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Original poster

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

104 replies

suk44 · 12/10/2021 19:22

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.

OP posts:
AFuturisticalSound · 12/10/2021 19:41

@Newnormal99

Sainsburys smart scan randomly pause your payment so a staff member can spot check a selection of items in your bag.
Tesco have been doing that since the first day of their scan and shop, I don't know when that started but it was years ago and it seems to work well.

As long as it didn't make my shop take much longer I wouldn't care, as others have said it's compulsory in Costco

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 12/10/2021 19:41

So are they saying it’s because of self service tills.Perhaps they need to employ more staff to work on the tills again,and watch over the self services tills more.Hell just employ more staff

VladmirsPoutine · 12/10/2021 19:41

I don't think they'll check every person; it would be impractical but those who'll get checked probably already know it's coming. I always make sure to get a receipt to pre-empt this kind of thing anyway.

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Original poster
suk44 · 12/10/2021 19:43

I do wonder how many days before the first DM sad face article.. re some 'incident' where someone has taken offence at having all their goods having a good rummage through.. whilst the person ahead of them just had their receipt glanced over quickly..

OP posts:
Twillow · 12/10/2021 19:43

Anybody want to take a guess at how much was lost (i.e. stolen) on just one brand of whisky last week in our store?

AFuturisticalSound · 12/10/2021 19:47

@suk44

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?

Don't you think that maybe Tesco have thought this plan out? If it was happening in a particular store don't you think the customers might know that they needed to get a receipt?

You seem to be raising rather silly points, it's 2021 Tesco tills don't use ink, in fact does any shop have receipt printers that use ink?

Kendodd · 12/10/2021 19:48

This is terrible.
I'm not suggesting it's ok to steal, not at all, but people would be stealing food. Fair enough if you're that TV chef bloke and, well, no idea why he would be stealing cheese. I'm really uncomfortable about homeless people or parents with no money getting a criminal record for stealing food to eat. The poverty in the UK is absolutely shameful.

CinderFuckingRe11a · 12/10/2021 19:49

It doesn’t happen at Waitrose…

Seriously I use the scan app on my phone and the self service checkout at least twice a week with big shops and small shops and those in between and since March 20 I have had one random rescan, and they don’t even rescan all your shopping now, just a selection

SisterAgatha · 12/10/2021 19:49

Exactly, they don’t check every one because they’ve checked the regulars loads of times before. I even beeped once and they let me go through because they knew me. In the more deprived areas it’s always been a thing.

Woeismethischristmas · 12/10/2021 19:49

I was thinking the other day it must be much easier to nick stuff now that people don’t do bags. I like Tesco’s clothes so I nip in and get some plus a couple of bits every few months. Self scan then out the door. Clothes still on hangers. You have to press yes to get a receipt within so many seconds which I forget to do though.

WormYourHonour · 12/10/2021 19:51

My local Tesco is bad enough as it is.
Filled with local staff that know all the local people. Will happily chat to their neighbours at the checkout, holding the queue up to discuss their latest news instead of scanning at a decent pace.

I'll stick to Lidl.

Kendodd · 12/10/2021 19:52

Not check receipts being terrible btw. It's that people steal food. I wonder if food theft is increasing or decreasing? Everyone should be able to afford to buy food.

Puddington · 12/10/2021 19:55

@Kendodd

This is terrible. I'm not suggesting it's ok to steal, not at all, but people would be stealing food. Fair enough if you're that TV chef bloke and, well, no idea why he would be stealing cheese. I'm really uncomfortable about homeless people or parents with no money getting a criminal record for stealing food to eat. The poverty in the UK is absolutely shameful.
Unfortunately from personal experience the vast majority of things that get stolen from places like that are a) alcohol and b) expensive cuts of meat, which people tend to try and resell. And occasionally schoolkids nicking sweets or juice. Regardless I don't think they'll be able to check EVERY customer's receipt unless they employ roughly 10x the staff permanently, which will never happen.
Kendodd · 12/10/2021 19:56

It doesn’t happen at Waitrose…

Another customer paid for all my shopping in Waitrose once. I'd checked out all my shopping (only about £40) and when I came to pay realised that I didn't have my purse. The woman behind me offered to pay and I could just send her the money.

mrsm43s · 12/10/2021 19:56

Many moons ago, when Tesco sold TVs, we were stopped by the security guards and they asked to see our receipt as we were leaving the store with the boxed TV in our trolley. I remember being slightly surprised, but not in any way offended. We just showed our receipt and went on our merry way. It's only actually a problem for shoplifters, isn't it?

Singalongsingsong · 12/10/2021 19:56

Absurd! Another reason not to shop in Tesco…

LivingNextDoorToNorma · 12/10/2021 19:58

I’m wondering if this is even legal? I worked in retail, (fashion not food, but I would assume the law to be the same) and we could only search peoples’ bags if we’d actually seen them take something. We had to know what they’d taken, and where they’d put it. As far as I was aware only the police have a right to do a random search. What’s to stop people just saying no, and walking off? Surely that’s what the dishonest people would do.

I also wonder the practicalities of it. Obviously it couldn’t be every customer, unless they’re gonna hire a hell of a lot more staff. The queues to leave would be huge. But would it be just a random few items, and assuming you ‘passed’ they’d let you on your way? I bought a handful of bits in the supermarket today, checking each item off would have taken no time at all, a minor inconvenience. A couple of weeks ago I spent upwards of £80. It would have taken forever to check each individual item. My patience with happening every time I shop, would wear thin pretty fast.

TitsInAbsentia · 12/10/2021 19:59

@DuneFan

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?
Maybe it's to guilt you in to buying something else so you don't walk out empty handed!
isthismylifenow · 12/10/2021 19:59

It's standard practice where I live. Most shops do it, so we never put a receipt in a purse, automatically go into one of the bags. If I'm having one of those days I say to security they need to find the slip first to check it. It gets quite annoying when you are going into more than one shop. At the bigger Costco type shops are a bloody nightmare at month end. The queue to get out is longer than the queue to get it. They brought in these hand held scanners now and they scan the barcode on the slip. Pretend to connt your items, stamp the slip, sign then you can be on your way. They started it at our local tesco type supermarket and it didn't work very well there either. When you have shoppers with monthly groceries and two trolleys full, it's not going to work. They just do random checks now. This is probably one positive to covid.

SparklingLime · 12/10/2021 20:00

@Twillow

Anybody want to take a guess at how much was lost (i.e. stolen) on just one brand of whisky last week in our store?
Yes?
TitsInAbsentia · 12/10/2021 20:02

It's a bit of a backward move though really isn't it. There's one security guard at our little tesco at the end of the street, two at the large superstore. Neither would be able to check everyone so the thieves are just going to wait and go at a busy time.

Remember back when you could only go in one way and out another, and everything was scanned by a staff member in between....yeah....wonder whatever happened to that Wink

Woeismethischristmas · 12/10/2021 20:02

@Kendodd

This is terrible. I'm not suggesting it's ok to steal, not at all, but people would be stealing food. Fair enough if you're that TV chef bloke and, well, no idea why he would be stealing cheese. I'm really uncomfortable about homeless people or parents with no money getting a criminal record for stealing food to eat. The poverty in the UK is absolutely shameful.
I’d agree with a pp it’s not cheeese, bread and milk being nicked. It’s booze, batteries, high end meat stuff with a high value to size ratio. I have dobbed someone in for shoving bottles of whisky into their inside coat pockets before. I’ve ignored the shopper in Aldi who put their food in the conveyer belt and then opened up their bags ready for packing hiding the massive bag of dog food, nappies and coke balanced on the bar underneath.
MrsSkylerWhite · 12/10/2021 20:04

butterflyze

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

Or shop elsewhere. There are hundreds of people shopping at our Tesco superstore at any one time, 3 security guards. I’m not waiting in line for goodness’ knows how long. I’ll just not go to Tesco.

Theredjellybean · 12/10/2021 20:05

Surely it defeats the pur of self scan tills?

UnfinishedBunting · 12/10/2021 20:06

I don't understand - if theft is increasing because of self service tills, isn't the solution to move back to staffed tills? Rather than hiring the same staff to look through everyone's bags again.