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Today's Poll: How do you respond when asked to show a reciept for items purchased in a store?

By Howard B. Owens
Steve Bailey

I always have my reciept handy just in case why would being asked to see your reciept a bad thing i have never thought twice about it.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:37am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

You know if, you go to BJs or SAM Clubs you are always asked for your receipt. Wal-Mart has been doing it for years so, why would anyone get bent out of shape for such a very simple request?

Dec 29, 2011, 8:39am Permalink
terry paine

While businesses are hamstrung by all levels of government, they are still able to set some of their own rules. If you find those rules not to your liking than its your choice not to go there. If you believe in property rights than you should abide by the property owners rules.

Dec 29, 2011, 9:02am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

The question was: "how do you respond when asked", not "what is your opinion about being asked". I comply almost 100% of the time. If my hands are full and I've already pocketed the receipt, I politely decline and keep on walking.

Dec 29, 2011, 9:19am Permalink
C. M. Barons

I have never been asked to show a receipt. My reaction (if asked) would depend on whether I had the receipt in my possession; I often decline the receipt because the cashier mixes it with my change rather than putting it in the bag. My reaction would also depend on the manner in which I was engaged and whether the person asking to see the receipt was a store employee or law enforcement officer. Neither do I steal, nor do I behave in a way that might lead someone to suspect I steal. I would be less than receptive to being accused of stealing. Of course all of this is hypothetical; I don't shop at Walmart or BJs. If I want goods manufactured in China, I go to Mr. Lee's store in the Henrietta Public Market. Walmart DOES sound like an entertaining place. I've been emailed pictures of Walmartians, and I've read about the Walmart receipts that reveal images of Christ. I try to avoid shopping at out of state businesses that put my local businesses OUT of business.

Dec 29, 2011, 11:33am Permalink
Eric [Rick] von kramer

I can't remember ever being asked, except at BJ's,,, Either i look honest, or they can see the butt of my glock under my shirt. OOPS,, here we go again!!

Dec 29, 2011, 11:37am Permalink
Bea McManis

Doug is right. The question is "How do you respond..."
19 of our neighbors answered:
"I don't think I should have to show it and will argue about it if pressed. 1.58% (19 votes) "
One of those 19 could be in front of you at a check out, or walking just in front of you as you exit s store.
When I worked online, encountered a great number of people I knew I would never want to meet in person. I was comforted knowing that none of them were from my community and the possibility was rare.
This is different. 19 people live and shop HERE.
We have a reasonable expectation of safety as we go about our daily business without the need to arm ourselves to the teeth.
19 people doesn't sound like a great number, but in a small community there is a good possibility of running into one of them.
Scary thought.

Dec 29, 2011, 4:50pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Bea, you have to take into consideration that many people like to talk outside of their true character on the interweb. They like to say things such as: "Nobody better mess with me asking for a receipt! I live in America and they can just get the hell out of my way!...blah blah...blippity bleep." When in reality, they would hold out their receipt like they know they should. Even if a name is associated with a comment, there's still the perceived sense of anonymity for them.

Dec 29, 2011, 5:39pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Doug,
I worked for too many years with the government agencies watching over my shoulder for people who "talk big". Many may be just blowing off some bravado, but there are some who really pose a threat. I'm sure the few on 9/11 who thought they were "cute" found themselves in far deeper water than they ever imagined.
I know how people are when they post online, it doesn't raise my comfort level that there are some, here, who think nothing of posing a threat to our community, Real of perceived, the threat is there. We'll never know which of the 19 is a powder keg ready to go off.
By the way, the company from which I retired has the contract to monitor FB posts. Wild horses couldn't get me to back to that job even with the carrot of a presidential election year coming up. The last major election year, I worked, was enough for me, my low blood pressure would surely rise to normal.

Dec 29, 2011, 5:54pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

That's just it...how do we know who is the next powder keg? We hear the same things all the time in the news when someone "goes postal." People always say "he/she was such a nice person...never saw this coming....etc."

We should expect to be safe without the need to be armed but these unknowns are exactly why people have a CC permit. Actually, I'm more concerned with stray dogs or a rabid critter than I am with people. I've subjected everyone here to my tale of a raccoon coming into my house through the pet door at 10:30pm one night. It's a night I'm glad I was able to be armed.

Your job skills seem to have stayed with you since you can account for 19 people who raised the hair on the back of your neck. I'd love to be able to believe that we can trust everyone but the reality is, some members of society are pretty scary.

Every time I read about the fringes of society being busted, it reminds me of how Melba toast my own life is. I love Melba toast!

Dec 29, 2011, 6:19pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

LOL I have to relate this story.... Bea I can sympathize with your concerns, I have been both participant and monitor in some wild and wooley online chat areas. My favorite I am still a member of today but because of my past working relationship I cant name. It was a regional get to know you chat themed room on a dating website. It was for all of NYS (excepting the NYC area) and we would have get togethers every other month. As a participant I was just as outspoken as I was here and since there were alot of predatory males there I butted heads alot with horndogs that were very abusive and demeaning to women especially if they werent interested in the guys advances.

Needless to say I was younger then (about 10 yrs younger) and went all over the state as a merchandiser so I attended these functions, the first year was hard as my conflict lead to being threatened with being beaten within an inch of my life. Over the 10 yrs I found out a wonderful thing, of these threats I had never been confronted.... with the exception of 3 times, those three times the person was respectful apologetic and became a friend eventually. It led me to the conclusion that the internet and the phone breeds a kind of bravery that doesnt stand up very well in person. I admit being a healthy young man at the time is an entirely different dynamic but its seems to me its just another type of bullying. (By the way about 30% of people talking the bs did show up to these events but never did much but lurk around acting like they werent part of the group) It was interesting to say the least and you can still tell to this day in that chat room who are oldtimers with much exp in that room and the cyber tough guys, and girls who are loudmouths online but nothing in person.

:)

Dec 29, 2011, 6:39pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Thank goodness I never had to do those chat rooms, although we did have them. I was almost strictly news; politics; and sports as far as sites like this were concerned. For a year, I was assigned teens which was like my hundred years in purgatory.
I did, and they still do, interactive events for television programs and more. That is how I ended up interviewing all of the presidential candidates during that election year. The benefit of working from home, the interviews were very respectful despite the fact that I was dressed in sweats. I did consider putting on pearls for the occasion but decided against it.
All joking aside. What happen to Grace could happen to any of us. 21 people, in this poll, said that they will cause a scene if asked to produce a receipt. How adult is that? Which of us will be in that person's line of fire?
By the way, why aren't the 21 coming forward to crow about admitting that they can't control themselves?

Dec 29, 2011, 7:06pm Permalink

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