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A WALMART shopper has raged at the store’s receipt-checking policy and labeled it a waste of time.
The customer also suggested a change to Walmart’s checkout area to stop the issue.
Rosie Lea shared their thoughts following a recent in-store experience in a X, formerly Twitter, post.
Lea (@RosieLea_Curio) said they refused to stop for a receipt check when they were asked by staff.
“The old lady at the door at Walmart tried to stop me to check my receipt,” they wrote.
The shopper shared what silent response they had which allowed them to walk right by the member of staff.
“I waved it at her and kept going,” they added.
Receipt checks are an increasingly popular anti-theft measure used by some large retailers.
The policy would have a member of staff between checkouts and the store’s exit.
This member of staff can then ask shoppers to stop ask they check their proof of purchase and the items in their bags.
Lea’s rant continued as they suggested the retailer make a change to its even controversial self-checkout areas.
“No offense to old ladies forced to work at Walmart, but if the store doesn’t want people stealing things they shouldn’t have self-checkout,” they wrote.
“Don’t waste my time.”
Lea’s complaint about time has been repeated by other shoppers, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.
An 86-year-old complained about apparent long receipt check lines at their local Fred Meyer store.
Bonnie said the experience made her feel like she was seen as a potential shoplifter.
Top 5 receipt checking tips from a lawyer
Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, spoke to The U.S. Sun about receipt checks and customer’s rights and options when it came to being asked to show your receipt.
- There has been a lot of debate around the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it is within the store, it is completely legal. “There’s seemingly nothing illegal about that. You’re still on the company’s premises and their reason to do it is to prevent thefts,” Dowlatshahi confirms.
- However, if they are chasing you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location matters,” he explained. “If you’re outside of the store you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of theft and that you have to show your receipt, I think that’s a bit of a different situation because now you’re on your way.”
- While customers are allowed to say no to receipt checks, it may cause issues if you do and the store suspects you of stealing. “You can say no, maybe it creates an unnecessary hassle for yourself because now you may have the police come to your house and follow up,” said Dowlatshahi.
- If you are being barred from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you could have a legal case — but the store must have held you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus for doing so,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a customer has been emotionally traumatized by being held for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] to sue.”
- “I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s just a really simple thing to do. If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.
“I’m 86 years old and walk with a cane. The idea that I could get away with shoplifting anything is rather ludicrous,” she wrote in a message to local NBC affiliate KGW.
“I did, of course, comply, but it’s a very uncomfortable feeling that someone would think I’m a thief.”
Bonnie said her experience could force her to change her shopping habits.
“I’m going back to ordering online and picking up all my groceries,” she said.
LEGAL THOUGHTS
A lawyer has previously explained to The U.S. Sun why they would always show their proof of purchase if asked.
“I would say, show your receipt. It’s just a really simple thing to do,” Los Angeles-based attorney Camron Dowlatshahi told The U.S. Sun.
“If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do.”
