One Man's "Show Your Receipt" Protest in Ohio

"Michael Amor Righi: American Hero"

Screenplay by William H. Thrilly 7th

Based on Actual Events

Actually, this guy's an ass. Maybe an american hero, but an ass. These stores get ripped off MASSIVELY by peeps who'll buy something, then toss more crap into their bag (I worked electronics retail. I've seen it happen).

Show your receipt. Show your id when someone in authority asks for it. The world sucks enough already. You gotta go out of your way to make it worse?

Okay, I'll give in on this one.

Changing title to.

"Michael Amor Righi: American Ass"

Screenplay by William H. Thrilly 7th

Based on an Ass.

billythrilly7th said:

Okay, I'll give in on this one.

Changing title to.

"Michael Amor Righi: American Ass"

Screenplay by William H. Thrilly 7th

Based on an Ass.

Click to expand...

Brilliant!

I feel somewhat ambivalent about this. I too am annoyed at having to show my receipt as I exit the guitar center. But I also think it’s not an unreasonable policy, given the prevalence of shoplifting. The crucial point is that they’re not singling out any individual for this; all shoppers exiting the store are treated identically. If you don’t like the store’s policy, you have the option to refuse them your business and to shop elsewhere. Walking out and refusing to show your receipt is acting like an a-hole.

It somewhat analogous to getting pulled over for suspicion of DUI. DWI) There must be some articulable reason for a cop to pull you over – lane swerving, etc. But courts have ruled that police can set up checkpoints and examine everyone coming through, with no evidence of wrongdoing, as long as it’s not selective.

The arrest should never have happened, however. If Righi had refused to show the officer his receipt, that would be one thing, but he did. But I also feel for the cop. He’s investigating a potential crime, he feels that Righi was possibly up to something and the suspect refuses to provide any identification. He doesn’t know what to do, so he arrests him for “obstruction.” a catch all charge that will never stick.

When I was a rookie cop on foot patrol, my very first confrontation was with a man who exited a music store and the store alarm went off. The manager ran up to me as the man was getting into his car. I asked him to get out of the car, and he refused, saying he hadn’t done anything. I told him if he didn’t get out of the car, I’d place him under arrest. He said, “For what?”

That stumped me. Remember I had only one second to come up with an answer. He noticed my momentary rookie hesitation and drove off. I did smash a hole in his windshield as he drove by, earning me instant status in the rookie hall of fame, and it took months for me to live the incident down.

And let's not forget, the version we’re reading is Righi’s alone. The cop or store employee might have a very different description of what actually happened.

Not acceptable to refuse, if you want to protest the policy have security call the manager to escort you to the refund counter and return your purchases. As for the driver license in the parking lot it was poor tactics to refuse, should have saved that protest for another time.

I'm thinking Kentuk is on the right track. Vote with your feet. You don't like the way they do business? Do business with someone else. Return the items, get the refund. Be loud about it if you want to. Tell your local media you did so.

As for refusing to show his license to the cop? That was just dumb. The law requires you to tell them your name and address and birthdate, the license just proves what you are saying. As contrary and out of the norm as he was being, giving the officer that little bit of proof would have taken him a long way in your argument against the store.

Above and beyond that, deciding to put on this show in such away as to jack with his family's day? That's being an ass.

In certain stores at certain times it's really annoying to have to show your receipt. The security guard is standing right there. He sees me pay for my air conditioner(last night) and put my receipt in my pocket.

He's about twenty feet from the cash register. I lift up the airconditioner and head towards him.

"Receipt please"

(you just saw me pay)

I place the heavy air conditioner back on the ground so I can take the receipt out.

I show it to him. He highlights it.

I pick up the heavy air conditioner WITH MY LEGS and not my back and head out.

He saw me. I paid right in front of him. I'm carrying a big box. Let me go through for the love of god.

Thank you.

Yeah, but how does he know you weren't just pretending to pay. Very clever indeed.

SpookyWriter said:

Yeah, but how does he know you weren't just pretending to pay. Very clever indeed.

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Thank you.

I woulda got away with it if it weren't for the...ahh..what the heck....pesky kid security guard.

He could grow up one day to become president. Did you ever think of that? Maybe you should have taken the time for a photo-op?

Billy the security dude probably has a peckerhead of a supervisor twitting him everytime he uses his brain instead of highlighting the receipt. You know security isn't part of the customer service experience.

We have a local hardware chain Orchard Supply where the prices aren't as good as Home Depot but the people there are knowledgable and always pleasant. You can see good management reflected in their aditudes. Guess where I shop the most?

The reciept thing is annoying but I understand why stores do it.

Refusing to give your license (or ID) to an officer? That's just stupid. If an officer requests your ID, whether you're driving or not, you need to give it to him. The only reason people tend to refuse, is because they're wanted. Trust me, you refuse to identify yourself to an officer and your ass is going to end up in jail. Once they make contact with you, you're not leaving until they're sure they know who you are.

This guy was just being an ass.

I had a similar experience when I bought my laptop. The box is all taped up with the manufacturer's tape. Security saw me pay for it - saw that the Geek Squad guy handed me the box - and the guy still stopped me for my receipt. And then, to make it even more aggravating, actually scolded me because I wasn't smiling. Give me a break. I've got my 6 year old and my 2 year old, I was exchanging a brand new laptop for another because they sold me a defective one, I have to juggle everything to show a receipt for something the guy saw me buy, and then he has the balls to scold me because I don't feel like smiling at that point???

He's lucky he didn't get highlighted in a very uncomfortable place. I can understand the receipt and all, but leave me alone if I don't want to smile. Leave. Me. Alone.

Jersey Chick - who is uncharacteristically grouchy these days...

Kentuk said:

Billy the security dude probably has a peckerhead of a supervisor twitting him everytime he uses his brain instead of highlighting the receipt.

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Fair enough.

Actually, this guy's an ass. Maybe an american hero, but an ass. These stores get ripped off MASSIVELY by peeps who'll buy something, then toss more crap into their bag (I worked electronics retail. I've seen it happen).

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Okay, so you've had experience with the peeps, so it's easier for you to see him as an ass. I haven't had experience working in electronic retail, but I have had experience(s) as a customer, therefore, I agree with the guy: if I make a purchase and pay for it according to the system the store has set in place (a cash register) and I move from the cash register to the exit door with merchandise that now belongs to me, why should I have to dig the receipt out of my purse so some geek at the door can affirm my purchase?

I say if they can't catch crooks while they are INSIDE the store, then they need a better system in place. Or perhaps they should set up the cash register directly at the exit door: you pay, your goods are bagged, placed in your hand, and a huge mechanical foot suddenly appears and promptly catapults your happy butt into the parking lot.

Or, this would be cool: the customer places their merchandise on the counter, pays, exits the store, and the goods are handed to the customer (who is now waiting OUTSIDE the store) via a sliding glass window.

The world sucks enough already. You gotta go out of your way to make it worse?

Click to expand...

But, this is part of the reason the world sucks!!! Merchants have lost respect for their customer! They forget that they wouldn't have a business at all if it weren't for the CUSTOMER.

I know there are shoplifters, but for the love of a baloney with mayo, figure out how to catch the "peeps" without devaluing your customers who are the very reason you have a business in the first place! Too many merchants have thrown the baby out with the bath water--treating their prized customers who are NOT criminals in a criminal manner when they attempt to exit the store!

Whew....okay.....I'm all through now.

It is my understand that when a cop asks you for identification you are legally obligated to accommodate him. He didn't have to show a drivers license because holding one is a privilege, not a requirement. But an adult is required to have on his person at all times when in public, some form of acceptable identification...so I hear.

I'm not a cop, or a lawyer. But I've conversed with several of the first and been screwed by many of the second. You pick things up.

Shoplifting costs merchants billions of dollars every year. Who do you think pays for that? You and me, every time we buy something. Personally, I'll do anything I can to help reduce costs. Showing a receipt is a such a tiny little thing.

Stores today can and should have theft detection methods at doors, and all merchandise should be shelved before registers and kept away from exits. There are ways to reduce the risk of theft without inconveniencing your customers. The Circuit City stores I've been in seem to have done all of this. I've never been asked for a receipt at a Circuit City. So, were there necessitating circumstances?

I've been in businesses where young or inexperienced employees treated me unfairly. You can escalate it or you can work it out.

The link to the story didn't work so I don't know anything more than what was mentioned here, but if the guy was truly embarrassed or wrongly accused he should have stayed in the store, called for management, attained a witness, proven his innocence and then litigated like any normal American citizen.

I worked at a store that accused a woman of shoplifting. She was able to sue for defamation of character. But that was an all out public accusation.

Regardless of the store's conduct, this guy handled it poorly. It seems to be a deliberate attempt at making something bigger than it needed to be. I think he deserves to have his fingers smacked.

Where is that big nun with the ruler?

What an incredible guy, and a nice guy, too:


Not being able to find the law in the books that states that a citizen must provide a driver’s license while walking through a parking lot, Officer Arroyo had to settle for “obstructing official business.” Keep in mind that the official business that I was supposedly obstructing was business that I initiated by calling the police. I called for help and I got arrested.

My father posted the $300 bail that was needed to get me out of jail and back on my way to Park Avenue Place. (Sorry for the lame Monopoly joke, but it’s my first time being arrested. Cut me some humor slack.) After being released I stuck around the police station for a little while to fill out the necessary paper work to press charges against the Circuit City manager who physically prevented me from leaving the parking lot. I’m most interested in seeing my charges dropped for refusing to present identification, but I view that as a completely separate issue from the store manager interfering with my egress.

I understand that my day would have gone a lot smoother if I had agreed to let loss prevention inspect my bag. I understand that my day would have gone a lot smoother if I had agreed to hand over my driver’s license when asked by Officer Arroyo. However, I am not interested in living my life smoothly. I am interested in living my life on strong principles and standing up for my rights as a consumer, a U.S. citizen and a human being. Allowing stores to inspect our bags at will might seem like a trivial matter, but it creates an atmosphere of obedience which is a dangerous thing. Allowing police officers to see our papers at will might seem like a trivial matter, but it creates a fear-of-authority atmosphere which can be all too easily abused.

I love this guy!! Michael Amor Righi. . .an American hero!!

Thanks Dawno, for this thread. I needed some good news today.

writeitdown said:

Or, this would be cool: the customer places their merchandise on the counter, pays, exits the store, and the goods are handed to the customer (who is now waiting OUTSIDE the store) via a sliding glass window.

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I was in a store once where everything was bought on a ticked pulled from the display shelf. You got to see a strapped down example of what you wanted to buy. After payment, to pick up your merchandise, you were directed to what looked like a prisoner visitation center with barred windows and security. It was very unpleasant. But I bet their shoplifting occurrences were below the national average.

Well, purchasing something today can be quite a trial. Of course, I'm like Mr. Righi in that I often refuse to submit to an invasion of privacy, whether it be intrusive questions, showing I.D., being recorded or having the things I've purchased rummaged through.

And it takes its toll. I'm amazed at how intrusive retailers and businesses in general think they can be, but I refuse to allow it, and of course, it leads to confrontations.

It's important that Americans stop putting up with questions that are designed to put them on the defensive, because the subliminal messages: no one can be trusted and no one deserves to be treated with dignity, are very damaging to the collective American psyche. Ultimately, we must trust each other and respect each other to make a free society work, and those aspects are well worth a few undetected bad apples.

He may be an ass, but he's right.

The store policy of checking receipts is all about catching their own employees slipping things through to their friends and relations.

If this is such an epidemic that it requires checking everyone that passes through the gate, one wonders at the hiring practices and policies of these companies.

And, this whole "show your papers without question" thing went all the way to the supreme court, where it was struck down. Rightfully, so.

This is exactly the kind of case where the reasoning behind disallowing that policy exists. The guy got arrested just for being an ass. That's not a criminal offense. The police officer abused his authority and made up a charge out of very thin air and lots of disgust.

Also, the general lack of personal rights involved with everyone in the case is a disgusting example of how poor our social science curriculum actually is. Doesn't anybody know their fourth amendment rights?

badducky said:

Doesn't anybody know their fourth amendment rights?

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Something about self-incrimination? Or was that illegal search and seizure? * rushes off to look up BoR *

Too many amendments.

I'm confident I don't know any of them except the repealing of Prohibition.

The 12th amendment.

billythrilly7th said:

Too many amendments.

I'm confident I don't know any of them except the repealing of Prohibition.

The 12th amendment.

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I thought it was the 14th amendment.