Tesco to check all customers' receipts when they leave store to tackle thefts

[suk44]

I know this is just one store they've introduced this policy, but if they rolled it out to others would it put you off shopping there?

www.mirror.co.uk/money/tesco-to-check-customers-receipts-25191701

Would they actually check everything against the receipt, if not it would seem a bit pointless, and they would have to stop everyone otherwise they might get into hot water if they start stopping only individual shoppers?

On one hand the company must be worried about levels of shoplifting, and you do see other things like security tags and cameras at self service, which I think is fair enough especially as shoplifting must go up during recessions and economically unstable times like now etc. On the other hand, how would this work in the run up to Christmas when it's mad busy, people are queuing down the aisles and trolleys piled high with goods?

And does this mean it's now policy that you have to have a receipt? A lot of shops don't even give them out automatically.

What if you didn't get a receipt

Costco do this all the time. Its pretty easy, you keep the receipt out and the men on the door check against goods in the trolley.
It does stop you packing in bags inside the shop though....fine for Costco but not sure how that would work for tesco.....

I think they'd get a few bollockings if they tried it round here - many people would not be happy.

My town only has a Tesco. We shop there because we dont have a choice and its just too far to drive to another town to shop. This would be a pain in the arse.

Also, all the 'card payment only' self service tills have now been switched to not automatically printing the receipt. You need to say yes to wanting a reception now. The self service tills which accept cash still print automatically but they're onviosily trying to switch away from gifivn out receipts. They'll have to switch it all back.

Totally standard really, I expect mine to be checked although it isn’t always. I mean the steaks are security tagged in my MIL’s local Tesco so I’m not at all surprised.

If a few people can't be trusted, then the majority will have to suck it up.

I can imagine that that would be extremely time consuming if they had to check every single customer.

Would it work like this.....
Security guard " receipt please"
s
Shop lifter "I didn't buy anything mate"
Security guard " Oh OK. Have a nice day"

@Mumdiva99

Costco dont check every item. They just look for big ticket things like booze, packs of steak etc. Teaco seem to be proposing going through everything. It just isnt feasible.

Sainsburys smart scan randomly pause your payment so a staff member can spot check a selection of items in your bag.

Hmm, what if you only went in for ramen noodles and jackfruit and they didn't have either? (My last fruitless Tesco trip . . .) Or for a newspaper that was sold out? (Tesco and I not are not having a great relationship lately) Are you therefore presumed to be either a shoplifter or a pickpocket?

@SisterAgatha

I'm sorry? You actually expect to leave the tills at a supermarket, get to the door and then hand over your recipet so they can check off each item? That's happened to you? As standard?
Because that isnt standard. It doesnt happen in supermarkets. Only at places like Costco and even then, they're looking to tick off the expensive things.

That's ridiculous and utterly unworkable. I tried to do the scan as you shop once, missed one item (by accident) and they had to then check through the whole trolley and unpack it all. It took ages (I have never done the scan as you shop again, it's not worth the stress since I was sure I'd scanned everything).

I would not go to my Tesco if they did this. I pack in a specific way and would not appreciate it all being messed up by rifling after I've paid.

Come to Ponders End Tesco and tell me this isn’t standard.

It’s inconvenient but I understand why they want to tackle theft. I live in a relatively naice area but I know some people who see it as almost a given that they will simply not pay for at least one item in their shopping, it’s like a fun challenge almost.

If people didn’t steal there would be need to check. Blaming the retailer is simply blaming the wrong people.

Whilst we're stopping the theft of meat and potatoes by checking the food shopping receipts of the working poor, I do wish the HMRC would do the same on major corporate and wealthy offshore revenue receipts.

They stopped automatically giving out receipts to save paper, so it wouldn't exactly be difficult to reprogram their computer to routinely start printing them again.

They do this in Oz. When we lived there you’d go in one shop and then another and they’d search your bag and ask for receipts.

Just leaving this here:

www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/10/tesco-hands-out-193m-to-settle-2014-accounting-scandal/

my local tesco express even tags the crisps....!!...joke....but people often run in and do a big grab of the steak etc and run out... so they stopped selling a lot of more expensive items...

They stopped automatically giving out receipts to save paper, so it wouldn't exactly be difficult to reprogram their computer to routinely start printing them again.

That still doesn't mean that legally you have to take one. And what happens if the ink's running out and not all the listed items can't be properly read?

@PicsInRed

Whilst we're stopping the theft of meat and potatoes by checking the food shopping receipts of the working poor, I do wish the HMRC would do the same on major corporate and wealthy offshore revenue receipts.

Well quite. Gnats and camels, I think is the phrase.

Between the % of people sneaking things through the self service tills and costs going up all around, I guess they anticipate thefts will boom. Wouldnt bother me but I often try not to get receipts because it seems like a waste of paper.

I was in a tesco in the NW (not Rotherham) that did this today. It was only by chance I printed the receipt (I had bought clothes for DD so got it in case I needed to change) I never would normally. I don’t mind at all them checking however the very nice security guard just had a brief look at it rather than checking through each item. Mind you I imagine they go off body language- if someone looks flushed, stressed, startled etc when asked perhaps they’re more likely to check thoroughly. I agree it’s insane for full household shops.

I don’t think they are unreasonable to do this. But it would stop me shopping there. Ultimately I couldn’t be bothered with the faff when there are other supermarkets to choose from.