Kroger apologizes to ‘highly offended’ customer after two changes force employees to step in even after you’ve paid

KROGER has apologized to a customer who became offended due to receipt-checking measures at the retailer.

Walmart is notorious for asking shoppers to show their receipts as they leave, but the practice has since spread to other retailers.

Getty

Kroger customers have spotted employees checking receipts and carts with wheels that lock when pushed outside the store.

To say shoppers haven’t been fans of the update is an understatement.

“Kroger, please tell me when store security started checking receipts and locking carts?” asked a disgruntled customer on X .

“As a loyal, cash-paying customer for years, I’m highly offended.”

Kroger apologized and requested more information to try to solve the issue, but this wasn’t an isolated incident.

“Not only does the [Kroger] self-checkout stop you every four items to remind you to scan and show you they are videoing, now they are checking receipts,” wrote customer Clarke in a Facebook post.

“The assumption of criminality when I’m spending MY hard-earned money on overpriced groceries.”

He said he felt like he was doing a “perp walk” when he left the store, which is when a person in police custody is escorted to or from the jail or a courthouse.

Others said the receipt checks make everyone feel like they’re being judged.

“My personal opinion, I think it’s wrong because even subconsciously, it makes everyone feel like they are being looked at like criminals,” commented another Facebook user.

CHANGING WAYS

In May, Kroger announced it would start checking receipts at six Cincinnati, Ohio , stores.

“At Kroger we are committed to providing access to fresh food and essentials. Safety is one of our core values, and it guides everything we do,” a Kroger spokesperson said.

“In response to increased incidents of theft, we recently deployed added safety measures at six Cincinnati-area stores, including periodic receipt checks.

“Although early in implementation, we have received positive feedback from associates and customers.”

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.

Obviously, opinions have changed since the service was expanded to other locations.

Kroger also implemented carts where the wheels lock up after they’ve been pushed out of the store.

Shopper Charles Valentino said the wheels locked up on him while he tried to take his groceries to his car.

“I suddenly have my wheels lock up in the entryway and some random guy walk up to me afterward and ask to see my receipt,” he wrote in a Facebook post .

“At first, I thought the cart just had a malfunction, but once I realized they did it on purpose, I was Pissed! I have half a mind not to go there again. I have other options nearby.”

Kroger customers have also complained about the store’s digital coupons.

One shopper said he wouldn’t go back to the store due to price hike fears.