Walmart Checking Receipts: No, Thanks!

They're so concerned with putting on a theatrical show of flagging anyone with stuff that isn't in a bag that they miss the guy stuffing merchandise down his pants or even simply grabbing it and running for the door like they do at HD.

On one had, I get the point about not being a jerk to someone doing the job they've been told to do. On the other hand, I don't like being treated like a criminal and as others have put it, once it's paid for it becomes my merchandise and they have no claim to it.
 
It's funny how everyone complains about the inconvenience and will just as soon complain about the rising prices due to cost that have to be passed back to the consumer because rampant theft is going on there daily. I thought everyone stopped shopping there anyway, because of the guns and ammo thing. They've instituted a relatively low tech process that can be done by low wage people. They don't know you from the clever shoplifters and the shoplifters don't all look like low life criminals. They look just like you.

I've personally witnessed 3 different thefts of power tools from Home Depot and been approached at least as many times in the parking lot and offered discounted gift cards for theft returns. It's a big deal.

But, we're going to be indignant about our inconvenience. And we're going to make a scene, while we're carrying, when we should be low profile. Because, when then police show up. They're going to run you and the gun and if anyone is watching, you're going to be the the gun toting low life red neck that thinks they're above the rules.

As I see it.
 
It's funny how everyone complains about the inconvenience and will just as soon complain about the rising prices due to cost that have to be passed back to the consumer because rampant theft is going on there daily. I thought everyone stopped shopping there anyway, because of the guns and ammo thing. They've instituted a relatively low tech process that can be done by low wage people. They don't know you from the clever shoplifters and the shoplifters don't all look like low life criminals. They look just like you.

I disagree - like most laws, these things only apply to people willing to follow them.
It's not going to stop people putting small expensive items inside the boxes of large cheap things. It's not going to stop people from stuffing their pants. It's not going to stop people from putting things in purses and backpacks. It's not going to stop people from returning empty boxes. Also - it is WELL known that the majority of loss is due to employees stealing - please tell me how this policy of checking customer receipts addresses that.
These policies are security theater that will not fix things.
The problem is that they let known shoplifters walk right out of the store because they've instituted corporate policies that say the "low wage people" aren't allowed to even give them a nasty look, much less confront them when they're spotted stealing.
How many times have we seen stories about employees losing their jobs for LITERALLY saving lives of coworkers/public by stopping a bad guy? Didn't somebody try to steal guns and ammo and run out of a store not too long ago, and the employee tackled him and was promptly fired for it?
Address the criminals first, then worry about the good people who are actually paying for stuff.
 
Yeap, can’t legally touch or detain you.

Sure you can - but you have to do it the legal way - here's NC's law on it.

15A-404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
(a) No Arrest; Detention Permitted. – No private person may arrest another person except as provided in G.S. 15A-405. A private person may detain another person as provided in this section.
(b) When Detention Permitted. – A private person may detain another person when he has probable cause to believe that the person detained has committed in his presence:
  • (1) A felony,
  • (2) A breach of the peace,
  • (3) A crime involving physical injury to another person, or
  • (4) A crime involving theft or destruction of property.
(c) Manner of Detention. – The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering the offense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
(d) Period of Detention. – The detention may be no longer than the time required for the earliest of the following:
  • (1) The determination that no offense has been committed.
  • (2) Surrender of the person detained to a law-enforcement officer as provided in subsection (e).
(e) Surrender to Officer. – A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law-enforcement officer and must, unless he releases the person earlier as required by subsection (d), surrender the person detained to the law-enforcement officer. (1973, c. 1286, s.1.)
So you tell the shoplifter they are being detained and attempt to do so - if they resist, you get to resist their resistance. You can't cut their achilles or anything... but if you have to restrain somebody that's trying to push past you, you gotta do what you gotta do.
 
Sure you can - but you have to do it the legal way - here's NC's law on it.

15A-404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
(a) No Arrest; Detention Permitted. – No private person may arrest another person except as provided in G.S. 15A-405. A private person may detain another person as provided in this section.
(b) When Detention Permitted. – A private person may detain another person when he has probable cause to believe that the person detained has committed in his presence:
  • (1) A felony,
  • (2) A breach of the peace,
  • (3) A crime involving physical injury to another person, or
  • (4) A crime involving theft or destruction of property.
(c) Manner of Detention. – The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering the offense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
(d) Period of Detention. – The detention may be no longer than the time required for the earliest of the following:
  • (1) The determination that no offense has been committed.
  • (2) Surrender of the person detained to a law-enforcement officer as provided in subsection (e).
(e) Surrender to Officer. – A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law-enforcement officer and must, unless he releases the person earlier as required by subsection (d), surrender the person detained to the law-enforcement officer. (1973, c. 1286, s.1.)
So you tell the shoplifter they are being detained and attempt to do so - if they resist, you get to resist their resistance. You can't cut their achilles or anything... but if you have to restrain somebody that's trying to push past you, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Walking out of a store with a bag isn’t probable cause. Sadly they do profile also, I see them stop more blacks and Latinos than white.
 
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Sure you can - but you have to do it the legal way - here's NC's law on it.

15A-404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
(a) No Arrest; Detention Permitted. – No private person may arrest another person except as provided in G.S. 15A-405. A private person may detain another person as provided in this section.
(b) When Detention Permitted. – A private person may detain another person when he has probable cause to believe that the person detained has committed in his presence:
  • (1) A felony,
  • (2) A breach of the peace,
  • (3) A crime involving physical injury to another person, or
  • (4) A crime involving theft or destruction of property.
(c) Manner of Detention. – The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering the offense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
(d) Period of Detention. – The detention may be no longer than the time required for the earliest of the following:
  • (1) The determination that no offense has been committed.
  • (2) Surrender of the person detained to a law-enforcement officer as provided in subsection (e).
(e) Surrender to Officer. – A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law-enforcement officer and must, unless he releases the person earlier as required by subsection (d), surrender the person detained to the law-enforcement officer. (1973, c. 1286, s.1.)
So you tell the shoplifter they are being detained and attempt to do so - if they resist, you get to resist their resistance. You can't cut their achilles or anything... but if you have to restrain somebody that's trying to push past you, you gotta do what you gotta do.
I hope you aren’t a judge or magistrate, your definition of probable cause is super liberal.
 
So many justifications for the loss of civility and we wonder why the world is slipping down the crapper.

You guys aren't sticking up for freedom and you're not sticking it to the man. All you are doing is spreading the seeds of misery about and giving people worse off than you crap just because you can.

It's good that some of you don't have the power to really affect peoples lives.
 
It's funny how everyone complains about the inconvenience and will just as soon complain about the rising prices due to cost that have to be passed back to the consumer because rampant theft is going on there daily. I thought everyone stopped shopping there anyway, because of the guns and ammo thing. They've instituted a relatively low tech process that can be done by low wage people. They don't know you from the clever shoplifters and the shoplifters don't all look like low life criminals. They look just like you.

I've personally witnessed 3 different thefts of power tools from Home Depot and been approached at least as many times in the parking lot and offered discounted gift cards for theft returns. It's a big deal.

But, we're going to be indignant about our inconvenience. And we're going to make a scene, while we're carrying, when we should be low profile. Because, when then police show up. They're going to run you and the gun and if anyone is watching, you're going to be the the gun toting low life red neck that thinks they're above the rules.

As I see it.

I disagree with you, but that doesn't mean we can't continue being friends.
 
Maybe it’s because I worked in retail while In high school and college but why get so worked up over scanning a dang receipt?

You’re not a criminal and you shouldn’t have to do something like this. Yes you have the right to not take 10 seconds out of your day to scan that receipt. That said why give some person making $10 an hour a hard time over something so small? Man there are bigger issues in this world than having some poor senior who can’t afford to retire scan a receipt.

As others have said, if it’s such an infringement of your privacy or such a pain why shop there? More theft will equal higher prices. They aren’t going to just eat that loss.... they are passing that on to you the customer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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So many justifications for the loss of civility and we wonder why the world is slipping down the crapper.

You guys aren't sticking up for freedom and you're not sticking it to the man. All you are doing is spreading the seeds of misery about and giving people worse off than you crap just because you can.


It's good that some of you don't have the power to really affect peoples lives.


I agree, Walmart has loss its civility by treating customers like criminals. Kinda arrogant thinking that ours lives are somehow better than someone who is working at Walmart. Please explain this.
 
"Their house, their rules..."

Hogwash! The transaction occurs at the self-checkout, money changes hands, title is legally transferred, with or without a bag, before you take a step toward the door. They can ask to see your receipt, and you can refuse... as was said, no laws broken by either party.

Circuit City used to do the same thing, only they checked everyone who departed. I always refused.

It's no different from "Excuse me sir, may I check to see if you have anything in your pockets that we think belongs to us?"

The answer is, "No, thank you."
 
"Their house, their rules..."

Hogwash! The transaction occurs at the self-checkout, money changes hands, title is legally transferred, with or without a bag, before you take a step toward the door. They can ask to see your receipt, and you can refuse... as was said, no laws broken by either party.

Circuit City used to do the same thing, only they checked everyone who departed. I always refused.

It's no different from "Excuse me sir, may I check to see if you have anything in your pockets that we think belongs to us?"

The answer is, "No, thank you."
Salty, I like it.
 
It needs a rusty DEagle in the background.
What it really needs is a live turkey. The only reason I went to Walmart today was to buy a Turkey Frier, not to fry a Turkey, but to scald a Turkey.

I raised a turkey for the last 9 months. Tomorrow, I'm going to kill it and I need a big enough pot and fire to be able to scald it before plucking and gutting it.

After checking at 4 local stores, I ended up driving to Wal mart and buying this frier.

Just because i walk into a Walmart does not mean that i consent to search of my new property.

Anyone who says this receipt checking practice is "ok" is only setting their kids and grand kids up for failure and giving away their own freedom in the process.
 
I avoid Walmart like the plague it is, but if I do happen to need to swing by I don’t stop while leaving. I don’t think it’s being uncivilized to refuse to be herded like cattle. I get it, a lot of people have the do what you’re told and no one gets hurt attitude, but many of us don’t.
Agreed
 
Sure you can - but you have to do it the legal way - here's NC's law on it.

15A-404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
(a) No Arrest; Detention Permitted. – No private person may arrest another person except as provided in G.S. 15A-405. A private person may detain another person as provided in this section.
(b) When Detention Permitted. – A private person may detain another person when he has probable cause to believe that the person detained has committed in his presence:
  • (1) A felony,
  • (2) A breach of the peace,
  • (3) A crime involving physical injury to another person, or
  • (4) A crime involving theft or destruction of property.
(c) Manner of Detention. – The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering the offense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
(d) Period of Detention. – The detention may be no longer than the time required for the earliest of the following:
  • (1) The determination that no offense has been committed.
  • (2) Surrender of the person detained to a law-enforcement officer as provided in subsection (e).
(e) Surrender to Officer. – A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law-enforcement officer and must, unless he releases the person earlier as required by subsection (d), surrender the person detained to the law-enforcement officer. (1973, c. 1286, s.1.)
So you tell the shoplifter they are being detained and attempt to do so - if they resist, you get to resist their resistance. You can't cut their achilles or anything... but if you have to restrain somebody that's trying to push past you, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Legal and a store's policies for its employees are two different things.
 
<iframe width="500" height="300" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In case you didn't see.
 
<iframe width="500" height="300" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In case you didn't see.

My internet is garbage at my house. It won't play that video. Any chance you could type out a short synopsis?
 
My internet is garbage at my house. It won't play that video. Any chance you could type out a short synopsis?

Well, he did put this quote in his video:

“Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn't measured by how many times you stood up to fight. It's not winning battles that makes you happy, but it's how many times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. Life is too short to spend it on warring. Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.”

I'm not sure I agree with that 100%. But personally I'd say there are many things on this planet worth fighting for and not showing your receipt as you walk out the door is not one of them.
 
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Well, he did put this quote in his video:

“Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn't measured by how many times you stood up to fight. It's not winning battles that makes you happy, but it's how many times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. Life is too short to spend it on warring. Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.”

I'm not sure I agree with that 100%. But personally I'd say there are many things on this planet worth fighting for and not showing your receipt as you walk out the door is not one of them.
Who came up with that quote? That's the most unamerican quote I've ever heard. Haha.
 
My internet is garbage at my house. It won't play that video. Any chance you could type out a short synopsis?

Synopsis is that shopping in a store "dissolves the curtain of privacy" that the 4th protects; Shopkeepers have a right to do receipt checks; SCOTUS has agreed

Correction: US District court in MA agreed, not SCOTUS
 
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@Button Pusher
Why doesn’t HD do this?
We do but we do not leave the store, we don't touch you or the cart or any items you have.

Important thing is they can not detain you unless they have witnessed the actual theft.
You are under no obligation to go back inside.
 
Synopsis is that shopping in a store "dissolves the curtain of privacy" that the 4th protects; Shopkeepers have a right to do receipt checks; SCOTUS has agreed
Thank you, Tim. I appreciate the response. Makes sense.
 
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So many justifications for the loss of civility and we wonder why the world is slipping down the crapper.

You guys aren't sticking up for freedom and you're not sticking it to the man. All you are doing is spreading the seeds of misery about and giving people worse off than you crap just because you can.

It's good that some of you don't have the power to really affect peoples lives.

Wait, you said in the same post that receipt refusers are spreading the seeds of misery, and implied they are partly responsible for the loss of civility and why the world is slipping down the crapper. Then you do a 180 saying it's good those same people don't have the power to really affect peoples lives? So which is it because what you just said makes no sense?
 
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We do but we do not leave the store, we don't touch you or the cart or any items you have.

Important thing is they can not detain you unless they have witnessed the actual theft.
You are under no obligation to go back inside.
That's something I kept thinking about today... Why would they follow me into the parking lot, shouting for me to come back and show my receipt?

They have cameras everywhere. In less time than it took to follow me, and less money than it took to employ three "yellow vest employees", they could have just watched the video of me scanning my own items, showing my ID to the cashier, paying for those two items, and taking my receipt from the register...

Why pay for three extra people at the door (to hassle every customer) when they could pay for one extra person watching the security cameras and actually catch the real shoplifters?

Unless the three people at the door are meaningless, except to present the illusion of store security...

That's what all this is... An illusion that Walmart is in control. But they are only in control if you choose to stop and follow them back inside...
 
I disagree with you, but that doesn't mean we can't continue being friends.
Certainly. I'm just saying I think they're try to do the best they can within the constraints of what they can do, to discourage the theft.

Interestingly, .ist if the Wally's I frequent don't have checkers or the gates.. one store I go to has it at one entrance, but not the other. So, I'm guessing it's implemented on an as needed basis
 
My response to the "check" usually depends on the demeanor of the checker. If they're aggressive about it, screw 'em.

We had one incident in Wake Forest where we're walking out with two baskets, my wife in front, me behind holding the receipt out. The guy told her to show the receipt (rather rudely) and she told him I have it. He continued to pursue her out through the two sets of doors yelling at her to stop. There were two cops standing right there - he turned to them and whined that she wasn't stopping, and they just laughed and shrugged.

While he was doing this, I and about 5 other people walked out without being checked.

Attitude goes a long way - on both sides of the deal.


As for those of you saying "don't shop at walmart", well, that's nice if you live in a large enough town where there are such options. Some of us don't have as many choices if we actually want to get anything else done during the day.
 
What it really needs is a live turkey. The only reason I went to Walmart today was to buy a Turkey Frier, not to fry a Turkey, but to scald a Turkey.

I raised a turkey for the last 9 months. Tomorrow, I'm going to kill it and I need a big enough pot and fire to be able to scald it before plucking and gutting it.

After checking at 4 local stores, I ended up driving to Wal mart and buying this frier.

Just because i walk into a Walmart does not mean that i consent to search of my new property.

Anyone who says this receipt checking practice is "ok" is only setting their kids and grand kids up for failure and giving away their own freedom in the process.
JR Moore's in Gulf has them
 
The only time they give me a problem is when it's absolutely the most inconvenient point in my day. Last time I was asked I had just carried a 50lb bag of dog food to the register and was headed out the garden section. A little old woman at least 80 and I'm walking out literally receipt in hand on top of bag on shoulder. I just said it's up here and I'm not putting this down and kept walking.


It's been years since I was in a Walmart. Last time I remember them wanting to see my receipt I had two or three bags in each hand so I told them it was in my pocket, go ahead, reach in and get it. My receipt did not get checked that day.

.
 
It's been years since I was in a Walmart. Last time I remember them wanting to see my receipt I had two or three bags in each hand so I told them it was in my pocket, go ahead, reach in and get it. My receipt did not get checked that day.

.
A little deeper... a little deeper... keep going... Yep. There it is...
 
Many years ago I worked store security for a major local dept. store. We were hands on back then. We carried cuffs, pepper spray, radios, etc. When we didn't see an actual theft but knew the suspect had taken something, we stopped being covert and followed the openly to be seen. That usually intimidated them to dump the goods. Some of these guys are professionals, as in they come in with shopping list and fill "orders". They would also maintain a tally of the cost of goods so they wouldn't go over misdemeanor if they were caught. I loved going against these pros. They knew the rules, we knew the rules and sometimes it was a real challenge. When ever we caught someone, we we would get their tag # and also go find the car. One time we found a car that the back seat was FULL if stuff from 4 other stores.
 
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