# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/81 "2011-03-14T19:35:49Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If you don’t like “being treated like a thief” then shop somewhere else where they don’t treat you that way. Yes, because you always have that option. _ **Always.** _ :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/82 "2011-03-14T19:46:58Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Yes, because you always have that option. > > _ **Always.** _ :rolleyes: Businesses don’t go into business because they owe it to the public at large. I can’t understand some of the general public’s mentality concerning an operating business, the concept that once they open their doors they now owe it to everyone to be there. Here’s an idea. How about starting your own goddamn store, implement any policies you want. And by the way, good luck staying in business and dealing with all the snooty assholes who now think you owe them something. ---
**Author:** ![AlienVessels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@AlienVessels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlienVessels)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/83 "2011-03-14T19:48:11Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Another random thought, you guys would HATE shopping at AAFES stores on military bases. They make you show ID!😃 Not reasonable comparison. If you’re miltary, you’re already giving up a ton of rights. And you are responsible for your dependents’ behavior as well because that can hit your service record. ---
**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, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/84 "2011-03-14T20:28:57Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Yes, because you always have that option. > > _ **Always.** _ :rolleyes: Yeah, you pretty much do. 1. Shop at a competitor. 2. Shop on-line. 3. Do without. In the very, very few cases where you don’t have that option. Suck it the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![limegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/85 "2011-03-14T20:38:01Z")
I’ve never been receipt-checked at a Walmart, and I do shop there all the time. I am receipt-checked at Sam’s Club, and I usually chat pleasantly with the guy until he’s done. I don’t really get all fluffed up about five seconds worth of my day. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/86 "2011-03-14T20:41:14Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I also hate “pay before you pump” for the same reason. I agree with everything else you’ve said in the thread but I think making you pay before you pump makes sense. I mean, movie theaters make you pay before getting in. Do you think they should only charge you as you’re leaving? ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/87 "2011-03-14T20:55:30Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > I’ve never been receipt-checked at a Walmart, and I do shop there all the time. I am receipt-checked at Sam’s Club, and I usually chat pleasantly with the guy until he’s done. I don’t really get all fluffed up about five seconds worth of my day. I don’t get fluffed, either, but I still don’t wait for them to check my receipt. When I go by the checker, I reply with “no thanks” as I keep walking and I’m not bothered further. It’s the same as my response to their phone number collection policy: I don’t want to do it, they aren’t going to make me do it, so I’m not doing it. It’s nothing personal, and I don’t take it as an insult, but I still feel no compulsion to comply. Of course, this might change if any of the receipt checkers had ever tried to bully or force me into letting them check, but that hasn’t happened to me yet. /edit: I believe at Sam’s it’s a condition of your membership, which I suppose changes things. I’m not a member, so I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/88 "2011-03-14T20:58:11Z")
I don’t see why the whole ordeal was necessary, but I do kind of despise the “checkers.” Last year I went into our local WalMart to purchase a gaming console for myself. When I went to pay the cashier, I handed him two one hundred dollar bills, two fifties, and some twenties. He looked at them and asked, “Are these fake?” I suppose he felt the need to ask because I’m a young man (17 at the time,) but it really pissed me off. I replied with something like, “Are you serious?” So then he takes out the little marker that checks for counterfeit bills and marks a couple of them. SURPRISE, they were real. So I cram the receipt in my pocket with the change, and walk towards the exit. When I get there, the door guy walks in front of me and doesn’t even ask to see my receipt, he just tells me he needs it. Fuck you, asshole, I understand that the store doesn’t want people stealing its shit, but I was already pissed about the moron in electronics. At that point in time, I woulda pulled what this guy pulled, no doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/89 "2011-03-14T21:00:56Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > …I avoid the pay before you pump places too though. It’s an insulting setup designed to increase hassle on anyone not stupid enough to pay the Visa/Mastercard, tax, or risk banker’s fees. > > If I could think of ways to give the pay before you pump places negative business I would. Where do you live where gas stations still allow post-pay sales? :dubious: I worked at what was literely the last gas station in my city to allow post-pay sales (only during daylight) and it was a huge hassle. Even all the Mom & Pop stations are pre-pay only. We averaged about 3 drive-offs a month, plus other customers coming in after they filled their tanks and threatening to drive off if we didn’t let them cut in line. Corporate finally decided to go pre-pay/pay at pump only and things went much smoother. No drive-offs, no customers “accidently” putting more gas in their tanks than they can pay for, no dealing with customers who’s cards were declined _after_ they had gas in the tank. We did have some problems with customers who just leave their credit/debit card or driver’s licence and insist we “just turn the pump on” without making a sale, but those were easy enought to resolve. > [@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. I agree with you. If the door alarm goes off I’ll stop, but otherwise I’ll just ignore anybody asking to see my reciept. Actually I don’t even remember the last time I was asked to show my reciept without the alarm going off. I have noticed that if I’m _returning_ merchandise the door checker will check my bag and make some kind of mark on the reciept. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/90 "2011-03-14T21:28:09Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Yeah, you pretty much do. > > 1. Shop at a competitor. > 2. Shop on-line. > 3. Do without. > > In the very, very few cases where you don’t have that option. > > Suck it the fuck up. If someone refuses to stop for a receipt checker and then the store manager yells, “You are banned from this store!!!” then I would think that the customer should respect that. Until that happens, I take it that the management is willing to let people disregard their bogus policies. Why should customers take it upon themselves to pre-emptively ban themselves from a store, when it seems rather apparent that management isn’t interested in banning people who break their internal policies? Let’s put it another way. Let’s say a store wants to see ID from someone before they buy an R-rated DVD. If a customer objects to this policy, and refuses to show ID, but a clerk rings up the sale anyway, then why should the customer boycott the store? ---
**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, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/91 "2011-03-14T21:31:54Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Yeah, you pretty much do. > > 1. Shop at a competitor. > 2. Shop on-line. > 3. Do without. > > In the very, very few cases where you don’t have that option. > > Suck it the fuck up. Here’s a better idea: I’ll continue to shop at Wal-Mart when I need cheap things, I’ll continue to pay the cashier for my items, and I’ll continue to ignore the receipt checker at the door and simply walk around him/her as I’ve always done. ---
**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, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/92 "2011-03-14T22:26:50Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If someone refuses to stop for a receipt checker and then the store manager yells, “You are banned from this store!!!” then I would think that the customer should respect that. > > Until that happens, I take it that the management is willing to let people disregard their bogus policies. Why should customers take it upon themselves to pre-emptively ban themselves from a store, when it seems rather apparent that management isn’t interested in banning people who break their internal policies? > > Let’s put it another way. Let’s say a store wants to see ID from someone before they buy an R-rated DVD. If a customer objects to this policy, and refuses to show ID, but a clerk rings up the sale anyway, then why should the customer boycott the store? Sure. That works for me. WTF do I care if you violate their policy and they don’t give a shit? My comments were directed at people who were upset that the policy exists in the first place. > [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > Here’s a better idea: I’ll continue to shop at Wal-Mart when I need cheap things, I’ll continue to pay the cashier for my items, and I’ll continue to ignore the receipt checker at the door and simply walk around him/her as I’ve always done. The comment you quoted was in response to someone who said that there weren’t options other than shopping at a store with such a policy. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/93 "2011-03-14T22:38:27Z")
> [@may\_be\_ignorant](#): > > I don’t see why the whole ordeal was necessary, but I do kind of despise the “checkers.” > > Last year I went into our local WalMart to purchase a gaming console for myself. When I went to pay the cashier, I handed him two one hundred dollar bills, two fifties, and some twenties. He looked at them and asked, “Are these fake?” I suppose he felt the need to ask because I’m a young man (17 at the time,) but it really pissed me off. I replied with something like, “Are you serious?” So then he takes out the little marker that checks for counterfeit bills and marks a couple of them. SURPRISE, they were real. So I cram the receipt in my pocket with the change, and walk towards the exit. When I get there, the door guy walks in front of me and doesn’t even ask to see my receipt, he just tells me he needs it\*\*. Fuck you, asshole\*\*, I understand that the store doesn’t want people stealing its shit, but I was already pissed about the moron in electronics. At that point in time, I woulda pulled what this guy pulled, no doubt about it. Yes, treat the poor buy just doing his job like slime. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/94 "2011-03-14T22:49:56Z")
This thread is pretty funny. Whenever this topic comes up around here, people are usually about 75% in favor of the customer (“you shouldn’t have to show your receipt!”), and 25% in favor of the store (“it only takes a second, you prima donna!”). However, if **DtC** chimes in early in favor of the customer, it switches to about 25% for the customer and 75% for the store. Obviously, **DtC** has the amazing power to sway the opinion of humanity. Couple of examples: [Epic one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=435143) [Shorter one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485347) For the record, I’m with the consumer. When I’m in a hurry, I’ll politely refuse to show my receipt unless I’m contractually bound to do so. ---
**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, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/95 "2011-03-14T23:11:11Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > This thread is pretty funny. Whenever this topic comes up around here, people are usually about 75% in favor of the customer (“you shouldn’t have to show your receipt!”), and 25% in favor of the store (“it only takes a second, you prima donna!”). However, if **DtC** chimes in early in favor of the customer, it switches to about 25% for the customer and 75% for the store. Obviously, **DtC** has the amazing power to sway the opinion of humanity. That is fucking awesome. I’d love to see a more detailed study of this. It may be that he doesn’t really change minds to the opposite of what he thinks though. Maybe once **DtC** shows up, people are embarrassed to agree with him and others who would ordinarily stay silent post just to poke him. ---
**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, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/96 "2011-03-14T23:14:20Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Sure. That works for me. WTF do I care if you violate their policy and they don’t give a shit? My comments were directed at people who were upset that the policy exists in the first place. What does their policy have to do with me? I’m not upset about their policy, I just don’t care about it. It doesn’t involve me. If theywant me to follow compant policy they can give me a paycheck. Otherwise, I’m going about my buisiness and ignoring them. ---
**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, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/97 "2011-03-14T23:26:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What does their policy have to do with me? I’m not upset about their policy, I just don’t care about it. It doesn’t involve me. If theywant me to follow compant policy they can give me a paycheck. Otherwise, I’m going about my buisiness and ignoring them. What part of “My comments were directed at people who were upset that the policy exists in the first place” did you miss? ---
**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 15, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/98 "2011-03-15T01:54:26Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > 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. There were a few posts where people remarked about taking the opportunity to lecture the receipt checker about their civil rights, that’s making a fuss. I presume that those who said they just walked on by were not chased down and tackled by the receipt checker and then cavity searched or they would have mentioned that. It’s those that feel the need to yell and lecture the unfortunate minimum wage earner, who’s probably already beaten down by life because he works at Wal-mart or K-mart, that are being the colossal dicks. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/99 "2011-03-15T02:30:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > \ > I don’t like being treated like a criminal. I think it’s insulting and demeaning. > > I also hate “pay before you pump” for the same reason. Do you also hate vending machines? They require prepayment too. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607/100 "2011-03-15T04:45:10Z")
I don’t prefer the pay-before-pump stations either, but understand the purpose of the policy is to prevent drive offs. A station nearby is right off the interstate. When they get really busy, it’s hard to keep track of who’s on which pump, who’s paid, etc. They finally had enough hassle with drive offs that they went “pay first”. I live in a rural area of MI, and vast majority of places around here do not require prepay. I make it a point to go to stations that do not require prepay - not because I think prepay is a dickhead policy - but because it’s less nuisance to not have to prepay when you’re paying cash. Although I imagine sooner or later, all stations everywhere will require paying first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-receipt-checker-foiled/574607.md?page=6)