Walmart shopper boycotts over in-store hurdles – self-checkout was catalyst

A WALMART customer has told how they boycotted the big box retailer after a trio of infuriating incidents.

The shopper encountered a comedy of errors during a string of visits to their local outlet, and has since refused to return.

“I stopped shopping at Walmart when they made me check out my own products, buy a bag if I want to carry my stuffs, and locked up my $5 item that I can get from the dollar store for $1.25,” the user seethed on X, formerly Twitter.

“Then treat me like a criminal over a flippin’ receipt.

“This will be one more reason.”

Receipt checks are just one of the many ways big chain retailers are fighting against retail theft. 

Retail theft costs the United States retail industry billions of dollars annually, according to the National Retail Federation.

In an attempt to fight retail theft, retailers are locking up commonly shoplifted products, and, in extreme cases, getting rid of self-checkout machines altogether. 

These increased security measures leave many customers angry and questioning whether Walmart can even enforce a receipt check policy. 

The U.S Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.

RECEIPT CHECK HATERS

Other Walmart customers have slammed receipt checking in countless tweets and videos.

One customer called the policy “stupid” while explaining an encounter at the store.

“The other week, I denied showing my receipt while leaving Walmart of out spite of how stupid it is and the man standing there flipped out demanding my receipt,” wrote one customer in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.

“So I gave it to him for him to glaze over it for two seconds and I said ‘This isn’t Costco, I don’t have to show you,'” he continued.

“I felt extra but very satisfied at how stupid his face looked after handing my receipt back to me.”

RECEIPT RIGHTS

Receipt checks have always been a practice at membership stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Customers at stores where you need to sign up for a membership are legally obligated to show their receipts per the terms and conditions of their membership. 

Other non-membership stores, such as Walmart and Target, have no legal right to ask to see your receipt after checking out.

Top 5 receipt checking tips from a lawyer

Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, spoke to The U.S. Sun about receipt checks and customer’s rights and options.

1. There has been a lot of debate around the legality of a retailer asking to see your receipt, but if it is within the store, it is completely legal. “There’s seemingly nothing illegal about that. You’re still on the company’s premises and their reason to do it is to prevent thefts,” Dowlatshahi confirms.
2. However, if they are chasing you out of the store, that changes things, Dowlatshahi said. “Location matters,” he explained. “If you’re outside of the store you’re in the parking lot and they come and start accusing you of theft and that you have to show your receipt, I think that’s a bit of a different situation because now you’re on your way.”
3. While customers are allowed to say no to receipt checks, it may cause issues if you do and the store suspects you of stealing. “You can say no, maybe it creates an unnecessary hassle for yourself because now you may have the police come to your house and follow up,” said Dowlatshahi.
4. If you are being barred from leaving a store because you refused a receipt check, you could have a legal case — but the store must have held you for a long time. “Let’s say it’s for hours, that’s certainly false imprisonment, and they didn’t have any impetus for doing so,” Dowlatshahi explained. “If a customer has been emotionally traumatized by being held for false imprisonment, I would definitely encourage [them] to sue.”
5. “I would say, show your receipt,” he concluded. “It’s just a really simple thing to do. If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do,” the lawyer advised.

The US Sun previously spoke to Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles attorney, about customer’s receipt rights after checking out.

Dowlatshahi informs customers that although the store has a legal right to ask to check your receipt, customers can legally refuse to show it. 

The only time customers must show their receipts is if the store invokes Shopkeeper’s Privilege, which allows stores to detain shoppers suspected of shoplifting. 

However, although customers are not legally required to show their receipts, Dowlatshahi advises customers to do so.

“I would say, show your receipt,” Dowlatshahi said. 

“If you didn’t steal anything, it’s relatively simple to do.”