A WALMART buyer lost his patience…
Receipt checking has been a controversial anti-theft strategy since it was introduced years ago, and many customers still aren’t comfortable with the practice.
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Many shoppers say it’s simply a waste of time, often added to the time it takes customers to complete their purchase through self-checkout.
Others said being asked for a receipt is upsetting because it makes them feel like criminals.
And for some, the practice has prevented them from shopping at certain stores altogether.
“I’m a customer, we made a deal, I brought you stuff. Stop harassing me. It’s not my job to help with loss prevention. The best way to prevent losses is to have real human cashiers.”
Read more about checking receipts
American kulak (@optimatessuck) shared their dislike of the process and that they no longer shop at Walmart because of it.
“I usually throw my receipt in one of the bags and it’s a huge PITA to figure out which one,” they wrote.
“Plus, I just paid for this. It’s a hassle. (I don’t shop at CCPmart, though. Never forget that Walmart pressured suppliers to move from the US to China in the 90s and 2000s)
“I’m a customer, we made a deal, I brought your stuff. Stop harassing me.
“It’s not my job to help with loss prevention. The best way to prevent losses is to have real human tellers.”
Walmart and other companies have begun moving away from self checkout as customers continue to complain.
Target and Dollar General have reduced the amount of self checkout they use in stores.
Some Target stores have implemented policies where only customers with 10 items or less can use self checkout in stores,
Dollar General said in March it intended to remove self-checkout from many locations due to shoplifting.
They also said they are increasing staffing for traditional checkouts.
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.
“While self-checkout has contributed to the convenience proposition for our customers in certain stores, it does not reduce the importance of a friendly, helpful associate who is there to greet customers and assist while the checkout process is happening,” said Todd , CEO of Dollar General. Vasos said in December.
Walmart confirmed in April that it was converting a Missouri store to fully traditional checkout.
“As part of our announced plans for additional investment and store improvements nationwide, we are converting the self-checkout lanes at our 7437 Watson Road store in Shrewsbury, MO, to traditional checkout lanes,” said a spokesperson. from Walmart to CBS. MoneyWatch.
“We believe the change will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the opportunity to provide more personalized and efficient service.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
