Magpie recently applied for a position as a portrait photographer at a Walmart. This involved a lengthy wait at the customer service desk to speak to the appropriate individual and hand in a resume, and as I hung back waiting I found myself totally bemused by the Walmart greeter checking receipts. I had no idea that such a thing was common practice, let alone company policy -- which I guess tells you how often I shop at Walmart (or big box stores in general, for that matter).
I'm in full accord with The_Jazz on this. If I signed a contract with your organization and an explicit clause of that contract stated that my purchases would be subject to verification before I could exit the premises, then I would allow it. Since I never sign anything without reading it through first, I'd have no excuse for declining such a practice. If, on the other hand, I don't have any such prior arrangement with you, I am not obligated nor am I inclined to allow you to rifle through my purchases and/or demand proof of payment.
It's interesting reading the comments on these stories. They seem to break down between 'don't let them violate your rights' and 'think of the poor big box stores and how much they lose to theft,' with the odd 'think of the poor guy making minimum wage' thrown in. It's not that I'm unsympathetic, but at the same time I rather figure that if he's having a bad day it's his employer's fault for not teaching him how to do his job properly.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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