Posted on 03/11/2011 7:51:18 PM PST by Daffynition
I completely understand their need to do this, and have no problem at all in cooperating. I don't see it as an infringement on my "rights" since I choose to shop where I shop. It's nice knowing that the prices I pay there don't include the cost of them having to write off lots due to theft.
Making a stink over this is just plain ignorant.
Alas, it’s NOT your receipt. It is theirs.
You are welcome to obligue their request, however if the law states, as it does, and as it should, that a store may not force you to do so, then you and the store need to respect the rights of folks who choose not to obligue their request.
I am sure I can find someone who thinks subjecting your child to a full cavity search at school when there is a suspicion of drug activity in the school is a reasonable request.. Just because you find something reasonable does not mean that A) it is, or that B) others should be subject to what you consider reasonable.
The law is the law, if Wal Mart detains people unlawfully they are violating the LAW. Period. Wal Mart nor any other company has the right to violate the law.
Hey, cut him some slack; his beeber is stuned.
I saw it happen.
(Hi, Al!) {waving}
They own the receipt? ‘Til it goes out the door, then it magically becomes your receipt?
That’s another reason to sidestep the clerks, say “No, thank you” and be on my way, till I’m outdoors and ownership magically transfers to me!
Ed
What you have is simple possession or temporary custody.
I doubt many states have laws forcing retailers to allow people to take stolen merchandise out of their stores.
I personally don't like paying for the theft of others through higher prices, so I welcome reasonable attempts to limit theft. Checking the receipt on the way out is, in my opinion, quite reasonable.
I also don't mind when a retailer checks my picture id when I use a charge card... because I have enough brain cells to understand the need for it and the cost of NOT checking.
No one has said anything about unlawful detention (except the website I referred to at the beginning of this debate).
Okay, let’s say they DO own the receipt until it goes out the door (which I assume is an invalid an assumption as the rest of your ideas) if I put their receipt in my wallet, or in one of the bags, how can they force me to show it...they don’t own my hands, that would reach for it, they don’t own my wallet, which they demand to be opened, and they don’t own the plastic bags that contain the receipt that they want opened. Unless you believe they own the shopping bags, as well?
Okay, let’s say they DO own the receipt, and I walk out without showing it to them, I guess I can, in your world, be arrested for stealing a receipt?
How much do they figure a receipt is worth? If I take that receipt to an auction house, Sotheby’s, or Christie’s, or if I take it to an antique dealer to be appraised, how much would they say the receipt is worth?
I hope it’s not worth over $1,000, because if it IS, I’ve thrown away millions of receipts in my lifetime!!
Ed
So all those samples I ate at Costco’s are still theirs, because they never gave me a release? (well, they did give me a realease, it was just to the water company, NOT the store!) and the paper bags the goods were placed in, they’re still owned by Wal-Mart, as I didn’t get a receipt for them?
And I never got a receipt for my receipt, either! So they must still own their receipts, else...where’s the receipt for the receipt??
And if they DID give me a receipt for the receipt, to release its ownership to me, does the receipt for the receipt ALSO need a receipt?!
Ed
When you decide to return your broken TV to Wal-Mart, imagining they will ignore the boot print clearly knocked into the case, THEIR DOCUMENT attesting to the fact you paid for it will be useful.
Without it I am sure they will require something more from you than your personal assertion that you bought the TV from them.
All of these things are covered under the Express Mail Statutes ~ and they are provided for under the "Post Offices and Post Roads" clause of the Constitution. The ownership of certain categories of documents is established in federal law, and uniformly followed by state courts. That you haven't run into the question is no reason for you to maintain your IGNANCE!
There have been several assertions about requiring someone to show a receipt, but none have been supported so far as I know.
Can you give us a citation or reference or something?
I'm not asking as a provocation or out of hostility. I'd like to have the information and I have been unable to find it myself.
What you consider reasonable, does not make it legal.
You don’t like paying for theft? Well guess what you need to stop purchasing anything everywhere.. all business involves theft.. its called shrinkage. A company’s desire to minimize shrinkage does NOT give it the right to break the law.
As to the retailer checking your ID to use your credit card, this has nothing to do with the law. They are not violating any law by asking you to prove who you are when using your credit card... in fact the Credit Card Company, (not you) actually own that piece of plastic, and set the rules by which it can be used, and they can cut off your or a merchant at any time from their systems if they so choose.
So you are comparing apples with oranges.
Wal Mart greeters have the right to ASK to see your receipt, they do not have the right to force you to provide it. You choose to obligue that is your right, other choose not to, that is their right.
I am not saying you cannot continue to happily obligue the requests of the Wal Mart greeter, however they have no right to prevent you from leaving the store with your property.. and refusing to let them look at your receipt is NOT evidence of theft.. Wal Mart has shelled out payments for detaining people over this crap, and will continue to do so because it is ILLEGAL.
Once you have paid for something, it is legally YOURS. You have no more legal obligation to show proof of that ownership to the Greeter at the door, than to any other person walking down the street. And they have no more right to DEMAND that you show it before being allowed to leave. Once you have paid for something it is yours, period. A retailer has no more right to demand you provide the receipt before you leave, then they do to come to your house and demand you provide proof you own the lawn mower that is in your garage.
The law is the law, and businesses must operate within the law.
So, yeah, they are not really yours ~ unless you can find a court ruling that declares those grocery bags to be PRODUCTS ~ which they may be, but usually, with logos and so forth on them the product would be "letters", and that flips the issue up to federal jurisdiction.
My local grocery hands out blank plastic bags. They look neater as liners in the IKEA plastic trash containers I use in my bathrooms.
Ham, you are still on their premises. They have just one hour to detain you while the police get there.
Bull. Show me any such law please.
Anyway... I welcome such activity, since I know it makes life more difficult for would-be shoplifters. I'm not one of those bleading-heart liberals who believes that its "unfair" or "racist" to make it difficult for thieves.
I smile and am friendly with these checkers... because I know their actions piss off the thieves. I know that's "unfair" to the poor thieves... but too bad.
“simply knocked one of his knees out from under him.”
And I would be the guy behind you beating your ass into the ground until you cried for your mama, then took you in on assault charges.
“Death by 1,000,000 paper cuts.”
Death by the “If you ain’t got nothing to hide...” crowd of wussies. During the Revolutionary War they were called Torries.
Okay, so Wal-Mart still owns all the receipts they’ve ever given me until I get a release of those receipts...should I call them and tell them I threw all their receipts out?
Also, what’s the best policy so I’m not charged with Theft Of An Unreleased Receipt? Should I ask for a receipt for the receipt, releasing their ownership of the receipt to me?
Can I “borrow” their receipt until I’m sure the device works, or the IRS doesn’t need it? What’s the time limit? How long can I keep their receipt until they need it back? Is it like a library book, two weeks unless I ask to borrow their receipt for another two weeks?
Thanks, I appreciate being schooled in Receipt Ownership!
Ed
You obviously have no sense of humor!
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