PSA: Walmart Receipt Checking

[kwelch10377]

Make sure that you never tell the cashier that you don't need your receipt and they can throw it away. I went to go do laundry tonight and realized we were out of detergent. I didn't feel like running out to Target, which is where I usually go so I went to Walmart which is just around the corner from me. I just ran into get the laundry detergent, checked out and and when the girl went to hand me my receipt, I told her she could just throw it away since I pretty sure I won't be returning the detergent. She threw it away and told me have a nice night. I went to go walk out and the greeter asked to see my receipt. I don't shop Walmart often and when I have, I have never been asked for a receipt. Well I told him that I just told the cashier to throw it away since I only got the one item.Well 20 mins later, a consult with a manager and the cashier, as well as the look up of my receipt, I was allowed to leave.


I would have been able to go to Target and back in less time.......

 

[happygirl]

Make sure that you never tell the cashier that you don't need your receipt and they can throw it away. I went to go do laundry tonight and realized we were out of detergent. I didn't feel like running out to Target, which is where I usually go so I went to Walmart which is just around the corner from me. I just ran into get the laundry detergent, checked out and and when the girl went to hand me my receipt, I told her she could just throw it away since I pretty sure I won't be returning the detergent. She threw it away and told me have a nice night. I went to go walk out and the greeter asked to see my receipt. I don't shop Walmart often and when I have, I have never been asked for a receipt. Well I told him that I just told the cashier to throw it away since I only got the one item.Well 20 mins later, a consult with a manager and the cashier, as well as the look up of my receipt, I was allowed to leave.


I would have been able to go to Target and back in less time.......

That weird, I have NEVER EVER seen that before, What a hassle for you. The only thing I have ever seen them even ask for a receipt is if you set off the alarm.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I rarely shop at Walmart but you think that the cashier would have known about the receipt checker and told you that you would need to have it.

 

[kwelch10377]

I rarely shop at Walmart but you think that the cashier would have known about the receipt checker and told you that you would need to have it.

I think that was what annoyed me the most. I am guessing she didn't know there was someone at the door checking receipts and I have never encountered them doing it at this store so I didn't think twice about asking her to throw in away.

 

[happygirl]

I think that was what annoyed me the most. I am guessing she didn't know there was someone at the door checking receipts and I have never encountered them doing it at this store so I didn't think twice about asking her to throw in away.

They don't check them. Did the manager apologize to you?

 

[kwelch10377]

They don't check them. Did the manager apologize to you?

I thought I had heard that some Walmarts do check them.

The manager didn't apologize. All he said to me was to make sure I keep my receipt in the future. I told him that I wouldn't need to worry about it since I won't be shopping Walmart in the future. I'll either pay extra somewhere else for what I need or go to Target even though it is futher away.

 

[Coconut36]

If the store has a high incident of theft or you have an unbagged item it is not uncommon at any retailer from Target to Walmart to a grocery store to ask to see your receipt when you leave the store.

There is one that I go to now and then that will ask for a receipt if you have an item that isn't bagged and are walking out. I know Target occasionally does the same as do some grocery stores. The cashier might have no clue at all if someone is on duty and checking receipts or not, may only work 1 or 2 days a week and not got the "memo" regarding the policy and so on.

I don't view it as their job to tell me I need proof of purchase when taking an item out of the store..that is a given IMO that you should have one.

The good news however is if they wanted to push you on it you can ask them to pull the security tapes to show you bought it or most will simply walk to the cashier you went to and verify the purchase. They are protecting their bottom line.

 

[happygirl]

I thought I had heard that some Walmarts do check them.

The manager didn't apologize. All he said to me was to make sure I keep my receipt in the future. I told him that I wouldn't need to worry about it since I won't be shopping Walmart in the future. I'll either pay extra somewhere else for what I need or go to Target even though it is futher away.

That a shame you need to call and complain that not Walmart policy. I'm sorry that happend to you. I currently work there we never stop anyone unless they set off the alarm you need to contact 1 800 Wal-mart and let them know what went on,

 

[Coconut36]

I thought I had heard that some Walmarts do check them.

The manager didn't apologize. All he said to me was to make sure I keep my receipt in the future. I told him that I wouldn't need to worry about it since I won't be shopping Walmart in the future. I'll either pay extra somewhere else for what I need or go to Target even though it is futher away.

Any store could check them..it doesn't have to be a global company policy either..stores with high incidents of theft are most likely to implement it (or implement it maybe at the holidays..as a seasonal retail worker I found that theft seemed to rise over the holidays). It is a given however if you buy something you should retain your receipt at least until you exit the store as that is your proof of purchase..how do they know you didn't pick it up and walk out the door? Believe me..it happens..even with a cart full of stuff.

Of course if you think it is wrong by all means no longer shop there..me I don't care. They are a business protecting their product and it doesn't kill me to keep a receipt so I don't care. Costco for example requires a check of cart/receipt as does Frys Electronics and many others I have been in. Some (like Costco) do it all the time and others do it sporadically.

 

[JessicaR]

I rarely shop at Walmart but you think that the cashier would have known about the receipt checker and told you that you would need to have it.

First of all I can't recall ever just saying, throw it away. I take it and throw it away myself. However if I did say that and this was their policy the cashier would know and say TAKE IT.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

People write to the consumer column in our local newspaper all the time about receipt checking. Apparently, stores can't just ask for receipts without a reason. If it's a Costco or Sam's Club or another place that requires a membership, they can require showing your receipt upon exiting as a condition of membership. A store like WalMart or Best Buy cannot randomly ask for receipts. If they suspect a particular customer of shoplifting, they can detain them while they investigate, and that would include asking to see a receipt. Otherwise, the customer has the right to refuse to stop and show a receipt. Many people have written to the newspaper saying they told the checker that unless they are being accused of shoplifting, they refused to stop and show their receipt. The store has no recourse in this case. If they try to detain the customer without reasonable cause (such as a credible witness), the customer can take action against the store. The laws may vary between states. This is apparently how it works in California. I always comply because I have nothing to hide and want to avoid a hassle. Many people feel differently and stand by their right to leave the store.

 

[cjdj4]

They use to put stickers that said "paid" on large item or items that do not fit in a bag. That is an easy way to prevent situations like this from occurring. I guess they stopped doing this? Did the stickers get to be too expensive?

 

[goofy!]

They don't check them. Did the manager apologize to you?

The Super Wal-Mart near us that is across the street from a high-end mall routinely checks receipts. The door greeter will stop you every time if you have an item that is not bagged.

 

[cornflake]

If the store has a high incident of theft or you have an unbagged item it is not uncommon at any retailer from Target to Walmart to a grocery store to ask to see your receipt when you leave the store.

There is one that I go to now and then that will ask for a receipt if you have an item that isn't bagged and are walking out. I know Target occasionally does the same as do some grocery stores. The cashier might have no clue at all if someone is on duty and checking receipts or not, may only work 1 or 2 days a week and not got the "memo" regarding the policy and so on.

I don't view it as their job to tell me I need proof of purchase when taking an item out of the store..that is a given IMO that you should have one.

The good news however is if they wanted to push you on it you can ask them to pull the security tapes to show you bought it or most will simply walk to the cashier you went to and verify the purchase. They are protecting their bottom line.

They can ask, and I've had people at Target ask me (I don't do Walmart), but they're actually on very shaky legal ground if they tried to detain you. They kind of can't. If they think you're a shoplifter they can call the cops and detain you in a citizen's arrest way but they're generally not intending that at all if they're checking receipts. So... just keep on walking. No one has ever done anything but say 'hey!' after me.

To clarify - I am NOT talking about or condoning stealing or trying to steal or anything of the sort. The times Target security door ppl have asked to check my receipt they seem to be asking either everyone or random people and I'm walking out with Target-bagged stuff in the cart, not like, hustling out with a coffee maker stuffed in my pants. I don't mind actual security; dopey, ineffecutal security annoys me.

 

[kwelch10377]

Any store could check them..it doesn't have to be a global company policy either..stores with high incidents of theft are most likely to implement it (or implement it maybe at the holidays..as a seasonal retail worker I found that theft seemed to rise over the holidays). It is a given however if you buy something you should retain your receipt at least until you exit the store as that is your proof of purchase..how do they know you didn't pick it up and walk out the door? Believe me..it happens..even with a cart full of stuff.

Of course if you think it is wrong by all means no longer shop there..me I don't care. They are a business protecting their product and it doesn't kill me to keep a receipt so I don't care. Costco for example requires a check of cart/receipt as does Frys Electronics and many others I have been in. Some (like Costco) do it all the time and others do it sporadically.

I work for a major retailer and I am aware about theft and such. This store is not in a high theft area and has never receipt checked in the past. They were so concerned about me and whether or not a stole a $5.77 bottle of detergent that they didn't receipt check people who had large carts full of stuff while they were checking things out with me. The cashier even verified that she had checked me out, but they still insisted on looking for the receipt.

First of all I can't recall ever just saying, throw it away. I take it and throw it away myself. However if I did say that and this was their policy the cashier would know and say TAKE IT.

Receipts usually end up in bottom of my purse, but I didn't bring my purse, only keys, Debit card and DL, and since I was buying something I wasn't returning I didn't think it was a big deal about asking her to throw it away.

People write to the consumer column in our local newspaper all the time about receipt checking. Apparently, stores can't just ask for receipts without a reason. If it's a Costco or Sam's Club or another place that requires a membership, they can require showing your receipt upon exiting as a condition of membership. A store like WalMart or Best Buy cannot randomly ask for receipts. If they suspect a particular customer of shoplifting, they can detain them while they investigate, and that would include asking to see a receipt. Otherwise, the customer has the right to refuse to stop and show a receipt. Many people have written to the newspaper saying they told the checker that unless they are being accused of shoplifting, they refused to stop and show their receipt. The store has no recourse in this case. If they try to detain the customer without reasonable cause (such as a credible witness), the customer can take action against the store. The laws may vary between states. This is apparently how it works in California. I always comply because I have nothing to hide and want to avoid a hassle. Many people feel differently and stand by their right to leave the store.

This is correct, the retailer I work for doesn't ask because of this. It is not worth the potiental customer service issue. We have other measures in place to prevent theft. When the greeter told me that he needed to get a manager, I didn't think it was a big deal. The manager didn't really even let me get a word in when I went to go say something. He was very dismissive. All I could think is "really you just wasted 20 mins of your time over detergent!?". I didn't realize detergent was such a high theft item.

 

[happygirl]

The Super Wal-Mart near us that is across the street from a high-end mall routinely checks receipts. The door greeter will stop you every time if you have an item that is not bagged.

They aren't supposed to as far as I know. Ours is only when they alarm goes off.

 

[handinpocket]

I would have kept walking and told them to call the cops if they felt so inclined.

 

[kwelch10377]

I would have kept walking and told them to call the cops if they felt so inclined.

If I would have known I was going to waste 20 mins of of my time, I would have.

 

[TiggerStac]

There was a "greeter" outside of the lawn/garden entrance/exit checking last night when I was there. I'm not sure if they were at the main door, as well. But he put a highlite line thru my receipt. I never saw them before figured maybe because it was BF. But I was in there at like 9pm.

 

[happygirl]

I would have kept walking and told them to call the cops if they felt so inclined.

You wouldn't wanna do that they would have called the cops, and got your license plates numbers.