12
Jan

WalMart sucks!!

   Posted by: Kim   in life

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I’m going to venapro kit
tell you all a little story about WalMart. This is a true story and has my blood boiling.

Yesterday we took the kids in town to WalMart so that could make some purchases with their gift cards that they received over Christmas. They both had enough money to purchase two Nintendo DS games. So after they made their selections we paid for their items and headed out the door. Well on our way out we were stopped by an employee and asked to see our receipt.

I looked at my husband and said WTH?? Is this new?? I showed her the receipt, but I felt like a criminal. It’s pretty bad when you are an honest shopper and they stop you so YOU can prove that you paid for your purchases. Well let me tell you, if these purchases were not for the kids I would have taken back everything I bought there. As it stands now, I will NEVER EVER step foot in WalMart again. I don’t need to be treated like a criminal when I’m trying to make some purchases.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm and is filed under life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 comments so far

Jenn
 1 

It’s been standard policy for years in a lot of Walmarts (and other stores around here) to check every receipt as you leave, but the good news is you don’t have to agree to let them check your receipt unless it’s a membership type store like Sam’s Club, and it’s in your contract. Walmart are the jerks about it though. If you refuse to let them check they like to use that as probable cause and call the police. Our Walmart even keeps a policeman posted at the door at all times. I think it’s a horrible waste of taxpayers money! Read all the Walmart receipt checker stories on Consumerist.

http://consumerist.com/search/walmart%20receipt/?refId=10

Even the grocery stores around here do it, so I’ve gotten used to holding my receipt until we get out the door, but most places wave you through if you just hold up your receipt.

January 12th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Holly
 2 

This is actually a common practice at our Walmart. One time we just bought groceries, but on the bottom of the cart we had a case of Kraft Mac and Cheese and the greeter asked for our receipt to make sure the Mac and Cheese had been rang up. It is a pain, but unfortunately it’s brought on by people who aren’t honest and sadly makes those of us who are honest feel just the way you’re feeling! I’m sorry you had to go through this, but it’s honestly not WalMart’s fault, it’s the fault of thieves and dishonest people. They’re also part of the reason we pay the prices we pay for things!

January 12th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Kim
 3 

Thanks for the comments ladies. I didn’t realize that this was a general practice now. None of the other stores in our area do this. Thanks for the link Jenn it was quite entertaining.

January 12th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
KnowYourRights
 4 

A more effective way to take a stand against receipt checking would be to continue shopping at the store and politely decline these requests. When a store greeter or security guard asks to see your receipt, just say “No, thanks,” and continue out the door.

A store may set a policy of checking receipts, but in order to comply with state law, these searches must be voluntary. Once you buy something, it becomes your personal property, and stores can’t inspect that property without your permission. See: http://www.crimedoctor.com/loss_prevention_3.htm

If an employee tries to prevent you from leaving the store, he or she is detaining you illegally and could be charged with false imprisonment (and simple assault if (s)he grabs or pushes you). Merchants can only detain a shopper with “probable cause” or “reasonable suspicion” — depending on your state — that a crime has been committed.

Declining a request to search your property does not give an employee either probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Both are established legal standards that require some sort of proof — such as an employee witnessing you steal on surveillance video. If you didn’t steal, it’s highly unlikely the store has any reasonable grounds to detain you.

No offense, Holly, but receipt checks aren’t simply a minor inconvenience we have to put up with because there are so many shoplifters. That’s a guilty-until-proven-innocent mentality. Make no mistake, these stores have trained loss prevention employees who monitor the store and will pursue and detain shoplifters. Those of us who don’t steal have no reason to play along with this security charade — asking to paw through your property is just plain rude. It’s poor loss prevention and poorer customer service.

My advice: Just say no.

January 12th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Sherry at EX Marks the Spot
 5 

It happens in our area frequently and not just at Wal-Mart. Like Jenn, I’ve gotten to the point of trying to keep my receipt handy until I get out of the door.

January 13th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Gaurav
 6 

I read some of your article and found your blog quite appealing..
Regarding Wal-Mart, I not knew much about this shooping mall or whatever you guys say it.. yet in India they not opened any of there branches!
And yes one more thing, i really liked your blog layout!!!! :)

January 19th, 2009 at 4:59 am
Benny
 7 

RELAX! There’s alot of shoplifting out there. And it is us honest shoppers who pay the price.

January 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

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