or wherever pay for some things or just walk out the door. I think it *might* help deter some, but I don't think it does with most - but they have the greeters anyhow, so I guess it gives them something else to do and hope that it helps reduce shoplifiting.

 

[twob4him]

Well, when I was in chiro school in SC in the early to mid-90s, many of the people I was around (in school and locals) seemed to think that it was part of the End Times, getting us all ready to be Marked with a certain set of numbers...it was all gearing up for the change to the new millenium (which they all said was 99 going to '00, but that's not right, it was '00 to '01). And Clinton figured into all of that, him being the sign of all this stuff that was going to happen, and the world would be done in 7 years.

Uh oh, it's 2007.

Oh wait, if things started at '01, then we've got another year. Whew



All that said, I have NO idea why they do it. Some sort of control measure, I'm sure.

Our KMart did this to for a while too but then stopped. I think they were just checking that you did have a reciept and looked for time and date. Now our new Walmart is doing it but they only check like every 5th person and its not been me yet.

As far as End Times goes....we are most likely in it but no one knows when the actual end is. People who make predictions or say its "this year or that" are wrong and unbiblical.

 

[rflorek]

The only store by me that checks receipts is Costco. I've Never been asked to produce a receipt in any Wal-Mart I've been in.

 

[ICF]

I've never had my receipt checked at Walmart. I thought they only do it if you set off the alarms.

Me neither, I've never heard of them checking them.

I know they do at Sams Club, but never seen at at Walmart

 

[DisneyKeith]

Just FYI, in Virginia there is a law that says that if you put an item anywhere on yourself that places the item out of sight, you can be charged with 'concealing merchandise' which carries much the same penalties as shoplifting. This would include if an item is placed in a pocket, pocketbook, under a hat, even under a baby in a baby seat. I've seen all of these methods as well as many other ways people have tried to steal. I've had the police stop people concealing mechandise many times in the store even before the person has gotten to the check-outs.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I always thought it was more to stop a cashier from not ringing stuff up for family and friends and just dropping it in the bags for them.

Like LadyyRedd stated they can't do anything to you at that point but can question the cashier.

When I worked retail Part time this was a hugh problem.

 

[dunbarfamily]

I've never been asked for my reciept in a Walmart unless I set off their alarm with something that they didn't demagnatize.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

Well to be technical it doesn't prevent shoplifting, but gives the appearance of preventing shoplifting.

Notice my post says to "help" prevent shoplifting...I don't think you'll ever be able to totally stop it

 

[IDoDis]

The only store by me that checks receipts is Costco. I've Never BEEN ASKED TO PRODUCE A RECEIPT IN ANY wAL-mART i'VE BEEN IN.

Me either -- and I've been to lots of Wal-Mart stores.

 

[sdoll]

Funny my family and I were just talking about this practice. My sister, mom and I were at a Walmart in Northern Michigan and were stopped as we were leaving the lady at the door asked to see the receipt. We had all made seperate purchases. My sister could not find her receipt and the lady was getting really rude and said that we could not leave until my sister could find her receipt. I work in management for another retailer and I was ticked off at how rude this woman was so I spoke to a manager that pretty much blew me off (i guess I got a taste of my own medicine) but they let us go.
About a week later my sister was shopping at a walmart by her and she beeped as she was going in and as she was leaving she beepped again and she was stopped. they checked her receipt item by item and kind of gave her attititude. My sister then told the person that her infant daughter was wearing clothes from old navy (which sews in a detector and sets off the sensor everywhere) the guy then reached into the back of her daughters shirt to check the tag. Oh you better believe that my sister freaked out. She called management when she got home the store manager checked the tape and verified what I my sister said they sent her a gift card but she claims she will never shop there again. I could not believe it. I would have freaked out too.

 

[Kycha]

Me neither, I've never heard of them checking them.

I know they do at Sams Club, but never seen at at Walmart

I shop at Wal-mart regularly and have had this happen maybe two times. Best Buy and Circuit City and club stores(Costco, Sams) do it every time.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

My son's shorts do the same thing, I found the stinking thing in my oldest son's shorts but for the life of me I cannot find the stupid thing in my youngest son's shorts, I now have to make sure we do not go anywhere with those detectors when he wears those shorts.

Everytime I have handed my receipt over they just mark it whithout even looking at it

 

[disneyfreakk]

I actually have a funny story to tell about this. Let me first say that my DH is a BIG scary looking guy with LOTS of tattoos. He got tired of them asking for his reciept EVERY TIME HE WENT IN WALMART!! So one day he was checking out ( about $500 worth of stuff ) and the woman at the front watched him the whole time he was checking out.... she was basically stairing him down. So he pays for our stuff and starts walking out. Everything was in a bag. She asked him to stop and show his reciept. He looked at her and laughed, told her no and kept on walking. She RAN after him while calling security. He got about half way to the car when security detained him. He still refused to show his reciept, and kept telling him that this woman watched the cashier scan and bag everything. The security spent about 5 mins telling DH that they would have to call the cops and press charges for shoplifting if he did not show them the reciept. DH just said "call the cops, I have nothing to hide. But you have no right to ask to see my reciept." . So the cop gets there and DH hands him the reciept, and the cop has the door woman go through everything. Yep, you guessed it. DH had paid for everything. The cop was not happy and told the security that he would need everyones names for his report, and that it looked like DH would have one heck of a lawsuit for discrimination. He also gave my DH his name and badge number for a lawsuit. We didnt sue, but they have stoped asking for a reciept unless the sensors go off at the door. Which I totally understand.

So yes, you can keep walking. It just may cost you half an hour to prove a point.

 

[jayally]

I hate this practice too. The do it at the local Kmart and I refuse to show my receipt and I hardly buy anything there as it really annoys me because they have no right to ask to see what I purchased. I have never had a problem walking past the guy but I rarely find something to buy, I don't see how they are still in business. My walmart asked for my receipt a couple of weeks ago. Everything was in the bag and the door lady watched me check out. I told her No and started to walk away. She called a manager and she told her it was ok, I didn't need to show it. I hate doing it at costco, fry's, best buy etc. They have no right to see what I purchase and I would love for one of them to call the police and make fools of themselves. IF I was going to steal something I would not be obvious about it. I don't think it deters anyone.

 

[Green Tea]

Costco said they do it to mark the receipt with pen so it couldn't be used again, not checking the items in basket against the tape. But marking it prevents someone from taking receipt back again later in day and filling thier baskt a second time.

have never had it at WM though.

 

[pamlet]

I think it's sad that stores feel the need to go to this extreme.

Someone pointed out that Costco/Sam's are membership clubs - but frankly if ANY store feels the need I think they should have every right to do it.

If I'm uncomfortable with the situation - I don't have to shop there.

I've only had that happen at Wal-mart once - and it was a store in a rather "dicey" neighborhood ... I assumed they must have a high incidence of theft...

 

[WendyisDarling]

... and that it looked like DH would have one heck of a lawsuit for discrimination. He also gave my DH his name and badge number for a lawsuit. We didnt sue, but they have stoped asking for a reciept unless the sensors go off at the door. Which I totally understand.

This is what I have noticed at our Wal-Mart on the VERY rare occassion I go (it has been more than a year now --sorry, but I hate that place). They stop to "check" the receipts but don't even really look at them UNLESS you have an appearance that seems to me they have stereotyped as being suspicious.

 

[imsayin]

IF I was going to steal something I would not be obvious about it.

This is my theory. It would be in my pocket, coat, whatever, not in the basket. I also doubt they can check every item. When I shop at Costco, I might have lots of items stacked up in the cart. They don't check each item to the receipt.

 

[rflorek]

Best Buy and Circuit City do it every time.

I'm lucky - they don't by me.