Walmart Shopper Tackled For Not Showing Receipt

[NFS4]

http://consumerist.com/5406007/reader-says-he-was-tackled-for-not-showing-receipt

First of all, I'd like to say that the general consensus of this story is split between "you're a douchebag" and "you should sue them". Being a long-time reader, I've seen many "detained illegally" type stories, and I know my rights more or less.

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 called around and managed to find exactly one in Woodstock, GA on Highway 92 (about 30 minutes away), but they were unable to hold it for me. I make my way to the Walmart, and briskly walk towards the electronics department and am able to buy one there. I pay with cash and put the change and the receipt in my wallet (with a bunch of other change and receipts).

I leave the store, and as per usual, 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. I go to my phone to set up GPS to find my way home, and I hear the greeter/bag checker yelling "RECEIPT! RECEIPT!" as I make my way towards my car. Apparently some Walmart patrons heard and decide to be good samaritans and come after me.

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. The guy is pinning me down and easily weights twice as much as me, and I have the scrapes on the elbow, hand, and wrist to show for it. The greeter/bag checker catches up and grabs me by my arm, and I tell him to let go or I'll press charges for assault. I tell him about three times, and he ends up taking the Xbox back inside the store.

I find my receipt amongst the others in my wallet and show it to the onlookers and the tackler's cronies who all think I'm a thief. I take it inside and show it to the greeter/bag checker, he looks at it, still doesn't believe I actually purchased it, gives it back, then needs to look at it again because he forgot to check the date/time. I really wish I had gotten a picture of the guy who tackled me so I could press charges and also post him on PeopleOfWalmart.com.

I guess everyone's guilty until proven guilty at Walmart even if it's not legally required to show receipt and they are not allowed to physically restrain you. Call the police? Fine. I'm sure they'll love to hear that customer bought an Xbox 360.

 

[amdhunter]

He's a douchebag and should sue them.

 

[Nitemare]

I hate the litigious society that we have become, but in this circumstance I think it is warranted. He should have called the police right then and there and filed a report.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

look at the picture in the article (of his arm). the guy is some fat turd probably.

 

[alien42]

dude should have called the cops immediately and pressed charges against the person who tackled him.

 

[Leros]

dude should have called the cops immediately and pressed charges against the person who tackled him.

That's what I am thinking.

 

[shortylickens]

This is news, and belongs in P&N. Also, OP is required to state his own opinion when posting a news article.

Having said that, I know darn well there is no law in any of the 50 states requiring me to comply with store employees and open my personal property up for their inspection. I know cuz we hear these stories all the time and I actually looked it up.

Having said THAT, I'd rather be helpful and work with them, since they are just trying to protect their business and keep prices low for everyone. Getting an attitude about it really doesnt help anybody. If I didnt like this practice I would simply not shop there anymore. Same with Best Buy and others.

 

[AdamK47]

I'm sure the part where he starts running to his car didn't really make those watching him think "Yeah, that guy paid for it." Even in the mind of a simple Wallmartian.

 

[NFS4]

Having said that, I know darn well there is no law in any of the 50 states requiring me to comply with store employees and open my personal property up for their inspection. I know cuz we hear these stories all the time and I actually looked it up.

Actually, you have to at Sam's Club, Costco, and BJs. Everything else is fair game.

 

[alien42]

I'm sure the part where he starts running to his car didn't really make those watching him think "Yeah, that guy paid for it." Even in the mind of a simple Wallmartian.

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

it sounds like the people were running after the guy, not that he was running.

 

[shortylickens]

Actually, you have to at Sam's Club, Costco, and BJs. Everything else is fair game.

Actually, thats not a law. Thats store policy when you sign up for a membership at a club, which they tell you about before signing up.

There is no legal contract I sign when I walk into Walmart, their's is a public store. As such there are many laws which protect me as a private citizen and a consumer.

But again, I'd rather play nice and acknowledge they are just trying to be careful.

 

[daniel1113]

I'm sure the part where he starts running to his car didn't really make those watching him think "Yeah, that guy paid for it." Even in the mind of a simple Wallmartian.

It doesn't matter. Unless an employee, or any other person, has evidence that he stole something, they can't stop him. They need to have video evidence or directly witness him stealing. Short of either, anyone that attacks or falsely imprisons another person is going to face civil charges.

 

[boomhower]

This would be a quick buck if he sued Walmart. The greeter yelling at him was the direct cause of the idiot tackling him. Personally, I don't show my reciept either. It's my right and I choose to use it. At my Walmart they ask and I say no and they let it go. I have two young kids so I seem to be there almost daily, at this point the greeters know me and don't even bother to ask.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Wal-Mart has cameras on/in their stores. The police should be able to get them and find the person that tackled the guy.

This is a case of, the person is being a bit of a douche, but the reaction is completely unwarranted. I'm going to guess the truth lies somewhere other than the story the guy told though.

As for the bag/receipt=checking, I'm certainly no fan, but if its that much of a bother, then stop shopping at the places that do it, or if they make a fuss about you refusing to (might be a good idea to have a printout of the law that protects your right to not let them) then say you'll gladly return what you bought for a refund. If enough people do this instead of talking big and not doing jack shit about it, then it will stop.

And this is in no way Wal-Mart's fault, unless he was tackled by someone who was working at the store.

 

[NFS4]

Actually, thats not a law. Thats store policy when you sign up for a membership at a club, which they tell you about before signing up.

There is no legal contract I sign when I walk into Walmart, their's is a public store. As such there are many laws which protect me as a private citizen and a consumer.

But again, I'd rather play nice and acknowledge they are just trying to be careful.

That's what I mean. If you have a BJs, Costco, or Sam's Club membership, you should know the policy because you've already agreed to it.

Everywhere else though, they don't really have much of a say so and you can choose to do whatever you want IMHO. If you say no, they can't legally stop you.

 

[randay]

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

it sounds like the people were running after the guy, not that he was running.

reading, can you has it?

 

[rivan]

look at the picture in the article (of his arm). the guy is some fat turd probably.

Some people here really have an obsession with fat people. What difference would it possible make what physical shape the guy was in? Aside from that, it absolutely doesn't look like the arm of a fat guy, rather someone who's bent their arm to show their elbow.

That said, you get what you pay for at WalMart, and legally mandatory or not, it's certainly convention that places that sell electronics like to see receipts on the way out the door. If you do something that might be construed as shady, expect people to react accordingly.

I'm not saying this guy did so, given the line to get out, but some people just go out of their way to bait people. To push their luck as far as they can in order to get a rise out of people, like people who "defend their rights" against meter maids while video taping. Sometimes it backfires and situations end up way more than they were looking for.

 

[SunnyD]

This is news, and belongs in P&N. Also, OP is required to state his own opinion when posting a news article.

Only in P&N is this a rule. And this article is just fine here. After all, getting a prostate exam is news, but you P&N whiners will bitch if someone posts such a story in there.

 

[daniel1113]

If you do something that might be construed as shady, expect people to react accordingly.

I'm not saying this guy did so, given the line to get out, but some people just go out of their way to bait people. To push their luck as far as they can in order to get a rise out of people, like people who "defend their rights" against meter maids while video taping. Sometimes it backfires and situations end up way more than they were looking for.

I'm sorry, but Wal-Mart does not have a legal leg to stand on here. It doesn't matter how shady this guy acted, or how much he "baited" them. Unless someone has direct evidence that he stole something, all they can do is call the police. Tackling and false imprisonment are direct tickets to civil court.

 

[shortylickens]

Only in P&N is this a rule. And this article is just fine here. After all, getting a prostate exam is news, but you P&N whiners will bitch if someone posts such a story in there.

Its only news if its published in the newspaper. This is actual, news. It goes in P&N, you man slut.

 

[rivan]

This would be a quick buck if he sued Walmart. The greeter yelling at him was the direct cause of the idiot tackling him. Personally, I don't show my reciept either. It's my right and I choose to use it. At my Walmart they ask and I say no and they let it go. I have two young kids so I seem to be there almost daily, at this point the greeters know me and don't even bother to ask.

Why, unless there's a line or something? It literally takes less than 5 seconds.

I'm not arguing that it's your right, or that you're totally justified in exercising it. I'm just curious why you choose to when it (at least initially) would cause drama?

 

[randay]

the dumbass started running and pretty much baited the others into following.

if someone yells for help and then you see someone else running away most people will do something. Id rather that be the case instead of everyone standing around digging their asses and not caring.

not showing the receipt is one thing, but running and acting like a fucktard gains you no sympathy.

 

[Glitchny]

look at the picture in the article (of his arm). the guy is some fat turd probably.

which has what to do with being tackled exactly?

oh right nothing.

 

[ElFenix]

guy is a douchebag and should sue.


i don't wait to show a receipt. unless you're waiting for me, marker in hand, i'm not stopping.

 

[rivan]

I'm sorry, but Wal-Mart does not have a legal leg to stand on here. It doesn't matter how shady this guy acted, or how much he "baited" them. Unless someone has direct evidence that he stole something, all they can do is call the police. Tackling and false imprisonment are direct tickets to civil court.

I'm not arguing the legality of it.

I'm questioning why people go out of their way to cause drama, when this is occasionally the result. This entire situation was needless. Even with a line, what would it have taken, 60 seconds to show his receipt?