topic Re: Showing receipt at store exit in Community Chat

Showing receipt at store exit

caroln242 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:39:10 GMT

Here’s an excerpt from an article I saw on myrecipes.com:

The Real Reason Sam's Club and Costco Check Your Receipts

It's not to check for theft.

By Zee Krstic Updated November 13, 2018

“I don't know about you, but I've always assumed the store employees checking receipts at the door are making sure customers aren't smuggling things out in their shopping carts.

Contrary to popular belief, especially at wholesale retailers like Costco and Sam's Club, the "Exit Greeter" (which is industry speak for the employee who will ask for your receipt) is actually there to help save you money. Mind blown, right? But the argument is this: The EG is checking your receipt for duplicate charges or for missed promotions, and if an error occurs, will help you get a refund as swiftly and smoothly as possible.”

Who are they trying to kid?? What a bunch of baloney! The only time they check my receipt is when I have something not bagged when I leave. If I have an unpacked gallon of milk, they stop me, look at my receipt to see that the milk is listed and say ok and (sometimes) thank you. They don’t look at my receipt long enough to see if I’m overcharged for anything or missed a promotion. All they want to know is that I’m not trying to steal a lousy gallon of milk.

So I’ve started putting everything in bags…milk, soda, potatoes, whatever. I am using my own bags so I don’t unnecessarily use plastic bags. If something doesn’t fit, I use 2 bags.

One time one of the exit police started pawing through all my groceries, looking for some item. He smashed some hamburger buns in the process and I finally had to tell him to get his hands off my food.

I don’t mind showing my receipt because they’re just doing their job, but please don’t insult my intelligence by saying you’re just trying to help me. And keep your hands off my stuff!

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:43:30 GMT

I read that also, who are they trying to kid. My local regular Walmart did the check for awhile, and an employee told me I was checked because of my big bags of pet food. I never thought for a moment that it was for my benefit.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

sunshine45 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:47:18 GMT

that cannot be true....they dont look at the receipt hardly at all so how would they really know if you were double charged for a carton of milk if it is at the bottom of your cart beneath everything else? at sams club they sometimes scan a few items with their little guns to make sure they were paid for.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Wsmom — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:49:45 GMT

I assumed it was to be sure big ticket items were on the receipt and bottom of basket items.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

riley1 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:49:55 GMT

I've had the EG at Costco actually count the items in my cart. And, if I have a large order, they will move things all around the cart.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

MamaWick — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:50:09 GMT

At Costco, my receipt shows number of items purchased and I've seen the EG count every one.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

scatcat — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:51:41 GMT

I find it annoying to wait in line in order to leave Costco. BUT I will say they found a mistake on my friend's receipt in her favor a couple years ago.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

MezzieStarr — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:52:24 GMT

@caroln242 you are correct. I had a neighbor who was hired at the beginning of the year to check receipts at the exit at Walmart.

They were checking for theft. If everything was in bags you were free to just walk out. If you had a gallon of milk or a bag of dog food in the cart unbagged they were to stop you and check the receipt.

He lost the job after covid hit. We haven't had anyone at the exits for months now. Rarely see a store greeter either.

He only did the job for few weeks and hated it. He said he was told off regularly by angry customers. He stocks shelves now.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

agb80 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:54 GMT

I don't mind if the exit police (love it) check my purchases which they scan in two places - once on the receipt and then on one of the items....why I have no idea. I accidentally stole something last time when I went through the self checkout lane, One of my items was shoved in between the front grill of the cart and a box of something else. I did not see it when I scanned my things and I was stunned to see it when I was unloading everything into my car. If I hadn't been so far away from the entrance and if it hadn't been for fear of covid with the crowds of people there that day....I would have gone back. But instead, I rode off into the sunset....a silent thief as it were.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Porcelain — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:06:20 GMT

It's unpleasant. My initial reaction is to get tense, like I'm being accused of something even though, rationally, I know I'm not.

They have RFID technology. I don't understand why they don't just program their inventory system more efficiently to keep track of items and compare gathered items against the purchases associated with the card -- as the person with the card and the goods passes through check out and gets close to the exit doors. Only send in the bouncer/inventory checker if there's a huge mismatch.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:27:13 GMT

The receipt checking thing irritates me...a lot! There is no way they are checking for duplicates or missed promotions...how could they even tell, they spend barely 10 seconds looking at the receipt.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Anonymous032819 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:33:50 GMT

It doesn't bother me in the slightest.

It's only takes a few moments for them to check my receipt and purchases.

It isn't that big of a deal.

I mean, if people are that upset over something that takes a few moments, then show your displeasure by shopping somewhere else.

People know going in to Sam's Club/Costco, that they'll have their receipt and stuff checked on the way out.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Kalli — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:41:19 GMT

@agb80 wrote:
I don't mind if the exit police (love it) check my purchases which they scan in two places - once on the receipt and then on one of the items....why I have no idea. I accidentally stole something last time when I went through the self checkout lane, One of my items was shoved in between the front grill of the cart and a box of something else. I did not see it when I scanned my things and I was stunned to see it when I was unloading everything into my car. If I hadn't been so far away from the entrance and if it hadn't been for fear of covid with the crowds of people there that day....I would have gone back. But instead, I rode off into the sunset....a silent thief as it were.

@agb80 I had a similar thing happen to me. I bought a waterproof vinyl mattress pad at Walmart. The package was small and thin. I'd put it in the seat section of my basket and stupidly put my handbag on top.

Went through self-check and forgot it was under my purse. Got to the car, unpacked my stuff, picked up my purse and panicked! I FLEW back to the door, pushing that rickety cart so fast it was bouncing and skipping over uneven pavement and potholes.

Burst through the doors, ran to the person near the registers and tried to catch my breath while explaining what happened. She chuckled, assured me it was ok and I went through the self-check again.

Why the panic? Because our Walmart is notorious for prosecuting shoplifters, no excuses EVER accepted here. The person is arrested, taken away and shamed when their names appear in bold print in our local newspaper.

In addition, as a public school teacher, I'd have very likely lost my job. It happened that way to another teacher in my district. The contract is worded in such a way that the district has all the rights in this situation and there is no recourse for the teacher. It's the teacher's word against WM and they've been through this countless times. I'm sure everyone claims they're innocent. I truly feel sorry for those who really did make a mistake and were found guilty.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Carmie — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:53:50 GMT

Our local Costco, just takes

the receipt and runs a line with a marker on it and hands it back.

Our local Sams Club studies the receipt. They count the items and then rescan one item in the cart with a handheld device.

A few years ago, my granddaughter and I went to Sams Club to get a precooked chicken. We also browsed and my GD found a book she wanted and we got a few more things . I paid for all the items and when we got out to the car. I remembered that we forgot to get the chicken.

So back we went. I had my GD remove the price sticker on the book while we were at the car. We walked into the store and she had her nose in the book and had already started to read it. I grabbed a chicken, paid for it and when I got to the door, I handed the lady my receipt for the chicken.

She immediately said, " you have to pay for that book too." My GD told her I already paid for the book a few minutes ago. Then the door lady demanded to see the receipt.

So, here I am, dumping out my handbag and turning my pockets inside out looking for it. I asked her to check their records but she refused.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I found it and handed it to her. You should have seen the look of disappointment on her face. She was high just thinking she caught a thief in the act.

As we walked back to the car, my GD mentioned that the lady was weird and so excited when I couldn't find the receipt. The poor girl thought she was going to go to jail for shoplifting.

I know for sure that Sams checks for thief and errors.

Our Walmart only checks the receipt for something is not in a bag. They catch a lot of shoplifters. I can check the police reports and see how many there are. It is pretty shocking.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:00:49 GMT

Our Costco barely looks at or touches the receipt. We don't even stop. Just walk slow, hold up receipt and get waved on. They wouldn't know what you are holding up.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

qvcfreak — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:02:01 GMT

Sometimes they don’t even check, they just wave me out

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

patbz — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:08:15 GMT

About 6 mths ago DH and I did self check out on a huge cart of stuff and I tied all the bags. Close to end of our checkout some odd code appeared on register for a $3 item. Immediately 3 associates spent 20 minutes tearing apart my cart of checked items and never found the problem. I was steaming! As soon as I got home I called manager and complained ( obviously no associate is empowered to make a simple decision to not do this ). I asked for a $10 gift card for the hassle and got it!

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

songbird — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:08:27 GMT

The Walmart near me stopped the practice when they got rid of their greeters. Costco still does it (I think) I haven't been in a Costco or Walmart in over 2 years.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Icegoddess — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:14:17 GMT

Doesn't bother me. They generally count the stuff to make sure it matches what's on the receipt. Big deal.

Re: Showing receipt at store exit

Cakers3 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:21:21 GMT

Many moons ago when DS was only around 3 or 4 years old we were stopped on the way out of a local store-this was long before BJ's, Sams, etc. were popping up.

He was holding his favorite stuffed puppy dog and the big bad store police stopped us and demanded where did he get this toy??

It had it's shirt obviously resewn to the body as well as an arm obviously restitched to the body and one eye missing (fell off in the car lol) It was as flat (almost) as a pancake from being held so close. I held it up and asked if this was the quality of stuffed animals sold here.

Now keep in mind this over-zealous employee actually stopped us going in the store-claimed we couldn't bring in a toy since it could considered stolen on the way out. I ignored him.

So here we have a police-wannabe seeing a well-used toy going in the store and asking for proof of purchase leaving.

Darwin would be proud.

I think he was just ticked off I had ignored him and tried to embarrass me.

And yes, DS still has that stuffed puppy stored away. LOL