Well, it’s been quite awhile since I have posted, so I’ll use this space to reply to Corey’s comments from yesterday. First of all I am only doing my job, but make no mistake – I do like catching shoplifters, even though the shoplifters caught are only a small fraction of the thieves.
When I first came to work for Wal-Mart it was the stores policy to check receipts if something was not in a shopping bag, with the exception of water, pop, diapers and alcohol, for the most part. It took me some time to get used to asking people for their receipts. As Corey stated, “Asking for proof of purchase less than a minute after the sale is, in fact, implying that a paying customer is a criminal suspect.” Good point and that’s kind of how I felt about it until I started catching a few shoplifters and seeing how cavalier they were about the whole situation.
That’s no longer our policy. Now we only check receipts for vaccums, bicycles, TVs, computers and when the alarm goes off if the customer stops and offers their receipt or if something looks suspicious. Something suspicious would be something like someone blowing past the checkout with merchandise. Some of the ones who stop and offer their receipts I just wave on out the door. If the alarm goes off and the shopper doesn’t stop we don’t chase them down or try to hold onto their cart.
Myself, I also check on alcohol if the customer doesn’t look 21. And after I tell them why I stopped them they are pretty good natured about it. And I will hold onto their cart, as I have had them run out of the store with their loot.
Some of the shoplifters are pretty crafty about how they how they ply their trade and they make a living through theft. One example is when they take a “return sticker” from a small item out into the store and put it on a more valuable item, like a computer. Then they take it to customer service for a refund or take it out of the store claiming that, “I was going to return it but the line at customer service is too long and I’ll come back later.” Sometimes they will use an old receipt hoping that no one will check the date.
Most people are willing to show a receipt and the ones that don’t want to show a receipt don’t have to show one and I drop it at that, but they don’t have to call me names either. Most of the people who don’t want to show their receipts just don’t want to be inconvenienced.
At our last greeters meeting we were reminded that we are not security and I like that idea. The store’s current policy on checking receipts is reasonable. And by the way, store employees are supposed to show their receipts, from the store manager down. And they are supposed to show that they are not carrying anything out – using a backpack or bag with personal items in it.
Checking receipts is also a check on the cashier. They have had instances where the cashier and a friend work together to get merchandise out of the store without paying for it.
When I do catch someone with something they haven’t paid for I give them a chance to save face and I am not accusatory. If they want to go back and pay for it then I let them without a scene. Actually I play along with their story as if I believe them. If they don’t want to go back and pay for it, still no scene they just leave it.
Sometimes it is really sad, like the woman on Christmas Eve who had a cart full of toys and no receipt. I felt bad for her kids, as they probably didn’t have much of a Christmas. Or the young couple who had a tricycle for their youngster and didn’t have the money to pay for it.
Even though this is about the worst job I have ever had I am grateful that Wal-Mart hired me inspite of my disabilities.
To summarize, I don’t think that checking receipts does much to catch thieves. What it does do is, like door locks, it helps keep honest people honest.
This blog is a way for me to find humour in what I do. I really appreciate when someone makes a comment on my blog as Corey did.
Tags: Checking Receipts // 9 Comments »