A WALMART customer has found a clever way to avoid the store’s controversial receipt checks.
Many shoppers condemned the retail giant for this anti-theft policy.
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Walmart has long been criticized for its receipt checks.
In January 2020, a Facebook user who goes by the username Lucky225 shared a photo of the piece of paper he uses to avoid the controversial system.
The Colorado buyer captioned the post: “My ‘receipt’.”
The paper begins: “I do not agree with your request to produce a receipt.”
“All items in my cart and on my person were legally purchased and are now my property,” he continues.
Lucky225 then cited Colorado Storekeeper Privilege law.
“As a merchant, you have only the limited privilege of holding me under the Colorado Storekeeper’s Privilege, codified in Colorado Revised Statute 18-4-407.”
The outraged customer emphasized that Walmart employees “can only detain him or question him about his purchase if they have probable cause to suspect him of shoplifting or if an alarm sounds.”
“As you have not informed me that you believe you or another employee saw me stealing, nor has the alarm at this exit sounded, I will leave.”
Other buyers showed their support for the Lucky225 method in the comments.
“I like that!” Lexter Rox wrote.
“I need to print some of these out and give them to the checkers on my way out,” Zach Schlueter said.
Derek Hubbard commented, “I have access to a few receipt printers. I can print some for you on real receipt paper if you’d like.”
RECEIPT CHECK REJECTION
Many other Walmart shoppers rejected the store’s receipt checks and expressed their anger on social media.
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.
In July 2024, the Memes Republic Facebook account posted“You are weak if you let them check your receipt at Walmart,” and several shoppers took to the comments to share that they avoid the policy.
“Never do that. Walk right past and when they ask I just say ‘I don’t do that’ and keep walking,” wrote Matthew Benton.
Laylow Gee revealed that he also left the store without paying attention to the workers who were trying to check his receipt.
Jai Hoo said, “If I scanned my own stuff, that will make me an employee, which means I work here. You’re not checking anything here. I’m out.”
However, other people defended Walmart employees.
“Do you realize that the people you are making difficult are just doing what they are told to get a paycheck,” commented Dani Nicole Pizzuti.
“Because making their lives difficult isn’t their fault.”
Leanna Guy said she also doesn’t think people should bother Walmart workers.
“It’s absolutely not their fault, and if you actually paid for everything, the second two won’t matter,” she continued.
“They only check my receipt when I have large items that aren’t in bags, like a case of water. It’s already in your hand and you barely need to stop.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
