‘I will not waste more time’ says Walmart shopper who refuses to show receipt and wait in 2 lines before leaving store

A FUMING Walmart shopper has hit out at the chain’s receipt checks, arguing that they are a waste of time.

Walmart ‘s receipt checks have proved to be controversial for many shoppers and some have complained of feeling like a criminal.

Getty

Getty

“I wait long enough in line and I will not waste more time letting them check my stuff,” one furious customer wrote on Facebook .

Receipt checks have become a common practice for many retailers across the US.

The measure is designed to cut down on theft, but many shoppers think the checks are pointless .

“What is the point of checking my ticket? A ticket means I paid for my items. They should keep an eye out on those that walk out without a ticket,” another shopper said.

“I just stood in line and paid, [I’m] not standing in line at the door to get out,” a comment read.

Some customers have described how they have avoided the checks when leaving a Walmart store.

“I just hold mine in the air and keep on walking,” one user wrote.

Another shopper shared a similar tactic.

“Walk right past and when they ask I just say ‘I don’t do that’ and keep walking,” they explained .

“They always be like ‘You have receipts’ and I’m like ‘Yup’ and keep walking by,” another shopper wrote.

“I don’t allow them to check mine! Holler, scream, call the PoPo IDGAF!”

Other shoppers, however, have been more sympathetic to the measures.

“If you’re not stealing, why worry about it? Let them do their job,” one said.

“It is not the employees’ fault they are assigned to that job that day,” another comment read.

Walmart is not the only chain to have introduced such unpopular measures in-store.

OTHER RECEIPT CHECKS

Earlier this year, Kroger announced that it was introducing receipt checks to several locations across the US.

Six stores in Cincinnati, Ohio, had the policy introduced in May 2024.

The move was made after an increase in shoplifting in the area.

Shoppers, however, were not happy about the news .

Legality of receipt checks and detention

In an effort to curtail retail crime, stores are increasingly turning to receipt checks as shoppers exit.

Legally, stores can ask to see a customer’s receipts, and membership-only stores have the right to demand such checks if shoppers agreed to terms and conditions that authorize it.

Many legal professionals have weighed in and come to similar conclusions, caveating that all states do have specific laws.

Generally speaking, stores have Shopkeeper’s Privilege laws that allow them to detain a person until authorities arrive when they have reasonable suspicion that a crime, like theft, has been committed.

Declining to provide a receipt is not a reason in itself for a store to detain a customer, they must have further reason to suspect a shopper of criminal activity.

Due to the recent nature of the receipt checks, there is little concrete law on the legality of the practice, as it takes time for law to catch up with technology.

Setliff Law, P.C. claims that “there is no definitive case law specifically relating to refusal to produce a receipt for purchases.”

For stores that improperly use their Shopkeeper’s Privilege, they could face claims of false imprisonment.

“The primary law that applies to these types of wrongful detention cases is called ‘False Imprisonment’,” explained Hudson Valley local attorney Alex Mainetti .

“Of course, you’re not literally imprisoned, but you’re detained by a person who has no lawful authority to detain you and/or wrongfully detains a customer.”

It is likely that as altercations in stores over receipt checks continue, more court cases will occur giving clearer definitions and boundaries to the legality of receipt checks.

“If they want to be sure everything is rung up correctly, they should hire more cashiers,” one said .

Costco shoppers have voiced similar frustrations about the chain’s similar policy.

“What is kind of dumb about Costco is they don’t even really look,” a shopper said .

“They glance at the card, put a line on the receipt and that’s it.

“Not really sure what the point it… I could have stuff in my purse for all they know,” she added.

Alamy