Do You Legally Have To Show Your Receipt When You Leave Walmart?

I always feel awkward when the Walmart greeter stops me at the door on my way out of the store to have a look at my receipt. They don't check every single person and that makes me feel like I have a guilty-looking face or something. I always stop and let them look over it, but I've wondered what would happen if I just kept walking.

Would I get into trouble? Would they chase me down? Is there some kind of law that says I have to stop and show them my receipt?

Let's find out...

Is it illegal for me to leave Walmart without showing my receipt?

The short answer is "no".

No law prevents you from leaving the store without letting an employee verify that the goods in your basket match the ones on your receipt. However, if an employee believes there is probable cause to investigate whether or not you have stolen, they do have the right to detain you until they get to the bottom of it. That being said, if you hightail it out of the store when they ask for your receipt, they might suspect you of theft and contact the police or security.

Most lawyers advise that you go ahead and show your receipt to keep yourself out of unnecessary trouble. You might as well just fork it over and move on with the day rather than make a run for it and see what happens next. It's just not worth it.

It's annoying, but it is what it is.