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Calm Man Successfully Buys TV And Denies Walmart Receipt Checkers
TheConsumerist ^ | March 7, 2011 | Ben Popken

Posted on 03/11/2011 7:51:18 PM PST by Daffynition

Rick is the Gandhi of receipt-check deniers. He writes in with a story of how he bought a 37 inch TV from Walmart and was able to successfully say no to the receipt checker blocking his way with his body. Rick did this by calmly and reasonably explaining his position to the assistant manager who showed up and by ignoring everyone around him who was trying to provoke him. Sometimes the quietest voice speaks the loudest.

Rick writes:

“ After work I stopped by the Walmart to pick up a TV for my girlfriend. After circling the whole store in search of the bathroom before realizing it was right next to the entrance, I made my way back to the Electronics section and picked out a TV quickly. I wanted a midsize Vizio, so I chose the 37" 1080p Eco model. I purchased the TV with my debit card at one of the rear registers about 20 feet away, and walked to the front of the store carrying the box in both hands.

I made it through the first set of doors into the front atrium of the store, but before reaching the outer doors I heard a man say "Sir?" I turned and faced Tony, the receipt checker.

Tony: May I see your receipt? Me: No thanks! Tony: Oh, ok.

I turned and continued walking towards to automatic doors. Tony called again, so I turned back.

Tony: No, I need to see your receipt. Me: No thank you! Tony: What do you mean? Me: I mean no thanks; I'm walking to my car with my purchase. Tony: Well, I need to see your receipt. Me: I just purchased this TV in the back of the store. I don't need to show you a receipt. Tony: Yes, you need to show me your receipt. Me: Actually, state law dictates that once I pay for something, I don't need to show ownership of it. I just paid for this TV, the receipt is in my pocket, but my hands are full, and I don't feel like getting it out. I'm going to leave now, thank you.

At this point Tony has positioned himself between me and the door. As I step towards the door he places his hand on the box in my hands and lightly pushes back, preventing me from moving.

Me: You cannot prevent me from leaving the store with my purchase. Please move out of the way. Tony: I can't just let you leave the store with a TV without checking your receipt.

At this point a woman, who has been standing with her family near some vending machine starts throwing snide comments at me such as "Just show him the receipt; it's not that hard" and "god, you don't have to be such a prick about it." This continues on for the rest of my "stay" here, but I choose to ignore her.

Me: Are you unlawfully detaining me? Tony: I just want to need to see your receipt before you leave. Me: I have paid for this, I have the receipt, but as I have said, state law protects my right to not need to prove ownership of something I have purchased. You cannot physically prevent me from leaving the store. I am now going to leave the store.

I try and step around Tony, but he again pushes on the box in my hands to prevent me from moving anywhere.

Me: Are you illegally detaining me? Tony: Yeah, if that's what you want to call it. (Realizing he just said something bad) Listen, Walmart policy says that I need to check your receipt. Me: Then Walmart's policy is in violation of Virginia state law. They should have informed you that you don'tneed to see a receipt. Tony: (Misunderstanding me) How could they have told me already that you'd bought this? Me: No, when Walmart trained you, they should have informed you that you can't force people to show their receipts. You can only ask. Tony: I'm just a first-class worker, I don't know about any of that.

Now I am starting to fill like the prick the woman near us keeps calling me. This atrium has two exterior doors on opposite sides, so I turn around ready to walk towards the other door to leave, but another receipt checker has walked up at this time. I can't remember her name, so I'll refer to her as S, since I believe that's what her name started with.

S asks me what's going on, and I explain that I'd like to take my purchase to my car, but Tony is demanding me to show a receipt. S agrees with Tony that I need to show my receipt for "purchases like this". I give her the same explanation I gave Tony, that by state law, I don't need to prove ownership of something I just purchased.

Me: You are welcome to check the security tapes to verify that I just purchased this TV at one of the registers in the back, but I don't need to prove ownership. S: You need to show your receipt before you leave the store. Me: According to state law, I don't. S: Well I'm sorry, sir, but that's Walmart policy. Me: Then Walmart's policy is in violation of state law. S: It's not that hard to show a receipt. Me: No, it's not hard at all, but state law says I don't have to. I'm going to leave the store now. S: No, the store manager is coming. Me: When is the store manager coming? S: The assistant store manager... Me: When is the assistant store manager coming? S: Yeah, she'll be right here. Me: Ok.

I finally put the box on the floor. (Woman: "Now just take four fingers, put them in your pocket, take out the receipt..." I'm mentally yelling at her, but completely ignore her externally.) After waiting (what felt like) 2 minutes the assistant store manager appeared around the corner. S walked towards her, and I waved at the store manager to show I wasn't threatening nor uncomfortable with her arrival (in fact I welcomed it.) S pointed towards me and walked somewhere else, but Tony stayed behind me the whole time. I can't remember the assistant store manager's name, either, so I'll refer to her as M.

M: Hello, sir, how are you today? Me: I'm doing fine, but I'd like to leave the store with my purchase. M: Well, what's the problem? Me: Tony, here, says I can't leave unless I show my receipt. M: Do you have your receipt? Me: Yes, but I just purchased the TV in the back of the store and had my hands full with the box, so I didn't want to take it out. Tony physically prevented me from leaving the store. Now I'm refusing to show me receipt for the principle of the matter. State law dictates that I do not need to prove ownership of something I have purchased, meaning I do not need to show a receipt. M: Hmm. (She thinks for a bit.) Where did you buy the TV? Me: In the back of the store. M: (Thinks a bit more.) There are two registers in the back. Me: *sigh* I purchased the TV at the register closest to the front of the store. There was a man checking out with his family at the register nearest the rear of the store. I paid for the TV with my debit card, and then picked up the TV myself. The cashier asked if I was going to carry it, and I said "yes, it's light." I then walked to the front of the store. M: (Thinks a bit more, taken aback at the detailed report.) Ok, sir, it is your choice to leave the store with your purchase. Me: Thank you.

I pick up the box, turn around, and tell Tony to "have a good night" as I exit the store.

The thing is, I bear no ill will towards the Walmart employees. They were simply not educated as to their role and lawful restrictions. I thought Walmart would have fixed this issue after all of the heat they've gotten about it over the years, but clearly this store didn't get an internal memo. The situation could have definitely gotten worse. I'm almost glad the second checker arrived, as I don't know what Tony would have done had I tried to exit the store through the other door. (He is an older gentleman, so I don't think he would have tried to tackle me, but if he had actually placed a hand on me or otherwise gotten more physical, I would have been placed in a very awkward position.)

I don't think an email to a Walmart executive will do anything. I'm open to any advice on how to inform this store's management about the situation, so that they can properly train their employees. I feel badly about my interaction with Tony and M, since the honestly believed they were doing their jobs. I feel like I should stop by and give them gift cards for performing admirably in the tough situation Walmart has put them in, but that might be received poorly. ”


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: walmart
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To: Daffynition

Wonder if this guy gets worked up about losing liberty; about the bankruptcy of the nation; the take-over of the nation’s health care industry or just a T.V. and having to show his receipt. I suppose there are priorities. What a doofus.

This is a fellow american; no wonder this country is in trouble.


221 posted on 03/11/2011 11:35:31 PM PST by Outlaw Woman
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To: Newtoidaho
The law should be changed that if the store wants to check receipts, they can!

It a private business, if you don't like it, don't shop there.

It's like big government telling bars and restaurants that the can't have smoking or use this or that oil to cook food.

Walmart should be able to do what it wants.

222 posted on 03/11/2011 11:36:54 PM PST by factmart
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To: Mmogamer

People will demand to see a receipt but not the Presidents birth certificate?


223 posted on 03/11/2011 11:40:00 PM PST by proudpapa
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To: Shethink13
I don't want to go to jail. Therefore, in Ohio, I do not buy alcohol with children I am responsible for. That's just the way it is. Wrong, yes, but you try fighting MADD and county children's services.

No offense, but you are naive.

224 posted on 03/11/2011 11:41:51 PM PST by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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To: Daffynition
the thought that these monitors are being screened 24/7 [like in a Hollywood movie or a casino] is probably unrealistic.

They're timestamped, and searched if necessary. Much more efficient and less litigious.

225 posted on 03/11/2011 11:45:14 PM PST by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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To: Above My Pay Grade
Physically preventing Rick from leaving the store without probable cause would be the violation of the law.

There's something about this notion that any given retailer is powerless to secure their own merchandise on company property that just doesn't sit well with me.

In the case of large items, such as wide screen TV's, A thief and a purchasing customer are virtually indistinguishable with regard to probable cause if, for arguments sake, we eliminate any electronic security measures from the item itself. In other words, the only difference between a thief and a purchasing customer is that the later passes through the register on the way out. This is because you can not conceal the item, therefore, behavior can not be an indicator as to intent. That seems to skew the odds in the thief's favor if he is able to defeat the electronic security measures. In such a case the store is only left with one option...visual confirmation of the receipt. I'm having a hard time believing that retailers are legally prevented from implementing such a system, in some way, on their own premises if they so choose. Of course, doing so may bad for business, which is probably why most retailers don't.

So, If Walmart knows that people are literally walking out the doors with wide screen TV's without paying for them, I'm to believe there's not a damn thing they can do about it?

Something doesn't sound right here...

226 posted on 03/12/2011 12:01:56 AM PST by csense
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To: Outlaw Woman
The guy probably belongs to a union and never stands up to them, tough guy!

or is afraid to walk thue a picket line, tough guy!

227 posted on 03/12/2011 12:02:22 AM PST by factmart
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To: juan_galt

“You can’t fight city hall . . . . . but . . . . you can piss on the steps.”

Oh well . . . . Who . . .


228 posted on 03/12/2011 12:18:05 AM PST by Archer24
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To: ponygirl
It turned out to be a shoplifter and our security guys WHO WAS ALSO AN EXEC was on tape holding the door open for him.

LOL! That happened to me first day in Charlotte, NC. Went to a corner store to get to some beer and held the door open for this guy coming out. Once I got inside the clerk is gasping like a fish out of water and pointing at the guy I just let out saying he just robbed her.

I'll admit, it was funny at the time :-)

229 posted on 03/12/2011 12:20:24 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (The last Democrat worth a damn was Stalin.)
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To: BibChr
I can't help but think he left the “p” off of the front of his name on accident.
230 posted on 03/12/2011 12:32:44 AM PST by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: buccaneer81; rangerwife

Yes, many states do run stings. The law says that anyone who appears to be under 40 yo must have valid ID to purchase cigarettes and liquor, and that the store must check, and that civil and criminal penalties attach to failure to verify valid ID.


231 posted on 03/12/2011 1:04:11 AM PST by Judith Anne (Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: rsobin

Yup, me too. If they ask for a receipt I say “No thank you” and keep walking.

I’m tired, I’m hungry, it’s the end of my day, my purchases are in a Wal-Mart bag and I don’t want to submit to some yahoo rifling through my bags, nor do I want to stop and pull my receipt from my pocket.

If they think I’ve stolen something, let them call the cops, otherwise, with no probable cause, and me wanting to get home and not be interrogated, get out of my way...

Ed


232 posted on 03/12/2011 1:21:20 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: mnehring

Where does it stop? What if they wanted to search your pockets? Search your wallet? Pull your weapon (if you’re carrying) and examine it? Examine your driver;s license?

Your purchase is YOURS the moment you paid for it...if you think someone can inspect your private property because you are on their property, do they have the right to search your car? No...they’re not LEO’s and your purchase are YOURS, as are the contents of your wallets and your pockets...

Ed


233 posted on 03/12/2011 1:25:17 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: Daffynition

A large part of the “shoplifting” problem is really employee theft. One tactic is the cashier pretending to scan an item and bagging it for an accomplice. Granted this is usually done with smaller items but if they could get away with televisions, they’d probably do it.


234 posted on 03/12/2011 1:26:23 AM PST by PLMerite (Thanks for fixing the clock.)
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To: Yaelle

I stopped buying at Radio Shack years ago because they always hassled me over not giving them my zip code...I wish Oregon had a law like that!

Ed


235 posted on 03/12/2011 1:37:33 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: RegulatorCountry

What people object to is the docile, slumbering attitude that says “yes, we will do whatever an authority figure tells us to do, even if it is against state law.”

Historically speaking, Americans were strong, independent people who didn’t take kindly to strangers ordering them to stand in line and let your person be searched, “no arguments now...just do what the man tells you to do.”

That we see such docility now, even in the freedom-loving confines of Freep, alarms us classical, freedom-loving Americans who don’t like being ordered around by people, against state law.

Ed


236 posted on 03/12/2011 1:43:34 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: factmart

And if they want to search your pockets? Your wallet? Your car?

Your private property is your private property and no on should submit to it being searched without PC.

Ed


237 posted on 03/12/2011 1:55:03 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: Artemis Webb; CarmichaelPatriot
Walmart doesn’t have the freedom to control product loss in their store?

Not at the expense of a customer, no.

Everyone on this thread who thinks differently is absolutely wrong legally (and morally).

The person on this thread who says this is how our freedom dies, by paper cuts gets the gold star. This is conditioning. No one should let the Receipt Nazis do this to them. No one. But this is 1950 anymore, I guess. People are made of mush now.

Don't forgot the Department of the ReichsFatherland cooperation Walmart is engaging in. That alone disqualifies them from any 'benefit of the doubt'.

It is an illegal search (and or detention) because WalMart is not private property in this regard. It is open to the public.

Sam's club is different, at least on the face until tested, as their membership agreement allows inspection of goods.(I'd argue that since they don't refuse membership to anyone that the same rules apply, and state law STILL Applies.)

Further the vast majority of shrinkage is from employee theft. Not customers.

Essentially you are being harassed to make sure their own employees are honest.

Not my problem.

238 posted on 03/12/2011 2:03:54 AM PST by EvasiveManuever (Shakespeare got it wrong. Not the lawyers... journalists.)
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To: KrisKrinkle
Some guy stands up for his rights or at least what he thinks are his rights, and a bunch of Conservatives(??) come down on him. Pitiful.

Thank you. They are the problem. The warm milk conservatives. Freedom only when it's something they care about.

239 posted on 03/12/2011 2:06:20 AM PST by EvasiveManuever (Shakespeare got it wrong. Not the lawyers... journalists.)
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To: txroadkill

That might be written policy, but it ain’t how they train the Receipt Nazis.

Intentionally, I’d bet. So when sued they can maintain plausible deniability.


240 posted on 03/12/2011 2:07:54 AM PST by EvasiveManuever (Shakespeare got it wrong. Not the lawyers... journalists.)
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