A WALMART shopper fails to follow store rules after being asked to show receipt when leaving the store.
The shopper posted on X complaining about being forced to show his receipt to employees after they had to scan the items themselves at self-checkout.
“I hate it when you scan your items and they have to check your receipt when you’re leaving,” the shopper he wrote.
“I was stopped at Walmart the other day, I asked him what would happen if I didn’t let you check my stuff and he just gave me one look and then I left.”
“I’m not playing this game.”
Attached to the post is an image of a person sticking their credit card into a machine with the caption: “If stores can pay a person to assist me at self-checkout, then they can pay to open a cash register and provide customer service. REAL customer. !”
READ MORE ABOUT RECEIPT CHECKS
Large retail store chains such as Target and Walmart have begun checking receipts after customers use self-checkout machines as a way to help prevent theft.
In 2022, merchandise lost due to theft, also known as shrinkage, represented losses of $112 billion, the National Retail Federation reported.
Customers, however, claim that these receipt checks disrupt their entire shopping experience and make them feel like criminals.
“Walmart is a complete joke,” one angry shopper posted on X.
“Every time I go into the store and pay with my hard-worked money (60 hours a week), I get treated like a damn criminal when I leave.”
“I refuse to shop at this store because of this and I refuse to stop for any employee to show my receipt.”
To the surprise of most customers, shoppers are not legally required to show their receipts at non-member stores.
Stores like Target and Walmart are not legally allowed to force customers to show their receipts unless they are suspected of shoplifting.
“You can say no, maybe it will create unnecessary hassle for you because now the police can come to your house and follow up,” Los Angeles attorney Camron Dowlatshahi previously told US Sun.
While it is the store’s legal right to ask for a receipt, it is also the customer’s legal right to say no.
The only exception to this law is if the buyer is suspected of theft or is shopping at associated stores such as Costco or Sam’s Club.
Membership-based stores require customers to sign terms and conditions agreeing to a receipt check after checkout.
Those who do not comply risk losing their store membership privileges.
While customers have the legal right to refuse a receipt check at Walmart, Dowlatshahi recommends that everyone comply with what employees ask.
“I would say, show your receipt,” he said.
“It’s a very simple thing to do.”
A Lawyer’s Top 5 Receipt Checking Tips
Los Angeles attorney Camron Dowlatshahi spoke with The US Sun about receipt checks and a customer’s rights and options when asked to show their receipt.
- There has been a lot of debate surrounding the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it’s in the store, it’s completely legal. “Apparently there is nothing illegal about this. You are still on the company premises and the reason for doing this is to avoid theft”, confirms Dowlatshahi.
- However, if they’re kicking you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location is important,” he explained. “If you’re outside the store, you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of stealing and that you have to show the receipt, I think it’s a little bit of a different situation because now you’re in your way.”
- Although customers can say no to receipt checks, it can cause problems if you do so and the store suspects you of stealing. “You might say no, maybe it will create an unnecessary hassle for you because now you might have the police coming to your house and following up,” Dowlatshahi said.
- If you’re being blocked from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you may have legal action – but the store must have detained you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus to do it,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a client has been emotionally traumatized by being detained for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] process.”
- “I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s a very simple thing to do. If you haven’t stolen anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.
(According to Camron Dowlatshahifounding partner of Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP)
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story