Trust us as self-checkout cashiers,’ fed-up shopper tells Target & Walmart as he blasts physical receipt checks

A FRUSTRATED grocery store shopper took to X to voice his anger at having to show his receipt after using self-checkout. 

The man, who goes by the name Tommy T. (@tallmetommy), posted about having to wait in a long line to get his receipt checked after using self-checkout.

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“Navigated your aisles, scanned my items, and bagged my buys,” Tommy T. wrote. “Yet at the exit, a receipt checker halts everyone.”

Tommy T. mentioned big-name stores such as Lowes, Target, Kohl’s, Aldi, and Kroger at the beginning of the post.

“Trust us as self-checkout cashiers or bring the human touch back to the registers,” Tommy continued

“We’re not on your payroll, nor do we get a staff discount. Value our time, or employ those who need these jobs.”

Following the implementation of self-checkouts, receipt checkers were put into place to help fight the rising rate of retail theft.

Having to show a receipt after using self-checkout has caused controversy amongst frequent grocery store shoppers. 

One X user posted about her shared Tommy T’s frustration about having to show her receipt after self-checkout. 

“Dear Lowes, Targets, Kohls, Walmarts, ALDIs, Home Depot’s, Krogers, Jewels & all other stores that have self-checkout,” user Zeela Raj (@fastlane1944) posted. 

“The lady/man checking receipts at the exit was stopping everyone…so I just skipped the line and left,” she continued.

“You can either trust me to do self-checkout, or you can put your cashiers back in place like they used to be.  I’m not interested in proving that I did your job for you.”

In January, a YouTube short shows a Walmart customer refusing to show his receipt for his purchase.

The short shows the customer, Jay Morgan (@jaymorgan), exiting the store as a Walmart employee asks to see his receipt.

Morgan questioned why the employee needed to see his receipt.

“What probable cause do you have to see my receipt?”

The employee then reiterated that he needed to check every customer’s receipt but never directly answered Morgan’s questions. 

Do you have to show your receipt?

Youtuber and Michigan-based attorney, Steve Lehto (@stevelehto), shared his advice to customers not wanting to show their receipts at stores in a YouTube video.

The US Sun reported in January that shoppers are not legally required to show their receipts after checking out. 

An employee at a shop can only detain you by invoking a right called Shopkeeper’s Privilege. 

Shopkeeper’s Privilege allows shops to detain shoppers due to reasonable suspicion of shoplifting exhibited through their behavior while shopping.

If a customer suspected of shoplifting refuses a bag check or detainment, they may be banned from the store. 

However, without probable cause that a shopper may be stealing, the shopper cannot be detained and is not legally required to show their receipts. 

Despite this loophole, lawyers stress that customers should show their receipts when asked to prevent any further legal issues.