Can walmart greeters legally prohibit me from leaving the store without showing them a receipt (I paid for it)

I have always wondered about this because if I pay for an item, in my opinion it should be my property to do with as I please. It should be no different than a hat I wear into their store but purchased elsewhere and do not have a receipt for. I should not have to prove that I did not steal, they should have to prove I did.

Can walmart greeters legally prohibit me from leaving the store without showing them a receipt (I paid for it)
If they have grounds for "reasonable suspicion" that you've stolen something they have the right to detain you, otherwise no, they can't "make you" show a receipt.





However, if you choose NOT to show them a receipt, they can tell you not to come back, and if you do you'll be trespassing.





Richard
Reply:When I worked for a retailer, the law posted stated that if an employee visually caught you stealing then and only then can the employee stop you.





So unless the law has changed in the past 5 years (granted it may have) then they have no right to physically restrain you from leaving the property.
Reply:America is a free country. I am sure an attorney can argue that you are being held against your will or being illegally detained since there is no probable cause that you did anything wrong.





As for it being illegal, each state has their own laws. It is illegal in California but I think most consumers don't know it.





I don't see the problem with showing a receipt. I know someone in law enforcement that refuses to show Walmart a receipt. And he knows he has the right not to show his receipt.





I just found these articles.


http://digg.com/business_finance/Best_Bu...


http://www.newstarget.com/019381.html
Reply:Yea, it does seem rather stupid, when you think about it... I hate going to Walmart. I just try to bypass it all together. I'm a Target shopper :P hehe
Reply:They can't force you in Ohio but what's the big deal? It takes less than a minute of your time and they are just doing their jobs.
Reply:i live in southern california. i shop walmart all the time, i have no problem in showing my receipt to the eldery greeter at the door. it's their job. what's the b-f-d ?
Reply:They can not prohibit you from leaving the store for only the reason of refusing to show your receipt. They can prohibit you from leaving the store if they have grounds to believe you have an item you have not paid for. They can arrest you and use as much force that is necessary to detain you until police arrive.
Reply:Yes, they have every right to check....this helps cut down on shoplifting.





If you have not stolen anything, why would you care? It would seem to me that only the thief would be upset by this.
Reply:Why excepting the fact that you shoplifted would you not go ahead and show the receipt? Is it that you get kicks out of giving a person making minimum wage and taking crap from idiots all day a hard time? Let me tell you that if I got a call from a store employee that you wouldn't show the receipt and I showed up and found that you had the receipt all along and was just giving the employee a hard time you'd have one really P.O'd Officer on your butt! People have better things to do other than screwing around with nonsense like this so be one of the ones who do!
Reply:its a fact at walmart they tell the door people that if anyone walks away, refuses or runs out with merchandise to let them go, NOW if theres a security gaurd there then they will give chase, Lowes is the same way they tell you while training if someone wants to steal something let them lol.
Reply:MANNNNNNN!!! I hate those old people who work the doors. This old lady at the Wal-mart I frequent dang near tackles you if you don't show her a receipt. She is really fast for a 100 million year old person. But can't knock em to much for trying to earn a living.
Reply:Yes I had that happen in a Rite aid store when I had brand new movies in my bag from another store and they wanted a receipt because they thought it was from their store I argued with the manager and they ended up keeping a movie that wasnt even from their store! so yes im annoyed by people taking their job too seriously and being annoying about having receipts
Reply:Would you have a problem with greeters or police officers patting you down on the way out to make sure you didn't steal anything? They have plenty of money invested in cameras and loss prevention instead of harassing innocent customers. What if someone lost their receipt then the store could take their merchandise back, get away wtih it and prosecute you for stealing for a simple mistake. Didn't you get the memo we're in a police state.