AIBU to think I shouldn't have to give an email address to get a receipt?

[BabyYodasGotMyTeacher]

My DD(11) was buying something in New Look today and was asked for her email address for the receipt. I said no as I don't think it's appropriate for her to be giving out her email address, but was told that they had "gone paperless" so that was the only option.

She hadn't actually tried on the item so we definitely wanted a receipt in case it needed to go back - so I got very cross at being forced to hand over my email.

I am completely in favour of cutting down on receipts and having the option to choose paper/email/none but AIBU to think one shouldn't be forced to hand over email addresses just to get a proof of an in person purchase?

I prefer an email receipt as I always have it if I need it but there should always be an option to have a paper receipt.

Rather nerdily I have my own domain name. I give out unique email addresses to each shop and each day. For example newlook20250422@mydomain so I can tell which shops have sold on my details.

Just create a new email address - something like receipts12345@[your domain name]

I came here to say the same thing! I hated the whole email receipts at first but now it’s great! They all go in to one email account so I don’t have to rummage through old carrier bags!

I don't like email receipts but surely the one advantage is that they are easier to find than paper ones as you can search the name of the shop

JD has gone completely paper free too.
It is irritating.

if they say it’s impossible to give you a paper receipt, carry around a small blank notepad in your bag and ask the manager to write you a receipt by hand.

They’re fibbing. I always say no in New Look and they give me a paper receipt.

I had an awkward interaction with a woman in River Island because I said I needed a receipt as it was a gift so eventually after speaking to a manager she gave me the paper receipt without taking my email.

It’s just a sly ploy to get your data via marketing dressed up as saving the environment.

If this is a breach of GDPR policy, why has New Look not been penalised? I did not consent to their sales-boosting emails

It's a pain isn't it?!

Dunelm are the worst near me for this. They'll ask for an email address for the receipt, and I just say, "A paper one is fine thank you" and then stand there with an expectant look on my face.

I say no and I haven’t got an email address. Total Bullshit of course but it makes me feel stubborn when this shit happens.

You are entitled to a receipt and I’m sure there is a trading standards etc thing we can throw at them in these situations.

They do say things like 'this till is paperless, is that OK?' Or try other ways to get you to provide an email (a lot of it is so that you can then be added to their mailing list and get bombarded with emails from them) BUT if you say no, I'd like a paper copy please, they can and will, despite saying otherwise to begin with. 😊

Lots of shops now say 'do you need a receipt', it always makes me think if I had to return something or if there was another issue, how would I prove I've just paid for the items in my bag?

I set up a spam email address specifically for this sort of thing. (Actually I set up two, a clean one and one along the lines of "useless-shop-cunt at domain dot com" with the latter reserved for particularly unpleasant or unhelpful staff.)

I like the idea PP had of setting up a unique address for every single transaction, so as to see which retailer sells your details!

Because nobody has held them to account. Regulating bodies don't know shops are pulling this crap without consumers informing them.

New Look here absolutely refuse to do paper, I have had the argument with them and they won't shift.

WhatsApp head office and then take it with you next time.

Yes this is me in Dunelm too. The huffs and tuts I get 😆

I had to give my phone number for a receipt for a 10p paper bag in Zara when I collected my order from store. It did really annoy me.

It's not because they want to be paperless, it's because they want the email address which they can sell.

They absolutely can give you a paper receipt. My teenage daughter shops there and the only email address she has is her school email. She's not giving that out!

It was a while ago, but last time I was in there, their signage actually said, in very small letters at the bottom "If you need a paper receipt, please let us know and we can provide this", or words to that effect. I had to point this out to the lady behind the till who was having a right huff when I wouldn't give my email.

Good lord it's just an email address

It’s not though it’s the principal. They pretend they’ve gone paperless for environmental reasons when in fact it’s so they can get your email address and sell your data. It’s the pretending they can’t give you a paper one so you’re forced to surrender your data that annoys me. It’s so dishonest. Why not just say do you want a paper or virtual receipt?

They want to bombard your DD with emails about their products. I won't buy online from any shop that wants my date of birth either. It's none of their business.

On a tangent, but if you buy something in curry’s such as a laptop for your sole trader or self employment, don’t say yes when they ask if it’s a business purchase. If you do, you’ve just lost your automatic consumer rights which apply only to domestic purchases, I.e. right to return within 28 days, rights to return faulty goods etc. The consumer rights don’t apply to business purchases! You have to go back to relying on contract law which is a higher burden of proof and costly as you have to involve courts etc. I’ve had this with curry’s, as have some of my business clients. Their counter staff are trained to ask the question if it looks like it could be a business purchase just so they can avoid consumer rights!

Also don’t use a business debit/credit card as that also flags it up as a business purchase! And don’t say you need a receipt for your tax return if they try to fob you off without a paper receipt or give them a business email address for an e-receipt! Give them no reason to press the “business” button on the till!

Unfortunately for retail staff, who ask if you'd like an email receipt, are impacted on their commission as gathering email address is marked in their KPI report.
My niece works for clres accessories and email addresses are part of the target.