var json_comments = new Array("
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gp1138
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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This makes me absolutely fucking livid. I hate receipt checkers, and I hate being treated like a thief. If one of those people tackled me I'm not sure how I'd react.

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16 replies
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Cetan
January 12, 2011 5:51 AM
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Stories like this that make me want to go buy something from Walmart just to not show my receipt.

I could make a decent chunk of change from the lawsuits.

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VashTS544
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@gp1138: I hate pissing in a cup and I hate being treated like a junkie.

Seriously though; why do people get so 'livid' when they are asked for their receipts? Sure, this guy was assaulted but fighting against showing receipts just seems like such a hollow victory.

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dieselbug
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@gp1138: I'd get back there, demand footage from security cameras and press charges against the douche that tackled me. And the \"greeter\" for theft.

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Dyscord
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@gp1138: This is stupid. Wal-Mart keeps game consoles behind glass in the electronics dept. If you ask for one, they get it and you have to pay for it back there. I know sometimes they ask if you're going to continue shopping and if you are they'll hold it for you or send it up to the main register. But there is really no way you can steal an Xbox 360. So the fact that they took it back just because he didn't want to show them the receipt is crazy.

Luckily our wal-mart doesn't HAVE receipt checkers. Hell, I've seen people walk out and set off the alarms and they don't seem to care.

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JennQPublic
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Dyscord: When I bought mine from Target, they had it behind the counter, but the only thing between me and it was one of those curly plastic cords.

@treimel: The receipt checker didn't 'accost' him, he (at most) grabbed him by the arm. And you can't tell me that he wouldn't get in trouble if OP was stealing an Xbox. Maybe not fired, but written up, which can lead to termination, eventually.

Most of the time, asking to see a receipt is unreasonable, but in this case, it was reasonable. The OP was the unreasonable one. His own actions made him look suspicious.

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[DFX] Deimos
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@JennQPublic: Grabbing him by the arm is assault, plain and simple.

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Avrus
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Dyscord:

I was thinking exactly that. You can't even get an XBOX without begging for them to pull it out of the glass. Then they watch you like a hawk to make sure you pay for it in the 'electronics' section. Should you leave the electronics section without the guard (who's watching your every move) pay for it, he immediately challenges you.

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orielbean
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Avrus: If i were a scummy employee, I'd work a scam w/ friends to be at the electronic desk and print a strip of receipt paper for them to hold. that would get them out the door. This is what the receipt checkers are really doing - policing \"friends\" or allies of crooked employees who either ring up a dummy item or don't ring up the xbox at all when processing the sale. Again, the whole policy stinks because the normal customer never agreed to checking in the first place. But that's why it exists.

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JennQPublic
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138: I know this puts me in the minority, but OP's a douchebag. He didn't have a bag of M&Ms, he was walking out with a freaking Xbox under his arm.

Ordinarily I don't support showing your receipt, but if the receipt-checker lets someone just saunter out with a stolen Xbox, he might lose his job. Just show the poor guy making minimum wage your receipt for a second.

Also, when I bought my Xbox from Target, I paid at the back of the store and did walk right out unquestioned. I thought it was odd at the time.

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treimel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@JennQPublic:
Well, it's not just that you're in the minority, you're just wrong on the facts: no, the receipt checker will *not* lose his job for letting him walk right out, because it is the clear policy of Wal-Mart not to chase *anybody* even if they know for a fact that the person *is* a thief, In reality, it is a firing offense for the receipt checker to physically accost anybody. Moreover, in these circumstances, the law is on the op's side, as shopkeeper's privilege would not apply in any state.

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mac-phisto
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138:

If one of those people tackled me I'm not sure how I'd react.

lie mostly still, but be sure to moan a lot & grab the back of your neck. wait for paramedics to arrive & enjoy the trip to the hospital. dream about the 102\" tv you'll be able to buy with the settlement money along the way.

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Scoobatz
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138: So, what happens if you tell them you lost the receipt already? Are you automatically charged for shoplifting?

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sonneillon
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138: I dunno about you, but I carry a stun gun so I imagine the video would end up on youtube.

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El_Fez
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138: Oh, I know EXACTLY how I'd react. Someone else is going home with a black eye.

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katstermonster
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@El_Fez: I'd send them home with an assault charge. More satisfying at the end of the day, and it means that we don't have matching gifts. heh.

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SnoopyFish
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@El_Fez: Yah. I am really sure you would punch someone who \"easily weights twice as much\" as you. I think I would pay to see that.

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donnie5
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish: Honestly, fight or flight takes over, you never know what can happen.

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El_Fez
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish:

A) How do you know I don't know how to take care of myself? I could have taken self defense course or know some kung fu or something?
B) If they clock in at 500 pounds, the only thing they'll be chasing down is a doughnut.

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Citizen Kang
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish:

Wouldn't it be cool if El_Fez weighed 500 pounds? It'd be like that BBC Planet Earth series when we see 2 one-ton walruses going at it over the attentions of a female.

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cluberti
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish: Just because you're small you can't scrap with someone significantly larger? You'll find that size isn't always a good predictor of fight outcomes :).

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CumaeanSibyl
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@cluberti: Not always, no, but it is if the fight starts with you getting tackled to the ground. At that point it's pretty much over.

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SnoopyFish
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@cluberti: Ok, I want to watch you fight someone twice as heavy as you. Then I will listen.

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katstermonster
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish: *raises hand* Done. And it was someone with comparable training. Size is not always a good indicator, but if OFTEN is.

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MostlyHarmless
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@katstermonster: Hahahaha good one. Totally agree with you on that one. I did karate as a kid, and though very few kids were actually taller, there were a lot who were twice as big :P

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Chumas
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@SnoopyFish: Eh, I weigh 250 and my Sensei can kick my balls from one end of the dojo to the other without breaking a sweat.

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loueloui
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Chumas:
Your sensei isn't also a Walmart receipt checker is he? In that case I would probably hand it over.


I have this odd picture in my head of Fu Man Chu with long painted fingernails, and a blue vest with a smiley face.

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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@cluberti: absolutely. The shorter you are, the closer your teeth are to their vunerables ;)

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treimel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138:


The receipt checker didn't tackle him--the other customers did. The receipt checker then came and \"grabbed [his] arm\"

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gp1138
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@treimel: I understood that, I meant bystanders by \"those people\"- my bad.

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treimel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@gp1138:


Also, the bystanders were clearly motivated by the receipt checker's screaming, so it's all of a piece.

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mariospants
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@treimel: Agreed. Since when does \"RECEIPT!\" = \"THIEF!\". OP should sue, sue, sue, sue, sue. And then sue some more.


Reason # 468,212 why I NEVER shop at Wal Mart.

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Reading Rainbow
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@mariospants: FTFW
Agreed. Since when does \"!RECEIPT!\" = \"THIEF!\". OP should sue, sue, sue, sue, sue. And then sue some more.

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illtron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Why the hell didn't he call the police? He was assaulted. Hell, even if he did steal it, that would be considered assault.

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12 replies
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nelsonj1998
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@illtron: In addition to him being assaulted, didn't the receipt checker commit theft by taking the XBox back from him and going inside with it?

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Difdi
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@illtron: If someone suspects you are a thief, follows you, and you take off running, that is an act of guilt, not innocence.

Tackling a thief on the store's property might get the employee in trouble for possibly violating policy, but it's not unjustified.

Now, if the OP had just been minding his own business, walked out with his property normally (rather than acting guilty like he admits he did), and was tackled, that would be another matter entirely. As it is though, I'd say that the OP was at fault here, for acting like a thief in front of an employee who obviously already suspected him of shoplifting.

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bwcbwc
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Difdi: I don't think it was an employee who tackled him. He says \"some Walmart patrons\" decided to get in on the game and one of those tackled him. Definitely submit a police report and get the parking lot security tape from Walmart here.

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JollyRogargh
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Difdi: I am sorry, but if I was being chased by a mob of Walmart patrons (who can weight well over 300 pounds) I would run for my life as well.


The guy was going to get tackled/physically restrained no mater what he did. Even if he stopped and just stood there you can bet your ass some of the gung ho \"good samaritans\" would've tackled him regardless.


Mob mentality is dangerous.

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nofelix
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Difdi:

:(

Running is not an act of guilt. Stealing is. He didn't steal.

This is why we have police, who are allowed to detain suspicious people because they've been trained in the responsibilities that go along with this power. Walmart employees and fat guys in the parking lot have not.

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andrewe
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@DifdiNow, if the OP had just been minding his own business,...:

This is exactly what happened. All was fine until the WalMart employee started yelling \"receipt\" at the customer which caused other customers to run at the guy. Frankly, if I saw a few burly guys, not WalMart employees, running at me I'd run away too.

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Kyin
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Difdi: @Difdi: I agree with you in regards to how it must have looked. However, if someone twice your size starts running at you I bet you'd start running too. Especially seeing as there was no apparent reason for the guy to be running at him.

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Ferris152
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Difdi: \"You say potato...\" Running from people who are chasing you and yelling at you isn't necessarily \"an act of guilt.\" That's the act of a person being attacked by an angry group of people. And in this scenario, it's an angry group of people who falsely assumed based on their own ignorance that a person who doesn't show a receipt must definitely be a thief.

Tackling a thief on the store's property is unjustified if that person is not actually known to be a thief. Even if they are a thief, it's still unjustified depending on the laws of your state. Receipt checkers aren't necessarily security guards/loss prevention staff and they're definitely not police officers.

Imagine you're leaving the store and you get a call from a relative saying that your (insert relative here) is dying and you need to get there right away. You skip the receipt line and start running for your car. Do you think it's justifiable that someone tackle you? Thieves aren't the only people who run from those who are chasing them. And if you're going to ask: yes, even if you are innocent, you do have something to fear.

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thisistobehelpful
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@illtron: Yeah as soon as he stood up he should've been dialing 911 and staring at the guy who tackled him just in case he tried to bolt.

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Reading Rainbow
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@thisistobehelpful: Oh definitely. You can probably sue Walmart here - the checker is NOT supposed to attempt to catch thieves anyways, haven't there been stories of employees catching thieves and being fired for it for not following store policy? The checker was yelling it - getting \"good\" samaritans to help. That has to fall under some sort of accountability.

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zombies.like.lattés.too
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@illtron: actually, it would be considered battery since in this case the use of force by the tackling patron resulted in harmful contact.

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ubermex
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@zombies.like.lattés.too: Assault/Battery differ dramatically from state to state. Sometimes battery is hitting, sometimes assault is hitting. Unless you look it up for Georgia, you're giving a possibly unhelpful correction.

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FooSchnickens - Full of SCAR
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@ubermex: Assault in GA is typically \"brandishing\" a weapon of some sort (gun, knife, fists, brromstick, etc) against another party or making moves to commit~ battery which is the actual physical contact.

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Taelech
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: Zombies may have been referring to the tort of assault and the tort of battery instead of the criminal version of those acts.

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ubermex
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Taelech: Those things are defined state by state in both civil and criminal law. It's irrelevant.

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Taelech
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: And no state is dumb enough to muddle with the definitions of commonlaw torts such as assault and batery. Zombies is right.

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hotdogsunrise
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Taelech: You must not have met the glorious state of New York.

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Taelech
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@hotdogsunrise: New York is no exception. It has a nonstandard criminal definition of assault (causing harm, not just causing imminant anticipation of harm) but the torts are standard.

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SadSam
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@hotdogsunrise:


Sue Wal-Mart, doesn't sound like you can sue the guys who tackled you since you can't identify them but since Wal-Mart employee requested tackle by bystanders, one can argue they are responsible.


I would sue and (blame the OP) don't shop at Wal-Mart or any other store that has a policy of receipt checking (except for those stores that require it by contract, i.e. CostCo). Wal-Mart has a standing receipt checking policy, punish them for same by not shopping there.

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bwcbwc
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@SadSam: Might be identifiable from parking lot security recording. But he better hurry. I'm sure that's a tape Walmart would like to \"lose\" as soon as possible.

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MostlyHarmless
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Oh awesome. Receipt checking, Walmart, XBOX 360, and violence, all in one single story just days before Black Friday.

Methinks Chris Walters is trying to troll all of us.

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7 replies
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Blueskylaw
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@MostlyHarmless:


If only there was a boxcutter, a snowglobe and a moonlighting TSA agent also involved this story would go down in the annals of Consumerist as one of the great ones.

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Traveshamockery
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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XboxExec421: \"The console-modding jerk deserved what he got\"

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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: I'm thinking it's a reward for the line-cutter Walmart story, where there was really nothing about Walmart to twist our knickers over.

Perhaps it's a safety valve, as walking around with too much unvented Wal-rage is unhealthy?

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Chris Walters
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: My only regret is not being able to work \"Geek Squad\" or \"Bank of America\" into the headline.

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MostlyHarmless
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Chris Walters: hahahahahaha that would be epic. However you COULD have worked in a jab about how the treatment for that scratch was declined by the insurance company, because being an alleged libertarian is a pre-existing condition. And how that led to gangrene. So now A&F refuses to hire the OP, and he cant even use a car, because the only cars that could have been modified for his use were all crushed under the Cash4Clunkers program.

I could go on, but I have a deadline to meet.

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Homerjay is utterly alone.
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Chris Walters: \"Assault: Reader Says He Was Tackled For Not Showing Receipt. Bank of America and Geek Squad Involvement Still Under Investigation.\"

By you, that is.

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Homerjay is utterly alone.: If you really wanted to nab all the trolls:


\"Assault: Bank of America Customer/Geek Squad Applicant Says He Was Tackled at Wal-Mart For Not Showing Nazi T-Shirt Receipt. Squished His McDonald's and Fell Into Breastfeeding Woman.\"

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mianne
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Laura Northrup: Don't forget the part where the person doing the tackling turns out to be a Comcast CSR, and that his ultimate settlement of $125 is the net paid out by AIG after they took their $499,875 cut of the award for executive bonuses.

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katstermonster
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Homerjay is utterly alone.: *BANG* That was my head exploding.


You just got <3'd.

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Alvarez
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: I know right. This made me so mad and still wanting answers that I had to back away from the PC and wonder if it was a troll.

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IphtashuFitz
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'd file a police report ASAP. Chances are WalMART has video surveillance of the parking lot and the whole thing might have been caught on tape.

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9 replies
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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@IphtashuFitz: Yes AND subpoena the store for purchase records so the tackler can be arrested and charged.

Honest to goodness, soon there will be anti-receipt gangs having ok corral shootouts with WalMart receipt nazi squads in parking lots.

WalMart corporate is escalating this needlessly and there will be deaths soon over receipts - just watch.

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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: The other thought, NOT that I want it or encourage it, but one day soon the receipt checkers may harass the wrong psychopath in the parking lot who will return armed and shoot every staff member he can find point blank dead in short order, or run some over in the parking lot. Completely preventable and unnecessary, but that's where this is headed. Walmart corporate should be sued for promoting an environment inciting and encouraging physical violence over receipt witch hunts at their stores. They already promoted the death of one employee the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas at an entrance, obviously they are showing the same \"Christian Corporate Values\" for their workers here.

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Traveshamockery
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer:

Wow, worst post ever.

The other thought, NOT that I want it or encourage it, but one day soon the receipt checkers may harass the wrong psychopath in the parking lot who will return armed and shoot every staff member he can find point blank dead in short order, or run some over in the parking lot.
Nice fear mongering! What gives you the idea this might EVER happen?

Walmart corporate should be sued for promoting an environment inciting and encouraging physical violence over receipt witch hunts at their stores.
You go ahead and file that lawsuit. Good luck with that.

They already promoted the death of one employee the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas at an entrance
They \"promoted\" the death of an employee? Oh, and I guess you couldn't be bothered to actually research when that happened, since you don't even know which holiday it occurred on. You've lost all credibility.
obviously they are showing the same \"Christian Corporate Values\" for their workers here.
Never miss an opportunity to bash Christians. Where, praychance, does Walmart list \"Christian Corporate Values\" in their mission statement or other corporate documentation? Sam Walton is long gone, friend, and his values left with him.
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JennQPublic
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Traveshamockery: \"Nice fear mongering! What gives you the idea this might EVER happen?\"

Ever read a news story that takes place in Florida?

Anything is likely there. :-p

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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Traveshamockery: Oh shut up and calm down, troll.

Christians have wreaked more havoc on humanity and the world generally speaking than anyone, while pretending to be victims, let's just agree to disagree on that.

Just in my personal life as a gay man I see over and over \"Christians\" want the right to kill me on the street and take away all my rights to even exist, but the second someone questions their rights, which are never threatened, they scream bloody murder. So they don't get sympathy from me - ever.

Here is proof of their Christian capitalist beliefs in action: [www.forbes.com]

We've seen on tv more than enough psycopaths that lose it when given the chance and do mass shootings, even those you suspect the least in positions that shouldn't do so. Fort Hood ring a bell? This kind of thing just encourages them to come out of the woodwork.

This story, which you could have found on Google in two seconds if you weren't lazy proves I was right - day after Tgiving last year:
[www.nydailynews.com]

They promoted his death by opening doors to an out of control mob instead of having security establish an orderly line for entry with controlled progress of people filing single in only so many at a time.

Gawd, interpreting for these learning disabled readers, I tell ya!

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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: By the way, I might add, after every single solitary mass shooting tragedy, there is the obligatory wringing of hands and falsely caring QUESTIONS by the media like

WHAT SETS PSYCHOS OFF?
HOW CAN THIS BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE?
WHAT ARE THE ANSWERS TO BE FOUND IN THIS TRAGEDY?
How can YOU be safe when shopping?

Now here we have a perfect pristine example as to what sets people off and raises risk, but yet again, nothing will be done until people are shot to death over it.

When you wrongly subject paying honest customers to ridiculous invasive, offensive, and ineffective security measures for no reason, it pisses them off, and some of them will go mental and lose it, reacting violently, because, well, society sucks more than ever, violence is glamorized in every media outlet possible 24/7, and people are made to think it is okay or cute to shoot and kill.

HENCE my claims above, WalMart is needlessly building up to a national tragedy mass shooting...like I said, just watch...

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ludwigk
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: Instead of your ridiculous situation, what about the much more likely situation where either the shopper, or the vigilante customer has a gun and pulls it out? That's all the escalation necessary for a tragic result, and not that unlikely in our country.

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qcgallus
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ludwigk: I asked about this issue the last time this came about.

As far as I understand, if I am returning to my car in a Wal-Mart parking lot (in MN, mind you), with my gun on me, and someone is charging at me, and I believe my life is in danger, I can draw and shoot. This is as *I* understand it.

I was corrected in my prior question in regards to being held if they think you stole something, however that situation is, also, ambiguous.

I'd like to know what any other permit holders (in any state) think.

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SadSam
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@qcgallus:


Same as in Florida, concealed weapon law and no requirement to retreat self defense law. Guns and charging crowd could easily equal death.

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qcgallus
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@SadSam: Yeah, the requirement to retreat in MN was repealed in Aug.

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Traveshamockery
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ludwigk:

Instead of your ridiculous situation, what about the much more likely situation where either the shopper, or the vigilante customer has a gun and pulls it out? That's all the escalation necessary for a tragic result, and not that unlikely in our country.
Actually, it's quite unlikely, considering thousands of receipts are being checked as we type, and I've yet to hear of a shooting occurring over one. What's your definition of \"unlikely?\" I don't think it means what you think it means.
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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Traveshamockery: Fort Hood was unlikely too - yet it was on the news. I rest my case.

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secret_curse
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@IphtashuFitz: Chances are also pretty damned slim of that video surveillance ever getting into the OP's hands. He probably should've called the police immediately to press charges against the jerk that tackled him. Can't say I'd be thinking that clearly if it'd just happened to me, though. I would've probably been a little too pissed...

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ludwigk
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@secret_curse: That's why we have discovery rules to force the production of such evidence.

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treimel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ludwigk:
and spoliation instructions if it \"disappears\"

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ubermex
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@IphtashuFitz: In an actual court, they'll basically be able to say that the guy acted in good faith thinking he was a shoplifter. The real culprit is walmart for basically indicating him as a shoplifter to the crowd by shouting after him that way.

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AvisCinna
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: Sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. Unless you witness a felony or are directed to act by a law enforcement officer you have zero right to touch the person. This guy should file a police report asap and hopefully get the police to identify this guy from the cameras.

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craptastico
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: the WalMart guy yelled \"receipt\" so he could check his receipt, not thief, or anything that would seem to indict him as a thief. the crowd was just overzealous, but i don't think it was WalMart's fault

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wgrune
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex:


IANAL, but I dont't think it quite works like that.


Acting in good faith does not give someone totally unrelated to the \"crime\" the right to carry out some vigilante style justice in the parking lot.

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ludwigk
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wgrune: Well, if I put on my exam issue spotting glasses, it looks like this:

Tackler has tort actions coming his way for assault, battery, and false imprisonment.

walmart checker might get some kind of misdemeanor for inciting panic or disturbance of the peace based on local whacko statutes for yelling \"RECEIPT!\", but he doesn't get soliciting, aiding, or abetting the Tackler because he did not have a criminal mens rea.

Walmart guy gets battery for grabbing the arm of the Shopper.

He also gets a negligent, or reckless cause of action for allowing the customer to get tackled in the first place, since as an agent of walmart, he owed a duty of reasonable care to ensure the customer's safety at an establishment open to the public.

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bluevideo
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@ludwigk: I'm reading your comment in the middle of our 10 minute break in Torts class... thank you for that.

I say haul 'em all to court and go all Summers v. Tice on their arses!

/not really

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nofelix
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ludwigk: What about taking the XBOX from the shopper afterwards? That seems like theft.

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floraposte
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: And unless the guy stupidly volunteered his name, it's highly unlikely that the OP would be able to find out who he was.

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H3ion
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Your principal complaint is with the bozo who tackled you and who is subject to an assault charge. Maybe the store has tape and you can identify him from that.

I don't know if this would fly but the receipt checker might be guilty of aiding and abetting the assault by his actions.

That said, it sounds like the XBox was not in a bag so it would not be unreasonable, when you started running, for someone to think you had stolen it. Different story if the product was in a WalMart bag.

Would it have killed you to show the receipt?

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16 replies
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andy966
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@H3ion: I believe you are missing the point of this. Wal-mart has no right to even ask for your receipt. If they ask you and you comply, you are simply volunteering to show your receipt. They have no legal basis to demand this nor to detain you. If Wal-mart can't think of a better way to minimize theft, then that is not consumer's problem. Target uses cameras and security sensors. No one asks for your receipt. This proves that Wal-mart would rather choose the lazy way of loss-prevention as well as assuming guilt before proven guilty.

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davidc
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: Would it have killed you to show the receipt?

Actually, yes.

It would have killed ... my sense of pride, my sense of decency, my sense of freedom, my sense privacy.

And lastly, it would have killed my sense of \"not living in Nazi Germany where I have to show my papers everywhere I go\".

Ok, so that is a bit dramatic, but still.

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korybing
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@david.c: Oops, Godwin's Law. This thread is closed.

There are valid points on both sides of this story. If the guy was just walking out with an unwrapped unmarked Xbox it is not unreasonable for the security guard to want to make sure he paid for it. Tons of merchandise goes out the doors in plain view like this. The OP running probably did nothing but cement \"he is a thief\" in the eyes of others.

However, the OP is correct that he has no obligation to show his receipt and shouldn't have to if he doesn't want to. Stories like these symbolize the whole \"just give up your freedoms in the name of security\" mentality, and while a lot of people would just go \"just let them see the damn receipt, it's just walmart\" a lot of other people wonder how far this mentality will go before we're forced to do any number of ridiculous things in the name of \"security\".

I would just ask for a bag to put the box in, or just keep the receipt on the box after purchasing it and wait until I'm outside of the store to put it in my wallet, personally.

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mikemil828
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@david.c:

//It would have killed ... my sense of pride, my sense of decency, my sense of freedom, my sense privacy.//

You are making a retail transaction on a company's private property, not a stand for universal human rights. Just show em the bloody receipt.

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humphrmi
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.

--Louis D. Brandeis

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sonneillon
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: He is known for writing a legal brief that was 10 pages long with ~100 pages of notations.

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H3ion
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@sonneillon: I've read some of his decisions. Man was absolutely brilliant. In fact he was so smart, they named a school after him.

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katstermonster
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@humphrmi: That's an awesome quote. It covers so many things...the first thing that comes to mind is the freakin' Patriot Act.

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: I'll be perfectly honest - I've toyed with not showing a receipt at WalMart from time to time just to see what would happen. I don't know what that says about me.

Doesn't matter, though, as the lion's share of the time I'm never asked.

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coren
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: It's odd, they've never asked me. I've had more trouble at BB with that sort of thing

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Vermifuge
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion:


Probably not, but that's not the point. Macy*s and other stores like it offer special stickers and tape that clearly show you paid. If walmart can't bother to do this why should we be botherd to help them?

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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Vermifuge: Agreed - Walmart simply wants to harass people and beat them up - true \"Christians\" if I ever saw them.

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JayXJ
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Vermifuge: Here's the wierd thing: Wal-Mart used to do this. I worked there in the mid '90s and they had security tape for anything purchased at the electronics dept. or layaway (remember layaway?). Really distinctive and you could pick it out on a box from a long way off.


Don't know why they quit.

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PriceIsWrong
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@JayXJ:
I'm sure someone probably stole some rolls of tape and went to other Wal-Marts, stealing and such, costing them more than it cost to pay the receipt checker.

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KyleOrton
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: Of course it wouldn't have killed him to show the receipt! I really hope you don't believe there exists a disease that is made terminal by showing a receipt for an XBox 360 Arcade to a Walmart employee.

Or do you think this is like Speed and Dennis Hopper planted a device that will blow up him and Sandra Bullock if he shows a receipt? Why would Dennis Hopper care and what from the story makes you think Sandra Bullock went with him to Walmart to buy an XBox 360. Have you seen her in those new trailers for the giant football player movie? She looks fantastic.

So no, it would not have killed him to show the receipt. It appears he didn't see any reason to need to and didn't expect it to be blown out of proportion as such. I hope this clarifies things for you.

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H3ion
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@futuresuperbowlMVPJayCutler: Sandra Bullock always looks fantastic. But if you expect the Bears to win the Super Bowl, you'd probably be better off with Sandra Bullock at QB than Jay Cutler. Hell, when they did win they did it with Jim McMahon so maybe Jay Cutler isn't such a stretch.

/end sarcasm here

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I don't get these repeated WalMart stories. I worked Best Buy loss prevention for a time, and it was made *perfectly* clear that we really couldn't do anything. If I ask you for your receipt and you say no, I can't do anything about it. Hell, if I *know* you're stealing and I don't have you on camera 100% of the time, I can't do anything about it.

I don't get why WalMart seems to train their LP people into thinking they're literally law enforcement.

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9 replies
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rgf207
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: I get what you're saying. I was asked to show my receipt last Tuesday at my local Best Buy after I purchased my copy of COD:MW2. I politely said \"No, Thank you\" and the gentleman told me to have a nice day. That was the end of it. I don't understand how Wal-Mart feels that you are obligated to show your receipt.

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SadSam
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@rgf207:


I'm a big fan of the no thank you response, has always worked for me, but I also make a point not to shop at Best Buy or Wal-Mart or any other store that has a standing receipt checking rule.

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Newvox
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: You need to spend some time supervising human beings in a work environment.
Whenever something goes wrong, it will almost always be because someone either didn't think or decided to do something different that they've always done and/or been trained to do (as in pursue and grab a customer.)
Then a supervisor, or management, will be criticized for \"allowing\" such a thing to happen, even if he/she's done every humanly possible thing to prevent it, short of (in this case) being there and doing the ticket checking himself/herself.

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JayXJ
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: 'Nother LP refugee here. I watched many a thief walk out the door without doing a dang thing because I'd lost sight of 'em for a minute. With no way to know if they've ditched the merchandise I wouldn't touch 'em.
Costco got freakin' raped in a civil suit several years back over nailing someone that had dumped merchandise before they'd passed the last point of sale.

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Adhominem
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: Your typical walmart employee has an IQ that's at least 1 standard deviation lower than your typical BBUY employee.

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treimel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie:


it was the bystanders that acrually did the tackling, though.

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Cetan
January 12, 2011 5:54 AM
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We ARE talking about typical Wal-martees.

People of Walmart.com anyone?

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ubermex
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@treimel: Right, but the greeter basically yelled fire in the parking lot and pointed at him.

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ubermex: Exactly. Once he walked out of the store the whole situation was a lost cause for that LP person. They should have just turned back around and focused on the giant retail store that was still functioning in front of them. There's really nothing else you can do.

We had a bunch of situations where we'd have followed all the rules and have camera footage of someone stealing and then trying to get past the point of sale. You walk up to the person and go \"Can you come with me?\" and lead them into the LP office. If they say \"No\" and walk out, you essentially just have to hope the cops get there in the next ten seconds.

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Kogenta
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: Depends what the laws regarding shoplifting are in that state. Where I live (not the US), LPOs can't touch the person until they leave the physical confines of the store since technically they aren't shoplifting until they actually exit the store without paying.

On the other hand, the Door Greeter/Receipt Checker is almost certainly not a LPO, so it's kind of moot.

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ChemicallyInert
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: Which is why your employers hate you for being a loss-leader. (No offense meant of course, I think you know what I mean.)

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ChemicallyInert: To be fair, I wasn't exactly in charge of anything. I just worked the door. And nobody got sued, so there's that :)

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ubermex
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: I agree. Anyone who's worked in front end retail gets lectured about this kind of thing. I don't understand why walmart fails so hard there.

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redskull
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Is the Mars colony open yet? Cause I want to go live there and tell this planet to go F itself.

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7 replies
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Traveshamockery
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redskull: Yeah, you've gotta know Walmart will be the first store to open there.

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Zenatrul
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redskull:

I live in Canada and we have Walmart greeters. All they do is greet you, give you carts and put stickers on bags you bring in with you.

I haven't had my receipt checked in probably 5 years.

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dorianh49
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redskull: Don't bother; the only store in the new colony is Wal-Mars. They check receipts with the aid of meat hooks.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redskull:

I assume by \"Mars\" you mean \"Canada.\"

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H3ion
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ElizabethD: We plan on invading Canada right after New Years.

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jessedybka
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@H3ion: Let me know when, we can go for beers.

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Atlantys
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ElizabethD: Maybe we don't want you.

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chucklebuck
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redskull: Not yet, but once it does you can bet there will be Wal*Mars springing up everywhere.

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mwc5446
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Press charges

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jeffjohnvol
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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A friend whose brother is a lawyer says to respond like this:


\"Are you accusing me of shopflifting?\"


If they say no, say have a nice day. If they say yes, offer to go in and find their evidence. If they have none, you have a case for a law suit.


If they touch you its assault.

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8 replies
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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@jeffjohnvol: It would be nice if they had a reason, other than someone leaving the store with a bag of merchandise (which would be just about everyone).

Around here, the employees don't call the cops unless they SEE someone stealing something. Like, the dude walked into the store with an empty wal-mart bag and then left with it full without stopping at the registers. That's a reason to accuse someone of shoplifting.

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tonalanswer
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Jabberkaty: A lot of stores (mostly grocery stores, I'm not sure if Walmart does) encourage you to reuse bags to save money for them and reduce waste. I see some people go into stores with plastic bags to get their bag discount.

I wonder how that would affect their case against someone who brings in a bag, purchases something, and then walks out without showing a receipt.

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KStrike155
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@jeffjohnvol: It's against the law to accuse someone of shoplifting?

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@KStrike155: i had a few retail jobs in florida, some cashier, some management. every single one of them would not allow direct accusation of shoplifting. even disney.
the correct thing to do was say a variation of 'was there anything else you'd like to purchase today?'
although at disney we could then call for the secret security to follow them. even then THEY had to witness the person take two items without paying for them with clear intent to steal, like stuffing it in a bag or under their shirt to conceal it

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davidc
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@KStrike155: I believe that might fall under \"Defamation\".

You can't go around accusing people of a crime without some some reasonable evidence, and walking past a receipt checker is not \"reasonable evidence\".

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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@KStrike155: Yes without evidence and if done in front of witnesses it is slander.

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empkae
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: I have been told that it is slander even if the ONLY witness was the person being slandered.

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hotdogsunrise
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@empkae: You have been told incorrectly. You need a third party.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@KStrike155:

Without evidence, apparently.

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Batwaffel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Wow, yes, I would file a police report and then press to get the security footage so you can press charges against the one who tackled you and the one who started the small riot (Greeter). Walmart needs sent a message that consumers won't be treated like criminals.

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1 replies
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That's Consumer007 to you
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Batwaffel: Yes - it's called a subpoena to Walmart Corporate.

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FooSchnickens - Full of SCAR
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Police. Call them NOW. Assuming this really happened.

The simple fact that he didn't call them on the spot sets off all kinds of red flags and makes the whole thing reek of fallacy.

You don't say that \"you know your rights\" and then do nothing to hold parties responsible for infringing upon them.

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5 replies
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Bob
January 28, 2010 2:56 PM
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I agree, something smells fishy....or could it be Wal-Mart astroturfing to make themselves look tougher against shoplifters than the law allows?

Think of it. The whole \"WalMart will illegally assault and beat you if you don't show you receipt and scare the pants off you so much that you won't dare file assault charges\" story can be itself an ultimate deterrent to shoplifting.

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lulfas
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@FooSchnickens - BPH Free: Be careful in completely believing this guy. While there is nothing directly to the story that rings true, he's already an admitted criminal. \"Being the last day for the $200 Xbox 360 Arcade with $100 gift card at Walmart and coincidentally also being console banned the same day, I was eager to try and score one. I\" The reason he was banned was because he was using a hacked console (quite a few people were banned in the past week, according to Microsoft over 100,000.)

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sbenfsck
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@lulfas:

Parent,

Please do not confuse \"violated terms of service\" with committing a crime. He is not a criminal because MS banned him from an online account.

I have three xboxes, all modded to run Linux, we use them for the graphical rendering on the cheap. I am sure If I ever tried to connect later to xbox live they would ban me, and I can assure you I am not a criminal.

Innocent until proven guilty.

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cluberti
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@FooSchnickens - BPH Free: Agreed - someone who knows their rights should probably also know the number for 911 and when to dial it...

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nodaybuttoday
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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It's funny. As a female, I hardly ever get my receipt checked. All I do is smile and they wave me through lol It's all about profiling. If you're a young kid or any of the other profiling types, they are going to automatically be suspicious.

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6 replies
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Hijakk
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@nodaybuttoday: I'm 6'2, 225 lbs, and open carry a .45. I don't get bothered much.

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LeahReindeer
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@nodaybuttoday: I had my receipt checked at a big box store after the guard watched me buy a single large item and have to use a careful leverage technique to hoist it and carry it out of the store. I gave said guard a small sympathetic and understanding smile that said \"We know you saw me buy this. Ciao.\" But that didn't work, even for this white female.

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NatalieErin
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@nodaybuttoday: I get a similar treatment at Target. I'm a young white woman, and I'm usually stopping on my way home from work so I'm dressed a bit nicer than I would be normally. For some reason their express lanes don't deactivate magnetic strips consistently, so I frequently set off the detectors. I just keep walking - I don't steal - and no one has ever walked towards me or even said anything.

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hi
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@NatalieErin: Hello young white woman. I've been looking for you.


Profiling aint so cool when you're the target.

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Diet-Orange-Soda
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@NatalieErin: Heh. Whenever the detectors go off, I just turn around and shrug my shoulders, then keep walking. Nobody cares.

When Old navy started putting security tags in their jeans, I didn't realize what it was. I was setting off alarms going in and out of every store I went to.

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MaytagRepairman
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@NatalieErin: I've had the same thing happen at Target. There was even a kid in a ridiculously looking Target-themed boy scout security uniform at the entrance who completely ignored me as the detectors went off.

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justsomeotherguy
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Yeah, that is assault. Press charges.

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1 replies
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Veeber
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@justsomeotherguy: Actually sounds like battery. If he saw the guy coming to tackle him that could be assault.

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gp1138
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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One question I just thought of.. how in the hell can a Wal*Mart employee get fired for stopping someone with a gun, but has no problem stopping someone who has paid for their items??

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cybercjh
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I can't stand Walmart. One day, they're going to receipt check and tackle the wrong person. Maybe a senator or a congressman's child or a foreign dignitary. Then, there will be hell to pay.

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1 replies
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tomok97
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@cybercjh: If those people would lower themselves to shop at Walmart. I think Walmart is safe. :)

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Danj3ris
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Where'd the bunch of comments go that were already posted about 7 minutes ago??

I say screw the consensus. You are both a douche bag and should sue. A Douche bag because instead of diffusing the situation of having a receipt checker and a number of angry Walmart patrons chasing you to \"stop a thief\", you didn't take out the receipt and ran. Sue them because your being a douche bag still doesn't allow the receipt checker or anyone else to illegally detain you.

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cluberti
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Danj3ris is accepting donations for Movember at [us.movember.com]: If this really happened as written, and given that the OP has no legal obligation to show a receipt and the LP person has no reason to actually suspect theft (the story's a bit fuzzy on the details, honestly), what the LP person did was akin to yelling fire in an enclosed space and inciting the other patrons to act. In this case, as per Georgia law, what happened to the OP was \"simple assault of a high and aggrivated nature\" (a misdemeanor in Georgia) and he should have called 911 right away to file a police report against anyone who was involved, especially the person or persons who ended up tackling him. He should probably acquire the services of an attorney in this case, however, to get WalMart to turn over any video of the store and parking lot, and to pursue action against Wal-Mart and anyone involved in the assault. I'm not one who normally suggests legal action, but in this case it would be warranted.

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Chris Walters
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Danj3ris is accepting donations for Movember at [us.movember.com]:

Where'd the bunch of comments go that were already posted about 7 minutes ago??
Lost due to a formatting error. Please accept my apologies, and repost if you were the author of one of the first 7 or 8 comments.
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Ganyon
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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My only question on this is why are you shopping there if you know they check receipts and you have a problem with it? That is what is messed up about this everytime it comes up, the OP knows they check recepts but shops there anyway.


Your right to be a/an (insert colorful adjective here)does not extend to you inflicting it on someone else.

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7 replies
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kexline
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon: In addition to all the comments above, the OP stated very specifically why he went to Wal-Mart for this particular purchase.

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Myrna_Minkoff
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon:
He may be a douchebag, but he didn't \"inflict\" anything on anyone. He bought a product, left the store with his legally obtained goods and got tackled for it.

What did he do wrong?

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mariospants
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Myrna_Minkoff: He didn't do anything wrong because - as has been pointed out before - Walmart's receipt-checking is not legally enforceable. It's bullshit pure and simple.


And getting ANY electronics out of a WalMart (to say nothing of a 360) without triggering a multitude of alarms is plain unlikely.

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crymson777
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon: So...you are putting it on the Op to pay more for something elsewhere just because Walmart can't follow the law? That makes no sense.

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wrjohnston91283
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@crymson777:

If Walmart shot each paying customer in the foot on their way out I wouldn't shop there despite them illegally shooting me. Doesn't matter that I'm right, the best decision is to shop somewhere else.

The OP decided that it was worth the savings on his xbox to go to Walmart and not show his receipt. He admits he's read these stories before, and he knew that there would be a chance he would run into a problem by not showing his receipt, yet he still made the decision to walk past them and keep walking.

Maybe next time he'll make a different decision that it's worth less than a minute of his time to show the receipt to avoid having the possibility of being tackled. I know I do.

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davidc
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wrjohnston91283: I hope not. The more people that act like sheep, the more we are all going to be expected to be fleeced.

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crymson777
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wrjohnston91283: Inherit issue there though is now he has a case against them and that Xbox could potentially cost them a lot more than $200. I have been asked for my receipt many times, I never show it as is my right. You want to be a corporate tool, go right ahead...I will be over here happily ignoring stupid requests.

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wrjohnston91283
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@crymson777:
Inherit issue there though is now he has a case against them and that Xbox could potentially cost them a lot more than $200

That's not an issue in MY decision making, but in Walmart's. When I make a decision, it doesn't matter what it may cost another party, it matters what it may cost me. I know that not showing my receipt may get me tackled, and I've made a decision that a minute of my time isn't worth that risk. You've made a different decision. I'm not saying yours is wrong, but we have decided that the payoff of not showing a receipt is worth a different amount to each of us.

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Myrna_Minkoff
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wrjohnston91283: \"I know that not showing my receipt may get me tackled,\"

And that's where you're wrong, because not showing your receipt absolutely should NOT get you tackled. End of story.

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davidc
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wrjohnston91283: 've made a decision that a minute of my time isn't worth that risk. You've made a different decision. I'm not saying yours is wrong\".

Except that your decision affects other people. The more people that act like you (forgoing your freedoms due to fear), the more freedoms will be taken away from others.

\"Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither.\" -- Benjamin Franklin

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crymson777
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@wrjohnston91283: I'd call that the nature of the US and my hat off to you for your respect. I likewise respect your decision.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon:

Why can't he shop there if they have the best price? WalMart cannot detain him for not showing his receipt once he has purchased the item. THAT is the law. Why should any individual have to avoid a retail establishment because he is right and the store is wrong?

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Illusio26
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon: He's shopping there because he wants an xbox for really cheap. Duh.

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ganzhimself
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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It's idiotic for anyone at the store to have thought he stole the XBox. Last time I purchased a game console at my local Walmart I had to pay for it right then and there before they handed it over to me... Either that or they would have held it for me until I finished the rest of my shopping and they would have brought it up to the register so I could pay for it. At no point did they ever let that thing leave their sight until it was paid for. I'd have called the police to file assault charges against the jerk who tackled you, that's just not cool in any circumstance, especially over a $200 item.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ganzhimself: For \"holiday\" sales it's possible they were not locked up. Not in this case, but I'm just saying local walmarts do different things.

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Tubal
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ganzhimself: Apparently you've never stolen anything before. Professional thieves will have a buddy distract the attendant while the thief goes behind/under/around the counter and grabs the loot.

Then they walk out thinking that they're free and clear.

I'm not a walmart defender, but lets have some common decency people.

You walk out the door with an Xbox and it's not in a bag or anything, better plan on getting asked for a receipt. If you don't want to deal with people, buy it online.

Sheesh.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ganzhimself: No bag?!? Then isn't there a presumption you didn't pay for it?

\"I don't agree with the policy\". Yeah...well...then don't take advantage of the sale. Plus banned from xbox live but no reason given. Is it because you have a mod chip to play burned games? Maybe you didn't steal the xbox but that doesn't mean you're not a thief.

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katia802
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@nstonep: \"Plus banned from xbox live but no reason given. Is it because you have a mod chip to play burned games? Maybe you didn't steal the xbox but that doesn't mean you're not a thief. \"


Wow, you really had to stretch to blame the op on that one! i'm impressed

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ganzhimself
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ganzhimself: Oh, and I never really inspected my XBox 360's packaging, but I'm sure there's an anti-theft tag in or on the box that needs to be deactivated at the register or the sensors would have tripped when he walked out. I never bother listening to them unless the checker forgot to deactivate a tag, in which case I don't mind showing a reciept to prove I'm not stealing.

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ganzhimself: There isn't any kind of anti-theft device inside the boxes of any big game system like that unless Walmart employees specifically put them there. You can buy rolls of those little magnetic strips, but they don't come from the factory that way. That's why they're usually locked up or have spider-wraps on them.

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Saboth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I ran into my first local receipt checker at Walmart last night when buying a game in the back. Little guy that looked like he was missing a chromosome. Although I am against them checking my receipt, I went ahead and showed it. I told my wife \"now...we never signed anything agreeing to show them a receipt, but I'll go ahead and comply just to get out of here faster.\"

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harrier666
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Saboth: Exactly. At costco, I will show my receipt as it is part of my membership. Anywhere else can stuff it.

I won't show my receipt. Frys, Target, Wallyworld, you name it. I haven't shown a receipt since they started this circus, and welcome the money from the lawsuit if this happened to me.

My honey and I have several shticks we use to get out of it. One of us will run interference, blocking the way and ask some stupid question of the receipt person (Where did you get that tie? or How is your mother?) Or we answer Family Guy style: \"Receipt?\" \"about 2:30\" etc.

Anyone else have stuff they do?

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Bigfoot-Angus
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Could be wrong, but this whole story stinks to high heaven in my opinion.

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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Dude, you should have called the police. You were assaulted by someone who is not an agent of the store, and who detained you for no reason. Even the receipt checker can not detain you unless they witnessed the actual \"shoplifting\". Sorry, but if I got tackled, you better believe there would be hell to pay.

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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_woot!sOffSoHard: In my state (Maine) that could be a felony (I'm not a lawyer). Robbery is when someone assaults you to steal something. So, you can steal someone's wallet and it's theft, you push them down and take their wallet it robbery.

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked: Holy fark I hope I would be alert enough to notice someone running up behind me like that. Internet Tough Guy Syndrome aside, I do have moderate martial arts training, and I'd love for a chance to apply what I've learned. Of course, part of that training is being alert at all times, but hell, I could be blindsided just as easily as that guy. Even being let up, how do I know my life's not still in danger? All I know is I just got tackled by someone I don't know and am surrounded by more. How could that not end badly?

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@RecordStoreToughGuy_IsBeing(pur)SuedByAMonster: Hmm. That came across rather a bit douchier than I intended. I sounded like I was spoiling for a fight, which isn't exactly true. More like I'd appreciate the chance to see how I would really react in a situation like that. Like that Mighty Mighty Bosstones line that goes \"I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested/I like to think that if I were I'd pass.\"

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kexline
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked: Not only that, but the brute took the OP's stuff. I don't think it matters why he thought he was taking it, nor that he promptly surrendered it to the store. Surely knocking someone down for the express purpose of taking something away from him is mugging, isn't it?

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Scuba Steve
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Most likely the police would arrest him for suspicion of theft. They wouldn't be right, but you try arguing with them.

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2 replies
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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Scuba Steve: There needs to be some probable cause for arrest. They may detain him while they talk to security, but once it became obvious that he hadn't stolen anything it becomes Wal-Mart and the would-be football player in trouble.

If the cops DID arrest him, there would be grounds for wrongful arrest.

The whole thing that burns my cookies is that these employees are treating EVERYONE like a criminal without any evidence. I am NEVER shopping at Wal-Mart ever again. I've had it with stories like this.

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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Scuba Steve: That depends on the area he's in. Generally \"Shoplifting at Wal*Mart\" isn't a huge priority for the local PD. I worked in the suburbs in Ohio for a year and we always had to wait like 45 minutes for the cops to arrive unless something was *in progress* at the time.

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senor_tron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I don't understand the point in refusing to show your receipt. People steal. Every time I show a receipt, I figure it's just another situation where the retarded behavior of others has once again ruined things for those of us who understand how to behave properly. I show my receipt and leave and enjoy my purchase. Nobody tackles me. What do you hope to gain by refusing to show your receipt? 15 seconds of your time? The fact that you are purchasing video games clearly shows you're not real concerned with maximizing that particular resource, so there goes that argument. The fact that your Xbox was banned ( for modding it to run pirated/stolen games ) is pretty strong evidence showing you don't have a problem stealing. People who get all worked up on this \"you have no right to ask for my receipt\" bullshit are walking around with a sense of entitlement. Let's be watchdogs to ensure that retailers don't take advantage of consumers, but shit, quit your crying!

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Bob
January 28, 2010 3:15 PM
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Exactly. You should know by now that Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's club do receipt checking. But I think such policies should be posted clearly before you enter into the store. I'm sure their are a few dozen people that don't know that these stores do that.

I paid for my stuff so I have usually have no problems with the receipt checker. I also check my receipt. If any receipt checker starts making up crap there will be hell to pay! I think that's the one thing that irks some people. That if one underpaid workers starts making up stuff against you, a paying customer, then it is YOU will have a crappy day. It is YOU that have to be \"caught and held\" for no reason, where there are no police or lawyers. Then it is YOU that have to prove your innocence to the local police before you get an ounce of remedy in our so-called justice system (and then only civil law by suing). Also you know that if WalMart even considers firing that person you know your face will likely be \"less than welcome\" to WalMart. And all because someone \"flakes\" out on you for no reason.

But remember, if you go to Wal-Mart expect underpaid receipt checkers. You know the rules and dangers. This is why I take much of my business elsewhere, but I still shop at Wal-Mart once in a while.

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BytheSea
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: ITA and I wish to add, shoplifting is what causes higher prices, crappier stores, and poorly paid employees.

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dragonfire81
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@BytheSea: Ok the higher prices thing I get, but how does shoplifting result in poorly paid employees (whom I believe you are inferring my also be less than competent at their jobs?).

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gp1138
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: Maybe it's the fact that I just got done asking a Wal*Mart drone to unlock a cabinet for me that's already preventing me from stealing the damn thing in the first place. I don't care about that, and if I broke the glass to get the console, chances are I'd be tackled before I left the electronics section, much less the entire store.

I'm annoyed with Wal*Mart greeters being militant about showing a receipt because generally they stand where they can watch me walk away from the checkout lanes. They watched me purchase the items that I have in my bag. If I have two or three bags, it's a hassle to dig in my wallet (in my pile of receipts) to find the one I just put in there, plus it's pretty much the store deciding that if they can't find the criminals, they'll just add another layer of \"security\" to the mix that treats ALL customers as if they're criminals. And it's not a fucking sense of entitlement. I put down my hard-earned cash for the items I just bought. I'm not a fucking shoplifter, and if I saw someone shoplifting, you know I'll be the first one alerting store security.

I don't make a scene when I walk past receipt checkers. I generally smile and say \"no, thank you\" and walk into the parking lot. I've never had one chase after me, and if they did, I'd get in my car and leave, plain and simple. No need for confrontation. People who DO want confrontation, those are the people with the misplaced sense of entitlement.

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Aquasol
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: Hell, 15seconds? Most receipt checkers I've been around just look to see if the paper says \"DIS IS NOTS A RESEEPT\". It's like, 3seconds of standing there-- and I fail to see how it infringes on my rights when they're just trying to stop shoplifters without the annoying RFID alarms.

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t0ast
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: I modded my PSP a few months ago, so... clearly, the next step is shoplifting?

I must have missed a memo or something. Maybe I should skip straight to bank robbery to make up for lost time.

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senor_tron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@t0ast:
Not saying he's guilty of shoplifting at all. Just seems comical to me that someone who doesn't see anything wrong with stealing video games from developers thinks it's wrong for someone to ask him for his receipt.

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Timbojones
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: There were \"about a dozen other people leaving at the same time.\" If I was leaving a store and there was a dozen-person knot at the receipt check, I'd just step around them too. I've done so at Fry's with less than half that number. I've already been in the store for a long time, I've already been standing in line for a long time, I'm done & I want out. Those places are madhouses.

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mralmostpopular
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: Who are you to accuse this guy of stealing anything? You do realize that mods happen for a number of reasons, one of which is playing pirated games. OTHER reasons include playing games from other regions of the world that are not sold in a particular country (i.e. a Japanese version of a game), also the ability to store games you have legally purchased.

Also it has been reported that even the presence of a non-XBox hard-drive was enough to get some people banned.

So really, you're just spreading false information (libel) about a guy that you don't even know. Congrats.

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morlo
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: @senor_tron: \"People who get all worked up on this 'you have no right to ask for my receipt' bullshit are walking around with a sense of entitlement.\"

Just because you have low self-esteem doesn't mean people who consider themselves human beings are \"entitled.\" Just be aware that though you may be weigh a lot, tackling people in the name of your corporate masters can still be met with adverse action from those of us who also feel entitled to weapons.

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senor_tron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@morlo:
My self esteem is probably on the high side, so it's more of a \"holy shit, I can't believe you people are choosing THIS battle!\" kind of statement.

Seems to me that showing your receipt is a no brainer. The entitlement seems to be lurking behind the spiteful attitude of those who refuse to show their receipts. They forget that theft is a real issue for retailers and seem to be unable to put themselves in the retailer's shoes.

I will continue to show my receipt and don't feel that my rights have been infringed upon by doing so. If this is your battle, have fun.

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senor_tron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron:
I agree with you in that the store should work to make the process seamless for its customers in order to avoid inconveniencing them. I have a hard time giving a rat's ass about a consumer who is an admitted thief and refuses to show a receipt though.

Legally, nobody has to hold the door open for other people. We all (most of us) just do it out of common courtesy. It doesn't take me any extra real effort to pause and hold the door. I look at showing your receipt the same way: \"Oh, you want to see proof that i now own the item i am carrying? ... no sweat! I understand that because some people are assholes and steal, you have a vested interest in making sure they're not stealing from you... Thank you, you have a nice evening too Mr. Walmart receipt checker\" (total elapsed time = 20 seconds, total effort = 0)

Why do people get so worked up over something that requires such little effort? If you want to get tackled and provoke even more time-wasting, then refuse to show your receipt and enjoy the fantasy that you're somehow part of a cosmic battle.

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AbsoluteIrrelevance
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: And perhaps you missed the news recently that thousands and thousands of Xbox owners were banned recently and many of them are crying foul on Xbox because they didn't mod anything. So there goes that argument.

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senor_tron
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@AbsoluteIrrelevance:
Ok, i will reserve judgement on the guy being a thief. I suppose it's possible that he is one of small percentage of people who somehow got burned by an overzealous Microsoft DRM progrom ( scoff ). Regardless, show your receipt and avoid getting tiny road rash on your nice elbow ( waa!).

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andrewe
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: You do know that many people, myself included, mod their game consoles they can play backup copies of games. It's a wise decision when children use the console. Just one scratched game or movie disc costs more than the console mod.

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steveliv
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@AbsoluteIrrelevance: i've seen lots of whining from people who have been banned, but i've yet to see one instance where it was proven to be a false positive. if you got banned then you were doing something contrary to the terms and conditions of live membership...period

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Saboth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@steveliv:

That's typically the way bans go. \"I am outraged! I was doing nothing wrong!\" \"Nothing?\" \"Well, I did have this program installed at one time that helped me get free honor in alterac valley while AFK\" \"At one time?\" \"Ok, ok, I had it installed for the past year. But this is still BS!!!\"

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andrewe
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@steveliv: Perhaps you have not seen anyone refute their ban simply because Microsoft refuses to tell them why they were banned. Simply stating that you broke the TOS is pretty vague.

Do you always place 100% of your trust in companies that rely on DRM type schemes to protect their interests?

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Alexander
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron: According to a lot of Consumerist posters, if you show your receipt at Walmat today, tomorrow the commies are rounding you up to work on a gulag.

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Scuba Steve
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Fun@Jabberkaty: You thought incorrectly. Deletions happen just as often. Don't take it personally, I guess.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@senor_tron:

Entitlement? The law is on his side. How does that indicate the customer is somehow a spoiled brat? The store needs to clean up its act and stop putting consumers in this ridiculous position.

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Saboth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ElizabethD:

I agree. I can guarantee that 99% of shoplifters don't walk out of the store with a cart of merchandise and bags in their hands. They stuff crap down their pants or purses. What is the point of forcing paying customers to submit to security checks?

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targetdude
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Saboth: You are mistaken. The majority of retail theft is now done by professional shoplifters called \"boosters.\" They fill entire carts with high dollar merchandise and run with it out of the store. For example, putting a Dyson vacuum cleaner in an opaque plastic container sold at the store. Shoplifters and boosters are not stupid, loss prevention units are constantly having to stay one step ahead of their trends.

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sprocket79
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Besides assault, you can count theft. That XBox was officially his property once he handed over the cash for it. The receipt checker stole his Xbox.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@sprocket79: see, i'd call that being mugged. hopefully if i ever find myself in this situation i would have the presence of mind to say that to 911

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ben gardners boat
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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File a police report then, if you really want to nail them, call your local news.

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Forest-Whitakers-lazy-eye
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I think that improv everywhere should recreate the best buy idea, and have 100 people walk out of a walmart carrying various purchased items and ignore the receipt checkers.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Forest-Whitakers-lazy-eye: and most importantly - have them all return their items afterwards to make sure walmart doesn't profit from the exhibition

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MamaBug
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Forest-Whitakers-lazy-eye:
oh yes, another IE fan. but I think the receipt checker would just be staring at all of the people, not bothering to check receipts.

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Forest-Whitakers-lazy-eye
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MamaBug:
Haha, one of those things that on a really high level sounds like fun, but the intricacies and details would be overwhelming.

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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Forest-Whitakers-lazy-eye: Brilliant! even better if it can be coordinated in multiple cities.

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RedCatLinux
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'm gonna get people firing across my bow for this, but if you run like you stole it, not surprisingly, you're going to make people think you stole it.


I don't disagree about not showing a receipt though. I had a receipt checker watch me as I paid, then as I left the cash register with my bag. As I approached she asked \"Do you have a receipt?\" To which I answered \"Yes, thanks\" and kept walking.


I would have not run and offered to call the police if any of them had a problem with that. I'd still call the police, but I wouldn't be surprised if the first question the cop asks is \"Well, why didn't you show your receipt?\"

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Aquasol
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@RedCatLinux: I agree with you-- OP only made himself look 10x more suspicious by running away. =/

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Lucky225
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Here's a tip: Wal*Mart is not the brightest with their policies I have outfoxed them on every single policy they have. I'm thinking about video taping it just to piss them off. Receipt check bypass - make your purchase at electronics in the back of the store -- make your exit through the side door of the tire shop, half the time no one's working the register and definately no receipt checkers.

Credit cards without ID - Use self checkout and/or pull a switch-a-roo on them, use your card and then quickly put it back in your wallet, when asked for card and ID, show them a DIFFERENT card with a photo ID that matches that card. So much for photo ID check eh?

Wal*Marts policies are ridiculous and obviously don't even work.

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targetdude
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Lucky225: That is a good way to get an internal private investigation started on you. Loss prevention is always watching and monitoring, there just isn't an overweight gentleman sitting in a room full of cameras eating doughnuts. There is an entire unit in major retail outfits dedicated to loss prevention that is more than happy to coordinate with local and federal authorities.

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newfenoix
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@targetdude:
Come back to the world of reality. My wife is a CSM at Wal Mart and that simply is not true.

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Myrna_Minkoff
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@targetdude:

He would be investigated for what? Shopping? Not forcing the cashier to be more thorough in their ID check?

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chatterboxwriting
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I always read here that we should be firm about not showing receipts if we don't want to, so I finally tried it today. The guy asked if I had my receipt, and I said, \"yes, thank you\" and kept walking. He kept walking after me, and asked to see it. I said no. I ended up feeling like a witch, so I guess I won't be doing that again.

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5 replies
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morlo
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@stevedastampede: The guy really needs to be punished to prevent him from tackling others \"in good faith\"

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floraposte
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@chatterboxwriting: I don't think anybody gets to tell you that you're obliged to refuse either, though. If you have a more agreeable shopping experience by showing it, show it and move on.

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chatterboxwriting
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@floraposte: Very true. I just wish I could get them to stop asking for ID when I use my credit card. I've explained the merchant agreement 100 times, but it never works.

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Myrna_Minkoff
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@chatterboxwriting:
Keep at it, it does work. Just takes time. I'm slowly converting the Rite Aid in my 'hood.

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Digitizer
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@chatterboxwriting: Yeah, if you'd feel better and more \"you\" by showing the receipt, I wouldn't fight nature....must've been exciting though..

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shalegac
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Digitizer: That's funny. I was just thinking that. It would be a bit of a rush perhaps to say no and keep going.

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MooseOfReason
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Wal-Mart should really start using those orange \"Paid-for\" stickers.

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2 replies
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MattAlbie
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MooseOfReason: To play devil's advocate here, speaking as a former LP myself none of the policies really work to the store's advantage. They're there, quite literally to \"keep the honest, honest\" and that's about it.

We had a number of instances of people bringing in an old CD or DVD to \"return,\" getting a \"Paid For\" sticker, walking to Home Theater, slapping it on a new TV box and trying to walk out. If someone wants to steal, they're going to try. There's no way around it.

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takotchi
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@MattAlbie: Weird... whenever I get one of those stickers, it's the type that can't be peeled off without being torn to shreds.

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zerok00l420
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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YOU DOUCHE BAG!!!
should have called the cops ASA FUCKIN' P and had him arrested for assault.


FUCK WALMART, i never show recept, im waiting to sue one of them douchbags myself.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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People are saying this customer was running, but I didn't read his account that way. I read it as the random guy in the parking lot was running and tackled him:

\"At this point running towards my car on the other side of the parking lot, one of them TACKLES ME,\"

On second reading, I concede I may have made the wrong inference. I blame bad grammar on the writer's part. See, children, how a dangling modifier can mess things up?

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6 replies
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RedCatLinux
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@ElizabethD: Though his grammar leaves it open to interpretation, the interpretation that a customer running from the other side of the parking lot towards the OPs car to tackle him makes even less sense than the OP running towards his car to avoid a receipt checker.


How did a random person coming from the other side of the parking lot come to think that OP should be tackled? Most reasonable people in OPs shoes would not have run, but most reasonable pedestrians who were not off duty cops would not have run down a random guy in a parking lot based on a Walmart employee yelling \"RECEIPT!\"


It think it's a bit of a stretch to say he wasn't the one running. But perhaps OP will return and update the post to explain who he meant to say was running.

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pdxazn
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ElizabethD:

Are you one of those idiot who can't tell there is two apple, unless it is written with an \"are\" and a \"s\" at the end? Language is used for communication, as long as you get the message across, mission has accomplished. It is very clear to me that while he was running toward to his car, which was parked on the other side of the parking lot, a guy tackled him. It is that simple, why make such a big deal over a little grammar mistake. Grammar itself isn't all that perfect, it needs all kind of exceptions.

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ElizabethD
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@pdxazn:

Whoa. Epic fail, dude.

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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@pdxazn: Obviously, the OP has NOT gotten the message across, because this line can be interpreted two ways.

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@pdxazn: It's odd that you correct him on his grammar and call him and idiot, yet your interpretation of what is \"clear\" from the sentence is incorrect.

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Sanspants
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ElizabethD: I'm taking it as, \"one of them running towards me from the other side of the parking lot tackled me\".


That's how he should have written it, right?

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chiggers
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I have never seen a receipt checker at Target. Anyone else?

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4 replies
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targetdude
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@chiggers: Assets Protection at Target is always watching, if you steal something, one way or another, they will find you. AP will not give chase after you.

On a side note, has anyone refused to show a receipt at Fry's? I really want to hear how they handle it.

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mbz32190
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@chiggers: No, but mine seems to always have a rent-a-cop milling around by the entrances all the time. Not sure why because I have been in stores in much, much worse neighborhoods and see nobody.

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targetdude
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@mbz32190: It all depends on whether or not the store is determined an \"at-risk\" store for increased shortage. The rent-a-cop you are referring to is not a rent-a-cop, but a Target Protection Specialist. They have thankless jobs, anyone who works retail would be able to tell you.

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Mobius
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@mbz32190: No checkers here in the Twin Cities, but they have the motorized trikes at the stores in the seedier areas and will run down people trying to escape across the parking lot.

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NatalieErin
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Mobius: Wow, which seedier areas? I shop at Minneapolis' Targhetto and I've never seen those.

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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Er... What happened to my older comment? I thought I'd get disemvoweled before deleted.

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2 replies
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Chris Walters
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Jabberkaty: The first 7 or 8 comments were deleted due to an error on my side of things. I am sorry. Please re-publish your comment.

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Digitizer
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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This is unbelievable.

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JF
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Correct me if I am wrong, but not only did the guy who tackled the XBox guy commit assault, didn't he steal from him when he took the XBox?

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1 replies
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Covertghost
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@JeniferF: Yeah, he was assaulted by the random guy in the parking lot and robbed by the receipt checker

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dumpsterj
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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that wasnt worth it , just show the damn receipt. I love most of consumerist , but all these non receipt showing vigilantes are morons . Was it worth getting tackled you idiot. If you walked out my place of business and i say hey hold up and you keep going im going to club your ass.

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7 replies
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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@dumpsterj: Just to be clear, a vigilante is someone who takes the law in his or her own hands. Now, the guy who tackled the OP in the parking lot because he decided he was a shoplifter? HE was a vigilante. But unless the OP bought the XBox with the intent of luring someone into attacking him so that he could punish him for the assault, the OP was not a vigilante.

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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@dumpsterj: Then sir, you will be out of business in a matter of months afterwards.


Not showing a reciept is a personal choice. If the receipt is convenient ... like in the bag ... I show it.


Often time when I buy a big ticket item I tuck the receipt in a special spot in my wallet to avoid loss. In that case I often do NOT show it. Especially if I have my 3 year old son in tow.

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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@dumpsterj: Is it any more trouble for them to have probable cause before they go after someone leaving the store?

If they can articulate that they saw the dude stuffing items down his pants, then ask for a receipt. But I think it's ludicrous to treat every customer as a criminal.

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andrewe
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@dumpsterj: Wow. Let us know where your place of business is so the rest of us can avoid being assaulted while lawfully going about our business.

I see the words vigilante, moron and idiot in your post. I think each of those words would likely be used by the prosecutor at your trial.

Sheesh. Now someone peacefully opting to not give up their rights is a vigilante.

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Digitizer
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy: and you could use the money to open your own business and your OWN greeters

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stevedastampede
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Ehhh....
It isn't worth it to press charges against the guy that tackled him. Yes I do know that it is assault but really it was acted in good faith. Well somewhat. For all we know the tackler could have easily thought he was doing the right thing in this case. I mean the injuries that Robby got were minimal and easily not life threatening in this case. I really wouldn't want to ruin some guys life for 3 years in jail. It really isn't worth it in this case. If Robby did sustain massive injuries that crippled him for life, then he easily should have.

Also the smartest thing that Robby did was to run away from Wal-Mart because that doesn't look suspicious at all. Most of this is his fault for being so smug about receipt checking. Oh and running.

The only thing I suggest is suing Wal-Mart for theft and assault. They grabbed the Xbox out of his hands and took it back in.

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3 replies
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CarbonFiberFootprint
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@stevedastampede: What are you talking about? So wrongful injuries that are not life threatening do not merit compensation? I live near this specific Wal-mart and I assure you whatever methed out redneck tackled him most probably deserves the life lesson.

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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@stevedastampede: It's probably a good idea to press charges--at least file a report, since it's not necessarily a given that the guy will be caught--because we really want to discourage people from attacking other people for stupid reasons. Next time, the guy might have a gun and shoot somebody carrying a TV (and that's not justified even if the guy with the TV IS stealing it).

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@stevedastampede: He didn't \"run away\". What did you expect him to do? Not hand them the receipt and continue to stand in front of him? Of course he went back to his car. Going to your car after leaving a store is not \"running away\".

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A Penguin On The Telly
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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In case you feel like really confusing the receipt checker, hand them this instead of your receipt. [bigrobby.com]

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4 replies
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Charlotte Rae's Web
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@A Penguin On The Telly: I would, if it didn't have spelling errors that would make me look stupid.

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rte148
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@A Penguin On The Telly: be a lot more meaningful if they had spelled amendment correctly.

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tylerk4
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@rte148: Or if they understood that the 4th amendment only applies to government.

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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@tylerk4: Well, the Fourth Amendment does apply to government, but the rights which are protected by the Bill of Rights are considered to be inherent. While the Bill of Rights asserts that the government may not infringe upon those rights, there's nothing that says that anyone else may.

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Danj3ris
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@A Penguin On The Telly: I was thinking of linking to that.

I think it should be made simpler however. You hand them a small card that doesn't require too much reading. Because if they're reading and a shoplifter walks out, you might be an accomplice.

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Spin359
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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You need to call the police and a lawyer. you were harmed and assaulted(or whatever its called in your state) and you also need to have it reported for medical reasons. what happens if next week your injury gets infected and need serious attention? you need to protect yourself.

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tsmvengy
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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You shouldn't have been tackled, but could you have been any more suspicious? Walk out in silence when asked for a receipt, then when asked again you decide to run? Considering the kind of tattooed, mullet-toting wannabe vigilantes I usually see at WalMart, I'm not that surprised that one of them decided to go Brian Urlacher on your ass.

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3 replies
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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@tsmvengy: He did not run


He was tackled by a running man. It's phrased a little \"off\".

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Porcupinesalad
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@TakingItSeriously is Simon: \"That's when other shoppers started closing in on him, and why he started running.\" Sounds like he started running. He should have just stopped right then and dialed 911.

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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Porcupinesalad: I don't think quoting someone who wasn't a witness to the event actually clarifies anything, thanks.

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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Porcupinesalad: To quote his actual words rather than Chris' interpretation of them (no offense meant towards Chris)


\"At this point running towards my car on the other side of the parking lot, one of them TACKLES ME, and I lose my right shoe a few yards away from where I land. \"


I read it as the other guy tacked him while running ... maybe he was running AWAY from the guy 2x his size that tackled him ... which maked perfect sense to ME!

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trujunglist
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@TakingItSeriously is Simon:

yeah, i was wondering if it wasn't just a case of unclear writing. if the dude did run, he's the biggest moron ever. if he didn't, then wtf?

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Digitizer
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@TakingItSeriously is Simon: Being tackled just standing there would look pretty odd.....still the whole story seems kinda fishy to me...

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mariospants
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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oho, and I'd complain that the xbox was broken as a result and sue for a replacement.

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krispykrink
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Robby, get a CCW. And use it next time!

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csparks
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I am going to have to say this...

When you purchase something at a store, especially something like a xbox, you can expect to show a receipt. If you dont like it shop at smaller stores that dont have a receipt checker.

Its like the people who feel they are violated just because a cop pulls them over, with no clear evidence. I am sure you could put up a protest about it being a illegal stop, but really won't that cause more harm then good, unless of course you are hiding something.

Obviously the person that would be possibly liable is not walmart, because they have no control over what their customers do, but the asshole that tackled you.

But you should know, every time that you look at the scrape, you should remember its because you were big headed and just refused to do something most others have no problem doing (or do, even if they think its bs).

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5 replies
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Jabberkaty
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@csparks: If a cop pulls you over with no reasonable suspicion (moving violation, erratic driving, etc.) it's wrong.

Just like it's wrong for Wal-Mart to treat ALL of it's paying customers like shoplifters. They didn't stop him because an employee say him stuff an x-box in an empty bag or down his pants or bypass the registers. They stopped him because they want to stop everybody.

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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: \"Its like the people who feel they are violated just because a cop pulls them over, with no clear evidence. I am sure you could put up a protest about it being a illegal stop, but really won't that cause more harm then good, unless of course you are hiding something.\"

In your own backwards way, you make an excellent point. First of all, if a cop pulls you over for no reason, your rights have been violated. Do you just do whatever anybody tells you to, if they claim authority? Are you really that much of a doormat? I hope not.

Second, you're right, one of the problems with our system is that the consequence for law enforcement officers who violate our rights is that the evidence acquired through the violation is thrown out, which only benefits you and punishes the behavior if you actually broke the law. What should happen is that the cop who knowingly, intentionally breaks violates citizens' rights should be charged, tried and locked up or otherwise punished, depending on the severity of the violation. And they should never be allowed to have a badge again.

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exconsumer9
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: I don't understand the words 'make a big deal about it' in this context. Wal-Mart made a big deal about the receipt, not the OP. The OP's actions were legally and morally correct, and he cannot be faulted for acting the way he did. He's not in control of Wal-Mart or the overzealous idiots who chased him down.

Forced Receipt Checking = Inappropriate

Receipt Checking Avoidance = Appropriate.

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GlassWalker
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: Awesome. That's what we need more of Sparks, \"why not comply if you aren't hiding anything mentality\".

Bah!

Could the OP displayed his reciept? Absolutely.
Need he do so to exit the store, safely? Not hardly.

File a report.
File a suit.
Get the guy that attacked you.
Get the greeter for inciting.
Have them replace the Xbox (Broken or not, on principle).
And it probably wouldn't hurt to ice the cake with an EECB, for that matter.

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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: I am all about the public good, but as we have heard multiple times ... receipt checking isn't about catching criminals. It's about keeping \"honest people honest\".


Like I've said many times before. Abrogating ones own legal rights is a personal decision, and no one should be criticized or called names for their decision to stand up for what they believe in as long as they do it in a legal way.


This man did nothing illegal.


Before you start calling me out.
1: I DO show my receipt *when convenient*.
2: I DO show ID when requested to do so for credit card purchases.


These are my decisions, and I live with the consequences.


I do NOT think that the gentleman who attacked him ddeserves any drastic punishment but he does need to be made to understand ... you can NOT just tackle someone in a parking lot unless that person poses an imenent threat to others.


This guy should find some way to bring this to the attention of the public.


I'm not saying sue, because we are an entirely too litigous society ... but Wally World created that situation. They need to address it.

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mariospants
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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If anybody at Walmart ever asked me for a receipt (and I'm not saying I ever will shop there) I would ask to immediately speak to the manager. Then I would have the manager check the receipt, not the door shithead. My explanation would be: \"you're wasting my time, so I want to give you a little taste of what it's like.\"

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2 replies
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arcticJKL
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@mariospants: Brilliant. I have to remember that.

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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@mariospants: wow, that's actually very clever. Great idea.

I think I'll try that, in the unlikely event that I'm ever at a walmart. Perhaps say something like, \"you're not the only one who can make arbitrary policies which aren't legally enforceable\".

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sean98125
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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All I know is that when Thomas Paine refused to show his receipt at the Walton Mercantile in Richmond in 1769, he inspired a nation of patriots. And Crispus Attucks fell in Boston in the winter of 1770 because he maintained that no man could force him to show a receipt. \"I shall show my Receipt to Mo Man,\" Patrick Henry shouted on the floor of the House of Burgesses in 1774, \"this Poor Richard's is Mine from the Moment I Concluded the Transaction with the Fine Merchant and I Shall Not Be Prevented from moving about Freely on my perambulations!\"

The Redcoats did not march on Lexington and Concord to seize the militia weapons there - they were going to check the receipt that Samuel Adams refused to show a tea merchant in Watertown.

Standing up to the blue-vested vermin who stand between the Walmart cashier and the blessed freedom of the parking lot is the most American of actions. We should all say what General McAuliffe said to the receipt checker at the Bastogne Best Buy, \"Nuts\".

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2 replies
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DangerMouth
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@sean98125: +1, you get my Above and Beyond post of the day award.

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calquist
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I hate people like this. If it causes a scene, just show your damn receipt. Walking past the receipt checker: fine, but if the receipt checker is going to start screaming at you, be the bigger man and just show the receipt or turn around and say \"I bought it at the electronics counter\" instead of trying to cause a scene that you can brag about on the Consumerist.

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unpolloloco
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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running = stupid (that's almost like yelling \"I stole an Xbox\" while carrying it to the car)

tackling OP in the parking lot = assault

Walmart actually didn't seem to have much to do with it (outside of the fact that it happened there).

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2 replies
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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@unpolloloco: He didn't run. The guy tackling him ran.

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csparks
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy: no he ran, because customers were starting to come towards him. As he ran the guy ran across the parking lot and tackled him.

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: Were you there? Why does your account differ from his account?

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csparks
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy: Rereading it, its hard to tell if he was running or somebody was running towards him. So I guess I am not sure, sorry.

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@csparks: Okay...I wasn't sure if you actually were there...I was like...hey! hey! Info!

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StanTheManDean
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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\"and am able to buy one there.\"


Yep, you purchased a high value item from a store with checkout points scattered throughout the store and then expect to depart the store without a brief check/verfication.

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Colonel Jack O'Neill
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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This was not even Walmart, it was the other shoppers, so how can he sue Walmart?

You go to a store knowing that they check receipts, just show it, it only takes 2 seconds. But instead people like to make a big deal about showing their receipt.

When I buy something, I already have mine out before they even ask me for it, cause I know they check for it, and I don't see the big deal in showing them it.

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3 replies
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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Colonel Jack O'Neill: He got assaulted on Walmart's property due to the actions of a Walmart employee.

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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy: exactly.


Walmart created this mess (by the actions of their representative)

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cyberpenguin
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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What all the \"why didn't you show them the receipt\" posters are ignoring is this part:

I don't bother to show them my receipt since it's not legally required, and there are about a dozen other people leaving at the same time

(Emphasis mine)

He was under no legal obligation to wait in a long line to get his receipt checked.

And, in my opinion the longer the line the smaller the moral obligation.

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Ganyon
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I think yall are missing the salient point here, he knew that wal-mart check receipts. Did he really think he was sticking it to the man by not showing his receipt? No he was being difficult to some hack making minimum wage.

I don't like several of walmart's policies, how they treat their suppliers, their employees, their union busting tactics etc etc. I have 2 within a 5 mile radius of my house that I am sure my taxes helped build. I do not shop there, period.

Go ahead and say I am giving up my 4th amendment right over a receipt, I'll top you by saying your selling your soul for a 2 dollar t-shirt

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davidc
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon: \"Selling your soul\"?

Psst ... the looney asylum is ------>

There are no moral issues regarding showing your receipt unless you agreed to do so. Simply shopping at a store that you know ASKS to see your receipt doesn't confer an agreement on your part.

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crymson777
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Ganyon: That same said \"hack\" doesn't have any liability for following orders, if that is the case. If it isn't then that \"hack\" is entirely resposible for their own misbehaviour. Frankly, the \"I was told\" to bullpocky only goes so far before you end up at Nuremberg again.... (sorry for the reference, easiest I could come up with on short notice).

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Smashville
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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A few weeks ago, I had my hands full of groceries. Seriously...I was clearly overloaded...one of those situations where if I put them down, I wasn't going to be able to pick them back up. So of course she asked for my receipt.


I go, \"Are you kidding me?\" and kept walking with no incident.


That, to me, seemed like a pretty fair excuse to not show it.

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Aquasol
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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While I sympathize over getting tackled and accused, is it really that much of a bother to stand for three seconds in exchange for fewer RFID scanners messing up and blaring an alarm?

Someone please enlighten me how this encroaches on their rights to such a horrible degree. They're not examining and reporting what I bought, they're just checking the receipt to see that it's real-- and few I've come across even look at your items, most just skim for a second and cross it with a marker. Hell, some just grab and mark.

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Chris J. Stone
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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The one by 92 & Trickum Rd? I live just a couple blocks away. That's crazy, but even though I'd love an excuse not to shop there anymore, I must admit... Though there may be a law that says you don't have to show your receipt, what do you have to lose? A few seconds of your time so they can skim over it? Give me a fucking break. By running out of the store when they ask for a receipt, your body language says you stole it.

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preppunk19
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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There's only one retail store I know that doesn't check receipts... Apple. No receipt checkers, not even any magnetic scanners at the doors in most stores, if any at all.

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cyberpenguin
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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What all the \"why didn't you show them the receipt\" posters are ignoring is this part:

I don't bother to show them my receipt since it's not legally required, and there are about a dozen other people leaving at the same time

(Emphasis mine)

He was under no legal obligation to wait in a long line to get his receipt checked.

And, in my opinion the longer the line the smaller the moral obligation.

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JulesNoctambule
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I just can't work up the energy to get frothing about receipt checking. There are too many other causes requiring my attention in this lifetime for me to care.

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Rick Dobbs
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I hate the receipt-checkers and am shopping less and less at stores that have them.

\"Sure, I have two kids who want to get out of here, an arm full of bags, and have just spent plenty of money at your store. Please treat me like a criminal until I show a fucking piece of paper that anyone who really WAS stealing something from here would have thought of.\"

I love how they think that they can spot something stolen in my 7 bags of stuff in the 5 seconds they look at my receipt and my bags.

It's even annoying at Costco and they're REALLY nice at every level. How much more so at the Wal-Mart where every employee stares at you in vapid disdain?

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Laura Northrup
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Chris Walters: Or small, crying children.

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mistereze
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Well, that's a little more exciting than my Best Buy episode on Saturday. Being an avid Consumerist.com reader and wanting to have some fun, as we were leaving the entrance was blocked with about 8 people getting their receipts checked.

I said to my friend \"watch this.\" I went to the side between a person and the door and proceeded to walk out when the receipt checker said \"I need to see your receipt,\" to which I replied, \"are you accusing me of shoplifting?\".

His response...\"you're an asshole.\" My friend stood there and stared him down and couldn't believe an Best Buy employee would say that in front of all of the other customers that were standing at the entrance.

He didn't chase me down, we walked to the car and left. At that point I decided to call the manager of the store and tell him the story. I told him exactly what happened and he said he'd take care of it.

My friend couldn't believe I didn't ask for a credit or some sort of compensation. I said the manager had enough on his plate to have to go and deal with an employee who curses at customers.

It's the Best Buy at 5th and Alton Road in Miami Beach. The manager's name is Jason or Josh and the door checker was a bald guy with a goatee. I wish someone else would have the luxury of having some more fun with them as I won't be back at Best Buy for a long time.

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donssword
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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If you don't want your receipt checked, patronize a store that doesn't check receipts. Seems to me he dared them, and they called his bluff.

It also seems to me that he got banned from XBox Live for modding his console. Hmmm... I wonder why anyone would mod their console? Maybe we should ask all the folks that got laid off at EA this year, or the guys without jobs who made Halo Wars.

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trujunglist
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@donssword:

the guys without jobs that made Halo Wars lost their jobs because Halo Wars is fuckin' garbage, not because some people pirated the game.

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hypochondriac
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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If it was me I would call 911 and report a mugging naming the receipt checker and the customers as the criminals

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howie_in_az
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Where's the part in the story where the OP decided to return the unit to WalMart for a full refund and take his business elsewhere, perhaps to a store that doesn't encourage customers to tackle each other for not showing a receipt?

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XTC46
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Sounds like the guy who tackled you should be charged with assault and battery, and the reciept checker should be charged with theft.

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Scoobatz
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Very politely, I offer to show my receipt before being asked (while I have no intention of doing so). Then, they wave me through without a problem.

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bkdlays
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Wal Mart stinks too.. stay away and avoid any trouble!

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arcticJKL
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Whenever I come across a receipt checker I always ask them what they would do if I refused. So far all of them have responded that they would do nothing.

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savdavid
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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It was on Wal-Mart property and people thought the customer was a thief because of the idiot Wal-Mart employee screaming. Wal-Mart is completely responsible and should be sued if only to get the incident in the paper.
I wouldn't believe this story except I have been in Woodstock, GA and people DO behave this way there! Everyone there waves the American flag and screams Christian crap at you but thinks the worse of everyone and each other.

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mamalicious
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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This is just one of the reasons I won't shop at Walmart. I don't care if I would save a little extra money - the receipt checking hassle is just not worth it for me.

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Extended-Warranty
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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This is the biggest non-issue ever. I have no legal requirement to tip at a restaurant. Does that mean I just bail every time? It's called common courtesy. Are you familar with that?


Who else's job do you blatantly disrespect to their face? While I don't agree with many places policies, I don't go there and give everyone a snuff attitude because I am entitled to. The poor person has a job to protect the assets of a store. Do you realize that items sometimes get missed in the process of scanning? Does that entitle you to free products?


How many of you are against receipt checking but will shop at Costco or Sam's because \"it's in the agreement\"? Why does that not interfere with your precious rights? Costco and Sam's are basically calling all of their members theives then.


Everyone who has an issue with this needs to grow up.

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exconsumer9
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Extended-Warranty: You're not making any sense. You might be able to argue that showing a receipt is common courtesy, like tipping. So should you get tackled when you fail to tip or tip insufficiently. I know you really want to treat what might be socially comfortable as some kind of legal obligation that should be enforced with violence. But they aren't. Your argument seems to be, \"But they really really want to check your receipt, so physical force is ok.\"

It's not.

Disregarding a receipt checker is hardly disrespecting him. I can't help that management has chosen that exact time and place to attempt a search of my person. I'm going to reject that search as firmly as if it were attempted outside the store, or down the street, or in front of my house. Sure, they've done a lot to make saying no a socially uncomfortable thing to do, but that's not my problem. If they're not happy with the results they're getting, they should stop creating the situation.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Extended-Warranty: Agreed.

It's their job. They are only doing their job. If you're not an asshat they probably won't even ask to check your receipt.

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redkamel
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Extended-Warranty: Just cause its an easy takedown: YOU need to grow up. A tip is paying someone for service. A receipt check is some company being lame and wasting my time. They are not equal. I shop at Costco and Sams because I only go there once in a while, and people move giant carts of stuff. Plus they dont check your whole cart, they basically just make sure you dont have a TV or something. So its not really a big deal. Its not the same thing as Best Buy making you get receipt checked for two things. Also, the costco check has no stigma. The Best Buy/Walmart check does, whether anyone likes it or not.

I dont see how you are disrespecting the receipt checkers job.If he wants to prevent shoplifting, he can patrol the store or check the back room...thats where more thefts happen.

As far as I am concerned, the OP should sue. I never tell let my recepit get checked. Its not my fault they have that job, its the stores. And, yes I hang up on telemarketers too. Again, its not my fault they have that job, so why should my time be wasted?

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targetdude
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@redkamel: Go work retail and see how it really works. Loss prevention is not just as simple as \"patrolling the store.\" It is also not my fault that criminals are brazen enough to push high-dollar merchandise out the front door, so as a result that is why your receipt is checked. Just because something is \"not your fault\" does not mean that it does not effect you. What if your grandmother was a telemarketer, would you hang up on her?

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XTC46
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@targetdude: Id have no issue with receipt checking if it actually worked. At the stores I've worked, the checkers look at the paper and move on,most don't even care whats on it. Ive seen people, on more than one occasion walkout with product not on the receipt. Ive seen people walk out with product and show a return receipt. But i have never seen someone caught shoplifting because of a receipt checker (I have seen them stopped by a checker after the alarm went off...but thats because they were closest as opposed to doing a good job)

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AngryK9
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Most Walmarts have video survallence of their parking lots. Get a lawyer, have the tapes pulled, and hope you can identify the person or persons that assulted you. Then file lawsuits against them and Walmart.

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AngryK9
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@AngryK9: Assuming of course it's true. I didn't read all of these comments. Could be fake for al I know.

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mixmeupone
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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What is the big deal? Did it make you feel like a big man to not show your receipt? Ooooooh, you showed that minimum wage worker. Way to stick it to the man. Wal-mart sucks and you showed them by spending your money with them, ignoring their door greeter, and getting your @$$ kicked in the parking lot by strangers. It's your world and we're just grateful to live in it.

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Luftvier
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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There must be about 4000 first year law students on here, as they're the only people who'd bicker about assault v. battery.

Common law tort definitions ≠ criminal law definitions.

/discussion.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Luftvier: How can you press charges against a person you can't identify? That's what I thought.

\"I'm going to sue!\" When your injury is a scrape on your arm, I'm thinking it's going to cost you more to sue than your actual recovery.

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Alarmpro
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I've never been asked for a receipt leaving Wally World. I'm a rather normal, clean-cut, 39 y/o male. I just walk right past them and smile.

When I buy something at Fry's Electronics, I always show my receipt and let them inspect the bags. That's their policy, and I accept that. They also mark your receipt. I guess so people won't walk in, steal, then leave showing the same receipt.

The problem is Wally's policy, (whatever it is), is inconsistent. They should mandate that all receipts are checked, or none. Leaving it up to an individual's judgment on a case-by-case basis leaves way too many variables to have a fair system. They (WM) are exposing themselves to a slew of potential lawsuits.

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duckfat
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'm in the \"you're a douchebag\" camp. Sorry, stores keeping losses low keeps your prices reasonable so they can afford to... I don't know... give away $100 gift cards.

I hate you more for making me defend Walmart.

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Aisley
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I have no doubt things may have happened as you present them. But I'm having a hard time trying to understand something: Why did you run to your car? If I buy something and do not show my receipt, I still not going to run away from the place. I did not do anything wrong therefore I do not need to run away.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@Aisley: Xboxes are locked up anyway so there's no way he could steal it without picking the lock or breaking in...but that's not the point. The point is the dude is walking out of the store with an item without a bag and doesn't want to present proof that the item has been paid for.

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ninjatoddler
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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You give up a little bit of your rights every time you shop at WalMart.

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@ninjatoddler: And bestbuy...no wait...it's okay to have best buy check your receipt before leaving because they actually have to remove a game or system from the security apparatus (spider or slide case).

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sevenwhitehorses
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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demand the store video of the parking lot and get the guys photo and his license if you can on the car. i hope you sue wallmart for inciting this incident and for stealing your xbox!

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Earl42
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Maybe I am wrong, but didn't the security guard essentially steal the x-box from him after he was tackled?

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kyle4
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'm assuming if his Xbox was banned it meant he modded it to pirate games. I'm not saying this is right but \"karma for stealing\" maybe?

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FierceDeityLink1
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@kyle4: OP here, pretty sure being banned for piracy is karma for being a pirate (along with buying a new console).

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@kyle4: It could be other things, but the op sounds like he's playing pocket anarchist here so...yeah.

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edrebber
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'm disappointed in Robby for caving in and showing his receipt. If you're not going to show your receipt, go all the way.

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Moosenogger
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I'm a bit iffy when it comes to receipt checking. For one thing, I think you should only have to show a receipt when the security sensors go off (cause obviously, the store has a decent reason to suspect you of something when that happens). On the other hand, I don't mind showing my receipt if they happen to ask, since it's usually thrown into the bag and is within easy reach.

I think the thing that set everything rolling was the OP running from the mob. To a lot of people, running = guilty party. Though, it's also possible that the overzealous customer would have tackled him, anyway.

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allstarecho
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Sue the holy bejeebus out of WalMart and the nosey customer (WalMart has him on film, the cops can find out who he is that way).

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scoopjones
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Ok, two points - first, if you shop at Walmart in the first place, you sort of deserve what you get. Plus, you act like a douche, expect to be treated like one.
Secondly, why do people get so irate about showing a receipt on the way out? Don't you read the news? Stores are dealing with gangs of thieves who load up shopping carts full of merchandise and pushing them out the front doors. This happened at an electronics store in San Diego and the receipt checkers, who probably make minimum wage, had guns shoved in their faces.
Bottom line is, if you don't like the policies, complain the right way, with a letter to their corporate offices. If that doesn't work, shop someplace else. Everyone is much happier that way.
FYI - I don't work for any store anywhere, I just see a bigger picture here of what the stores are dealing with.

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Schildkrote
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@scoopjones:

\"Secondly, why do people get so irate about showing a receipt on the way out? Don't you read the news? Stores are dealing with gangs of thieves who load up shopping carts full of merchandise and pushing them out the front doors.\"

Since when did that become my problem instead of Wal-Mart's?

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Bill19014
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@scoopjones: So a gang of armed thieves is leaving the store with cartloads of stuff, and grandpa steps in front of them and asks for a receipt. How does that do any good for the store, or grandpa? People here are complaining that receipt checking is an ineffective policy which does nothing but inconvenience and, as your reply and the original post demonstrates, endanger, innocent people, including WalMart employees.

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ovoided
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Did you complain to management? I work for Wal-Mart. This works. This guy will be fired. Believe me.

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Hakib
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Im sorry, but obviously none of you have been tackled on pavement before.

That pansy-scratch on his elbow IS NOT from a pavement tackle. If this were true, he would have picked the worst scratch/bruise/broken bone to photograph right?

You expect me to believe you were tackled by a 200 lbs person (assuming you're 100lbs) and walked away with that carpet burn? Granted, the scratch \"looks like\" a pavement scratch, but it looks more like it's from playing basketball or rollerblading than being EFFING TACKLED.

Shenanigans.

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Red_Eye
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Too bad this didnt happen someone armed, they could have pulled gun and shot the assailant who was illegally assaulting and detaining them. Then we would have seen some national coverage to stop the scourge of receipt checking.

Things that punish only the Good;
Receipt Checkers
DRM

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Red_Eye: Based on?!? Exactly. Based on nothing. If you shoot someone who doesn't have a gun you go to \"pound xbox dude in the ass\" prison.

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DoItRight
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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They should have cracked this wacko's head open to see if human brains reside there. He is lucky to have walked away with only a bruise on the elbow. Got off easy considering the poor attitude the shopper has.

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Urgleglurk
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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I won't shop at a business that assumes all of its customers are shoplifters unless proven otherwise.


Granted that all stores have a shoplifting problem to some extent, but NO OTHER STORE treats its customers like Wal-Mart does.


IF this occurred as posted, I'd say the poster should call his attorney and land on them with lead boots.


Wal-Mart can go to H---.

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shepd
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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And you still showed it to them? I'd have used the phone to call 911 and file for assault charges.

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Rectilinear Propagation
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@All those people who don't understand why the public in general shouldn't just go after anyone they think is a shoplifter: This is a good reason why you don't do that.

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MarketMaven
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Does the reader plan on never shopping at Walmart again? Anyone who wants to complain about their practices yet still shops there really needs to STFU.

Proudly Walmart free since 2008!

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LeChiffre
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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Wow,,,customers tackled you? That's a new one. and Ganyon is correct. It sounds as though you're the type that likes to piss others off, just because you can. Why couldn't you just show your receipt? Because you're a \"tough guy\"? lol. So really, you made your own bed. However, patrons tackling you was incredibly stupid and the fact that they were acting in the best interests of Wal-mart probably would hold both parties to negligence and battery. A good lawyer could win this case in a heartbeat.

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zerok00l420
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@LeChiffre:
why should we have to do what they want?
he bought the product.
THERE IS NO LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO SHOW RECEPT.


i did the same thing, and sued for false imprisonment.
fuck frys.

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Schildkrote
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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@LeChiffre:

\"Why couldn't you just show your receipt?\"

Presumably because he doesn't have to?

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Schildkrote
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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When Wal-Mart puts me on their loss prevention payroll, I'll start showing my receipt.

Until then, sorry, shoplifting isn't my problem since I paid for my merchandise.

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mister_deez
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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My friend is a loss prevention manager for a large retailer, and I hear her talk about this stuff almost daily. The OP is 100% in the right in this situation. The OP walking out and not checking your receipt is not even close to a good reason to stop you. They need to see the person stealing on the camera, then walking out of the store, before stopping them.
You should do two things here, sue Wal-mart for stopping you and taking your paid merchandise back inside. People get written up and fired for mistakes like this.
More importantly, you should of gotten the name of the person that tackled you and pressed charges. Nothing gives that idiot the right to tackle you.

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smokinfoo
November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
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more people should have been punched in the face in this story.

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Buffet
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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I would absolutely LOVE IT if some pencilneck wimps tried to tackle me!! Can you say \"rude awakening\"!

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Schildkrote
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@Buffet:

I think I speak for everyone on Consumerist and perhaps the entire Internet when I say we wish we were more like you.

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Buffet
November 23, 2009 5:31 PM
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Thank you very much sir. Best wishes and Happy Holidays to you.

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TransitJohn
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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It's time to lawyer up and sue. Some attorney in your area will take the case for the cut of the settlement money they'll negotiate out of court with WalMart. The guy who tackled you? Definitely take it all the way to garnishing his paycheck.

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pwillow1
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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I hope he presses charges for assault. And theft, too. This was his property that the checker stole from him.

Wal-Mart is a company with deep, deep pockets. I'd sue them, too. They need to be brought up hard on this kind of shenanigans.

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ringo00
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Is it bad that I want something like this to happen to me. I'm a big biker-type guy (6'3\", 280lbs) and the reciept checkers usually don't even ask me for my reciept, even when I see them ask everyone else in front of me. On the rare occasion that they do ask, I tell them no and keep walking. I did have one scrappy little old lady tell me that I had to in order to leave the store. I simply said, no I don't and left the store. Why are my Wal-Mart experiences so boring?

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Corporate_guy
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Call the police get the footage of the man who did tackle you so you can press charges. It should not be hard to watch the man check out and then identify him via his credit card.

Once that is done sue walmart for a couple million dollars.

Anything less would be a failure on your part as a consumer.

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Max2068
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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You know, I'm seriously against receipt checking and all, but maybe running wasn't the smartest decision in this case. People probably saw that as an admission of guilt.

Next time, perhaps explain they have no legal right to check your receipt, and have 911 dialed and ready to send on your phone if you think it'll get dicey.

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SacraBos
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Instead of complaining about the receipt checkers trying to do their jobs, we need to really MAKE them do their jobs. Make them a liability rather than a lame potential asset.

Here's how:

1) Buy several small items at a store.
2) When the checker starts to look at your receipt, start unloading your bag on him.
3) Have him verify and check off each item.
4) If he balks, request to talk to the manager.
5) Complain that he isn't doing his job.
6) Post on You-Tube.

If they want to check receipts, make them do it right. If enough people do this, the practice will stop because it will cause more problems than it solves.

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axiomatic
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@SacraBos: This actually isn't too bad an idea. It's in the \"kill them with kindness\" category. I like it.

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danno5-0
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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I make it a purpose not to show my receipt to door checkers! After I clear the Point of Sale, the transaction is complete and the property is mine and the cash/payment is yours. Very simple. Anyone trying to detain me w/o probable cause is in trouble and may be the recipient of an ass kicking!

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trujunglist
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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why did you run? that's the stupidest reaction ever and clearly made you look guilty, even if you weren't. haven't you seen cops? I mean, sure, no one there was a cop and had the authority to do anything, but that doesn't mean they won't automatically assume you're guilty because let's face it, that's the reaction of a guilty person. why? because you didn't want them to check your receipt that badly? because you were afraid? why didn't you just yell back at them that it's not legally required and to get the hell away from you? why just run? that seems unbelievably stupid. and i agree with other posters - if you really knew your rights and didn't do anything wrong, why didn't you call the cops right then and there?

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nstonep
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@trujunglist: He ran because the po-po was coming! Then he went and posted his wicked battle scar!

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cranke
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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I have yet to see a wallmart that doesn't have video surveillance of the parking lot. Anyone touches me and he will lose a limb.

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[DFX] Deimos
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Carrying a concealed weapon + living in a state with a \"stand your ground\" law = one dead douche bag reciept checker.


No big loss.

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CapitalC
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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If SprawlMart really wants to check receipts on exit, they should have a sign at the entry just like Costco does which says something to the effect of \"Costco reserves the right to inspect bags and recepits upon exit. Until them, just keep walkin'.

Where's that wallet-card someone had created and shared here (or on Lifehacker?) for this exact reason?

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[DFX] Deimos
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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@CapitalC: Even if they post a sign, it still doesn't give them the right to do it.


Idea:


I am going to make T-Shirts that say \"My personal policy is to not read any signs that contain legal language, and I refuse to be bound by their terms.\"

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zerok00l420
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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did you get a lawyer yet?
walmart need to be punnished.

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MrMan09
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Should have called the police right then and there. Having accepted this and walked away was stupid.
Have them arrest the guy who tackled you and the receipt checker.

1 - Guy who tackled you had no right to do so.
2 - Receipt checker - took your XBox. He stole your property. He assumed you were a thief, because you refused to participate in the security theater of letting him check your papers.

You should have filed a complaint with the police and with Walmart right then. You should have demanded Walmart replace the XBox that their employees actions caused to possibly be damaged.

\"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. Benjamin Franklin\"

Yes it does not take much to show your receipt, and then maybe next you will have to show your credit card and license at the door to prove your form of payment was valid. I mean honestly, they can put a skimmed cards information on a hotel door key, we should make sure its all legal to protect everyone. And we should have to stop and open every package and make sure your not hiding things inside. But its only a small inconvenience, why not just give up all of your rights so you can be extra safe and secure. Oh and bring the receipts for what your wearing or carrying with you, because if you don't have them we know you stole them from our store.

We don't have customers, we have potential shoplifters.

Maybe if more people actually stopped showing receipts they would stop asking. Well Bob showed his, whats your problem. Not wanting to bother with your made up idea of security, is not proof of guilt. Being told its just a little thing, no your rights aren't a little thing and just because your willing to give up yours doesn't mean everyone else should.

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Inglix_the_Mad
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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Some a$$ grabbed my brother last week as he was walking out of Socialist-Mart with HIS video camera. He brought it in to make sure he got the right tapes (a friend gave it to him) and the \"receipt checker\" didn't realize it's a 3 year old unit (that my cousin gave him) and so grabbed his arm as my brother was chatting on the phone, oblivious to the universe.

Needless to say the camera was broken, and after my brother threatened to sue the store they ended up giving him a new camera. Of course I'm willing to wager that immediately calling the police AND a local news crew AND his sister-in-law at such and such a local lawyer's office probably tipped his hand a bit.

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jentink
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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so it's a hugely difficult thing to show one's receipt????? i don't get this... i guess people need something to blog about. useless.

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omphalos204
November 18, 2009 4:53 PM
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My teenagers just got an xbox from wal-mart, and they TAPED THE RECEIPT to the box-- thank God! Glad they didn't tackle us on the way out, I'm 50, and I'm always crumpling up receipts in my purse, sure I'd never have found it lol. That is ridiculous, they should have CALLED THE DEPARTMENT and asked if one had just been purchased, NOT PHYSICALLY ASSAULT the customer, there is no law saying you have to produce a receipt to exit a store and NOTHING gives anyone there the right to touch you.

Years ago my foster son, who happened to be a minority youth, had been looking at music, while I shopped in the store (only store in town, now) and this area does have a small minority population, but most of the store employees are white. So this moron goes up to my foster child, who just having come from school had a very small backpack, where he kept his cd player and wallet, he didn't want to leave it in the car, because one of the windows was off track and couldn't be shut all the way.
Anyhow, they demanded that he OPEN HIS BACKPACK AND LET THEM SEARCH IT, I rounded the corner and told them they had NO RIGHT TO SEARCH IT UNLESS THEY WERE ACCUSING HIM OF A THEFT, IN WHICH CASE THEY COULD CALL THE POLICE RIGHT THEN, AND WE'D ALL LOOK AND SEE TOGETHER. They did NOT wish to call the police. Unfortunately, my foster child was used to being mistreated, he said \"No, no, it's okay, I didn't steal, I'll show them\" And opened up his bag and those #@!*%_ humiliated him and went through it. I HATE PEOPLE WHO MAKE NOTHING WORKING FOR WAL-FART but act as if they are a paid force of ninja warriors charged with PROTECTING the goods, lmao.
I used to be a store detective and I know that UNLESS you actually WITNESS someone concealing merchandise you have ZERO right to interfere with their being in the store and shopping. And if they DO detain you, they absolutely have committed a crime and THEY should be prosecuted for THAT.

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shayden
November 23, 2009 5:32 PM
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I do this all the time. I always tell the checker \"No thank you.\" I have never had an issue. They always say, \"Thank You.\"

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SlyPhox
April 13, 2010 5:28 PM
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One thing that comes to mind is if the op in this situation had a CCW and was carrying at the time. Due to the mob that chased him, you could justify that you were in fear of your life and take the appropriate action to defuse the situation. It's going to take one person making a bad judgment call before appropriate action is taken.

The only time receipt checking should ever be a requirement is if you mutually agree to it in the case where you're part of a warehouse club member where that is a line item in the TOS that you agree to.

I personally avoid conflict by always just carrying my receipt visible against the item. I've never been stopped in BestBorrow and Wallyworld to show my receipt.

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goozlefoop
December 8, 2010 10:10 AM
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I was stopped at the Walmart in Neptune, NJ for not showing a receipt while the checker was busy with another customer. A Neptune Police Officer that was stationed at the exit eventually stopped me. He checked my receipt and asked me to have a nice day. Why do the taxpayers of Neptune subsidize the security at Walmart? I will never shop in Walmart again. If anyone touches you, deck them. No one at Walmart has the right to stop you when you are leaving after you paid for your items. It is a mater of self defense. Walmart targets the lower class. If you want to shop there, expect to be treated that way. Neptune is not a nice town. It only follows suite that this type of activity takes place here.

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