Can a Clerk Legally Stop You to Check Your Receipt in Michigan?

We've all had it happen to us or seen it happen to someone else. We're out shopping for food or clothing and a greeter or security at the entrance/exit stops you and asks if they can see your receipt.

I've had this happen to me several times before and I stopped and let them check my receipt to make sure everything in my shopping cart or bag was also on the receipt. But I've always wondered can a clerk legally stop me and check my receipt? I've done some digging and here's what I was able to find out.

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Can a Clerk Legally Stop You to Check Your Receipt in Michigan?

To try and find an answer I searched online and found an answer at Legal Definitions.

Here's what the website had to say about it being legal for a store clerk to stop you and check your receipt.

The short answer is no. At most retailers like Walmart, an employee can’t force you to show them your receipt or allow them to search your bag. And make no mistake: when a greeter is asking to check your receipt, he is actually asking for permission to search your bags or seize your person.

 

It’s not always a great idea to do something even though you have the right. In certain circumstances, store employees are justified in holding you until the police arrive. Known as the Shopkeeper’s Privilege, the store employee can stop you from leaving if they believe that you shoplifted. What’s more, you could be barred from the premises or lose your membership card if you fail to comply.

 

Despite that, it is worth knowing your rights in these situations. While there’s nothing stopping a door greeter from asking you to comply, your rights could be violated if they try and forcibly keep you from leaving.

 

You can read more about this at Legal Definitions 

Why Do Stores Ask To Check Your Receipt?

According to Lawyers.com stores do spot checks to ensure that the cashier put all of your items in your cart, and to keep costs down by deterring shoplifting. So, undergoing a receipt check ultimately benefits you and might be worth a little hassle.

Can A Store Employee Stop You From Leaving If You Refuse To Show A Receipt?

A store worker usually must have reasonable suspicion to believe that you’ve shoplifted. Without that suspicion, the staff can’t stop you from leaving the store. For instance, it would be inappropriate to:

• stand in your way
• use abusive language, or
• physically detain you.

Stores Can Detain You And Call Police If They Believe You Stole Something

Shopkeeper's privilege is a law recognized in the United States under which a shopkeeper is allowed to detain a suspected shoplifter on store property for a reasonable period of time, so long as the shopkeeper has cause to believe that the person detained in fact committed, or attempted to commit, theft of store property.

Watch: People Refusing To Show Security Their Receipts

I get that it's your right to say no if a store asks to see your receipt, but at the end of the day is it really worth it to make a big scene? Most people are not on a power trip and are simply doing their job. Even if you're in a rush are 30 seconds going to ruin your entire day? In my opinion, it's not worth causing a fuss, and takes more time to make a scene instead of showing them your receipt.