# Am I Required by Law To Show My Receipt When I'm Leaving Wal-Mart? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-by-law-to-show-my-receipt-when-im-leaving-wal-mart/511827 "2009-09-28T06:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-by-law-to-show-my-receipt-when-im-leaving-wal-mart/511827/41 "2009-09-28T20:11:26Z")
> [@whorfin](#): > > Nice dodge. I didn’t ask you, and don’t really care about what you do when they’re polite and it doesn’t take long. Most people do the same thing. > > What I’m asking is whether you would still show your receipt if the checker was rude and demanding, or if it took a substantial amount of time. I have contended that I would not, unlike the situation with a nice greeter and no inconvenience. You seem to take issue with what I’m saying. I want to know if you’re consistent. > > So, I’ll ask again: > Would you give directions to someone who says “You! Give me directions!” or someone who asks you for ten minutes of directions when you will be late to something if you do? no, i would not. but walmart greeters in my experience don’t act in such ways, which is what i demonstrated to you. regardless, that doesn’t mean that when i do it i do it as an act of goodwill. it’s just an act, period. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-by-law-to-show-my-receipt-when-im-leaving-wal-mart/511827/42 "2009-09-28T20:11:50Z")
I can see why people hate the practice. It’s like saying: “I walk into the store, I pay for my goods, you issue me a receipt and STILL you think I’m stealing.” Of course the store will check everyone so it doesn’t come into a law suit for racial (or other types of) profiling. Here’s another example, not quite the same thing but similar. I worked in a hotel where all the employees had to walk past security and have their purses or bags checked by security. So if you had a box or purse or backpack it was checked. It helped control theft because it closes a port of exit to everyone. Therefore if you left out the hotel front door or side door, security could detain you or at minimum you could be written up for leaving the hotel not through the proper exit. Let’s say linen is missing from the hotel, well even if you can’t prove “Joe” is taking the sheets, if you see Joe leaving through an exit other than security you can write him up and then fire him (if he does it enough) This way you can get rid of problems without having to actually catch someone with the goods. So I can understand while people get upset, no one likes to to be called a theif, even subtly called one, but there are reasons for it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-by-law-to-show-my-receipt-when-im-leaving-wal-mart/511827/43 "2009-09-28T20:17:48Z")
[Moderating] I believe the factual aspects of the OP have been adequately addressed, in particular by the post of **Kimmy\_Gibbler.** Those who wish to debate whether or not the policy is rude, or express other opinions about it, are welcome to open a thread in Great Debates, IMHO, or the Pit, depending on their preference. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-by-law-to-show-my-receipt-when-im-leaving-wal-mart/511827.md?page=2)