A client of mine was purchasing a piece of clothing from a boutique shop recently when paid in cash for the item. She asked for a receipt and was told that they did not do receipts. What do you think she did next? Go elsewhere to purchase the item? Or demand a receipt?
As a consumer, when you go to a shop and purchase an item or service, be it, big or small, the standard advice from any financial expert would be to get a receipt. A legal expert will state the same thing. Here is why:
- Proof of purchase: We need documentation that shows that we own the item.
- Refund?: What if the item turns out to be unsuitable for its intended purpose? The option to return the item is diminished if there is no proof of purchase.
- Warranty?: For larger items such as 60 inch flat screen televisions, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, dryers, there is usually a manufacturer’s warranty which guarantees that the item will work for specific period of time. If the product stops working before the warranty expires, then it can be replaced under certain terms and conditions.
- Returns and exchanges: Occasionally, we purchase an item, and prefer something else, so we want to return what we bought and exchange it for something else in the store. Without a receipt, that proves difficult as you can encounter a different salesperson when you return, or the item that you want to return is not readily available.
- Tax purposes: The length of time that you actually keep a receipt would be determined by its value to you and whether, you need to disclose it for tax purposes. Your weekly groceries may not be needed for tax matters, however, purchasing a car, might.
- Proof of services: Have you been to a doctor, dentist or even a lawyer? Keep your receipt as proof that you attended his or her office and the nature of the services rendered as well as when it was, and how much was charged for the service.
- Gift item: Looking for the perfect birthday gift? What do you get for that special friend in your life that has everything? Perhaps you decide on a gift card. So you friend attends the store in question but has forgotten the receipt. Unless you are dealing with a very understanding salesperson, the likelihood it that you have just lost your right to a gift from that store.
- Credit card purchase: Credit card purchases can helpfully be tracked so if you purchase something expensive that you wold prefer to hid, try paying in cash.
- Price matching: You go shopping with a friend, who says that she paid a lot less for an item that you are about to purchase. So she pulls out her receipt to show your evidence of her purchase.
- Budgeting and reconciling: We are all on a budget, some budgets are greater than others. The common denominator is the individual’s desire to save money.
To answer the question earlier, she demanded a makeshift receipt. My client had gone through choosing the item and she wasn’t about to let the absence of a receipt stop her.
This article is for general use only, for advice specifically for your case, please see your lawyer.