# Walmart receipt checker foiled! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607 "2011-03-14T01:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/61 "2011-03-14T16:16:11Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > Two things: > > 1. They are checking the receipt to make sure that the cashier actually charged you for the stuff rather than just letting his friends through with a TV and ringing up a lollipop. I don’t want to be inconvenienced because they can’t trust their own employees. Maybe if they paid them a decent wage they’d be more honest. I guess that’s why people like Wall St. brokers and money managers, and lawyers are always so honest–because of the decent wages they earn. LOL! ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/62 "2011-03-14T16:39:55Z")
in a similar thread I posted [this.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13561012&postcount=31) It’s why I don’t do the receipt check shuffle anymore. I’m actually with DtC on this issue. Loss prevention is their issue, not mine. Once I have paid for the merchandise, it is mine and I can choose to display it to them or not. The most they can do is kick me from the premises or contact the police and have me detained. To do the second, they better have a strong reason or be in trouble with the police themselves, and my refusal to show a receipt is no such reason. As an aside, someone mentioned the counterfeit pens, and I have a problem with them, too, but that’s because they’re easily ‘tricked’. I actually demonstrated this on a retail job I had years ago. It’s basic chemistry. Better is to train employees how to spot a fake then use the pen for confirmation. Also, to the guy who said something about those of us not showing our receipts that we’ve obviously never had joe jobs, well, that is an incorrect assumption. I had several before starting my career. The one thing that sticks with me from them is that catching a thief is tricky with a lot of responsibility on the retailer to prove. Silly inconveniences like receipt checks do not help. Observant yet friendly employees do. If employees make eye contact with customers (and would-be shoplifters), then the shop-lifter is less likely to strike, out of fear of being noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/63 "2011-03-14T17:03:59Z")
If \*\*Dio \*\*blew on by, then that has no impact on store losses because \*\*Dio \*\*didn’t steal anything. The store’s receipt check policy doesn’t collapse and result in higher prices if the occasional customer who “gets it” walks on by without complying with the the store’s receipt request. The receipt check has no deterrent effect on people who aren’t stealing or those who know they can legally just walk on by. Personally, if I’m the only person headed out the door at the time, I’ll stop for two seconds to show my receipt to avoid the potential risk of a bigger entanglement with some bored employee who has nothing better to do than cause drama based upon the employee’s possible misunderstanding of the shopkeeper’s privilege. If I have to wait behind some other customer or in any kind of line for a receipt check, then I just walk on by. BTW, the general rule of law is that a shopkeeper can stop and reasonably detain if the merchant has probable cause to suspect shoplifting; failure or refusal to show a receipt is not probable cause. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/64 "2011-03-14T17:09:45Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > If you owned the store that customers would often walk out from without paying for television sets, what methods would you implement to attempt to prevent this? I would insert a small computer chip that would be read by proximity detectors installed at every exit. If the chip were not disabled by the checker, the detector would read that and set off an alarm. Oh wait. Wal\*Mart already does that. :smack: Oops…didn’t see Dio’s #32. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/65 "2011-03-14T17:18:25Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > For once\*, I’m with Dio. Treat me like a customer, not a thief, +1 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/66 "2011-03-14T17:38:52Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > This stuff is small potatoes. Best Buy has had someone [arrested](http://www.snopes.com/business/money/tacobell.asp) for paying in legal US currency. I once used Susan B. Anthony dollar coins to pay for a movie ticket and the young cashier looked at them, then at me, and asked “Is this American money?” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/67 "2011-03-14T18:31:28Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I once used Susan B. Anthony dollar coins to pay for a movie ticket and the young cashier looked at them, then at me, and asked “Is this American money?” Someone may be forgiven for not recognizing those, or the Sac dollars or the newer presidential dollars, since there aren’t that many that remain in circulation. What I get a laugh from are the people that take your credit card info over the phone: “What is the expiration?” “August of 2013.” “What month is that?” “August.” “No, I mean what number?” “sigh” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/68 "2011-03-14T18:35:34Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I once used Susan B. Anthony dollar coins to pay for a movie ticket and the young cashier looked at them, then at me, and asked “Is this American money?” Not to continue the hijack, (I probably should make a thread) but when I worked in fast food, a customer once gave me 12 Susan B. Anthony coins for something like a $3 order. She though they were quarters, a common mistake made by many people, actually. But I really had to convince her that she was giving me twelve dollars instead of three, and that she could keep the other nine coins, as she only needed three of them to pay for her order. She actually believed that I was short-changing myself. I know what someone’s going to say. “If she’s that stupid, you should have put the extra $9 in your pocket.” That’s not the type of person I am. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/69 "2011-03-14T18:51:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > My transaction ahs been completed. The recepit is my property, not theirs. They are not entitled to hassle me about it at the door. If they think I stole something, they can call the cops. Would you be happier if they did this? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/70 "2011-03-14T18:52:07Z")
I don’t feel the action of asking to see my receipt as treating me like a criminal because I know I’m not a criminal. I see it as treating potential criminals as criminals. If I know a store double checks receipts on the way out, especially for big ticket items, then I just keep my receipt in hand. If I had a problem with that I wouldn’t shop there. I just don’t see why some people have to be dicks about it, creating a fuss and holding up the whole process and other shoppers to make some sort of stupid point about their rights to some minimum wage schlub who can’t do anything about it and has no choice but to follow store policy or be out of a job. If you want to protest the store policy then take it up with management or just don’t shop there. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/71 "2011-03-14T18:59:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What’s wrong with the door buzzers, though? I don’t mind those. Even in the couple of instances where they’ve accidentally gone off on me, it didn’t bother me. Then they at least had a reason to check my receipts against my bags, and they were always polite and apologetic about it. Wouldn’t your own argument still hold up? You paid for the items and they’re legally yours, why should you care if they want to stop you because their buzzer was malfunctioning? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/72 "2011-03-14T19:00:25Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Would you be happier if they did this? Perhaps, as he should have an easy win in the ensuing civil case. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/73 "2011-03-14T19:06:27Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Would you be happier if they did this? Yes, I would, actually. If a store wants to accuse me of shoplifting, they can do so in the presence of a law enforcement officer. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/74 "2011-03-14T19:08:02Z")
People just amaze me. If you don’t like “being treated like a thief” then shop somewhere else where they don’t treat you that way. You voluntarily went into the store, act like a decent human being and follow their policy. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/75 "2011-03-14T19:09:08Z")
I must live in a very trusting place–I haven’t had a receipt checked for over 12 years that I recall, and that was at Target. Can’t say that I’d mind it nearly as much as some of the easily-peaved folks in this thread. Of all the things to be angry about, this would have to be rather low on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/76 "2011-03-14T19:09:32Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I just don’t see why some people have to be dicks about it, creating a fuss and holding up the whole process and other shoppers to make some sort of stupid point about their rights to some minimum wage schlub who can’t do anything about it and has no choice but to follow store policy or be out of a job. If you want to protest the store policy then take it up with management or just don’t shop there. Simply walking on by without compliance is not making a fuss. If the store clerk objects to your lawfully walking on by, then it is the store clerk who is making the fuss, not the customer. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/77 "2011-03-14T19:15:07Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > And don’t be so snooty since you’re shopping at Wal Mart instead of Tiffany’s. Tiffany’s?!?! That place is worse than WalMart. They keep all their shit locked up! I go in and want to try on some bling and they gotta keep an eye on me at all times. F that. Why would I want to shop somewhere I’m treated like a criminal. I’m a customer g-damnit! Just leave the jewlery out for me to try on and leave me the F alone!! And what’s with the security guard?! Is he there to take me down if I want to go outside to see what these rings look like in daylight?!? What? You don’t trust me to bring the stuff back in?? Do I look like a thief to you? I’m not shopping anywhere where they think their customers are thieves. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/78 "2011-03-14T19:20:45Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Would you be happier if they did this? Sure. I’d enjoy the show when the cops started hassling _them_ for wasting their time without probable cause. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/79 "2011-03-14T19:23:24Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wouldn’t your own argument still hold up? You paid for the items and they’re legally yours, why should you care if they want to stop you because their buzzer was malfunctioning? They were actual cops for one thing, and they had probable cause for another. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/80 "2011-03-14T19:25:10Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I just don’t see why some people have to be dicks about it, creating a fuss and holding up the whole process and other shoppers to make some sort of stupid point about their rights to some minimum wage schlub who can’t do anything about it and has no choice but to follow store policy or be out of a job. If you want to protest the store policy then take it up with management or just don’t shop there. Oh … and if store policy is to have a receipt check procedure, then store policy should also ensure that employees who perform that function should politely let customers go on their merry way if the customers fail to comply or if customers object to the receipt check procedure, unless the employee otherwise has probable cause to suspect theft. If there is no probable cause and the customer fails to comply, then the employee has every right to write down a physical description, go to the register to take down a customer name, write down a license plate number, take a photo, or take other non-infringing steps to identify the customer and attempt to ban that customer from future store visits. All of this can be easily accomplished peaceably and without a fuss from anyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607.md?page=5)