‘I don’t stop,’ says Walmart shopper as she slams receipt checks – the chain can’t only trust customers at self-checkout
A WALMART shopper has told how they ‘don’t stop’ when receipt checkers demand their proof of purchase.
The Facebook user slammed the retailer for its receipt-checking policy and its supposed habit of holding up customers.
GettyOne Walmart shopper took to Facebook to slam Walmart’s receipt checkers[/caption]
Walmart’s receipt checkers have courted controversy and fury from shoppers since it was adopted as an anti-theft policy.
And one user reminded customers they are not legally required to hand over their receipts.
“In the event of a receipt check, Walmart has not seen you conceal and fail to pay for merchandise, because you have not stolen anything,” the user wrote.
“Receipt checks are voluntary and if you’re not in the mood for one, it is within your rights to be on your merry way.”
RISING THEFT
Walmart has implemented receipt checks in an effort to combat the rising theft levels caused by self-checkout.
Although self-checkout machines were intended to make shopping a more convenient experience for customers, instead it has seemingly made it more convenient for them to steal.
Merchandise loss due to theft, or “shrinkage,” has accounted for over $112 billion in industry losses in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation.
Walmart’s receipt checking is an effort to minimize these losses, but shoppers have been quick to assert that the retailer has no right to do so.
“I’m honestly so tired of the people at Walmart trying to check my receipt, I do not have to show you anything. Woman tried saying I HAVE to. Girl I know your company’s rights better than you,” wrote one shopper.
Customers with memberships at stores like Costco and Sam’s Club agree to receipt checks as part of their membership, but shoppers at retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and Target do not sign contracts.
Therefore, shoppers in most states do not have to present their receipts, according to The Hive Law attorneys.
However, customers can be detained if a shopper denies a receipt check and an employee has reason to suspect that items were stolen.
“Even if you don’t have to comply with the store’s request, you might want to anyway,” said attorney Amy Loftsgordon, as doing so is easier than potentially facing the consequences of a refusal.
CHECK POINT
Walmart’s rules around enforcing receipt checks have differed from membership retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club.
Legal experts have said Walmart shoppers have the right to refuse receipt checks as they have not contractually agreed to the measure.
However, they have also suggested shoppers still comply with the measure to avoid issues.
Lawyer and business professor Alex Colangelo said store staff do not have the legal power to stop shoppers who do not comply, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.
“Police officers have the power to arrest … but store security and loss-prevention officers are regular people,” he said.
“They have much more limited powers of arrest under the criminal code.”
Costco and Sam’s Club customers are different as they agree to receipt checks when they sign the terms and conditions when they join.
Top 5 receipt checking tips from a lawyer
Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, spoke to The U.S. Sun about receipt checks and customer's rights and options when it came to being asked to show your receipt.
There has been a lot of debate around the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it is within the store, it is completely legal. “There’s seemingly nothing illegal about that. You’re still on the company’s premises and their reason to do it is to prevent thefts,” Dowlatshahi confirms.
However, if they are chasing you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location matters,” he explained. “If you’re outside of the store you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of theft and that you have to show your receipt, I think that’s a bit of a different situation because now you’re on your way.”
While customers are allowed to say no to receipt checks, it may cause issues if you do and the store suspects you of stealing. “You can say no, maybe it creates an unnecessary hassle for yourself because now you may have the police come to your house and follow up,” said Dowlatshahi.
If you are being barred from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you could have a legal case — but the store must have held you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus for doing so,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a customer has been emotionally traumatized by being held for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] to sue.”
“I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s just a really simple thing to do. If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.
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