Receipt checker person - Theft deterrent or job creation?

[sbj405]

I've noticed more and more stores requiring you to show them your receipt as you exit. While Costco usually does look at the receipt and your cart, most other places just seem to put a checkmark or whatever on it. I usually walk right past and no ever stops me. Today I was chased into the parking lot to have my receipt marked. The guy didn't even look at it or what was in my bag. So what's the point? Does it actually cut down on theft? Doesn't seem like it would. It's good because it does provide a job for someone, but I wonder what the rationale from the store's standpoint is. :shrug:

[skygazer]

1. The excuse they give

Is to be sure you weren't improperly charged for any items. The reality is they're trying to catch theft. I don't know how well it works or if it does but from my understanding, they can't legally require you to stop and have it checked.

My opinion on it personally is that I don't really mind them checking it since I don't steal and if it does cut down on theft, it is keeping the price down.

[amazona]

2. the rationale is stop loss but really...

...it is just a job creation. I think it's pretty harmless. They do it at WalMart too. No one has time to go through a whole huge cart of groceries and check off each thing you bought against the receipt. Maybe it intimidates a shoplifter somewhere but I doubt that they recoup the cost of the job.

P.S. We have no Costcos. It's WalMart or nothing here. KMart doesn't have groceries other than a few bottles of wine and junk food.

[Lady Effingbroke]

3. At WalMart, I have found that most of the time you either wave the receipt

at the person doing the checking, or simply walk past them without even being asked to show a receipt.

When I had a Sam's card, which admittedly was about 5 years ago, the person assigned to check receipts was very thorough, going through and checking each item individually against the receipt no matter if your purchases totaled $50 or $500.

When I have shopped at Target, there have never been any employees stationed at the exit doors to check receipts.

Sadly, no Costcos in my area. :-(

[baldguy]

4. I won't shop at a store that does that.

It assumes that ALL the people in the store - customers and employees - are theives.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. They are Homeland Security personnel checking on

all us DUer's.... could be terrorists ya know... could be purchasing thousands of pounds of fertilizer, perhaps a few dozen hammers (in the right hands they can be perty nasty) stick matches (never know, lots of sulphur in them), and diapers... they would make terrific masks, (new of course). :)

[shesemsmom]

6. The one time that happened to me

I was PISSED> I was walking to feet from where I checked out and the heifer wanted my receipt. I wanted to shove it up her nose. :nuke:

[Merlot]

7. Just the type of job creation we need

More minimum wage, part-time, no future jobs.

[amazona]

9. well now in all fairness

The people who take these jobs as greeter and receipt checker in my area are older folks who just like to talk to people and want to get out of the house. Seriously, I've had a couple of them say this -- they just want to get out of the house. Me, I'd take in a movie or something but some people worked all their lives and, in retirement, have no hobbies or friends to keep them busy so they just look to an undemanding job. They just seem like lonely people looking for an excuse to chat about nothing.

A younger person (too young for Medicare) couldn't take such a job anyway -- doesn't pay enough to allow you to buy health care.

[Merlot]

13. I agree, greeter is a good job for older folks

My point was that it should not be considered "job creation."

I think it's good for kids to see older people active and contributing to society. And if it makes the older folks happy, even better!

[Coventina]

8. It's social programming to make you accept fascism

[Liberal Veteran]

10. They have always done it at Costco and I don't mind.

If it helps them maintain control over their inventory and prevents employees from "accidently" skipping purchases for their friends, I have no problem with it.

Costco pays it's employees quite well and they contribute heavily to democrats so I don't see it as some "evil plot".

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. They do it to tell employees that they are not trusted

Catbert invented it.

[cheezus]

12. other: Putting you in your place

King Walton doesn't trust that you peasants won't steal from him, so he posts slaves to guard his shoppes.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. Actually, much as I hate it, it helps

When I worked in a grocery store, we would, on occasion - and I am not lying at all here - get people who would just take a full cart out into the parking lot and load their cars.

Stores get so busy, with carts wheeling in and out, that it's easy to steal stuff.

Considering the number of people we stoppped at the grocery store, one can only assume that the number who made it to safety was perhaps about the same.

Thankfully, we were a store that bagged everything, so anyone going out without bags was automatically suspect.

But in shithole evil corporation places like SuperWalMart, and others like Costco, etc., in which no one bags your groceries, I can understand them using receipt checkers.

Whether you believe it or not, the truth is, there are a fair number of people who WILL walk out of a store with a cart full of unbagged shit, and who get away with it.

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. I had a neighbor once who actually paid his rent that way....

Loaded up his cart with cases of Budweiser and wheeled the cart right out the front door of the store, without stopping at the register to pay for it.

Sold the beer to minors at 10 bucks a case, and had plenty left to drink himself, plus pay all his bills. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen him in action (though I didn't put the 2+2 together in my head for a few minutes after that)

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. Yep. Like I've seen in so many corporate security videos,

and other places, all you have to do is look like you are doing something you are supposed to be doing. 90% of the time, perhaps more, you'll get away with it.