SHOPPERS have been left furious after new self-checkout technology in some stores came with extra scanning of receipts.
A new pilot program aimed at combating theft at Loblaw-owned stores in Ontario, Canada asks customers to scan their receipts before leaving the store.
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A Loblaw spokesperson said smart TV that receipt scanners have been installed at four locations in Windsor, Woodstock, Oakville and Georgetown.
“Organized retail crime across the sector is a very serious problem and has only gotten worse,” the spokesperson said.
“This is having an impact on pricing and security. To protect customers and colleagues, we are always looking for different ways to prevent this theft. This pilot is part of those efforts.”
They called the pilot a “small test” that will determine whether the anti-theft devices will be effective or not.
At some retailers like Costco, checking receipts is normal and even part of the membership contract for shopping at these locations.
However, Loblaw received harsh criticism from customers after the company began checking receipts at some locations last summer.
A Lawyer’s Top 5 Receipt Checking Tips
Los Angeles attorney Camron Dowlatshahi spoke with The US Sun about receipt checks and a client’s rights and options when it comes to being 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.
Several shoppers shared their thoughts on social media, posting photos of signs that appeared in stores.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, several tweets read: “Just called CEO Loblaw to remove the new receipt verification scanners. Send your message.”
“We are working hard to balance the need for increased security while preserving a welcoming and convenient customer experience,” a Loblaw spokesperson told the outlet.
“We welcome contributions from our customers and, as always, thank you for your understanding.”
Companies around the world are testing different measures to combat theft, according to retail analyst Bruce Winder.
“If you look at Walmart, they created greeters and one of the reasons is that shoplifting was actually reduced significantly by knowing someone was there,” he said.
“So companies are trying different things now to see what works and what preserves customer relationships.”
However, Winder added that many customers aren’t big fans of checking receipts.
“Consumer sentiment has not been positive,” he said. “There have been a lot of people who have appealed social media to talk about how they’re not really in favor of it.”
The US Sun has reached out to Loblaw for comment.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
