'tis the season for stupid receipt checking at stores

from JoeUser Forums

Apparently it's receipt checking season at a nearby Buy More like store (you know the store with the Blue Shirts who serve customers, or perhaps the Yellow Shirts at the doorway, or the White Shirts and Black Ties who work in a squad and look like a bunch of geeks), and though I really can't say why, the checker today got under my skin enough to really want to complain (which I have done through their website and through a call to their Best Corporate Headquarters for the place you Buy goods from).

I note that apparently one individual that got into a fight with the door receipt gestapo has spent approximately $15k suing over being illegally detained because of receipt checking policies. I hope they win that suit and set the Buy More like store and their cohorts in the receipt checking businesses back several hundred million so they finally get the lesson that customers that don't wish to adhere to voluntary receipt checking at the door and haven't given any other probable cause for suspicion as a shoplifter or thief may not be considered criminals and may not be treated as such.

Consumerist.com article about receipt checking (scroll down within same for info about the person suing over being detained)

4,439 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

I think I read about this receipt business.  From what I remember you're not required to show your receipt if you don't want to...something like that. 

~Zoo

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

From what I remember you're not required to show your receipt if you don't want to...something like that.

I am not sure of which store he is talking about, but at Costco, if you dont, you do not get out of the store!

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

I am not sure of which store he is talking about, but at Costco, if you dont, you do not get out of the store!

Membership warehouses can make it a requirement of your membership that you have to show the receipt and accept that and other restrictions/conditions on your continued membership and ability to enter the premises.

Regular businesses (such as Best Buy, subject of the original article here) can't do it without making it clear before you enter the store and/or transact business with them.  Once in the store a lot of their ability to restrict what you do, or require your compliance with requests goes away.  After you complete a purchase, they lose almost all leverage against you provided you haven't shoplifted right in front of someone.

Some stores (like the Best Buy in this instance) would like to change the rules along the way perhaps, and figure that if they can get the customers to behave like lemmings about the receipt checking at the door they can keep getting away with it.  Eventually it's accepted and standard practice, even with no legal basis or justification.

Personally I put up with the idea of showing the receipt most of the time, but I'll be darned if I'll let the stores establish it as a requirement.  By what I understand Best Buy corporate admits it's a voluntary practice to submit to the checks, but some of the dweebs they pay to stand at their door aren't so hot at understanding the voluntary part.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm a little confused. Why exactly do these businesses check receipts? Do they just want to know how much you are spending, or what?

Yes, I know I'm sheltered and naive...
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I love Best Buy! They are super helpful!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm a little confused. Why exactly do these businesses check receipts? Do they just want to know how much you are spending, or what?

No, to make sure you did not slip something extra into your bag (or to make sure a dishonest cashier did not).