Why wouldn't I want my receipt?

[Lorrymum]

I've recently noticed that every time I buy something Im asked if I want the receipt. I always feel a bit awkward when I say "yes please" and it feels as though Im being a bit of a pain.
Why wouldn't I want it? How would I return something if I don't have one? Is it to save paper or ink?

Obviously they know u won't be able to return anything, even eg mouldy food or some such. Win win for the retailers?

Usually it's because most shops also email you a receipt these days - dunelm mill for example, marks and Spencer

Most of the time I am going to throw the receipt into the trash, so I am quite happy to not have one generated.

as for returns, many businesses can look up the return without the physical receipt. Some send an electronic receipt. Needing a paper receipt is becoming rare.

I always ask for the receipt

Recently bought something. Security tag left on, alarm goes off, security ask to see receipt

No brainer

I've told my DSs that they are to ALWAYS take receipts. They're teenagers and I'm not going to have them accused of shoplifting because they didn't take a receipt.

If anyone is visiting several shops they might buy something in shop A that shop B also sells and be accused of stealing it from shop B.

Lots of receipt printers are thermal so don't use any ink/toner at all.

It may be because I have receipts emailed, but when using Marks food tills I no longer even get offered a paper receipt. They've only just started doing this and it really annoys me - because yes, I do want one. I really don't feel comfortable wandering around a shop , let alone going out of the door, let alone wandering around another shop, without proof that I've paid for what I have in my bag,

It's not as though I've ever been done for shoplifting - I must just have a guilt complex.

I bought a bag of sweets and a drink in Wilko today. I definitely didn't want a receipt for those, who would?

I do need receipts for fuel for expenses, and I take a receipt for items that I may need to return eg clothes.

Funnily enough, I was in a cafe yesterday and the woman ahead of me insisted on a receipt. The till didn't have a receipt print function, so they had to hand write one. I did wonder why she was so bothered about a receipt for a tea and a teacake she was going to consume on the premises, and she was 80+ so very unlikely to be work expenses.

Some people like/need to keep very tight records of everything they spend - especially older people who may be on a fixed income. It doesn't mean that they are on the poverty line and can never afford a cup of tea and a cake from a cafe, but that they may need to factor it in and can't just buy endless treats willy-nilly.

Considerably older folk are also less likely to have an electronic device on which to record/store/view spending and e-receipts.

I often say no to a receipt. If I’ve popped in for a bag of apples and a loaf of bread, why would I need one?
Clothes shops tend to email receipts now which I prefer as I can’t lose them. Most of my other shopping is done online.
It’s fine to say yes if you want the receipt, but equally it’s not unreasonable of them to ask, because many people don’t want it!

Unless it's a petrol station that literally only sells fuel you could be buying any manner of things

My local Esso garage is also a fairly decent sized Tesco, I could buy a fair proportion of my weekly shop and spend that easily

I check receipts from groceries every so often. It is not uncommon to find mistakes. About 10% of the time probably. So I like receipts.

If you're claiming a pence per mile rate why do you need a fuel receipt?

Because that is what the employers ask for.

I'm not the pp, but we need petrol receipts too. I've always thought it a bit ridiculous as they rarely match the miles I am claiming for, but that's what they need, or I don't get the miles back.

Also, I bought a wee pramsuit from Asda for £30. I did not take a receipt. It was very short on my baby, so I returned it. They did not have the next size, or any sizes for that matter, so I wanted a refund. I could not have one as I had no receipt. It had also been reduced. I got £7 on a gift card.

Are you being paid HMRC mileage rates?

I ALWAYS ask for and receive a recipt, and I certainly don't care how it looks, etc.
In the old days (when we used cheques), we used to have a 'stub' to write everything down. I still like to keep my own record, so I know exactly how much I have in my account, etc.
Even cash receipts, I like to check over, to make sure everything is correct, etc.
I always do this, and have always done this.
I have never been stopped, but as we now all take our own bags, it makes sure I have paid, in case I am ever stopped.

I left Sainsbury’s with a boxed whiskey bottle and the alarm went off. I had not realised it had a tag on it (it was a gift, I never buy whiskey). I walked back to the women who had authorised me as over 18 at the till as I assumed she would remember me from 15 seconds ago. But no, she asked me for evidence of purchase, stating its to prevent shoplifting - luckily I always take a receipt. I asked how this works now we are encouraged to to automatically take a receipt and she said it’s a problem.

I always take a receipt.

I always take the receipt, a couple of times when I have returned stuff to Next they have made an error and I have needed the paper receipt to prove I have returned it, an email one is no good if they have not used the right Directory account no. as I won't receive the email.

In Waitrose they often give offer vouchers attached to the receipt.

A few times in supermarkets I have been charged wrong and had to query it and get a refund, I wouldn't know if I didn't take the receipt

I don't want them for groceries, or petrol, or any small shops - I get the bank notification before they've even finished asking.

Bank notifications don't give the details though, I have had errors in pricing and reductions not honoured in Waitrose, Asda and M&S and it alway seems to be in the shop's favour so I have had to get a refund at customer services on the way out.

Aylestone · Today 12:21
Well yes, obviously because it’s a waste of paper and ink. You don’t need a receipt for absolutely everything, do you? That’s why they ask”

But the receipt is printed anyway and thrown away.

Obviously shops don't want to give receipts, it's the gift that keeps giving for them. No refunds, no returns, no bad food coming back to them.

It is to save paper - if the person is just going to throw it in the bin then there is no point in printing it. Every little helps.