Do you need a receipt?

I generally don't take a receipt for groceries - unless I've bought something in the "middle-aisle" that I might want to take back if faulty.

The thing that most bugs me when the pleasant cashier asks, "would you like a receipt?" is just how paralyzed with indecision some people become over such a simple question requiring a quick "yes please," or a "no thanks." I regularly find myself stuck behind someone who, when faced with such a major life decision, goes through all kinds of emotions before blurting out a response: "eh, eh, ah no thanks - "oh eh on second thoughts maybe I'll take it, just in case."

Was tempted to ask a middle-aged women recently would she like to phone a friend for help with the answer...

(On a similar vein, I heard the motoring journalist Philip Nolan saying recently that an increasing number of drivers when stopped at the red light, act as if the light eventually turning green has come as a huge surprise to them, and an unexpected event that they weren't prepared for.)
 
Howth Head said:
I generally don't take a receipt for groceries - unless I've bought something in the "middle-aisle" that I might want to take back if faulty.

The thing that most bugs me when the pleasant cashier asks, "would you like a receipt?" is just how paralyzed with indecision some people become over such a simple question requiring a quick "yes please," or a "no thanks." I regularly find myself stuck behind someone who, when faced with such a major life decision, goes through all kinds of emotions before blurting out a response: "eh, eh, ah no thanks - "oh eh on second thoughts maybe I'll take it, just in case."

Was tempted to ask a middle-aged women recently would she like to phone a friend for help with the answer...

(On a similar vein, I heard the motoring journalist Philip Nolan saying recently that an increasing number of drivers when stopped at the red light, act as if the light eventually turning green has come as a huge surprise to them, and an unexpected event that they weren't prepared for.)
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Many motorists need a driver in front of them to activate their awareness. They move when other cars move. Just like an almost empty car park and a person parks right beside you rather than in a nearby parking space. Then struggles to get out of their car because they parked so close to you.
 
ClubMan said:
need the receipt in order to scan the barcode on it to get through the automatic gate leading to the exit.
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I've always wondered about the legality of this. Can a store effectively detain honest customers and only allow them to leave once they've proven they haven't stolen anything by showing or scanning their receipt?
 
pudds said:
I honestly can say that on more than a few occasions and generally that when I say, 'yes please'
the tone of the conversation and the demeanor of the sales assistant changes, to me being treated with distain and actually ignored completely and left standing there on one occasion.
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Have to say that I've never experienced that myself and in many cases, especially in Lidl/Aldi, the checkout staff are usually too busy scanning quickly to engage in much smalltalk in the first place.

As it happens I've been to Aldi twice in recent days and both times I was politely asked by the friendly staff if I wanted my receipt, and in both cases I politely declined.
 
Our local Aldi stores introduced the self service some time back and it is great as I would usually only have a small number of items. I'm now wondering as a result of this thread if the following situation is to discourage people from printing receipts.

The one annoying thing I noticed, is that after you have paid, a small black box pops up on the screen, with no heading or wording attached. I had to ask the assistant how do I get a receipt, so she had recall the transaction and showed me how to print a copy off myself, for future reference. I pointed out the lack of title on the box to her, and she said "yes it is stupid, because firstly, you would have to be very quick to accept the receipt offer and then most people do not even know what its for". It regularly causes them more work in an already very busy section :rolleyes: (will I risk my life and say "what man thought of that") :p:p
 
Ask for a manager and ask him/her to get it resolved through the tech team. If they're going all user-powered, the least they can do is have the tech user-friendly.
 
ClubMan Have to say that I've never experienced that myself and in many cases, especially in Lidl/Aldi, the checkout staff are usually too busy scanning quickly to engage in much smalltalk in the first place.

As it happens I've been to Aldi twice in recent days and both times I was politely asked by the friendly staff if I wanted my receipt, and in both cases I politely declined.

FYI ClubMan I do not make small talk when I'm out shopping , for the simple reason my back does be killing me anyway and I understand how the system works and have no problem with that, until this receipt farce was introduced.

The store is closing next week, and I wonder could this be the cause of bad manners from
a few staff, ie under pressure!
 
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pudds said:
ClubMan Have to say that I've never experienced that myself and in many cases, especially in Lidl/Aldi, the checkout staff are usually too busy scanning quickly to engage in much smalltalk in the first place.

As it happens I've been to Aldi twice in recent days and both times I was politely asked by the friendly staff if I wanted my receipt, and in both cases I politely declined.
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Amazing, you had exactly the same experience as me, word for word.
 
mathepac said:
I signed up last night
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on [EDIT] 31/1/2025 for LIDL Plus that is.

The first time I used it I got my savings on the items flashed as LIDL Plus on the shelves, but the app failed to take my money; neither I nor the helpful checker outer could figure out what was wrong so I used my AIB card and got a paper receipt.

The second time all went well, the few quid transferred, a digital receipt was received in the app, and the correct money was gone from the bank account. Cool enough.

I've been notified of digital scratch cards sent to my account; I haven't looked at them yet.

So far so good.
 
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You don't have to use the app to pay to get the digital receipt. You can just scan at the till and pay as you normally would. I haven't tried setting up a card on it to pay.
 
Yes, the option to get a digital receipt and the option to allow the app to process payments are completely separate. I've used the former since it was introduced but have never configured/used the latter because I'm not that comfortable with registering my card with the app right now.
 
Seems like retailers are not obliged to give a receipt.

"Shops do not have to give you a receipt when you buy goods, but you should always ask for one."

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www.ccpc.ie

In my experience some ask 'would you like a receipt', others do not ask (especially petrol stations for some reason).

Sometimes i would just stand there - no receipt offered - awkward pause to give them a chance to offer one - then i'd ask 'Can I have the receipt'.

A friend bought petrol a few years ago, paid for it, got no receipt.
Two hours later the Gardai arrived to her home and said the garage claimed she drove off without paying.
She was horrified - but had no receipt.
So off they went to the garage and checked the CCTV. She was in the clear. No apology either.

So, ALWAYS get a receipt.
 
redstar said:
A friend bought petrol a few years ago, paid for it, got no receipt.
Two hours later the Gardai arrived to her home and said the garage claimed she drove off without paying.
She was horrified - but had no receipt.
So off they went to the garage and checked the CCTV. She was in the clear. No apology either.
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This is easily mitigated against nowadays as you just show the Garda your Revelut/Debit card transactions for the day at your front door.
 
I think nowadays the Gardai would be looking for evidence from the garage owner before showing up at someone's door too. :D
 
They are not very quick in a town not far from where I live as I believe a petrol station were down ' thousands' of euros because of drive - offs , seemingly...
Now you have to pre - pay either at the pump or in the shop...
 
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