Why does Costco inspect your receipt and items at the exit?

[Printer Bandit]

the walmart near me used to check receipts when exiting, but it seemed random on who they decided to check.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

They don't check very thoroughly. Do they just do a scan for big items or do a quick count?

I don't think they do either. They just make a show of checking, they're not counting items or reading the entire receipt. Hell, when the store is busy and the line to get out is backing up the guy just grabs the receipt, swipes a black marker over it and hands it right back. He doesn't even pretend to read it or check the cart.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I don't think they do either. They just make a show of checking, they're not counting items or reading the entire receipt. Hell, when the store is busy and the line to get out is backing up the guy just grabs the receipt, swipes a black marker over it and hands it right back. He doesn't even pretend to read it or check the cart.

I think they usually only really care for big ticket items, especially during rush hour.

During slower times, they will do a slightly more in depth look.

 

[SlitheryDee]

My assumption is is for the same reason game makers used to use only serial codes to protect their games from pirating. It's like tacitly stating "Look. We know this is easy to get around, but we just don't want you getting the idea that we are ok with people stealing our shit".

 

[jpbutler]

I always thought it was predominantly to deter employee theft.

 

[squarecut1]

You are being monitored, photographed, videotaped and what not everywhere these days. I'm sure at Costco too. No reason to do this

 

[Ns1]

You are being monitored, photographed, videotaped and what not everywhere these days. I'm sure at Costco too. No reason to do this

That does not help you at all if the "customer" is already out the door.

 

[squarecut1]

the walmart near me used to check receipts when exiting, but it seemed random on who they decided to check.

I think it always is random at Walmart

 

[squarecut1]

That does not help you at all if the "customer" is already out the door.

But that is how they catch thieves at other places like Macy's etc. Through monitoring. Before the "customer" has made their exit

 

[OutHouse]

I don't mind the check.

 

[Ns1]

But that is how they catch thieves at other places like Macy's etc. Through monitoring. Before the "customer" has made their exit

Not the same kind of theft (put shit down pants theft vs double dipping on a receipt theft)

 

[squarecut1]

Is this receipt check a common thing in the US?
I can't think that our petty theft levels are drastically different in the UK but I'm not aware of any place that does it here.

The police on the beat in the UK are not armed. Different society. Different way of dealing with things

 

[gorb]

part of the agreement at costco and sams. if they want to check it at walmart or target feel free to keep walking

 

[OutHouse]

OP do you get your panties in a wad for being asked to show your membership card when you enter as well?

http://consumerist.com/2012/11/16/f...show-membership-card-or-have-receipt-checked/


reason for the receipt check.

To my mind it’s really not just to stop people from stealing. I hardly ever saw people that had items that had not been paid for. Literally maybe once or twice in a month of working the door. We would catch hundreds of dollars a week in overcharges, though. Imagine if you’re shopping at Costco and you bought a giant can of Nestle Quik (this actually happened once) but got charged twice for it. That’s another $10. In that case we would either get a supervisor to refund your money, or send someone out onto the floor to get another can of Nestle Quik. With the kind of volume Costco does errors are frequent and sometimes just can’t be helped. The scanners are so sensitive that it’s really easy to accidentally scan something twice and not notice.
The exit door procedure I would usually follow was to check the receipt for multiples of the same item and make sure they were there. If they didn’t have a lot of items in the cart we would just look at the “Total number of items” shown on the bottom of the receipt, count the number of items in the cart and make sure that matched. We weren’t trained to catch shoplifting, we were trained to make sure that people were not being overcharged. During the time I spent receipt checking I probably caught well over $1000 in overcharges.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It's not just a theft check either, I have experienced and witnessed several occurrences in which the receipt overcharged the customer, and that was caught at the receipt check.

I've been told that the self-scanners are notorious for double-scanning items.

Even the laziest checker will verify anything that there's two of on the receipt. If I'm there when it's slow, they'll count the items.

But yeah, if I'm just carrying two things out in my hands, they'll mark the receipt without looking and wave me through.

 

[squarecut1]

part of the agreement at costco and sams. if they want to check it at walmart or target feel free to keep walking

Best Buy too? Is that right that there can be no consequences for refusing at these stores? I rather doubt that

 

[BoomerD]

the walmart near me used to check receipts when exiting, but it seemed random on who they decided to check.

I "allow" Costco to check my receipt...I agreed to do it when Ijoined. Walmart...no happening. Want to check my receipt? Go fuck yourself.

The local Costco just does a quick look before they mark your receipt...except for big ticket items...those they compare pretty closely.

 

[Exterous]

Best Buy too? Is that right that there can be no consequences for refusing at these stores? I rather doubt that

Seriously - you don't have to stop at the door in public stores even if an employee tells you to. Ignoring the alarms beeping is also acceptable. I'll still do it in most situations for the employees benefit but you certainly aren't required to

 

[Rakehellion]

the walmart near me used to check receipts when exiting, but it seemed random on who they decided to check.

Random like the TSA?

 

[maddogchen]

I grew up with frys electronics always checking so I never really thought about it at Costco...

 

[WaTaGuMp]

The checking of receipts does help with mistakes at the checkout line. Items missed, people not picking up their movie tickets, stamps etc.

 

[boomerang]

I always thought the reason was because of the food area. Real easy for someone to grab a different cart and walk out of the store. Buy some underwear and some chocolate covered raisins and walk out with a bunch of food and some electronics.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Not everything purchased at Costco requires this. If you ring out from the Pharmacy they use a Yellow receipt and you can walk out without stopping. Hell, I walk out the entrance every couple of weeks in this exact manner.

But then again, I look trustworthy.

 

[CountZero]

I figured that without bags it was a way to catch employee assisted theft. A cashier that just doesn't scan an item and lets you go would be extremely easy to do at a Costco.

 

[mvbighead]

OP do you get your panties in a wad for being asked to show your membership card when you enter as well?

http://consumerist.com/2012/11/16/f...show-membership-card-or-have-receipt-checked/


reason for the receipt check.

His quote is dead on.

I think the wife and I stopped there one day and grabbed two of the take and bake pizzas (needed something simple for some people coming over) and they noticed we were charged for 3. We went back, mistake was fixed, and we were on our way.

It does happen, and it isn't necessarily all about theft.