Do you want a receipt

The amount of people that shop - of course it’s a huge amount of paper altogether. I think it’s great they ask, unless it’s something I may need to return I won’t get a receipt that I’m going to literally throw out as soon as I leave the checkout.
I’ve literally never been slowed down by the process of being asked if I want a paper receipt though. The only thing that slows the process is the few places that ask for your email to send the receipt.

It is a lot of wasted paper!

It's to cut down on unnecessary wasted paper. I normally say no because i usually just throw it away. Clothes ships normally just give the receipt without asking or ask if you want it via email.
I can't believe it slows up a shipping trip.

You don't even want the receipt but are happy to add to the mountain of unrecyclable waste.

Use your words and tell them 'no receipt please' when you hand over your payment.

Just to add to other posters' confirmation of the practise in Ireland @Bunnybenty I live in Ireland, born here, raised here, lived many decades here!

I can confirm like other Irish posters - you are almost always asked if you want your receipt. In some shops, e.g. when buying clothes, you can opt for a paper or email receipt (with shops very much pushing the email option). You mention having shopped in Tesco here - I know when I'm doing my weekly grocery shop, I'm usually given a receipt without asking - that makes sense, as it's a considerable amount of money, paid by card, and in the supermarket I use, vouchers are included as rewards, and noted at the end.

Likewise if I was making some big household purchase, I would want my receipt and probably be given it without being asked - I mean, who won't want a receipt in case of error / exchange?

However, for most daily quick interactions, small purchases, it is common practise and has been for a long time, to ask if you want a receipt.

Regarding bullying, it's your tone and nature of your posts that are sounding somewhat bullying, rather than any posters replying to you.

If you wish. Or like I say, you can report any posts that have broken talk guidelines.

What proportion of paper receipts end up straight in the bin? And what proportion of books are put straight in the bin?

Nobody is stopping you from having a receipt if you actually need one. It's about not giving them to people who don't want them. Why is that an issue for you?

I haven't seen any bullying on this thread, OP, but you can report any posts where you think people have crossed the line.

What I have seen is you digging your heels in and insisting that you're not wrong about this practice only happening in the UK, even when there are people who live in other countries telling you that it happens where they live as well.

Posters will challenge you robustly on MN when they think you're wrong, but I've also seen people getting an incredible amount of support when it's warranted. Other sites are available if you find that people's honest responses are a bit much.

Yes, virtually no paper waste. Just the 11.2 billion receipts in the UK each year amounting to 28 tonnes of non-recyclable waste. Hardly worth bothering to reduce the waste really 🙄

It's possible that the UK is ahead of other countries with regard to reducing this kind of paper waste. It certainly used to be the case that receipts were given automatically but most places are more aware now of the need to reduce the unnecessary use of resources.

Clearly, the UK isn't alone in making progress on this issue, as posters in France and Ireland report similar shifts in those countries. Of course, it's possible that there will be shops/individual staff members in all countries who haven't yet caught up.

I do understand that you like getting the receipt automatically, OP, but given how many of them just end up straight in the bin, I don't really think saying "yes please" is a big price to pay to reduce waste. Or are you one of those people who doesn't give a shit about the environment?

They do the same in Wales. Not sure what the issue is.

Ink

I voted YABU but after reading OP's responses, I wish there was a YABVVVVU button.

There is HUGE paper waste in schools. I see hundreds of printed photocopies been thrown in the bin every week.

Why is paper waste not okay in shops, but it is okay in UK schools then, in your opinion?

But all this wate paper in schools can, and should be. Nobody is saying that it's OK to waste it and bin it.
Till receipts are mostly printed on thermal paper which can't be recycled. So saying no to receipts does save paper waste. Its not our fault you can't see the difference.

it was mentioned on another thread recently that they didn't get a receipt in Tescos and the security guard decided to pursue them.
However, when I go supermarket shopping, I never get the receipt because its mostly items that I've chosen to purchase for eating/drinking and I'll never return them anyway, and the self checkouts always ask if you want one or not. They still give them to me the odd time I use a manned checkout. Security guards have never pursued me. I always think its good to save the paper, like someone else said, it can't be recycled, so what's the point if you don't need to return something.

What a ridiculous response. Avoiding unnecessary paper waste is obviously a good thing. That doesn't mean that ALL paper is unnecessary or avoidable. We should all do our bit to help the environment.