‘Stop accusing people of theft,’ fumes Walmart shopper – her simple response receipt check request is within her rights
A WALMART shopper has gone viral after raging against the store’s receipt-check policy.
The angry customer lashed out at Walmart, which has seen increased problems regarding their self-checkout machines and receipt-checks.
The X user ranted that Walmart needed to trust their shoppers or do away with self-checkout machines
In July 2023, the angry customer lashed out at Walmart which has seen an increased amount of problems regarding their self-checkout machines and receipt-checksX/DoniTheMisfit
“Public Service Announcement From Someone That Wasn’t Me,” Donie (@DoniThDon_) wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, in July 2023.
“You are almost exclusively self-checkout now. The last time I was there the lady checking receipts at the exit was stopping everyone.”
“I chose not to participate in that foolishness,” the rant continues. “So I just skipped the exit line and left. I heard her saying “Sir, Sir” as I kept walking. I simply raised my hand above my head and shook my receipt, as I kindly Ieft the store.”
The user continues the rant by saying that the retail giant can either “trust me to do self-checkout, or you can put your cashiers back in place so they can resume the position.”
“I’m not interested in the job, so if I fall short, oh well. I’m also not interested in proving that I did your job for you,” the person seethes.
“You expect me to be a cashier with no training then that’s your problem, not mine.”
“Don’t audit me for a position you refuse to employ any longer,” the person concludes.
The statement was met with approval from other users.
“I don’t play that game,” one user commented.
“On principal & because they always have some old lady doing it. Really? Why put an elderly person in that position?
“I paid for the items they are mine now & the receipt is mine. They have zero authority to ask to see it.”
“Technically checking receipts is a 4th amendment violation,” a second user pointed out.
Despite the commenters’ certainly of their constitutional right, the 4th amendment only protects against unlawful search and seizure by the government and not by private enterprises.
But that doesn’t mean shoppers are always required to stop.
“Legally you don’t have to show it just keep walking unless they’re accusing you of shoplifting,” a third person said.
The X user is not alone in their anti-receipt check sentiments.
Legality of receipt checks and detention
In an effort to curtail retail crime, stores are increasingly turning to receipt checks as shoppers exit.
Legally, stores can ask to see a customer’s receipts, and membership-only stores have the right to demand such checks if shoppers agreed to terms and conditions that authorize it.
Many legal professionals have weighed in and come to similar conclusions, caveating that all states do have specific laws.
Generally speaking, stores have Shopkeeper’s Privilege laws that allow them to detain a person until authorities arrive when they have reasonable suspicion that a crime, like theft, has been committed.
Declining to provide a receipt is not a reason in itself for a store to detain a customer, they must have further reason to suspect a shopper of criminal activity.
Due to the recent nature of the receipt checks, there is little concrete law on the legality of the practice, as it takes time for law to catch up with technology.
Setliff Law, P.C. claims that “there is no definitive case law specifically relating to refusal to produce a receipt for purchases.”
For stores that improperly use their Shopkeeper’s Privilege, they could face claims of false imprisonment.
“The primary law that applies to these types of wrongful detention cases is called ‘False Imprisonment’,” explained Hudson Valley local attorney Alex Mainetti.
“Of course, you’re not literally imprisoned, but you’re detained by a person who has no lawful authority to detain you and/or wrongfully detains a customer.”
It is likely that as altercations in stores over receipt checks continue, more court cases will occur giving clearer definitions and boundaries to the legality of receipt checks.
Another user, Brother Mouzone’s Protege (@_Derrt), revealed that he had been banned from his local store after refusing to show the clerk his receipt.
The post was made on top of another response bashing the practice.
“Dear @Walmart, NO. You can never check my receipt,” Fitzgerald (@ChrisBarnettII) wrote.
“After I ring up $250 worth of groceries in self-checkout because none of the cashiers are open, don’t harass me by asking to see my receipt,” he said.
Walmart’s crackdown on shoppers comes as several retailers have said they lose hundreds of thousands of dollars due to “shrink” — otherwise known as product loss including theft.
The loss of merchandise has resulted in a Walmart in Colorado shutting down for good after giving residents only a few week’s notice.
Anger at the cooperation also comes after its chief people officer, Donna Morris, announced that the company would be slashing hundreds of jobs.
Morris made the announcement via an internal memo that was obtained by Quartz.
“Legally you don’t have to show it just keep walking unless they’re accusing you of shoplifting,” a user saidGetty
“Don’t audit me for a position you refuse to employ any longer,” the person concludesGetty
The X user is not alone in their anti-receipt check sentimentsGetty
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