Showing receipts at Wal-Mart

[TimT]

watches me stand in line, watches me pay for the merchandise, watches me walk to the door with the items in a Best Buy bag, then walks up in front of me stopping me at the door and asks to see a receipt. To which I politely replied "Are you blind? Step aside sir."

Basically that is my method.... until I see the line of people waiting to get the highlighter, or pencil mark on the receipt...

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by slodave

Happens at Fry's Electronics. Both customers and employees would walk out the door with "free" stuff. It was so bad with the employees, that they had to put a cage around the area where CPU's, memory and other small expensive items were stored.

I like how the people at the exit ask me for my receipt, even though I already have it out for them to check. Most just check off the receipt with the highlighter without looking, a few look at every item...

Yes, Fry's. It was the first place that I had shopped where they want to frisk you on the way out. Fifteen years ago there were only one or two stores in Socal. My friend and I were quasi nerds and built our own computers, and sometimes sold them, so we were at the one in Fountain Valley twice a week.

The crowds were huge on weekends and after standing in line for 30 minutes to check out, waiting another 15 minutes to get a cpu or memory okayed(they were treated like 24K gold), there was no way I was standing in another line just to leave. I've always walked by the 10-15 folks in line and out the door and never was accosted. Haven't been in a Fry's in over a decade, but Walmart's no different. I will stop if there isn't a delay, but I'm not waiting.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by slodave

Yes, but you are still in their store, subject to their rules. And just because you paid for 5 items, doesn't mean that you can't slip that 6th item in the bag that was in your pocket.

Not sure that is true.

I doubt that a court would be too excited in making up a common law doctrine that your mere presence on their property gives them the right to do a search & seizure.

A fun thing to do would be to push it. Tell them: "NO you cannot look in my bag. I already paid for every thing in the bag. Now, go ahead, arrest me and let me sic my lawyer on ya."

Report back on how this works for you. It should make for an amusing thread.

[slodave]

Unfortunately, as much as I dislike Fry's, they are close and have decent prices. I can't afford to give that up... You first...

[kycarguy 935]

I always thought it was pretty much of a waste of time. It is like a dog and pony show for somebody. The WM's around here don't really ask anymore.

[Tobra]

I don't care how cheap fry's is, not gonna shop there.

I shop at Sam's, go at 0700 on Sat, business member hours, place is empty. They have coffee and donuts for me at the door, the nice lady draws a smiley face on the receipt for my grandson when I leave.

It does not cost anything extra to be polite to people. That said, when I lived in Texas I shopped at Wal-Mart, because it was next door to my office. Had someone ask for my receipt and to look over what was in the cart one time. I told them if they wanted to do that, they better call a cop and arrest me first, because I don't appreciate someone calling me a thief, even if they say it nicely. That was the only time I ever had somebody ask at that store

[911boost]

My word, some of you get your rocks off in the sadest ways. Being a total ass to someone doing their job really says a lot about your character. If you think that "minimum wage" security guard or greeter is one making the policy, you are mistaken.

If you have nothing to hide, just show em if they ask. If you need to be a rebel, and show that you are better than them, go for it. Trust me, for the most part it doesn't bother em, and you are the one looking like the jackhole.

On a side note, our trained SOP when encountering someone that pitches a fit and acts like a baby, is to just let them go and thank them for shopping at X.

Like I said, you would be surprised at what is caught, and by doing this, the cashiers know that if they purposefully short ring up a customer, there is the chance it will trip a red flag. That is when the cctv over the registers becomes important.

[HardDrive]

I don't mind them asking for my receipt in the least. If it helps to keep cost down, great.

WTF is everyone so riled up about? Relax Francis.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I don't mind them asking for my receipt in the least. If it helps to keep cost down, great.

WTF is everyone so riled up about? Relax Francis.

I am amazed that I had to read dozens of posts before someone would mention reduction in cost for the customers. If there is loss to theft, the customer will have to cover it through higher prices. I happily show my receipt at Costco and in return do not get raped on food prices a-la Ralphs, Albertsons or Vons.

I do not mind showing my receipt. If I go shopping, I make sure I am not in a rush to get anywhere. If I am not in the mood, I send my wife.

George

[K9Torro]

I always wear dark sun glasses to Wal-mart, when I approach the door I put them on and extend my arm stiffly out to the front at a 45 degree downward angle and then start swinging it in an arc from side to side like I am feeling my way, if my wife is with me, she just holds my other arm at the elbow and tilts her head back and begins to stare at the ceiling while moving her head slightly side to side, aka Steevie Wonder style.

It works great, the greeter/security person just stares at us while we walk by, plus it usually gets a laugh from several people who are watching. It's not much but it is quality time.

T

[Paul_Heery]

Originally Posted by BSiple

If you have nothing to hide, just show em if they ask.

If I have nothing to hide, you should have no reason to suspect me of stealing from you. Do you feel it is necessary to treat all of your customers as criminals?

Submitting to having your receipt checked is purely voluntary. Merchants basically have two rights covering people entering and exiting their stores. They can refuse to let you enter the premises and/or to sell you anything, and they can place you under citizens arrest for attempting to leave the premises with any property that you haven't paid for. But the second you hand over the appropriate amount of cash, they lose all rights to the items. They can't legally impair you from leaving the store with your property.

[emcon5]

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

Submitting to having your receipt checked is purely voluntary.

Not always. Membership stores often require it as part of becoming a member, Costco and Sam's club are like this I believe.

Anyone else, walk on by.

[Dennis Kalma]

I comply some times, when I feel like it, but basically unless they have reasonable cause to check my bag or reciept (like did I just come out of a washroom or something) my answer is a polite "no thanks". If they make an issue of it, my comment is that they can check my bag on the condition that all items will be returned immediately for a refund and I will take my money elsewhere. Their call. If they are particularly offensive, I tell them to call the cops....it is my stuff and they have no more rights to check my bag than I have to check their shorts.

In terms of telephone, I frequently give 555 1212 and tell them they can check it as well as I can...that Mastercard I gave them that cleared their automated checks is as good as money and they have no reasonable cause to check further. Again, if they insist, I return the goods and just don't go back there.

Lots of places to shop, please don't waste my time.

Dennis

[bivenator]

Man some of ya'll are really tough guys. I don't give out the phone # to Radioshack, but I am polite about it. Stopping to show a reciept is wasting too much time? Jeez, get off Pelican and do something with all that time your saving.
I have seen threads complaining about customer service in retail, try dealing with the general asshat population and see how f ing cheerful you remain. Sure, some store policies are cumbersome, don't shop there is you don't like them. Please don't abuse the WalMart greeters, I may be one soon if things don't improve.
Karma

[KevinP73]

Off Duty Cop shoves WallMart Greeter

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by BSiple

My word, some of you get your rocks off in the sadest ways. Being a total ass to someone doing their job really says a lot about your character.

I doubt it's something against the people doing the checking, it's against the store policy...

I'm fairly polite in general, but it also annoys me no end when I have to make a line to get my ticket highlighted, not 20 ft from where I just paid and my stuff got bagged, right under the eye of mr security guy... Do they think I stole something in those 20 ft between the register and the door? Like others said I play ball at coscto/Sam's because it's part of the contract there, but anywhere else I'm ready to make a scene if I have to and / or return the crap. I can't stand the assumption that I stole something between the register and the door. If they want to beef up security, I'm all for it, tag enverything... But that practice is insulting..... Why not do cavity searches too ?

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by BSiple

My word, some of you get your rocks off in the saddest ways. Being a total ass to someone doing their job really says a lot about your character. If you think that "minimum wage" security guard or greeter is one making the policy, you are mistaken.

I agree. Popping off at them is childish . . . but, but, but . . .

I AM A CUSTOMER. They should treat me like gold. I can take my business anywhere I want including online vendors. But . . . when I grace their doorstep, they better treat me with respect. If they don't, I will walk & I will shop elsewhere. I will even pay more elsewhere if they really piss me off.

Now, of course, budget mega-stores seem to forget this cardinal rule. Actually, they didn't forget, it is their modus operandi. They give customers little to no service in exchange for savings. If you don't like it, too bad. If you don't want to line up like cattle, too bad. If you don't want the exit security check, too bad.

We . . . yes you & me . . . are to blame. They built it & we came.

Ian

btw I have worked in retail.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

...Why not do cavity searches too?

- Are you aware of how dangerous that could be -- given the typical profile of a Wal-Mart shopper??

[Z-man]

True story - I purchased some small items at the local Home Depot - when the 'security' guard asked me for the receipt, without breaking my stride, I replied, "Oh, no thank you - not today." and proceeded out the door. I was probably already in my car by the time the guy was able to think of how to handle that situation...

-Z

[911boost]

Home Depot policy is to not say anything at all and just let you walk out, so damn Z-man, you REALLY SHOWED HIM.

Wow.

With that being said, I have not been real impressed with the "guards" on the east coast.