Comments on: Big (only) in Japan? Tape as proof of purchase

By: Steve-o

Steve-o — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:12:01 +0000

Same taping in Hong Kong. Especially now more popular as the government introduced a minimum charge on shopping bags and so people carry items with only tape on.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:59:28 +0000

I’ve had them put tape on large items too, like a bag of rice, case of soda, or larger items pretty much at any store I’ve shopped in the U.S.

I like the tape in Japan, it makes sense. Of course, I can see someone stealing a roll of the tape and just using it to steal more things.

As far as handing the receipt to you with your change… where do you put your change? “you are likely a woman with a purse who dutifully keeps and records each purchase in a family budget notebook”. Why are you making that sexist assumption? They are simply handing you your change and receipt. Stick it in your pocket like every other MAN! I do that, and I have the “assurance that if I somehow must reexamine the receipt I will be able to find it”. It’s in my pocket. Right next to my body. If I REALLY need to re-examine it, I can reach in and, WOW, there it is!

By: Sanna

Sanna — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:44:42 +0000

The only American place I can recall that uses tape/stickers as proof of purchase is Dillards. Every little yellow sticker they have has a little scany bar on it, so when you purchase the item, the cashier scans that code, attaching it to your purchase in the computer. It is meant to keep people from shoplifting something and then trying to return it without receipt.

Other than that, not sure I’ve ever seen it. Then again, I don’t do an incredible amount of purchasing of items in stores on the same… financial-requirement level as Dillards.

By: MD

MD — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:19:14 +0000

Even after more than 10 years in Japan, I find the practice annoying. But it is not just the tape per se. It is that they do not put the receipt in the bag, but rather hand it to you with your change, anticipating that you are likely a woman with a purse who dutifully keeps and records each purchase in a family budget notebook… but I am a man and just want to leave with the assurance that if I somehow must reexamine the receipt I will be able to find it… and want to keep it together with the purchase in question. Just stick it in the bag? If only it were not taped shut…

By: Eric Likness

Eric Likness — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:32:47 +0000

In the U.S. the large retail stores that sell large boxed items will place tape on the box to prove it was purchased. This only applies to items that won’t fit into a bag.