RECEIPT checks are continuing to infuriate shoppers and one retail expert has revealed what Costco employees are actually looking for.

Retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club have receipt checks written into the contracts of their memberships meaning all shoppers agree to the checks.

While this often helps stores reduce theft, TikToker Ethan Ethier (@ethan.ethier) claims in a video that it is not the “real reason.”

“This is the real reason Costco workers check your receipt,” he told viewers.

“At first, you might think it’s to stop you from stealing but that’s just not the case.

“The actual reason is a little more welcoming.”

He explained that Costco employees check receipts to ensure that shoppers have not overpaid.

They do this by “looking for a code on the top of the receipt that shows it was printed that day,” he said.

“They also look at the item count on the bottom of the receipt to make sure there are no under or overcharges.”

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He ended the clip by employing shoppers to treat employees who do receipt checks with respect.

“This is true! They charged me double one time and I didn’t even notice but the guy checking the receipt did,” one viewer said.

However, many noted that they mark the receipts and check the code at the top to ensure that shoppers have not re-entered the store with an old receipt to steal new items.

A former Costco supervisor wrote in the comments: “Been a supervisor before and #1 reason they check receipt is to make sure the code on receipt is the same on all receipts printed for that day.

“So no re-printed receipts or fake ones can be presented when leaving because that code is different every day.”

Another person added: “The reason is so that you don’t go back inside the store with ur recipe and ‘buy’ the exact same stuff twice. They mark the receipt.”

Regardless of the “real reason,” some shoppers expressed their frustrations with the “Costco police.”

One person said: “The Costco police drive me nuts – ‘Where’s ur Costco card? Let me see that receipt.'”

Meanwhile, on TikTok shoppers told angry customers to grow up.

One person said: “It literally takes 5 seconds to show (your) receipt… Y’all just wanna be difficult and mad for no reason. Grow up.”

Speaking to The U.S. Sun a lawyer warned shoppers that refusal to show their receipts could lead to unnecessary escalation and criminal charges.