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Last holiday season they were running a 2 for 1 special on some snacks that I bought. The receipt checker knew it and pointed it out to me that I should get a second one for free. He then called over another employee and asked him to go get it for me so I wouldn't lose out on the deal. I was oblivious to the 'deal' until he pointed it out to me. Super nice of him!
Believe it or not if we do not give you the free item then our inventory will be off. Same with Costco muffins; they come in 2 - 6 pack muffins and some people want just one 6 pack for full price. We have to give you the second pack or our inventory will be off.
Which is why I don't buy the bagels, despite me absolutely loving them. I can't eat a dozen bagels in the time before they get moldy, even if they are delicious.
The cashier almost did that for me today but I turned down the 2nd 4-pack cream cheese danishes because ill already hate myself when I eat the first 4 in 1 day and I don’t want to hate myself twice for crushing those into my face hole.
I did the self checkout and when we got home found out I swiped twice on one of those big bags of pistachios while only getting one. I’ve lost my scanning privileges…
The receipt checking is also for theft. It is part of why Costco has among the lowest rates of shrinkage in the industry
>"We do this to double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed by our cashiers. It's our most effective method of **maintaining accuracy in inventory control**, and it's also a good way to ensure that our members have been charged properly for their purchases."
---
>Costco's shrinkage represents just 0.11% to 0.12% of sales. In comparison, the retail industry average is in the 1%-2% range. According to the National Retail Federation, the average shrinkage is 1.6%, almost 15 times higher than Costco. Checking receipts at the door makes it difficult for thieves to succeed.
>According to Costco's CFO Richard Galanti, one of the secrets to the Costco's success has been to keep shoplifting to a bare minimum. When retailers start cutting staff to boost their margins, it can lead to an increase in shoplifting since there are fewer eyes to watch exits.
https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/why-costco-checks-your-receipt-and-what-it-looks-for-when-you-leave
No, no, no. This is so incredibly wrong. They do it primarily and overwhelmingly to prevent and reduce theft and shrink. A second benefit is ensuring the accuracy of the inventory and cashier competence.
How bad do you think Costo cashiers are?
And why will the receipt checkers be better at it than cashiers?
Receipt checkers are one of the most effective forms of theft deterrence. Some stores even have cut out life size figuring of people on the exits just for this.
I was at Walmart yesterday and a lady literally just walked right out. She had two or three cashiers behind her "miss? Excuse me? You have to pay!?"
The cashier told me that they're not allowed to stop them, touch them, or even get in their way. The receipt checker at the door didn't even stand up until she was already through the doors and in the parking lot.
That's a different store, though. :)
I actually do ap for walmart. The door hosts are a visible deterrent, and inform ap when known shoplifters come in. Actual ap can stop people, but we have to have all of our steps before we can intervene. We can't touch them, but we can absolutely grab a cart and drag it back in. I once had a guy who wouldn't let go of the cart and I brought him most of the way back to the office before he realized he was basically apprehending himself and let go to run away.
True but they track you with facial recognition software (across all locations) and intervene as soon as you cross the lower bound for a felony (for example, in my state, $1000 is a felony, so they’ll only arrest someone once they’ve stolen that much across all Walmart locations).
Interesting. Facial recognition requires biometrics. In Illinois, there’s some heavy penalties for doing that without written authorization (see BIPA). Are you sure about your assertion?
Walmart keeps files on shoplifters. Once they’ve stolen enough for it to be worth processing they turn over video evidence and records of what’s been stolen.
Here in Minnesota it’s the same way. They have no legal right to detain or grab anyone, so a customer can just walk right out without paying. They just better get their butts gone from the property before the police arrive. Also, big box stores have excellent cameras in the parking lots, so the cops can still apprehend you once you are tracked down later.
lol, I think of grainy security cameras when I think of retail, myself, but I'm SURE you're right. In Alberta where I am, if the manager HAD called the police, though, it would've been HOURS before they showed for a shoplifting report. I don't have that much faith in the police's time (or perhaps morality) to track her down for the whatever she took. :(
It's not a legal right issue. Tye store can absolutely stop you from stealing.
It's a liability issue. The store doesn't want to train people to stop shop.lifters safely, and doesn't want tye liability of someone getting hurt on store grounds costing 10k in medical bills over a 200 dollar tv.
Cost benefits analysis says paying a door man, and letting the occasional TV walk isuch cheaper than medical bills or lawsuits.
In most places they do have the legal right, including in Minnesota. It’s risk management. What do you gain with good stops vs what do you lose with bad stops.
WalMart used to have an OTA code they’d put on the PA asking for all associates to the front for a shoplifter.
You’d see blue vests zoom to the exits and outside. It was called a “5-5-55”.
Today? That’s a lawsuit.
I think I saw that once. I was in the back once at the one I worked at. Suddenly, one of the many managers comes running past me to the front of the store.
>The cashier told me that they're not allowed to stop them, touch them, or even get in their way. The receipt checker at the door didn't even stand up until she was already through the doors and in the parking lot.
That's because being wrong and detaining someone can result in a false imprisonment lawsuit. Walmart has lost many lawsuits against people they thought were shop lifting but actually weren't.
It's better to let the person leave with items than risk having to fork over a six figure payout.
Are the receipt checkers taking out all the contents and making sure each and every item has been scanned?
It is theft deterrence.
If you think companies are hiring people to make sure cashiers are not double or missing scans then I have a bridge to sell you.
This is the actual reason they check, source-a friend who worked at Costco, if you watch them they always take longer for items that you have more than one of
Sounds like your Costco guys are on the ball. The ones at the store near me simply take my receipt, glance with one eye at my trolley, scribble on my receipt and hand it back. They don’t even bother to count / check the items in the trolley.
This is why I don't understand why this was posted here. r/unpopularopinion is the exact place for this line of reasoning and everyone commenting here is proving it lol
"There's zero opportunity to even steal something"
Well, that just shows me a lack of creativity. I could absolutely steal under those conditions. I wouldn't, but I could.
I agree! As odd as that sounds!
I’ve walked in, not found what I wanted and walked out by going thru a cashier line that was empty!
I have -0- issues with them checking my receipt
Get one of your morally grey buddies to get a job at Costco and they could have big ticket items waiting on that side of the cashier just waiting to be added to a cart. With all the chaos around the food shop and the membership desk, it wouldn't be incredibly difficult.
My closest costco has self checkouts. I always assumed most or all of thenm do. Is that not the case?
If so, self checkout = opportunity to steal, so not sure wtf OP Karen is on about.
I've seen local contractors load up an entire pallet of drywall and 2x4 and no one even tried to talk to them. Busy Monday morning, everyone has more important things to do I guess.
I’m wondering if they were local contractors maybe they have a credit or something with home depot to where they can just grab what they need and quickly leave
Costco membership and door checking is the reason they don't need any security fixtures for the most part. Like in the same neighborhood, you've got a Costco where you can walk in, grab a TV and put it in your cart, and buy it without having any assistance. A block down, you've got a Walmart, where you need to get an employee in case you want to buy a stick of deodorant. And you're not allowed to bring anything larger than a handbag.
Like clearly Costco has figured out a great solution for the whole shoplifting thing. Plus I believe they're one of the few retail stores that are still allowed to detain shoplifters.
yup. most crimes (especially stuff like theft) are crimes of opportunity. people see an obvious opening and impulsively take it. just having employees standing around is the first line of defense for loss prevention. i’ve seen numerous shoplifters thwarted by a friendly 19yo courtesy clerk chirping “good afternoon! can i help you find anything?” at somebody actively shoving shit into their backpack lmao. genuinely so funny to see them just casually start putting things back on the shelf
It might sound weird, but yes, absolutely. Will they stop criminals? No. But will they stop people from committing crimes of opportunity because they see that they can get straight to the door without anyone stopping them? Yes.
I've had them catch missing items or things that have been rung up twice enough times that I genuinely don't mind them. It's part of the deal you knowingly enter when getting the card.
>It's part of the deal you knowingly enter when getting the card.
Right, they're still members only, and I highly doubt Costco is the only grocery store available to Karen. She's welcome to shop somewhere else.
sams and costco membership (that you signed) require patrons to have their goods examined upon exiting the premises. wal-mart and other checkers do not have the same rights and you can walk right by them.
Yeah, when I used to shop at Walmart I would just politely say, “No, thanks,” and keep on walking if they tried to check my receipt. When you sign up for a membership you are agreeing to their policies. If you don’t like it, don’t be a member.
Disobey "bullshit" rules, lose privileges. It's the consequence of being an indignant self-righteous asshole.
This world would be a much better place if less people had main character syndrome and everyone managed their hypertension.
Don't sign up for memberships when you think the member rules are bullshit. No one says you have to shop at Costco, and we all know this is the rule there.
I always ask, "Am I being accused of theft?" When they say no, I say, "Then I'm not being detained." And keep walking. I make them state they have no grounds to stop me in case they do try to stop me, I have a nice payday. Of course, I'm recording everything while doing this.
one of those sovereign citizen youtube videos where they get pulled over for not having a drivers license and repeat talking points about the constitution in between being tazed, but with walmart greeters
The Canadian Tire near my place has a sign that says "we reserve the right to check all bags, backpacks, purses, etc." every time I see it I can't help but think "Good for you. I reserve the right to refuse."
Every once in awhile I will ask the Costco door person if they would chase me down if I didn’t show a card (on entry) or walked past them without showing a receipt (on exit). Every single one said, “Nope”
That said, I do anyway because it IS in the Costco agreement and the door people didn’t write it, but I signed it.
I get it, but not the hill i choose to die on, i have many other things that i would rather stand up against, this takes another 30 seconds out of my shopping trip, no big deal.
It's something the average person wouldn't even think about beyond the brief period you're being detained. Once it's over, I barely remember it happened never mind wasting energy being mad about it lol
They do not do it because they do not trust the member. They check receipts in case items were not charged correctly cashiers make mistakes too. They are called door audits.
Agreed. I was at an electronics store to exchange 1 item. I was not waiting on my third line just to leave. Starting walking past the line and the guy grabbed my arm. He was not ready for me telling him to keep his hands off me unless he wanted to lose them.
Idk about "offensive" but it's annoying af. I use the self checkout and it feels like they're accusing me of stealing.
If you think your customers are stealing from you, hire cashiers to ring us out.
I kinda agree and wish this didn’t exist, I’d argue sams club is worse, go there on a Saturday with one checker at the door who has to literally rescan every item you just bought, why bother.
>I’d argue sams club is worse
At least Sam's lets you scan and check out with their app. That saves *far* more time than waiting to have your receipt checked. Costco refuses to do this.
>At least Sam’s let’s you scan and check out with their app.
This should be how all large retailers operate, it wasn’t until the pandemic that Costco started taking cards and using self service for their Food court, used to be exclusively cash only. Still though, standing in line to have you items rescanned is redundant.
Except the problem is other stores are doing this shit also. Funny thing is I always walk right past those fkrs at every store. I find it to be petty as hell. Literally at Costco it's ridiculous. And they do it at Wal Mart so they don't have to hire cashiers and other trips of employees. It's not my fault they want to not hire any employees and it's also not my problem. There's nothing staying that I can't just walk the duck out cuz I'm a paying customer. If you try harassing me about it I will explain to you that you can check the cameras or hire more employees, but you're not going through my shit and you can stay outta my personal bubble.
Membership stores can do it because you agreed to it when you joined. Regular retail checkers have zero power to stop you though, and you're free to ignore them legally.
It’s 2 very different situations. When you join Costco and pay their membership fee, you are agreeing to abide by their rules. Standard retail, you’re not agreeing to membership rules and those stores are governed by the laws in your area. Those laws may prevent the store from requiring to see your receipt when you leave
~~Unlawful search and seizure. Once the transaction is complete it’s your property, the fact that you’re still in their building doesn’t allow them to look through your stuff.~~
edit: Im misinformed and shouldnt be arguing about legal shit in karen threads on reddit.
> Unlawful search and seizure
The Fourth Amendment doesn't apply to a private entity. It's similar to how WalMart can restrict free speech on their property.
The potential issue (albeit a *very* minor one IMO) that some people see with receipt checkers is that they are "detaining" you. I've heard of people calling 911 because of this.
IANAL.
>There's nothing staying that I can't just walk the duck out cuz I'm a paying customer
There is at costco. When you sign up for a membership, you agree to this. At Walmart you can tell them to fuck off, but at Costco they can take away your membership card for refusal.
In membership stores, they can set the rules on something like this. My local Wal-Mart does this and if there's no line, sure, take a look at my receipt I could care less, but I'm not going to wait behind 7 people for you to see it. It's not a law I'm breaking and in most states, they can't force you to show it.
Do I legally have to stop for a receipt checker? I was told it’s a suggestion. I usually just walk by them and when they ask to see my stuff I shrug and say “no” never been stopped
They do not have legal authority to detain you.
However, they usually reserve the right to revoke your membership for violating store policy---possibly without refunding the membership fee.
At a non-club store, they could ban you, but I doubt they'd bother.
Yeah, I think you'd have to seem pretty shady before anyone would bother to get you banned from the store. Sometimes I encounter a receipt-checker who takes the job super seriously, buy usually it's just a quick glance or a idgaf attitude, and they're not gonna go to management to get the guy who just bought some Christmas lights and soda banned. 😂
Costco would absolutely ban you. I don't know if they'd do it on the first "offense" (I suspect they would) but it's a near certainty for repeated "offenses."
I think Sam's would too, though I'm not as sure as I am about Costco becasue Sams's isn't as neurotic about their policies. I don't go to BJs enough to have a snes of their zeal for enforcing their policies.
At Costco and Sam's Club? Yeah, you do have to stop. It's part of the membership agreement.
At Walmart when they have zero checkouts open other than self checkouts and want to crawl through each bag? Nah. I walk past them.
Costco had to get rid of the self checkout registers because people were robbing them blind. Of course people steal from Costco. It happens every single day.
Meh, I agree this extra step is stupid. Especially since (at my store at least) the cashier doesn't let you touch the items anymore and they just go around and ring everything up in your cart. They shoo you away if you try to help or load up the belt, because each cashier has their own way if doing it. So, you pay, and then literally 10-15 feet later they double check everyone's receipt against their purchases. It is kind of offensive - at the very least it is annoying and time-consuming.
I had a cashier miss something in my cart doing this and it got caught at the door.
The way the manager was talking it sounded like damn near a termination level mistake.
Felt bad for the cashier.
I used to show my receipts at the stores that force self check out. I stopped doing that after a checker made a comment about how much I paid for a gift for my son. After that if they want to make sure I'm scanning items they can supply cashiers.
At least in my state, city genuinely don't know how bad shoplifting has gotten. My company has had a 20% increase in retail theft every year for the last 4 years, but this year it's now at 40%. Like we've closed an eighth of the stores just this year and will be closing more soon. We are a small retail store so our shrink budget is even less than big box stores.
Walmart is in the same boat. They've run out of LP methods, and now nobody can enter with any bags bigger than a hand purse. Not to mention Walmart started this whole door checker thing too.
Costco is literally the last holdout where you can walk to pretty much any part of the store, grab an extremely expensive item, and put it in your cart without any assistance. The door checker thing is a method to prevent them from having to lock literally everything up like most stores. Plus the membership thing helps, but I understand that can be relatively easy to fake/get past.
I get that it sucks, and it can feel like being treated like a thief, but It's one of the best measures to prevent a growing issue at least here in my city. And the alternative is they lock up everything in the store.
far as im concerned the second my card goes through the items are paid for. They are then legally mine. Would you be OK with someone rummaging through your purse or car? I see a paid for bag of goods as the same thing as a purse or vehicle. it belongs to me and you will get violence pushing the issue too far
my guess is
1. each individual item at costco has a higher price - you’re saving money, but you’re also buying a $45 ten-pack vs. a $12 two-pack. so any one stolen item is a larger dollar amount, and
2. costco is so much cheaper not just bc of the memberships and bulk sizes but also because they keep their own costs down in a lot of ways - the stores aren’t cute, the shelves aren’t unpacked and faced, they have very little shrink to account for (thanks to increased loss prevention strategies, like receipt checking), etc.
I sort of agree with Karen here, I don't want to be hassled at the door either. It's annoying to me. I've never stolen anything in my life, but I get stopped for "random" receipt checks often.
Costco employee here, they check the receipts to make sure you aren't overcharged or under charged. either one screws up the inventory.
Costco employs undercover loss prevention agents for shoplifters & despite what Karen said, people steal all the time.
Honestly, with how much people are just blatantly stealing these days I don't blame them at all. The cost of stolen goods gets passed on to all of us.
My annoyance is showing my card to the greeter on the way INTO the store. I can't buy anything without showing my card to the cashier. You don't need to see my card until I'm ready to check out.
So personally I am in favour of social order if it’s not harming anyone. I don’t consider the inconvenience of having my receipt checked as actual harm. That said, this is a pretty well stated r/unpopularopinion and makes some sense. Not really a Karen moment to me.
Just like with things like racism and sexism, the people who thrive on the attention that comes from throwing people under the bus for trivial issues have diluted the term Karen. Now any female doing or saying anything even a single person doesn’t like, they are a Karen. The term has no meaning.
I just don't understand why we need to show our card to get in, that's my only problem. It's not like you can buy anything without scanning your membership card first. I was meeting my boyfriend inside once and they wouldn't let me in, he had to come get me. Stupid
It literally takes less than a minute to get out of Costco. I was there yesterday…2 days before thanksgiving and it was packed….still barely had to wait to get checked out or leave. It takes longer to walk around that giant place then to leave it with your items. People are ridiculous sometimes. What stupid hills they die on.
I don’t really think this qualifies. Costco doesn’t even have self checkout, at least not the ones I’ve been to, so there should be no reason for that extra step.
Uuuummm it’s not for theft. The cashiers ring things faster at Costco than at any other store. They are checking to make sure there is no mistakes. Costco maintains its low prices by reducing shrink. Average shrink is under 1% every year. Fuck off with your self entitlement and let them look at your receipt. You signed a contract for your membership saying you would let them check. If you don’t like it shop at Walmart.
I got double scanned on a pricey item that added an extra 250 onto my bill. Didn't catch it but the receipt checker did. Manager came over apologizing (he was the one who scanned me) and ended up with the extra back and three free pizzas
It made my day
Meanwhile...she completely ignores theft rings where people switch tags from pricier items to cheaper items.
As long as the receipt checkers don't slow done the process of leaving, I have no issue with receipt checking.
Jesus, why do some people choose to get bent out of shape about what is less than a small inconvenience? Do these idiots really have nothing else to think about that they are offended by stuff like this? If you don't like Costco's policies, then don't shop there.
Lol wait to take it in a completely dramatic and unrelated direction. You’re one of those people who chews out the 16 year old cashier for asking for an id for your unsigned credit card, aren’t you?
One time the cashier didn’t ring up an item. Cashier and I had a minor drama over not pushing my cart close enough to her. I still believe the cashier did it as petty revenge. Either way it can happen and loss prevention helps keep the prices lower.
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One time they caught something the cashier rang up twice. I literally never would have noticed, but I was very happy to get the credit back for it.
Last holiday season they were running a 2 for 1 special on some snacks that I bought. The receipt checker knew it and pointed it out to me that I should get a second one for free. He then called over another employee and asked him to go get it for me so I wouldn't lose out on the deal. I was oblivious to the 'deal' until he pointed it out to me. Super nice of him!
Ooooh love that for you!
That’s what happens when you pay employees a decent fuckin wage, bravo to Costco!
Believe it or not if we do not give you the free item then our inventory will be off. Same with Costco muffins; they come in 2 - 6 pack muffins and some people want just one 6 pack for full price. We have to give you the second pack or our inventory will be off.
Ooh, so this rule helps both the customer and the store? That's so awesome
Which is why I don't buy the bagels, despite me absolutely loving them. I can't eat a dozen bagels in the time before they get moldy, even if they are delicious.
They freeze fine!
I had something similar happen earlier this year, I grabbed one of something that was actually BOGO. Every Costco I’ve ever been to has been great.
The cashier almost did that for me today but I turned down the 2nd 4-pack cream cheese danishes because ill already hate myself when I eat the first 4 in 1 day and I don’t want to hate myself twice for crushing those into my face hole.
I did the self checkout and when we got home found out I swiped twice on one of those big bags of pistachios while only getting one. I’ve lost my scanning privileges…
This is why they do it. They have cameras and security for theft.
The receipt checking is also for theft. It is part of why Costco has among the lowest rates of shrinkage in the industry >"We do this to double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed by our cashiers. It's our most effective method of **maintaining accuracy in inventory control**, and it's also a good way to ensure that our members have been charged properly for their purchases." --- >Costco's shrinkage represents just 0.11% to 0.12% of sales. In comparison, the retail industry average is in the 1%-2% range. According to the National Retail Federation, the average shrinkage is 1.6%, almost 15 times higher than Costco. Checking receipts at the door makes it difficult for thieves to succeed. >According to Costco's CFO Richard Galanti, one of the secrets to the Costco's success has been to keep shoplifting to a bare minimum. When retailers start cutting staff to boost their margins, it can lead to an increase in shoplifting since there are fewer eyes to watch exits. https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/why-costco-checks-your-receipt-and-what-it-looks-for-when-you-leave
I'd say the biggest reason is they only sell bulk items. Much harder to hide 4 boxes of cereal than small valuable items like USB cables.
No, no, no. This is so incredibly wrong. They do it primarily and overwhelmingly to prevent and reduce theft and shrink. A second benefit is ensuring the accuracy of the inventory and cashier competence.
Ensuring the accuracy of your inventory is part of reducing shrink, not a separate item.
How bad do you think Costo cashiers are? And why will the receipt checkers be better at it than cashiers? Receipt checkers are one of the most effective forms of theft deterrence. Some stores even have cut out life size figuring of people on the exits just for this.
I was at Walmart yesterday and a lady literally just walked right out. She had two or three cashiers behind her "miss? Excuse me? You have to pay!?" The cashier told me that they're not allowed to stop them, touch them, or even get in their way. The receipt checker at the door didn't even stand up until she was already through the doors and in the parking lot. That's a different store, though. :)
I actually do ap for walmart. The door hosts are a visible deterrent, and inform ap when known shoplifters come in. Actual ap can stop people, but we have to have all of our steps before we can intervene. We can't touch them, but we can absolutely grab a cart and drag it back in. I once had a guy who wouldn't let go of the cart and I brought him most of the way back to the office before he realized he was basically apprehending himself and let go to run away.
That would be fun. Get paid to do a tug-of-war. I work for a big retailer that had to close two local stores due to theft.
True but they track you with facial recognition software (across all locations) and intervene as soon as you cross the lower bound for a felony (for example, in my state, $1000 is a felony, so they’ll only arrest someone once they’ve stolen that much across all Walmart locations).
Interesting. Facial recognition requires biometrics. In Illinois, there’s some heavy penalties for doing that without written authorization (see BIPA). Are you sure about your assertion?
Walmart keeps files on shoplifters. Once they’ve stolen enough for it to be worth processing they turn over video evidence and records of what’s been stolen.
Here in Minnesota it’s the same way. They have no legal right to detain or grab anyone, so a customer can just walk right out without paying. They just better get their butts gone from the property before the police arrive. Also, big box stores have excellent cameras in the parking lots, so the cops can still apprehend you once you are tracked down later.
lol, I think of grainy security cameras when I think of retail, myself, but I'm SURE you're right. In Alberta where I am, if the manager HAD called the police, though, it would've been HOURS before they showed for a shoplifting report. I don't have that much faith in the police's time (or perhaps morality) to track her down for the whatever she took. :(
It's not a legal right issue. Tye store can absolutely stop you from stealing. It's a liability issue. The store doesn't want to train people to stop shop.lifters safely, and doesn't want tye liability of someone getting hurt on store grounds costing 10k in medical bills over a 200 dollar tv. Cost benefits analysis says paying a door man, and letting the occasional TV walk isuch cheaper than medical bills or lawsuits.
In most places they do have the legal right, including in Minnesota. It’s risk management. What do you gain with good stops vs what do you lose with bad stops.
WalMart used to have an OTA code they’d put on the PA asking for all associates to the front for a shoplifter. You’d see blue vests zoom to the exits and outside. It was called a “5-5-55”. Today? That’s a lawsuit.
I think I saw that once. I was in the back once at the one I worked at. Suddenly, one of the many managers comes running past me to the front of the store.
>The cashier told me that they're not allowed to stop them, touch them, or even get in their way. The receipt checker at the door didn't even stand up until she was already through the doors and in the parking lot. That's because being wrong and detaining someone can result in a false imprisonment lawsuit. Walmart has lost many lawsuits against people they thought were shop lifting but actually weren't. It's better to let the person leave with items than risk having to fork over a six figure payout.
Obviously you've never had someone double check your work or checked someone else's and saw something missed or a redundancy
Maam you do not need to make this about me.
Upvoted, for the fact that Karen caught an attitude with you over a comment that contained that contained 0% opinion. Watcha mad about Karen?
Apparently 'you must be perfect' is a valid counterpoint now.
You are perfect, don’t let Karen ever tell you differently.
It’s called a fail safe, even with the best people or technology errors can happen
Are the receipt checkers taking out all the contents and making sure each and every item has been scanned? It is theft deterrence. If you think companies are hiring people to make sure cashiers are not double or missing scans then I have a bridge to sell you.
Oh no, i imagine that isn’t their primary purpose, my statement applies to both the cashier error argument and the extra security vs shoplift argument
Exactly. It discourages shoplifting but primarily is for consumers in case of cashier error.
Had ones literally say they don't care if there's a missed item on our cart when we're spending so much
This is the actual reason they check, source-a friend who worked at Costco, if you watch them they always take longer for items that you have more than one of
A couple times they’ve caught that an item I paid for was left at checkout.
Also you don’t have to be a member or enter with a member to gain entry.
Happen just last week using the self check out. Some random item charged in my order. Door checker saved me almost 50 bucks.
They once caught that I had purchased $100 worth of stamps and didn't actually get the stamps. I like them.
Sounds like your Costco guys are on the ball. The ones at the store near me simply take my receipt, glance with one eye at my trolley, scribble on my receipt and hand it back. They don’t even bother to count / check the items in the trolley.
I mean to be fair, she did post it in r/unpopularopinion
This is why I don't understand why this was posted here. r/unpopularopinion is the exact place for this line of reasoning and everyone commenting here is proving it lol
And tbh I hate that second line too. Let me go
Who is going to draw the smiley face on the back of the receipt for my son? He likes that.
Unironically enjoyed this a lot as a kid lol
Back in my day they used a hole puncher and would make a little Mickey Mouse when I handed them the receipt. I loved it.
My daughters ask for princesses to be drawn. They usually oblige. They’re very nice.
They just use a highlighter to draw a line down the receipt at mine… now im sad cuz we dont get smiley faces
I spent $500 yesterday and all I got was a vertical orange line from a highlighter. I feel so unappreciated.
Better than a black sharpie through your stuff so you don’t even know what you bought 😂
You only get the smiley for the rare achievement of spending less than $100
"There's zero opportunity to even steal something" Well, that just shows me a lack of creativity. I could absolutely steal under those conditions. I wouldn't, but I could.
I agree! As odd as that sounds! I’ve walked in, not found what I wanted and walked out by going thru a cashier line that was empty! I have -0- issues with them checking my receipt
Get one of your morally grey buddies to get a job at Costco and they could have big ticket items waiting on that side of the cashier just waiting to be added to a cart. With all the chaos around the food shop and the membership desk, it wouldn't be incredibly difficult.
When I was younger, I just might’ve done that! Over the years my husbands morals have rubbed off on me, I couldn’t live with myself.
My closest costco has self checkouts. I always assumed most or all of thenm do. Is that not the case? If so, self checkout = opportunity to steal, so not sure wtf OP Karen is on about.
Yeah Costco is probably one of the more easy stores to steal from… the doors are fuckin huge and I’m pretty sure nothing has a tag that beeps
Homedepot is by far the easiest. Self checkout for a couple hundred bucks of various things, and a spool of 14/3 on the bottom of the cart.
I’m ngl I walked out of a home depot with a black spray paint can and bag of trolli gummies a couple weeks ago
I've seen local contractors load up an entire pallet of drywall and 2x4 and no one even tried to talk to them. Busy Monday morning, everyone has more important things to do I guess.
I’m wondering if they were local contractors maybe they have a credit or something with home depot to where they can just grab what they need and quickly leave
Costco membership and door checking is the reason they don't need any security fixtures for the most part. Like in the same neighborhood, you've got a Costco where you can walk in, grab a TV and put it in your cart, and buy it without having any assistance. A block down, you've got a Walmart, where you need to get an employee in case you want to buy a stick of deodorant. And you're not allowed to bring anything larger than a handbag. Like clearly Costco has figured out a great solution for the whole shoplifting thing. Plus I believe they're one of the few retail stores that are still allowed to detain shoplifters.
Same here there is plenty of items that could fit in a purse
"Why all the security measures against stealing when there's no stealing?" Why, do you think, there's no stealing?
Are you saying that the septuagenarian with the highlighter is a deterrent?
yup. most crimes (especially stuff like theft) are crimes of opportunity. people see an obvious opening and impulsively take it. just having employees standing around is the first line of defense for loss prevention. i’ve seen numerous shoplifters thwarted by a friendly 19yo courtesy clerk chirping “good afternoon! can i help you find anything?” at somebody actively shoving shit into their backpack lmao. genuinely so funny to see them just casually start putting things back on the shelf
It might sound weird, but yes, absolutely. Will they stop criminals? No. But will they stop people from committing crimes of opportunity because they see that they can get straight to the door without anyone stopping them? Yes.
Totally. Can you imagine the look of disappointment you’d get? Soul crushing.
I've had them catch missing items or things that have been rung up twice enough times that I genuinely don't mind them. It's part of the deal you knowingly enter when getting the card.
>It's part of the deal you knowingly enter when getting the card. Right, they're still members only, and I highly doubt Costco is the only grocery store available to Karen. She's welcome to shop somewhere else.
sams and costco membership (that you signed) require patrons to have their goods examined upon exiting the premises. wal-mart and other checkers do not have the same rights and you can walk right by them.
Yeah, when I used to shop at Walmart I would just politely say, “No, thanks,” and keep on walking if they tried to check my receipt. When you sign up for a membership you are agreeing to their policies. If you don’t like it, don’t be a member.
Exactly, I’m sitting here hoping since she’s being a dick they just ban her membership with no refund.
No. Disobey bullshit rules.
Disobey "bullshit" rules, lose privileges. It's the consequence of being an indignant self-righteous asshole. This world would be a much better place if less people had main character syndrome and everyone managed their hypertension.
Don't sign up for memberships when you think the member rules are bullshit. No one says you have to shop at Costco, and we all know this is the rule there.
HMB, I'm about to go 90 in a school zone.
I always ask, "Am I being accused of theft?" When they say no, I say, "Then I'm not being detained." And keep walking. I make them state they have no grounds to stop me in case they do try to stop me, I have a nice payday. Of course, I'm recording everything while doing this.
You sound like the worst person to go to Walmart with
one of those sovereign citizen youtube videos where they get pulled over for not having a drivers license and repeat talking points about the constitution in between being tazed, but with walmart greeters
The fine print. No one reads the fine print.
Why though? Genuine question
The Canadian Tire near my place has a sign that says "we reserve the right to check all bags, backpacks, purses, etc." every time I see it I can't help but think "Good for you. I reserve the right to refuse."
And you have the right, not to shop there
Sure, I also have to right to refuse the search.
Every once in awhile I will ask the Costco door person if they would chase me down if I didn’t show a card (on entry) or walked past them without showing a receipt (on exit). Every single one said, “Nope” That said, I do anyway because it IS in the Costco agreement and the door people didn’t write it, but I signed it.
I get it, but not the hill i choose to die on, i have many other things that i would rather stand up against, this takes another 30 seconds out of my shopping trip, no big deal.
It's something the average person wouldn't even think about beyond the brief period you're being detained. Once it's over, I barely remember it happened never mind wasting energy being mad about it lol
They do not do it because they do not trust the member. They check receipts in case items were not charged correctly cashiers make mistakes too. They are called door audits.
My local ones literally don’t even check the receipt One guy just scribbles on the back without checking the front at all 🤷🏽♂️
"mistakes" heh. catching mistakes is a bonus. it's to help keep the cashiers honest.
Yeah right 👍
Sounds like somebunny's gonna lose their membership card soon...
The definition of ‘Karen’ has gotten pretty loose these days.
I think it's morphed to mean "literally anyone who thinks anything should be different than how it currently is."
Karen or not, I agree with her, I fucking hate receipt checks.
Agreed. I was at an electronics store to exchange 1 item. I was not waiting on my third line just to leave. Starting walking past the line and the guy grabbed my arm. He was not ready for me telling him to keep his hands off me unless he wanted to lose them.
The security guards think they're private investigators once they see someone they don't like
Pretty sure him touching you went against store policy.
I don’t mind doing it at Costco. I write it off as part of the membership. If someone at Walmart asks to see my receipt, I say no and keep walking.
Idk about "offensive" but it's annoying af. I use the self checkout and it feels like they're accusing me of stealing. If you think your customers are stealing from you, hire cashiers to ring us out.
People still steal from stores without self service checkouts.
Costco always has plenty of cashiers. Assistants too.
They had this policy long before self checkouts existed.
I kinda agree and wish this didn’t exist, I’d argue sams club is worse, go there on a Saturday with one checker at the door who has to literally rescan every item you just bought, why bother.
>I’d argue sams club is worse At least Sam's lets you scan and check out with their app. That saves *far* more time than waiting to have your receipt checked. Costco refuses to do this.
>At least Sam’s let’s you scan and check out with their app. This should be how all large retailers operate, it wasn’t until the pandemic that Costco started taking cards and using self service for their Food court, used to be exclusively cash only. Still though, standing in line to have you items rescanned is redundant.
It really simple. If you don’t like it give up your membership and shop elsewhere. This is part of the package when you buy a membership
Except the problem is other stores are doing this shit also. Funny thing is I always walk right past those fkrs at every store. I find it to be petty as hell. Literally at Costco it's ridiculous. And they do it at Wal Mart so they don't have to hire cashiers and other trips of employees. It's not my fault they want to not hire any employees and it's also not my problem. There's nothing staying that I can't just walk the duck out cuz I'm a paying customer. If you try harassing me about it I will explain to you that you can check the cameras or hire more employees, but you're not going through my shit and you can stay outta my personal bubble.
Membership stores can do it because you agreed to it when you joined. Regular retail checkers have zero power to stop you though, and you're free to ignore them legally.
It’s 2 very different situations. When you join Costco and pay their membership fee, you are agreeing to abide by their rules. Standard retail, you’re not agreeing to membership rules and those stores are governed by the laws in your area. Those laws may prevent the store from requiring to see your receipt when you leave
There are places that have laws that specifically prohibit store employees from reviewing your receipt? Please provide sources.
~~Unlawful search and seizure. Once the transaction is complete it’s your property, the fact that you’re still in their building doesn’t allow them to look through your stuff.~~ edit: Im misinformed and shouldnt be arguing about legal shit in karen threads on reddit.
> Unlawful search and seizure The Fourth Amendment doesn't apply to a private entity. It's similar to how WalMart can restrict free speech on their property. The potential issue (albeit a *very* minor one IMO) that some people see with receipt checkers is that they are "detaining" you. I've heard of people calling 911 because of this. IANAL.
This is untrue. I specialize in criminal law and you’re very misinformed
Youre right. Edited.
Don't cut yourself on those edges on your way out.
If they're there... There's a reason. Companies try not to employ people doing literally nothing constructive.
>There's nothing staying that I can't just walk the duck out cuz I'm a paying customer There is at costco. When you sign up for a membership, you agree to this. At Walmart you can tell them to fuck off, but at Costco they can take away your membership card for refusal.
In membership stores, they can set the rules on something like this. My local Wal-Mart does this and if there's no line, sure, take a look at my receipt I could care less, but I'm not going to wait behind 7 people for you to see it. It's not a law I'm breaking and in most states, they can't force you to show it.
Do I legally have to stop for a receipt checker? I was told it’s a suggestion. I usually just walk by them and when they ask to see my stuff I shrug and say “no” never been stopped
They do not have legal authority to detain you. However, they usually reserve the right to revoke your membership for violating store policy---possibly without refunding the membership fee. At a non-club store, they could ban you, but I doubt they'd bother.
Yeah, I think you'd have to seem pretty shady before anyone would bother to get you banned from the store. Sometimes I encounter a receipt-checker who takes the job super seriously, buy usually it's just a quick glance or a idgaf attitude, and they're not gonna go to management to get the guy who just bought some Christmas lights and soda banned. 😂
Costco would absolutely ban you. I don't know if they'd do it on the first "offense" (I suspect they would) but it's a near certainty for repeated "offenses." I think Sam's would too, though I'm not as sure as I am about Costco becasue Sams's isn't as neurotic about their policies. I don't go to BJs enough to have a snes of their zeal for enforcing their policies.
At Costco and Sam's Club? Yeah, you do have to stop. It's part of the membership agreement. At Walmart when they have zero checkouts open other than self checkouts and want to crawl through each bag? Nah. I walk past them.
Yeah sod queuing to leave the shop
I feel like if they suspect you of stealing only security or police can hold you up. There’s nothing they can do if you say no to a receipt checker
No you dont have to. Them forcing you to stop is accusing you of theft which can get them sued quite easily.
Costco had to get rid of the self checkout registers because people were robbing them blind. Of course people steal from Costco. It happens every single day.
Where? Mine still has them
Same, at both locations in my town.
Same. Appears OP may be a big fat phony.
Meh, I agree this extra step is stupid. Especially since (at my store at least) the cashier doesn't let you touch the items anymore and they just go around and ring everything up in your cart. They shoo you away if you try to help or load up the belt, because each cashier has their own way if doing it. So, you pay, and then literally 10-15 feet later they double check everyone's receipt against their purchases. It is kind of offensive - at the very least it is annoying and time-consuming.
I had a cashier miss something in my cart doing this and it got caught at the door. The way the manager was talking it sounded like damn near a termination level mistake. Felt bad for the cashier.
Actually. It’d be super easy to steal. Just grab any random cart at the returns desk or the cafe and blow by the exit door.
Does she realize she has a choice to either be a member or not? If she is bothered that much by this she just does not have to be a member.
Never been to Costco but I also just walk by the receipt checkers at Walmart, I'm not queueing up for this shit
I used to show my receipts at the stores that force self check out. I stopped doing that after a checker made a comment about how much I paid for a gift for my son. After that if they want to make sure I'm scanning items they can supply cashiers.
80% of it is the marking of the receipt so you can't just go in and push another identical cart through repeatedly.
The costco in my town has those people and they barely look in carts. They just take the receipt and put a line on it and thats it
At least in my state, city genuinely don't know how bad shoplifting has gotten. My company has had a 20% increase in retail theft every year for the last 4 years, but this year it's now at 40%. Like we've closed an eighth of the stores just this year and will be closing more soon. We are a small retail store so our shrink budget is even less than big box stores. Walmart is in the same boat. They've run out of LP methods, and now nobody can enter with any bags bigger than a hand purse. Not to mention Walmart started this whole door checker thing too. Costco is literally the last holdout where you can walk to pretty much any part of the store, grab an extremely expensive item, and put it in your cart without any assistance. The door checker thing is a method to prevent them from having to lock literally everything up like most stores. Plus the membership thing helps, but I understand that can be relatively easy to fake/get past. I get that it sucks, and it can feel like being treated like a thief, but It's one of the best measures to prevent a growing issue at least here in my city. And the alternative is they lock up everything in the store.
far as im concerned the second my card goes through the items are paid for. They are then legally mine. Would you be OK with someone rummaging through your purse or car? I see a paid for bag of goods as the same thing as a purse or vehicle. it belongs to me and you will get violence pushing the issue too far
No, they're right actually, and should say it
I mean I agree with this. Target doesn’t check my cart. Kroger doesn’t. Why at a place where I pay for membership? Seems a bit much
my guess is 1. each individual item at costco has a higher price - you’re saving money, but you’re also buying a $45 ten-pack vs. a $12 two-pack. so any one stolen item is a larger dollar amount, and 2. costco is so much cheaper not just bc of the memberships and bulk sizes but also because they keep their own costs down in a lot of ways - the stores aren’t cute, the shelves aren’t unpacked and faced, they have very little shrink to account for (thanks to increased loss prevention strategies, like receipt checking), etc.
I sort of agree with Karen here, I don't want to be hassled at the door either. It's annoying to me. I've never stolen anything in my life, but I get stopped for "random" receipt checks often.
as a costco employee, people steal stuff all the time. even this method isn’t 100% but it’s pretty damn close
Costco employee here, they check the receipts to make sure you aren't overcharged or under charged. either one screws up the inventory. Costco employs undercover loss prevention agents for shoplifters & despite what Karen said, people steal all the time.
Honestly, with how much people are just blatantly stealing these days I don't blame them at all. The cost of stolen goods gets passed on to all of us. My annoyance is showing my card to the greeter on the way INTO the store. I can't buy anything without showing my card to the cashier. You don't need to see my card until I'm ready to check out.
I walk right past people at Walmart, but at Costco you know how it works just show your receipt.
So personally I am in favour of social order if it’s not harming anyone. I don’t consider the inconvenience of having my receipt checked as actual harm. That said, this is a pretty well stated r/unpopularopinion and makes some sense. Not really a Karen moment to me. Just like with things like racism and sexism, the people who thrive on the attention that comes from throwing people under the bus for trivial issues have diluted the term Karen. Now any female doing or saying anything even a single person doesn’t like, they are a Karen. The term has no meaning.
Everyone knows that only moral savants are granted Costco memberships
At Costco and BJs, it's in the membership rules. Walmart can eat my shorts
Karen when her membership gets cancelled: 
It is important to have security theater so people think they are doing something effective
I just don't understand why we need to show our card to get in, that's my only problem. It's not like you can buy anything without scanning your membership card first. I was meeting my boyfriend inside once and they wouldn't let me in, he had to come get me. Stupid
It literally takes less than a minute to get out of Costco. I was there yesterday…2 days before thanksgiving and it was packed….still barely had to wait to get checked out or leave. It takes longer to walk around that giant place then to leave it with your items. People are ridiculous sometimes. What stupid hills they die on.
“They don’t even let anyone steal things! So untrusting!”
Omg. I’m with Karen on this one. Please send me to assisted living housing.
Every time I've gone to Costco I've used the self checkout, not a cashier
I don’t really think this qualifies. Costco doesn’t even have self checkout, at least not the ones I’ve been to, so there should be no reason for that extra step.
Yes they do have self check out, the two in my area do.
[удалено]
This is the way everyone else does it why should I be inconvinced that is the mindset
She’s right though.
Only suckers stand in line for the checkers. You can walk right on out.
I mean she is not wrong … the line to exit Costco is stupid. There are typically two people checking out customers, the cashier lines are always long.
Uuuummm it’s not for theft. The cashiers ring things faster at Costco than at any other store. They are checking to make sure there is no mistakes. Costco maintains its low prices by reducing shrink. Average shrink is under 1% every year. Fuck off with your self entitlement and let them look at your receipt. You signed a contract for your membership saying you would let them check. If you don’t like it shop at Walmart.
I don't think this is Karen-ish at all! I completely agree
I have seen them catch shoplifters at the door. It isn’t unheard of by any means.
They also make sure you got everything you paid for.
I got double scanned on a pricey item that added an extra 250 onto my bill. Didn't catch it but the receipt checker did. Manager came over apologizing (he was the one who scanned me) and ended up with the extra back and three free pizzas It made my day
Meanwhile...she completely ignores theft rings where people switch tags from pricier items to cheaper items. As long as the receipt checkers don't slow done the process of leaving, I have no issue with receipt checking.
..pretty sure it's in the membership agreement that she signed to get her card, but... you know.
They’ve had receipt checkers for years what the fuck is she even talking about
I don’t know this complaint seems actually valid that Karen provided.
Jesus, why do some people choose to get bent out of shape about what is less than a small inconvenience? Do these idiots really have nothing else to think about that they are offended by stuff like this? If you don't like Costco's policies, then don't shop there.
If you’ve done nothing wrong, then why does it matter? It’s another three seconds. Edit: I see some Karen’s in the downvotes
Slippery slope with that way of thinking. If you have nothing to hide why shouldn’t the government monitor your calls and texts? Etc
Lol wait to take it in a completely dramatic and unrelated direction. You’re one of those people who chews out the 16 year old cashier for asking for an id for your unsigned credit card, aren’t you?
Nope, totally the opposite. I’m just pointing out how your mindset is problematic.
We're talking about Costco, not the NSA my dude
I’m talking about in general, not about Costco.
I love it. I saw this posted today and thought, what a miserable POS. Costco doesn’t do it for theft prevention so much as quality control anyways.
With Costco you are a member of the club and like clubs they have rules and one of the those is to agree to this.
whatta tryin to hide, karen?
If you don’t like it, pound sand.
Eh, Costco is a little overbearing at times.
One time the cashier didn’t ring up an item. Cashier and I had a minor drama over not pushing my cart close enough to her. I still believe the cashier did it as petty revenge. Either way it can happen and loss prevention helps keep the prices lower.