A WALMART shopper revealed how her response to receipt checks is based solely on how she packaged her items.
The major retailer’s anti-theft measure, which sees staff ask to check receipts on the way out, has divided customers, with some having no problems while others question their rights.
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On Facebook, the matter reignited after a page posted a status calling people who comply with receipt checks “soft.”
In response, one shopper revealed when she will fulfill the order and when she will refuse and move on.
“I don’t care if there’s something out of the bag,” said the Walmart shopper in the comments to publish.
“But they had the nerve to ask the other day at this Walmart and I laughed and kept walking, but why are you going to check my bags?
“I’m not going to stand there and let you go through 3 bags. (sic)”
Her response came after a Walmart employee posted a video on TikTok last year explaining the rules behind the checks.
“The person checking the receipts can only ask for the receipt if you have something in your cart that is not in your shopping bag,” he explained on video.
For those who are being questioned despite all the items being in a bag, he said they can walk.
Meanwhile, another person who worked in retail joined the discussion on Facebook by sharing a tip on how to make receipt checkers’ jobs easier and therefore a more efficient process.
They also criticized those who argue that receipt checkers “make life more difficult” for employees carrying out their employers’ wishes.
“I worked in retail for a long time. I don’t intend to make their lives difficult because they are just doing what they were hired to do,” they wrote.
“I make this easy. I scan any item not in the bag last, so when I hand over the receipt, one glance is enough and I’m on my way.
“It doesn’t take much to help others have a better day.”
Fellow commentators also expressed solidarity with workers, as well as companies who are being pressured to introduce such measures due to levels of theft.
The retail industry loses around $100 billion every year due to shoplifting.
Legality of receipt and detention checks
In an effort to reduce retail crime, stores are increasingly turning to checking receipts as customers leave.
Legally, stores can ask to see a customer’s receipts, and members-only stores have the right to demand such checks if customers agree to the terms and conditions authorizing them.
Many legal professionals have evaluated and reached similar conclusions, warning that all states have specific laws.
Generally speaking, stores have Retailer Privilege laws that allow them to detain a person until authorities arrive when there is reasonable suspicion that a crime, such as robbery, has been committed.
Refusal to provide a receipt is not in itself a reason for a store to detain a customer; she must have additional reasons to suspect a client of criminal activity.
Due to the recent nature of receipt checks, there is little concrete legislation regarding the legality of the practice, as it takes time for the law to catch up with technology.
Setliff Law, PC states that “there is no definitive case law specifically relating to the refusal to present a receipt for purchases.”
For stores that misuse the Retailer Privilege, they may face charges of false imprisonment.
“The primary law that applies to these types of wrongful arrest cases is called ‘False Imprisonment,’” the local Hudson Valley attorney explained. Alex Mainetti.
“Of course, you are not literally arrested, but you are detained by a person who does not have the legal authority to detain you and/or wrongfully detains a client.”
It is likely that as store altercations over receipt checks continue, more lawsuits will occur giving clearer definitions and limits to the legality of receipt checks.
As a result, stores are introducing numerous anti-theft measures to protect inventory, but in doing so they are frustrating much of their loyal customer base.
“In this day and age, I understand! Stores can’t absorb all the robberies!” one supportive customer wrote on Facebook.
“Costco does this too! When all these thieves have little to no consequences, what else can stores do?”
Although Costco has long performed receipt checks, by signing up for membership, customers agree to comply with such checks.
The same can be said for Sam’s Club members, while shoppers at places like Walmart, Target and Kroger have made no such arrangement.
However, with some stores like Dollar General eliminating self-service, which makes checking receipts necessary, a shopper is willing to pay the price for self-service.
The US Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.
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