A WALMART shopper has revealed how their response to receipt checks is solely based on how she has bagged her items.
The big-box retailer’s anit theft measure that sees employees ask to check receipts at the exit has divided customers with some not having an issue while others question their rights.
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On Facebook, the subject kicked off again after a page posted a status calling people who comply with receipt checks “soft.”
In response, one shopper revealed when she will comply with the request and when she will refuse and walk on.
“I don’t mind if I have something outside a bag,” the Walmart shopper said in the comments to the post.
“But they had the nerve to ask the other day at this Walmart and I laughed and kept walking bc why u gonna check my bags?
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“I’m not about to stand there and let u go thru 3 bags. (sic)”
Her response comes after a Walmart employee posted a video on TikTok last year explaining the rules behind the checks.
“The person checking receipts is only allowed to ask you for your receipt if you have anything in your cart that is not in a shopping bag,” he explained in the video.
For those who are being questioned despite all items being in a bag, he said they can walk on.
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Meanwhile, another person who used to work in retail joined the discussion on Facebook sharing a tip on making the job easier for receipt checkers and therefore a more efficient process.
They also slammed those who argue with receipt checkers as “making life harder” for employees carrying out the wishes of their employers.
“I worked retail for a long time. I’m not about to make life harder for them because they are only doing what they were hired to do,” they wrote.
“I make it easier. I scan any item that is not in a bag last so when I hand them the receipt it takes one glance and I’m on my way.
“It doesn’t take much to help others have a better day.”
Fellow commenters were also sympathetic to workers as well as to the businesses being pushed to introduce such measures due to theft levels.
The retail industry loses around $100 billion every year due to shoplifting.
Legality of receipt checks and detention
In an effort to curtail retail crime, stores are increasingly turning to receipt checks as shoppers exit.
Legally, stores can ask to see a customer’s receipts, and membership-only stores have the right to demand such checks if shoppers agreed to terms and conditions that authorize it.
Many legal professionals have weighed in and come to similar conclusions, caveating that all states do have specific laws.
Generally speaking, stores have Shopkeeper’s Privilege laws that allow them to detain a person until authorities arrive when they have reasonable suspicion that a crime, like theft, has been committed.
Declining to provide a receipt is not a reason in itself for a store to detain a customer, they must have further reason to suspect a shopper of criminal activity.
Due to the recent nature of the receipt checks, there is little concrete law on the legality of the practice, as it takes time for law to catch up with technology.
Setliff Law, P.C. claims that “there is no definitive case law specifically relating to refusal to produce a receipt for purchases.”
For stores that improperly use their Shopkeeper’s Privilege, they could face claims of false imprisonment.
“The primary law that applies to these types of wrongful detention cases is called ‘False Imprisonment’,” explained Hudson Valley local attorney Alex Mainetti.
“Of course, you’re not literally imprisoned, but you’re detained by a person who has no lawful authority to detain you and/or wrongfully detains a customer.”
It is likely that as altercations in stores over receipt checks continue, more court cases will occur giving clearer definitions and boundaries to the legality of receipt checks.
As a result, stores are introducing numerous anti-theft measures to protect inventory but in doing so they are frustrating much of their loyal customer base.
“In this day and age, I get it! Stores can’t absorb all the theft!” one sympathetic customer wrote on Facebook.
“Costco does it also! When all these thieves have little or no consequences what else are the stores to do?”
While Costco has done receipt checks for a long time, in signing up for a membership, customers agree to comply with such checks.
The same can be said for Sam’s Club members, whereas shoppers of places like Walmart, Target, and Kroger, have made no such agreement.
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However, with some stores like Dollar General doing away with self-checkouts which makes receipt checking necessary, one shopper is willing to pay the price for self-service.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Walmart for comment.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/11360797/walmart-shopper-receipt-check-method-bagging-refusal/