I don’t think Rick was claiming Walmart was breaking the law by asking to see the receipt. I could legally ask strangers on the street for receipts for items they have as long as I don’t harass or detain them. Can I please see the receipt for the computer you are using now? See? nothing illegal. :-)
Physically preventing Rick from leaving the store without probable cause would be the violation of the law.
"Me: Actually, state law dictates that once I pay for something, I don't need to show ownership of it."
That's a straw man because Rick isn't talking about strange people on the street asking strangers for proof of ownership of things in their possession. Which, BTW, a cop could do.
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...