<![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt - Consumerist Comments]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt - Consumerist Comments]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> It's been said, I know- Wal-mart, private business or not, did not really have the right to detain the customer. Sure, they could have just continued to hold his gun, and he COULD have been a true "ass-hat" and refused to leave without it or refused to go back into the store with the manager.

End result? Whichever local police had jurisdiction would have been called into the dispute, and Mr. Manager and Wal-Mart would have been left trying to explain the Federal sale approval for the gun and following security cam tapes detailing the manager receiving payment of the gun and escorting the customer through the store, from the time of purchase to the time of the altercation at the front over the receipt.

Police would then wonder why Manager Man refused to surrender the customer's property to him. Basically, he was unlawfully seizing the guy's property. If it was such a huge deal to the manager, he could have traipsed back to the Sporting Goods counter and reprinted his own copy of the receipt to show the receipt checker. I did much the same at restaurants I've managed when a customer had a problem. Did he? No. Escorting this guy out with a gun most likely interupted the flow of his day, and he chose to be surly about it.

And I know that Wal-Mart is a private company. However, like most private companies, Wal-Mart doesn't want to totally alienate it's customer base, however much it may seem like it. I doubt that they don't care when they lose almost five hundred dollars in one sale- it adds up to huge losses for them when it comes from thousands of stores where customers demand their money back or stop shopping there, because of policies that really aggrevate consumers. They can ask for receipts as often as they please- you don't have to show them, although I do agree that it would have been much less painful to just pull it out- the checker isn't going to be using it to compile a list of purchases you've made at that Wal-Mart in the last six months. If store security detains you, they can't search you. They have to call the authories- who quickly find out you've broken no laws and were unlawfully detained by a civilian.

It isn't so much, I think, of simply showing a reciept, but more of private companies in general pulling Big Brother tricks. If they try to detain you or seize lawful purchases over a receipt check (which generally don't work, as no one checks all of your purchased items anyway), and no one creates a fuss, it stands to reason that one day in the near future they'll begin to implement policies that really do step over that line that separates pain-in-the-butt from those that do seriously infringe upon constitutional rights.

wvusublime

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @ryoudeaf:
The burden of proof is on them, not me. That's the whole point. If they want to prove something, then they must do so.

@ryoudeaf:
The argument is that they don't realize that their right to request is just that, a right to request, not demand. Too often they demand it and expect blind obedience. Again, my main thrust for not showing my receipt is simply because my time is better spent elsewhere than in a line at Wal-Mart waiting to have my receipt checked. I like consistency, so I don't show my receipt, line or no.

@ryoudeaf:
There's the rub, though. They don't try to search everyone. They do often just pick someone at random to stop. I don't know their reasoning behind it. For all I know, the greeter could've had a long streak of not having anyone to check and got bored. (and before someone says I'm being contradictory by claiming to hate standing in line, then saying they don't check many people, hence the boredom, I'm allowing for the wide gamut of Wal-Mart stores, ranging from the one we have here that has no greeter ever visible, to the one where the guy stands at the door and tries to stop every single person, with various types in between.)

Again, I'm sorry, but if they want to deter theft, stop shrinkage, word it however, the onus is on them, and I expect them to do it the least intrusive way possible to me. Since there are more and better ways that don't involve any interaction with me past the register, door checks don't meet the least intrusive qualifier I like.




BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> You stated its yours once money has exchanged hands....in a store as large as Walmart...do you really expect the door handler to see every transaction that takes place

I don't much care what the blueshirt at the door sees or doesn't see throughout the store.

so YOU say money exchanged hands. PROVE IT!

I don't have to. Your attitude of guilty until proven innocent is an attitude we don't need at ANY level in this country. Not even at the exit door of a crappy retail store.

I personally don't mind proving my innocence if it helps to catch those who aren't.

I do. Presumption of innocence is one of the most sacred principles in American Jurisprudence. Your casual willingness to abandon it is disappointing. Especially since you're willing to give it up just to save WalMart a few bucks.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> "time spent on extracting customers from or supporting illegal detentions."

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I would love to know how many people they have caught using this method, and what the value of the merchandise was, vs the cost of lawsuits and police time spent on illegal extracting customers from or supporting illegal detentions.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @BugMeNot2: Maybe I'll just start walking up to random people on the street and ask to see proof that their clothes are truly theirs. I mean, after all, they could've taken them from someone/someplace at some time in the past.

Up until that comment, you sounded pretty smart...walmart doesn't stop random people..they stop...or try to stop everyone...and walmart isn't assuming you took the merchandise you are walking out with from somewhere at sometime in the past. They are verifying you paid for it this time, right here, right now and you aren't trying to rip the store off and in the long run, ripping the rest of us off too.

ryoudeaf

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> And just an additional comment....you all are right.
1. They have the right to ask.
2. You have the right to refuse.
3. They don't have the right to detain.
4. You have the right to sue if they do.
5. You also have the right to not shop there.
6. They have the right to ask you not to come back.

What the hell is the arguement?







ryoudeaf

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @BugMeNot2: The receipt CAN be used for tax purposes, etc. etc. But was intially created as PROOF OF PURCHASE. You stated its yours once money has exchanged hands....in a store as large as Walmart...do you really expect the door handler to see every transaction that takes place. Besides...so YOU say money exchanged hands. PROVE IT!
DOn't get me wrong...I never said you were an asshole....I have actually walked right by the door handlers myself...but my reasoning has nothing to do with feeling like I have been accused of something I didn't do. I personally don't mind proving my innocence if it helps to catch those who aren't. Our crime rates are out of control and until people start taking responsiblity for thier own actions, then someone has to protect the interests of the rest of us...and yes, low cost is an interest of mine...I work hard for my money and see no reason to piss it away on overpriced merchandise because an asshole thinks he/she is entitled to the five-finger discount, regardless if its coming out the front door or the back.
As far as detaining a person for not showing a receipt...I have never personally seen it happen...and think in THIS case it was probably the smart thing to do. Why you ask? Because the assistant manager who engaged in the transaction and the escorting of this customer didn't have the balls to stand up and simply say he did purchase it and caused the volatile reaction that ensued. Simply put...the asst. manager was wrong and provoked it, however the jackass that had to make a scene over it obviously has a temper issue and probably doesn't need to be carrying a gun in the first place. When I say find a worthwhile issue to put efforts towards...why are we spending so much time pissing and moaning about an asshole manager and a lunatic that wanted a gun but had to make an issue out of a stupid piece of paper? asshole manager + temper issue man with a gun = a mess we could have been reading about on the front pages. Personally, if I were purchasing a gun, the last thing I would want is for all the attention to be on me becaue I raise six kinds of hell over a piece of paper. I probably would have waited until I was buying my groceries instead of a deadly weapon.



ryoudeaf

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @toddy33: Heh heh... thanks for showing that misspellings are common enough - even for those that are quickly to point out others' errors.

Secondly, I'm not necessarily referring to posters here, but you can't deny that this gun/ammo/eggs shopper is puffing his chest out over this.

The punishment, from my perspective, is in making it impossible for this poor person to do his job. How would you feel if you had to deal with people making your daily grind even more miserable than it had to be by preventing successful completion of part of your job?

These protestations are misguided, IMNSHO. Find the policy unbearable? Shop elsewhere and send off diatribes to your local newspapers and the people who make the decisions. "Vote" with your dollars, I say.

witeowl

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> :) Purely.

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @witeowl:

I am absolutely mystified as to why it comes up so many times in this thread that somehow my refusal to comply with a request that I find unreasonable is punishment of someone or that I am "getting off" on something.

The simple fact is, I find it unreasonable for the store in question to assume that I am a thief simply for leaving the store with merchandise that I just paid for. I'm not getting off on anything, I'm not punishing anyone, and I'm not even being rude in return for thier rudeness. I'm just politely saying, "No."

And yes, if I must answer your apples-to-oranges question in which you misspelled "cojones" that I would in fact say, "Yes, I do object" in a case in which an officer asked if I objected to a search of my vehicle, my person, or my home. But I have never been stopped, so it's purly hypothetical.

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @witeowl:
Well, since I don't 'get off' on 'punishing the poor big box store employees', I can't really speak to your target. I simply offer a polite 'no, thank you' if there isn't a line, or walk past the line and ignore any comments when there is one.
As far as standing up for my rights to a police officer, I've been lucky enough to never have to have done so. The times I've been pulled over, I was indeed guilty of speeding, and that was the only thing the officer and I discussed.



BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I wonder if anyone who gets off on punishing the poor big box store employees has the cajones to stand up for our rights with the actual government by ALWAYS refusing car and other searches when police request them. [www.charityadvantage.com]

witeowl

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @ryoudeaf:
"Lets talk about the store's right. Does the store..any store...not have the right to ask for proof that you made a legitimate purchase before you walk out the door? especially when carrying some of thier merchandise?"

As has been said a million times now, yes, the store has the right to ask for proof of purchase. And I have the right to refuse. What the store does not have the right to do is detain me simply because I refused to show my receipt.
I don't show my receipt, as I've said a dozen times in this thread alone, because rarely is it 'just 2 seconds', at least around here. It is almost always several minutes, because you have to wait for the guy to thoroughly go through the bags of the person(s) ahead of you because they had one item not bagged. Then I'm supposed to wait while they match up stuff on my receipt to what's in my bag? No. And if it's one of the rare instances where it's the guy who just looks at the receipt and nods, then what is the point? Having _a_ receipt does not assure I did not steal anything. Other times, it's because the two-ton Tessie they have stationed at the door likes to sit on one of the electric carts in the back of the cart shed, and she demands I bring my receipt and bags to her. Why the fuck, quite frankly, should I walk to the back of the filthy cart shed just because she's a lazy cow?

"Not to mention the fact that receipts are given as PROOF OF PURCHASE! For the SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVING YOUR NEW PROPRTY IS PAID FOR!"
No, not for the sole purpose of that, or at least not for the sole purpose of showing that to TT-Tessie at the door. It can be for tax purposes, for reimbursement, or because the system is simply not set up to not print receipts. I can go to the gas station, do pay-at-the-dispenser, and choose to not get a receipt. If I don't get a receipt there, and they try to accuse me of theft, guess what, they're still in the wrong.
And again, it's _my_ property after money has changed hands. I don't have to prove to anybody that it's mine. Maybe I'll just start walking up to random people on the street and ask to see proof that their clothes are truly theirs. I mean, after all, they could've taken them from someone/someplace at some time in the past.





BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @ryoudeaf:

It is worthwhile. Just because you wish to follow their policy will never make it otherwise.

It has nothing to do with the time I might wait. It has nothing to do with seach and seizure. It has nothing to do with the Fourth Amendment. It has nothing to do with "rights". All of these are red herring issues.

The main point is that the store, in asking for my receipt at the exit, is telling me with no provocation that they assume I am criminally taking something that belongs to them when I am not. They are adding an extra layer of intrusion. I find it insulting. I find it unnecessary. I have no intention of complying with this assumption.

It doesn't matter how many permutations of people telling me that I am an asshole for not complying come flying at me. It's an issue that, in my own personal multitasking universe, is perfectly worth standing up and saying, "Enough."

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Violated what constitutional right??? "Illegal search and seizure" is prohibited IF it is done by the government...not some underpaid guy who is working for a living and having to put up with overly critical and, supposedly, intellectual jerks. Next time you go out to eat lunch in a restaurant or supper in one of those places where they put caviar on a ritz cracker listen to the crowd and I'll guarantee you that you will hear someone griping about their constitutional rights being violated because of any of half a dozen reasons ...from violating their constitutional right to free speech when they got fired for telling their boss to go screw himself to "Hells bells, they put an ashtray outside the front door of the place where I worked....how can they tell me what I can or can't smoke..."

Fishnlawyr

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> "insist he show his receipt? Is your real name Ladarrel?"

NO, but my other brother is Ladarryl....

Fishnlawyr

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Not to mention the fact that receipts are given as PROOF OF PURCHASE! For the SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVING YOUR NEW PROPRTY IS PAID FOR! Why the hell else would you be given one? just to kill another tree?

Someone way back there said they could just hire more employees to work the aisles....not a bad suggestion...so while on the verge of a recession...or even perhaps in the throes of one...lets hire more people to just hang out with the customers....jack the prices up to pay thier hourly wages...and still expect all that disposable income to keep rolling in...umm...sorry but as a business my objective would be to keep overhead down and prices low so the customer keeps spending what little disposable income they have in MY store rather than the more expensive competition down the road...the most effective way to do that is to check the receipt I purposely gave you for the exact reason I hired only one person to stand at the door for...proof of purchase.

ryoudeaf

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> ok...lets start with its pretty stupid for the assistant manager not to verify the purchase of the gun. However, there is a point to "well...how does the door checker know you're not his buddy and he's helping you steal it? Point taken. Sounds a little bit like checks and balances. hmmm

As far as search and seizure....ummm what are they searching? Any identifiable info on that cash purchase? even credit card info is blocked out...its already been stored in the register....this is not a violation of your right to have just cause for a search. period. Search and seizure applies to someone coming into your personal space (such as your home or car, or pockets, or clothing) and looking through your personal belongings, not to you proving you made that purchase.

Right to privacy is not violated because the receipt does not have personal identifying information on it. And hell, they can get that just by standing next to you and scanning your credit card number without you even taking it out of your pocket or purse.

Lets talk about the store's right. Does the store..any store...not have the right to ask for proof that you made a legitimate purchase before you walk out the door? especially when carrying some of thier merchandise?

Someone doesn't have time to stop for 5 seconds to prove they paid for merchandise? It takes less time to show the receipt than it does to argue about it and then return the purchase on principal? By the way...what principal. If I owned a store and I saw someone walking out the door with a piece of merchandise, your saying I can't make sure its paid for? Bet everyone commenting on here makes sure or tries to make sure they aren't being robbed everytime they turn around...bet you wouldn't let me walk into your house and walk back out with something in my arms without making sure it was mine to walk out with.

Its a stupid arguement...just show the damn receipt and put your efforts into something more worthwhile.

ryoudeaf

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> In related news, this thread now has over 500 comments. By golly, I think Consumerist readers really are interested in stories about this topic!

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi: Thanks. I agree that introverts are not cowards.

Introverted means that you are less focused on the outside word and are more reflective.

I'm pretty introverted. I also happen to be a bit cowardly. I don't think they are automatically connected.

And I don't like Walmart's policy.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @toddy33: Hey...that was my line :)

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi:
:) And I repeat...Amen.


toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @toddy33: Agreed. I don't even necessarily agree with the introvert/extrovert distinction. Under normal circumstances, I'm extremely conflict-avoidant. But I just feel like this is too important (I do not want a large corporation to think that it has a right it does not have, and enforcement rights it also does not have) and that too many people are likely to go along with it out of convenience or politesse (which could lead to it becoming a real rule), that I think it's important in its own right to stake out this particular territory. I believe that's called "picking your battles."

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi:
Amen, especially to the second part.

I don't even care if there's a line or not...that opens up the red herring of, "well, you stood in line to make the purchase." Rather, I have to say that the idea that the store wants to automatically treat me as a shoplfter when I am not is reason enough.

I don't mind reiterating it a thousand times if necessary. It doesn't matter how many times the sheep--sorry, we're now calling them introverts--want to tell me that I'm being an asshole about it. I disagree in principle with the store wanting to see my receipt after I have given them my money. I don't feel that my rights are being trampled by their asking. But it's rude, annoying, and unnecessary. I don't agree with ANY policy that presumes that I am doing something wrong, illicit, or even slightly shady. I don't care if you think it makes me look suspicious if I refuse. I don't care if the store thinks it makes me look suspicious if I refuse. You can pick any reason you want and say I look suspicious. I don't give a fuck.

They can ask. I can say no. Fuck you AND go suck a donkey if you don't like the way I am handling my own affairs.


toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Doofio, you suck at making analogies. I'd recommend just giving up on that part. If you wish to continue to make analogies, though, go ahead, it's your right to do so, and I can't bar you from it. ;)

No, your shoe analogy was not on par with mine, and mine wasn't the best, just showing what it would take to make yours closer. As far as someone walking out of your garage with a hammer, that is suspicious, but mainly because it is not the norm. However, people walking out of Wal-Mart with their own property is an extremely common event that happens thousands of times a day.

As far as someone asking me for the time, that is not the same as asking to see my receipt. Again, a better analogy would be if someone came up and said, "I saw you get out of that car, can I see your pink slip?" to which I again would laugh in their face and say no.

BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> you just repeated what i said exactly. i never said they had the right to detain you, i said the had the right to ask and you have the right to refuse. thank you for reitorating my point.

msp123

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: I can think of two good reasons not to show your receipt that have already been raised in this thread numerous times. If there's a line and it would be an inconvenience to you to wait to show your receipt, that's a good reason. And second, if you don't like the implication that you're a shoplifter, and you want to dissuade them from holding onto a policy that implies that, that's also a good reason.

You say that it's rude and unreasonable to refuse to show your receipt. Many people feel it's even more rude to ask in the first place, and to treat every customer like they are a shoplifter until proven otherwise--especially when the circumstances clearly indicate that you are not (they see you leave the register), or if the store itself put you in the position you're in, as it did here. I tend to agree with that line of argument.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @wherescommonsense: If the guy was so short tempered that he would put up arguement over something as minor as a receipt, I don't want such a moron to be anywhere near a gun!

Well, it's a good thing you don't make the rules, then.

jimconsumer

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: I'm going to skip the italics and get straight to the point. If someone approached me and asked "What the F is the time?" I would happily tell them to go suck a donkey. If they were respectful and asked nicely, "What's the time?" I would happily share the time with them. Receipt checking falls under the former of those two scenarios for me as by asking for a receipt, I feel as if you are accusing me of stealing something. As such, go suck a donkey would be the less kind response the person asking would receive...especially in the cases where they are being complete asshats. No, the man isn't beating us with sticks and whatnot...but this entire problem is a step in that direction. How do you think taxes evolved? They started out as being used to pay for a war...but they never stopped and now you are legally obligated to pay them regardless. That is how it happens...and NO WE ARE NOT GOING TO ARGUE ABOUT TAXES NOW!

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @RedSonSuperDave: ROFL I will have to remember that one! Of course...you do know what they dosed that receipt with prior to your chewing it don't you???!?!? ;)

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug:

Failure to obey a person who has no legal authority over me is not suspicious, even if their request is VERY SIMPLE. Refusing to show someone a piece of my personal property that they have no right to see is not suspicious, even if their request was VERY SIMPLE.

Authority has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's a sad state of affairs that when given a simple request, people are so uptight that they need to throw out legal cards just to get out of doing it. If someone approached you on the street and asked for the time, you have the right to say "fuck off" but would you do that? My money's on no...this is the same type of situation, no real good reason to say no, but you do it anyway because "you can".

Blueshirts are not policemen. Merchants do not have police powers.

Once again you go the "authoritative" route. This example had nothing to do with authority, but more of what I thought was a pretty straight forward scenario, but i'll dumb it down for you: You see someone walk out of your garage with a hammer, you approach and ask where he got the hammer, he responds: "I don't have to tell you!", if you don't get suspicious, you deserve to have it stolen. Clear enough?

Show me even one place where I claimed that being asked for a receipt is a violation of my rights. Just one. You're arguing against positions I've never taken. It makes you look stupid.

This was my mistake as I was referring to another post that wasn't from you. Which I did not make clear.

It's a person who has no authority over me demanding that I show him something he has no right to see. And I've already given you two good reasons to not show my receipt, but I'll reiterate the simpler one here: What I choose to do with my property is none of his fucking business.

Hey! Here's that fun "authority" word again that you love to throw around so much. You're right in that he has no authority to see it but the issue here is not authority. Your two excuses were anything but good, they were adequate when it comes to the law, but the logic behind is what's in question here. A receipt is a proof of a purchase, nothing more. It's designed to help you out if you're ever in an instance where you might be asked to prove you made a purchase, but when that situation arises, you refuse because it's your right to refuse? What?

Putting (ridiculous) words in my mouth in attempt to make my position look ridiculous is dishonest. I've never said anything close to that, and your repeated implications that I have are just making you look like an ass.

I never put words in your mouth, I never made mention that you said that, I was making another example.

How exactly is smiling and saying "No thank you" an attempt to look "big and powerful"?

I'll agree that you're simply asserting your right, but this situation seems like an asinine time and place to do so, completely unnecessary, especially when you almost always know (mainly from reading here) that something probably is going to ensue, it's almost like you're simply looking for a fight.

And which "technicality" are you talking about, specifically?

The technicality lies in the fact that you know you have no real reason not to show it other than the fact that you know that you're not legally bound to.

Bottom line is this, the man is not asking for your tax returns, he's not strip searching you, he's not beating you with sticks...he's making a reasonable request. So you can either comply and be on your way, no harm no foul, or you can act like a spoiled child with a toy yelling "This is MINE and I don't have to share!"

Grow up.

Doofio

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> My method of handling the "Wal-Mart receipt checking" phenomenon is as follows: If I think I'm likely to need the receipt, I'll hang on to it. This is generally the case when I'm buying some high-priced electronics equipment or something. However, 90% of the time I'm at Wal-Mart, it's for groceries. If I'm not gonna need the receipt, then I will generally pop the receipt in my mouth and chew on it all the way to the front door. If and when they ask to see my receipt, I spit a soggy lump of what looks like white chewing gum into my palm, hold it up proudly, and say, "See?"

RedSonSuperDave

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Machete_Bear: Good God. Show your receipt, comply with the ignorant minimum-wage employees, and be on your way. - Has it ever occurred to you that some of us don't blindly follow orders?

Seriously, the reason these receipt stories create such fiascos in the comments simply boils down to personality types. The fact is:

1. Some of us are introverts. Introverts are generally compliant people who don't like controversy. They'd rather just do as they're told so as not to create a scene. Introverts quietly go about their lives.

2. Some of us, myself included, are extroverts. We tend to talk loudly and we question authority. Extroverts don't put up with snot nosed little assholes telling us what to do. The quickest way to ensure an extrovert will NOT do something, is to demand he do it. The more you demand, the more we resist. Why? Just to prove you can't control us. The extrovert motto is, "You're not the boss of me."

Introverts see extroverts as childish and obnoxious. They don't understand why we would cause a stir over something so stupid. To them, we're just creating trouble.

Extroverts see introverts as weak and useless people. Like cattle, just going along with the flow. We don't understand how anyone can be so ridiculously compliant with the demands of another person. Good God, people, show some backbone.

There really is no right nor wrong answer here. Each of us will do what is in our nature based on our personality style.

jimconsumer

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Crymson_77:
Ditto. Geez, if I let idiot policies chase me out of stores, I'd never shop.


toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Crymson_77: I personally am hoping this one tops 500 comments too.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi: Which is exactly why I have been so vociferously arguing in this thread alongside you :)

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Baz: If the people who object to the policy don't shop there, no one will ever object to the policy in practice in a way that matters to Wal-Mart--read: a paying customer in the store and making a fuss. And if all Wal-Mart customers acquiesce, their bullshit "policy" may start to get confused for a real rule, with power beyond people who want to acquiesce. I DO NOT want that to happen.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Baz: Yeah - that'll show 'em! Let 'em know how pissed off you are by giving them your money.

I'm not pissed off at places like Wally World because they ask for receipts. It used to annoy me, but now I really don't care much at all, because they take exactly zero seconds out of my life, and an approximately equal amount of effort for me to say "No thank you"

I can see how my using phrases like "none of his fucking business" might make it seem like I'm pissed about it, but that's just the tone I take when discussing it with chowderheads who think that refusing to show a receipt to a blueshirt is like refusing to obey a cop who tells you to keep your hands in plain view.

I do get pissed when I hear stories about undertrained employees harassing, illegally detaining, and even assaulting people who are not doing anything wrong.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug:

Yeah - that'll show 'em! Let 'em know how pissed off you are by giving them your money.

Way to hit 'em where it counts.

Baz

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: Blatantly not complying to a very simple (and it is a VERY SIMPLE request, there are no gray areas on this point) does in fact constitute suspicion

Failure to obey a person who has no legal authority over me is not suspicious, even if their request is VERY SIMPLE. Refusing to show someone a piece of my personal property that they have no right to see is not suspicious, even if their request was VERY SIMPLE.

If you were a police officer and asked someone to keep their hands where you could see them

Blueshirts are not policemen. Merchants do not have police powers.

And for God's sake, lay off the "violation of rights" arguments, it's tired and grossly overused especially for situations like this that its lost all meaning.

Show me even one place where I claimed that being asked for a receipt is a violation of my rights. Just one. You're arguing against positions I've never taken. It makes you look stupid.

it's a fucking doorman asking to see a simple piece of paper that you have no real good excuse to not show

It's a person who has no authority over me demanding that I show him something he has no right to see. And I've already given you two good reasons to not show my receipt, but I'll reiterate the simpler one here: What I choose to do with my property is none of his fucking business.

THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS I HAVE TO SHOW THIS!!!, YOU'RE VIOLATING MY RIGHTS!"

Putting (ridiculous) words in my mouth in attempt to make my position look ridiculous is dishonest. I've never said anything close to that, and your repeated implications that I have are just making you look like an ass.

you're simply using a technicality to act big and powerful but you come off as just an asshole

How exactly is smiling and saying "No thank you" an attempt to look "big and powerful"?

And which "technicality" are you talking about, specifically?

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @gingerCE: true. other than getting a license plate, checking the registers should also be one of their recourses when a customer does not show their receipt

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @gingerCE:

Ginger you still haven't give us an actual example of where someone has been detained.

APFPilot

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @girly: I know the stores don't trust us, but if someone is looking for a receipt, pointing out to you what register they were at, the store should take it upon themselves to go ask the register clerk if indeed that someone purchased the item. Both Walmart and Costco are unwilling to do so.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Crymson_77: I guess my point was Costco has been doing this for years, asking for receipts, and then detaining people, and there are no complaints here. I feel Walmart has the right to make this their new policy, they just need to post it better.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi: My walmart is telling people that they must show receipts before they leave--verbally, which is actually in a way better notification than Costco because honestly, I never read my membership agreement with them--I can't be the only one who hasn't read something in small print (just like credit card agreements). I have said Walmart needs to post signs up with this new policy by the registers.

On one of my last visits to Costco I asked to purchase items separately, as some are business, some are personal and I like to take 2 receipts--something I have done on numerous occasions back when I shopped at Costco. I was told the policy is one receipt only--where previous in another Costco I had seen signs posting 2 receipts per member. When I questioned this, I was told this is their policy and I must purchase the items together and not separtely. Stores change policy as they please, that's probably in the fine print for Costco and in the store policy posted as you enter Walmart. I do think in both cases, notice should've been given to benefit the consumer.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> How do they know the difference between people who lost receipts and people who refuse. The refusers could just say 'I lost my receipt'

Sorry, they don't trust us that much.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Crymson_77: "just as"

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @gingerCE: How many times must it be stated? We aren't arguing about Costco because it is part of the membership agreement. It is just wrong for them to chase you down and detain you as it is for Walmart to do so. At Costco on the otherhand, they can cancel your membership. That is the absolute LIMIT to what Costco is allowed as a remedy.

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I think stores should have the right to check receipts. However, there are those who will refuse, and those like me, who lost their receipts temporarily. For those who refuse, I don't have as much sympathy for them. I mean, this guy, paid cash for his $450 gun and possible ammo, and he says he never shows his receipt? Why not? There's no personal info on the receipt.

For those, like myself, who have misplaced receipts between the door and the exit, if Walmart is wrong in detaining people, then so is Costco and other warehouses who do so. Costco will chase people down (as one poster wrote) and will put a heavy on you until you find your receipt--they won't go to the cashier to ask if hey, did this woman just purchase this one item? I just feel like there are people ganging up on Walmart but are so willing to let Costco pass when they do the exact same thing. I will say that my Walmart is telling people as they check out they will need to show receipt upon leaving, but they need to post those signs up by the register at least temporarily as they implement this new practice.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: Let me put it this way...we are really talking about the abuse of this policy.

If you see Timmy in the store with his babysitter, and she doesn't want him to touch the items on the shelf (because other kids have knocked things over doing that and she has to pick up after them and it wastes her time), but he does it anyway (and it would be so easy to listen), do you think it's okay for her to punch him? Because he should have known better? Isn't what she did wrong? Even if you find out he's a rotten brat?

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @aphex242: I bet taking your shoes off at the airport makes you feel safer too. Land of the free indeed.

offrampoffmap

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio:
"By this logic, anytime you bring something back to a store for a return, by them asking that you have your receipt, they're actually accusing you of attempted fraud."

I would say that does show they obviously don't trust people, but in that case they have the upper hand because you have to comply to execute your return.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Doofio: Your scenario is exactly why I think walmart is seriously wrong.

If they want to freak out over not showing a receipt, why don't they check with the people working the registers, especially if it turns into a longer standoff?

or after noting a license plate, to confirm if they really need to call the police.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: Yeah, it IS more reasonable for the store to depend on all of its old methods of loss prevention, since they have no way of compelling me to show my receipt. So depending on the kindness of your customers' hearts to help you do something you should already be doing isn't really the best plan. Furthermore, if they make me wait in line so someone can check my receipt, which they often do, I have absolutely no incentive to help them out--I'd be putting myself out to help the store, which I don't have an interest in doing.

When you come back to the store to make a return, they get to see your receipt because they make it a condition of making that transaction with them. If you're insulted by that, you get to leave, just as you do with receipt-checking. The store is just luckier in that case because you have an interest that transaction, and it hasn't taken place yet, so you're likely to comply for your own self-interest. They are shit out of luck when it comes to checking my receipt, though, because I no longer have an interest there.

Not showing your receipt does not constitute legal suspicion in any jurisdiction I know of. And when they make it a pain in the ass, which they very often do, to show my receipt, I have absolutely no interest in helping them out at the expense of my convenience. And guess what? By golly, I do have a right--yes, a right--to go about my business, and not help out Wal-Mart.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: No one has said that it is anything but simple. It is even more simple to have the employee checking receipts actually doing something productive like stocking shelves. Amazingly, things tend to not go missing from the shelves when there are employees around stocking or helping in general. Even more novel...hire more employees that can offer help to the customers. By hanging around to provide service, they serve two functions. They make customers feel good about shopping there, and force thieves to rethink their idea of stealing something. But that will never happen because we wouldn't want to pay more than an f-ing nickel for a loaf of bread...right? Whatever happened to service? Nevermind the fact that this was the way it used to be done and people didn't steal near as much as they do today. In addition, well that would create jobs...that pay people...people that can't seem to find work might have a job to go to...wow...novel idea that...

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @gingerCE: That's fine. But at least you're officially notified that that IS the policy at Costco, via the contract you sign.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Benstein: Thank you for warning me about your state. I will stay away.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Benstein: In texas, you could strap that rifle on your back and walk down the street with it if you so chose...with a great deal of scrutiny from everyone, but you could do it legally :)

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @BugMeNot2:

Allow me to retort.

First of all, my analogy is just as analogous as yours for the record.

Now, onto your little scenario. If someone visits my house and I notice as they are leaving that they have a similar pair of shoes that I own and I did not notice them before, I can simply walk into where I store my shoes and look. Also, chances are, that person has not been wandering around my house unsupervised while I stand at my door waiting for him to leave so I can pat him down. Also, chances are, if someone enters my home, I'll probably know that person or know someone who knows them, so it will be easy to contact them later should I find out my shoes were in fact stolen.

Now, we'll jump back into the real world. Someone walks into Wal-Mart and strolls around the massive store, grabs something off the shelf and proceeds to the exit. The doorman asks to see his receipt, the man refuses and exits with his stolen merchandise.

Oops! Here comes common sense! Watch out!

Now, linking back to my previous shoe story, you're saying it's more reasonable for a store to review tapes, review transaction receipts, check inventory etc...; things that they'd have to do long after the person is gone, rather than have a customer take 5 seconds out of his day and show a receipt?

By this logic, anytime you bring something back to a store for a return, by them asking that you have your receipt, they're actually accusing you of attempted fraud. The bottom line is people steal shit every day and are coming up with all kinds of new and creative ways of doing so and it's extremely difficult for stores to watch everything all the time...how about stores start hiring people to simply escort all customers around the store, or have drones posted at the ends of every aisle so you people won't have to take 5 seconds of your time and flash a piece of paper.

And for TinyBug: Blatantly not complying to a very simple (and it is a VERY SIMPLE request, there are no gray areas on this point) does in fact constitute suspicion. If you were a police officer and asked someone to keep their hands where you could see them and they refused, if alarms don't start going off in your head, you deserve to be shot. And for God's sake, lay off the "violation of rights" arguments, it's tired and grossly overused especially for situations like this that its lost all meaning. There is no government suit standing there conspiring against you or taking away your freedoms, it's a fucking doorman asking to see a simple piece of paper that you have no real good excuse to not show other than,

"THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS I HAVE TO SHOW THIS!!!, YOU'RE VIOLATING MY RIGHTS!"

You're not proving any points or accomplishing any goals by refusing to show a receipt, you're simply using a technicality to act big and powerful but you come off as just an asshole.

Doofio

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @gingerCE: People like you are why I am in the NRA. You can walk into a Dunhams and buy 10 guns and ammunition at the same time. I don't see a rash of shootings going on there. And if you don't like guns don't come to my state, most of my friends legally carry concealed almost everywhere they go, including malls and grocery stores. The only reason I don't carry is because I don't care for handguns, I prefer collecting rifles.

Benstein

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @salguod_senrab: You are one of the few sane ones. I thought your breakdown was excellent.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi: Costco still cannot illegally detain you despite the contract. They can only revoke your membership. So Costco for years has been illegally detaining people (like myself) and another poster commented how the clerks chased him down for leaving without showing the receipt. Costco is guilty of this same thing as Walmart--illegally detaining people.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Benstein:

My bad for making an assumption. It's required here in Florida...You're right--it must be a state thing.

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Thank god Walmart refused to sell him a gun and ammunition at the same time. In fact, I think they should refuse to sell guns period--but that's my opinion, not the law.

It is funny, that he went their, oh, to buy a gun, ammunition, and of course, some groceries.

Someone who is willing to plunk down $450 cash to buy a gun, ammo, and milk, who belligerently refuses to show Walmart--really any store--his receipts, in my opinion, should not be allowed to purchase a gun even if his background check came back clean.

gingerCE

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @toddy33: I have bought semi-auto AKs and there was no check. Must be a state thing.

Benstein

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Benstein:
There's a cursory check required with the police to make sure you aren't a felon or a wanted criminal. Much different from the Federal waiting period for a handgun.


toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Why was there a wait for buying a shotgun? There should only be a wait on handguns.

Benstein

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Crymson_77: Apologies - should have been specific - you can purchase alcohol and prescription drugs without a membership. (Varies with state laws.)

Kat@Work

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @wesa: Yes, by all means, let's just come right out and say it: The only people who deserve constitutional rights, or to be treated fairly and/or with dignity, are those who have lots and lots of money to spend. Corporations should have the absolute right to pick and choose who they want to treat decently based on profit. Everyone else should just shut up and get in the back of the bus.

You know what? Your eventual financial ruin is going in my prayers tonight. Asshat.

Mary Marsala with Fries

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Kat@Work: Actually, no you can't. The surcharge is a membership fee. Found this out recently when I attempted to do so.

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I generally expect and receive crappy, surly, or even outright rude service at Wal-Mart. I shop there for HBA and household products because there's really no local alternative here in my city, and there's a location closer than Target (which has its own set of problems).

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @brendanb: I don't know if they were expecting sterling service. I think not expecting to be detained is pretty basic.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Phas3Sh1ft: You SIGN a CONTRACT to shop at COSTCO in which you agree to show your receipt. This has been pointed out approximately a dozen times.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @dweebster: ...Dude? I agree with you.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Logan26:

Yes, and I also have spell check. And actually, FYI, you can make a purchase in Sam's club without a membership - you just have to pay a surcharge.

Kat@Work

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug: I think I produced about 100 of those comments... LOL

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> No surprises here, when you enter Walmart you should hold no expectations of a high level of customer service. Heck, finding a customer service agent in a Walmart store is liking trying to find the proverbial golden egg. I would think twice about buying a weapon at Walmart for manifold reasons and this unfortunate story just annunciates the problems you encounter when you have an expectation of superior customer service from a bargain basement store.

brendanb

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @BearTack: Actually, pretty much the same rights as you and me. I have the right to detain someone I find stealing in my home.

True, but you can't legally detain someone for suspicion of stealing from your home. Merchants in most states can.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: And when making nothing but a completely reasonable REQUEST to

Not everyone thinks it's reasonable.

reasonable REQUEST to see something as simple as a receipt is bluntly denied for no real solid reason, it does nothing but raise suspicion

Hows this for a real solid reason? I'm under no obligation to to justify or prove ownership for MY property to anyone, no matter how trivial or inconsequential such request may be.

Here's another real solid reason, very similar to the first. What I chose do do with my property is none of their fucking business.

it does nothing but raise suspicion.

Failure to submit to the presumed "authority" of some blueshirt doorwatcher is not suspicious. Unless you're one of those sorts who believes that any defiance of "authority" is suspicious.

Is this the nonsense that this site has reduced itself to

If you think that corporations and retail establishments violating the rights of their customers is somehow unworthy of being on the consumerist, perhaps you should read other sites instead.

I would also point out that the 2 recent threads on this topic have produced nearly a thousand comments. So it would seem that the readers of this site are very interested in this topic.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio:

Yes, they are insinuating I am a thief. Let's take your "visiting someone's home" analogy, but not the retarded 'taking shoes off' part, since that is not analogous. We will keep the shoes, though. If you come to my house, and as you're leaving, I notice you have on a pair of shoes that look a lot like a pair I have, and I did not notice you wear them into the house. I didn't notice your shoes at all when you came in, in fact. Now, by your logic, since I don't expressly know that the shoes you wear are yours and not mine, I can ask you to prove they are your shoes. And hey, I'm not calling you a shoe-stealer, I'm just protecting my shoes. Would you honestly go through whatever effort it takes to prove that your shoes are indeed yours, or would you laugh in my face and say, "You're crazy."?

BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Doofio: Is it really just a 'simple request' if merely refusing it raises suspicion?

I don't think that anyone is saying that it's not in WalMart's interest to do it. It's just poorly executed loss prevention at best, and a violation of the law (illegal detention/assault) in the worst cases.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @witeowl: Here's a little trick I've figured out. Don't put the receipt in our pocke, purse, wallet, or bag. Keep it in your hand. Then, the pointless little "Can I see your receipt?" garbage takes about all of five seconds

Here's an even better trick that I've learned. Do whatever you want with your receipt. When they ask for it at the door, ignore them. Then the pointless little "Can I see you receipt" takes about all of ZERO seconds.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Tinybug:

With the exception of their ability to detain suspected shoplifters, they [shopkeepers] have no more authority than you or me.

Actually, pretty much the same rights as you and me. I have the right to detain someone I find stealing in my home. I just better be right if they came in as a guest.

BearTack

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> For all of the nimrods who believe that asking to see a customer's receipt is the equivalent of calling someone a thief..grow the fuck up. If you go over to someone's house and are asked to remove your shoes before stepping on the carpet, are you to assume that they're calling you a filthy person that slogs around in the mud? No.

They ask you because they don't KNOW what you stepped in and want to PREVENT anything from fucking up their floors. The stores are not calling anyone thieves, but with the way the world is today when it comes to theft, it would be irresponsible for a company to to have at least some resemblance of a plan to help prevent loss. And when making nothing but a completely reasonable REQUEST to see something as simple as a receipt is bluntly denied for no real solid reason, it does nothing but raise suspicion.

Is this the nonsense that this site has reduced itself to? When should we start seeing the articles of how a store wouldn't accept a customer's expired 75 cent shampoo coupons...THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

Doofio

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @witeowl:
"Here's a little trick I've figured out. Don't put the receipt in our pocke, purse, wallet, or bag. Keep it in your hand. Then, the pointless little "Can I see your receipt?" garbage takes about all of five seconds. And that's with a slow "ungreeter" (or whatever those people are). Considering I go shopping in stores like this about twelve times a year, that'll probably be an hour out of my entire life."

Except, as I and others have mentioned repeatedly in this thread and others, it's not always 'all of about five seconds'. When there is a line, such as when the greeter blocked the fucking door so no one could leave until he checked every receipt, keeping me for ~10 minutes while he checked the people in front of me. So the people behind me waited more than 10 minutes. He blocked the door because I, carrying a heavy item started to walk past while he was searching the several bags in the cart of the first couple. And he was matching each item on the receipt to an item in the bag, so you can imagine how long it was taking. My time is worth enough to not wait 10 minutes any time I go to the store. If it takes being a dick when it would only take 10 seconds not to, then so be it.

"For those crying "illegal search": STFU. Would it be an illegal search if the kid at the movie theater asks to see your ticket stub? Is it offensive to show your parking stub to the toll guy on the way out of a parking garage?"
How about you STFU. I love that it's always the ones on the "Just show your receipt" side who start trying to shout down those on the "no way in hell" side. You don't like it, don't fucking do it, but if it's really that trivial an issue to you, then why the hell are you wasting time commenting on it here, other than to show off your e-penis? "Boy, I showed them, I told them to STFU. I'm a big man." And, your examples are flawed. All of the examples you gave represent transactions in progress or before they have started. For it to be accurate, you answer this:
Would you let the usher follow you out the door after the movie and demand to see your ticket stub, barring you from leaving the premises until you did? Would you let the toll taker follow your car to the next stoplight and detain you until you proved you had paid the toll he just accepted from you?

@Phas3Sh1ft:

RTFA and comments if you're going to comment. It's been addressed ad nauseum that Costco is a private membership store, so you are comparing apples and oranges.

To everyone saying "pick your battles" or "aren't there bigger battles to fight": If you need a root canal, do you stop brushing because plaque build up is not as bad as the issues the root canal will fix?
And heaven forbid any of you ever argue for a price correction if you're overcharged at a store. After all, when there are people starving in the world, and dying of disease, aren't there bigger battles to fight instead of trying to get the $2.00 back you were overcharged?
Hellfire, if you're taking the pick your battles route, 90% of the things brought up on this site are trivial, if you look at it in the big picture you want to use, so really, why not just shut down this site, since it's all tilting at windmills?

Oh, wait, some of us are actually capable of handling multiple tasks at a time, so it's not a zero-sum of "if I fight for this, then I don't fight for that." It's just that since this is an article about receipt checking, that's what I'm talking about, instead of how to cure cancer.






BugMeNot2

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug: Lovely reply! Puts it perfectly. Hope everyone reads it and gets a f-ing clue.

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug: funny example. I understand.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @girly: Yes, I understood that. I wasn't really correcting him, just clarifying. The phrase "no more than" can cause confusion - sorta like the phrase "up to"

Customer: The sign says 75% off everything in the store
Manager: No, the sign says UP TO 75% off everything
Customer: But every single item is marked 1% off
Manager: Well, 1% is certainly included in UP TO 75%

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @evelyn: I believe you are arguing points accross arguments from different people. To answer your argument about "treat others...", well...if that is the way someone wishes to be treated, that is their fault. Not yours. Not mine. If you expect to be treated with respect, treat others with respect. It is altogether too simple.

Crymson_77

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Phas3Sh1ft: It's pretty sad that ppl are making a huge issue over one tiny thing

I agree completely. I mean, my leaving without letting them see my receipt is really no big deal. It's not noisy, it takes no time or effort at all on their part to let me go. After all, they don't have the right to see it, or the authority to force me to produce it.

So why do they flip out and turn it into such a big thing? Yelling, holding up the line, blocking doorways, grabbing people, intimidating and sometimes assaulting them, and even illegally detaining those people who choose not to participate?

Hell, it would be way easier to just let them go. And since that's all they legally can do, it works out perfectly! Yet they still insist, time after time, on making it into a big deal.

Sure it's annoying, but shit guys aren't there bigger battles to be fighting?

I'm sorry that my decision to stand up for my principles isn't a big enough cause for you. Tell me, how's your progress on that cure for cancer?

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @TinyBug: Well, he did say no more, not no less.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @BearTack: The shopkeeper has no more authority than a policeman.

Actually, a shopkeeper has considerably less authority than a policeman. With the exception of their ability to detain suspected shoplifters, they have no more authority than you or me.

TinyBug

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @witeowl: All of the instances you site are mid-to-end transaction.

Receipt check is completely post-transaction. (meaning you have no obligation).

I think receipt-checking is a poor, anti-customer practice that just shows how bad their system of loss prevention is. They can't figure out who they sold to without you helping them.

I think people have to realize that although it is not very important, it's a preference. The stores can ask, but they can't mandate and try to physically enforce or harass you into cooperating.

That is the outrage in my book. Not that they 'dare' to ask you for the receipt, but that in the name of something so trivial they are willing to stomp you down. Although these are supposedly 'rogue' employees, the fact that we have several of these instances shows that companies don't care enough about their customers to make it clear to employees how to deal with customers properly and make a clear policy.

girly

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @That-Dude:

I have spoken to a number of attorneys on this matter. Most are of the opinion that the detaining someone against their will for whatever reason, for however short a period of time, is illegal unless there is reasonable evidence to demonstrate that a crime has been committed. The shopkeeper has no more authority than a policeman. The police can not detain a person without some articulable suspicion that a crime has been committed. Neither can the shopkeeper.

Why a shopper does not wish to communicate to the door checker does not matter. Without cause, they have no obligation to communicate with anyone.

BearTack

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Britt:

Actually, it is: in the sense that the store can ask me to do either one. It's NOT different just because the store isn't likely--yet--to do the one that you are pointing out is the most ridiculous.

In neither case should I have to comply.

toddy33

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> As much as I don't see the point in rising a fuss over showing a receipt for an unbagged item (seriously, what's the big deal? It's a matter of consideration to others and has nothing to do with constitutional rights), but forcing a receipt check when the assistant manager is right there escorting the purchased good outside the store is downright asinine.

Aesteval

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Psychodad1961: If he was "in on it" he would be risking incarceration in a federal prison for illegal trade of firearms. This after being witnessed by several employees and in store CCTV that would all weigh heavily at his trial.

Or the more plausible reason was that he was an idiot and trying to force a non-policy on someone.

DashTheHand

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> One question: What if the assistant manager was "in on it"?
Walmart does not even trust their own employees.


Psychodad1961

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @dweebster: Why yes, you're absolutely right. Being asked to show a receipt is EXACTLY THE SAME as being asked to spread your cheeks. Totally comparable. Why didn't I see it before?

WTF, mate. WTF.

Britt

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Hey says the assistant manager was right there next to him during this interaction. Why the hell didn't he pitch into the conversation? I agree with others that this is a pretty rediculous issue, but it's rediculous enough that the person who sold you the item (and didn't let you even touch it at that point) didn't back you up. That was a poor judgement call on his behalf, imo.

On another note, anyone ever bitch at Costco for making them show their reciept? Didn't think so. It's pretty sad that ppl are making a huge issue over one tiny thing. Sure it's annoying, but shit guys aren't there bigger battles to be fighting?

Phas3Sh1ft

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I'm sorry, I just don't get it. I'm as much of a privacy nut as anyone (or so I thought), but I don't see the big deal here.

Here's a little trick I've figured out. Don't put the receipt in our pocke, purse, wallet, or bag. Keep it in your hand. Then, the pointless little "Can I see your receipt?" garbage takes about all of five seconds. And that's with a slow "ungreeter" (or whatever those people are). Considering I go shopping in stores like this about twelve times a year, that'll probably be an hour out of my entire life.

For those crying "illegal search": STFU. Would it be an illegal search if the kid at the movie theater asks to see your ticket stub? Is it offensive to show your parking stub to the toll guy on the way out of a parking garage?

Give me a break. It's a damn piece of paper. Plan ahead, get a grip, and find a real problem to fight... like maybe the erosion of our rights by the actual government.

witeowl

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> I'm also in love with all the "it's about my privacy" posters. If you think *anything* you purchase at Wally remains private, you are outta your element. Wally's server system is second only to the Pentagon. They record everything that you purchase. For example, and this is an actual example, Wally's computers noticed a direct correlation between Florida hurricane season and sales of Pop Tarts, especially strawberry. They now ship massive amounts of strawberry Pop Tarts to Florida during hurricane season. If the OP is so concerned about his privacy, why is he purchasing a firearm in a store instead of on the street? Why is he using a cell phone? Why is he then calling corporate and giving them his receipt info? There is no government collusion here to intrude on your person, just someone making $4.88 an hour trying to do his job.

wellfleet

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Here's why I give up my right to not show my receipt: I do it so that the scumbags that shoplift (and stop making it sound like ALL the shrinkage is out the back door) will not be able to sneak a blue plastic Wal-Mart plastic bag in, fill it up and then breeze out the front door saying, "Fuckoff, I don't have to show my receipt."

seth1066

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Britt: But if they chose to make dropping your pants at the door their "policy" it seems that about 45% of this thread would willingly do so without an argument. baaaaa, baaaaaa, baaaa

dweebster

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> Just for fun, this guy ought to approach that manager some night as he's getting into his car - demand to see his licence and registration and inspect his trunk before he leaves because it's your "policy" to do so. After all, he's sharing the roads with you and you have no way of knowing that's his car nor that he's insured - blah,blah,blah...

If he says "that's reserved for the police and only with probable cause" you can say "___exactly____."

dweebster

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> @Dashrashi: @wherescommonsenseYour right to throw a punch ends at the tip of my nose. Your right to _demand_ something from me at your store is at the cash register when I'm showing my intention to leave with your property. Once I've paid you - you have no rights to _demand_ anything from me or touch MY property to which I have FULL TITLE. Just as I can't approach your wife somewhere and _demand_ to see her underwear to be sure it's not stolen from my collection or some such "policy" I make.

Fucking with me at the door instead of politely accepting my choice not to play this game is where the stores go very, very wrong. The door folks are very poorly trained in the law - I had a GENERAL MANAGER of a Best Buy threaten me just before the police came (I eventually had to call them to get out of the store safely). Of course, Best Buy corporate will play the "bad apples" excuse and say they will "retrain" the employees - but having experienced the *exact* behavior at several Best Buy I know they are absolutely behind this crap.

I encourage people to choose whether or not they want to mess around with the door grunt or not - but title transfers at the CASH REGISTER - and you are no obligation to the store.

dweebster

]]> <![CDATA[Walmart Stops You <em>And The Assistant Manager</em> For Refusing To Show Receipt]]> From what I understand of the laws, at le