If you've ever shopped at Walmart or Costco, you've probably been asked to show your receipt at the door.
Shoppers are not legally required to show receipts at any retailer. But refusing to show your receipt could give a store probable cause to detain you, as my colleague Gloria Dawson has reported. One customer sued Walmart after repeatedly refusing to show receipts for his purchases at Denver-area Walmart stores, leading workers to detain him. (Walmart was recently found not liable for false imprisonment of the customer).
So why would any store check receipts if it causes so much tension?
The most obvious reason is to deter theft.
This isn't a bad thing: retailers are reeling right now from rising theft rates, and those losses can have a direct impact on shoppers.
Dollar Tree, for example, recently said it may lock up more goods in stores as it battles rising theft. Walmart's CEO has said stores would close if theft didn't drop. Target has said shrinkage — or losses from theft, fraud, and other causes — would grow to more than $1 billion in 2023, up $500 million over last year.
Why Costco and Sam's Club check receipts
But checking receipts isn't just about reducing theft. It also ensures you leave the store with everything you purchased.
At Costco, employees stationed at store exits request receipts from every customer leaving the building. The receipts include signifiers for large items, as well as item counts to avoid under or overcharges, Costco employees have told Insider.
"We do this to double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed by our cashiers," Costco said on its website. "It's our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control, and it's also a good way to ensure that our members have been charged properly for their purchases."
Walmart-owned Sam's Club has a similar policy requiring receipt checks at store exits.
"To ensure that you are charged correctly for the merchandise you have selected, Sam's Club may inspect or electronically scan your merchandise and electronic/phone or paper copy receipt(s) when you exit any Sam's Club location," the warehouse chain said on its website.
So there are plenty of reasons show your receipts when asked.
You aren't legally required to, but complying is simple and painless, and it ensures you leave with everything you paid for. It also avoids unnecessarily complicating the jobs of frontline store employees.
FAQs
Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, and many other retailers check shoppers' receipts at store exits. Retail employees check receipts to reduce theft and ensure customers leave with all their purchases.
Why do Costco and Sam's Club check receipts? ›
Costco, on its website, says the practice exists “to double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed by our cashiers.” The explanation continues: “It's our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control.”
What is the real reason Costco checks receipts? ›
We do this to double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed by our cashiers. It's our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control, and it's also a good way to ensure that our members have been charged properly for their purchases.
Why is Walmart checking my receipt? ›
Walmart generally has the right to ask for a receipt when you leave the store as part of their efforts to prevent theft. However, if you don't have your receipt, they may use other methods to verify your purchase, such as checking surveillance footage or using a receipt lookup system if you paid with a card.
Can you refuse to let Walmart check your receipt? ›
"In most states, you don't have to show your receipt at Walmart," according to attorney Shawn Breyer at The Hive Law firm. "But, there are five states where it's illegal and not showing your receipt is probable cause for shoplifting," Breyer wrote.
Can I refuse Costco receipt check? ›
Martin Qiu is an associate professor of marketing at Wilfrid Laurier University. He says that for member-based retailers like Costco, receipt checking is part of the membership agreement. “Customers have to agree to present their receipt for examination upon their exit from the store,” he tells Yahoo News Canada.
Why is Sam's Club going to stop checking receipts? ›
Sam's Club wants to eliminate manual receipt checking. The company is experimenting with new technology solutions to help shoppers get out the door faster after loading their carts and paying for goods at their local clubs. The warehouse club is testing artificial intelligence technology to verify customer receipts.
Why do they check your receipt? ›
Stores do spot checks to ensure that the cashier put all of your items in your cart, and to keep costs down by deterring shoplifting. So, undergoing a receipt check ultimately benefits you and might be worth a little hassle.
How much does a Costco receipt checker make? ›
The estimated total pay range for a Checker at Costco Wholesale is $16–$20 per hour, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Checker base salary at Costco Wholesale is $18 per hour. The average additional pay is $0 per hour, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.
Why does Costco draw smiley faces on receipts? ›
If your Costco draws smiley faces on receipts, count yourself lucky. The workers may just be trying to make your day (or your child's day). Like this TikTok from @peepmyfamily shows, kids may come to expectand adorably applauda beaming happy face on a Costco receipt. It's too cute!
If you forget to scan the Walmart Pay QR Code at checkout, you can still earn Walmart Cash on manufacturer offers if you scan your receipt barcode within 7 days of purchase. We'll check to make sure you haven't already received Walmart Cash on that transaction, and that you clipped the offer before checking out.
Can Walmart employees search your bags? ›
Additionally, those who respond and permit employees to check their receipts are also subsequently allowing them to search their bags, according to the legal site. The only scenario in which staff at Walmart could detain a shopper is by using a law that many states have called Shopkeeper's Privilege.
Why Costco check receipts? ›
Does Costco really need this extra layer of security? Yes, it turns out. The receipt check helps reduce shoplifting, which in turn helps Costco keep prices low. It also ensures you're not overpaying or underpaying for what's in your cart.
Can Walmart legally detain you? ›
Reasonable suspicion: Walmart cannot legally detain a customer unless they meet the criteria for reasonable suspicion of theft [1]. This means that they must have a valid reason to believe that the customer has stolen something.
Can Walmart look up my receipt? ›
Enter your card type and last 4 digits of card number. Enter your receipt total. Confirm the Captcha. Select Lookup receipt.
Why does Sam's Club scan receipts and items? ›
If you've ever wondered why warehouse clubs check your receipts at the door, the answer may actually surprise you. While it is, of course, to make sure you paid for all of your purchases, it's also to ensure your shopping experience was successful and that you were charged appropriately for the items.
What is the point of receipt checkers? ›
By giving the receipt a cursory glance, the employee can make sure a cashier didn't inadvertently ring up phantom crates of canned tuna. Of course, if someone did try to wheel out several big-screen televisions without a receipt, the exit door employee would likely make an issue of it.
Can Sam's Club pull up receipts? ›
You can also go to the Member Services desk at your club to get a receipt if you know the purchase date. Lost your receipt? No problem. For a copy of any receipt within the last 3 years: G o to the My Account page, sign in if needed In the My Account Menu under the Orders heading, select...
Why do stores scan your receipt? ›
Retail employees check receipts to reduce theft and ensure customers leave with all their purchases.
