A FUMING Walmart shopper has criticized the chain’s receipt slips, arguing they are a waste of time.
Walmart’s receipt checks have proven controversial for shoppers and many are now fed up with the measures.
“I’ve waited long enough in line and I’m not going to waste any more time letting them check my stuff,” said one angry customer he wrote on Facebook.
Receipt checks have become a common practice for many US retailers.
The measure aims to reduce theft, but many shoppers think the checks are useless.
“What’s the point of checking my ticket? A ticket means I paid for my items. They should keep an eye on those who leave without a ticket,” said another shopper.
Read more about receipt checks
“I just stood in line and paid, [I’m] don’t line up at the door to leave,” one comment read.
Some customers described avoiding the checks when leaving a Walmart store.
“I just hold mine in the air and keep walking,” one user wrote.
“I don’t allow them to check mine! Scream, scream, call PoPo IDGAF!”
Other buyers, however, were more sympathetic to the measures.
“If you’re not stealing, why worry about it? Let them do their job,” said one.
“It’s not the employees’ fault that they are assigned to that role that day,” another comment read.
Walmart isn’t the only chain to introduce such unpopular measures in stores.
OTHER RECEIPT CHECKS
Earlier this year, Kroger announced it was introducing pickup checks in several U.S. locations.
Six stores in Cincinnati, Ohio, had the policy introduced in May 2024.
The measure was taken after an increase in shoplifting in the region.
Buyers, however, were not happy with the news.
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 a reason in itself 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.
“If they want to make sure everything is being done correctly, they should hire more cashiers,” said one.
Costco shoppers expressed similar frustrations about the chain’s similar policy.
“What’s kind of stupid about Costco is they don’t even really look,” said one shopper.
“They look at the card, put a line on the receipt and that’s it.
“I’m not really sure what the point is… for all they know, I could have things in my bag,” she added.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story