Opinion: California’s effort to limit paper receipts falls short, risks unintended consequences
Retailers have faced no shortage of adversity these past few years. From COVID pressures to retail theft to customers struggling with soaring inflation, local store operators find themselves on the frontlines of some of society’s thorniest challenges.
Now add state-elected officials to the list of issues making business more difficult for retailers, grocers, restaurants and their shoppers. The latest move from Sacramento comes in the form of Assembly Bill 1347, which would limit printing in-store coupons and proof-of-purchase receipts. AB 1347 would have negative consequences for consumers, especially those who are low-income or do not have easy access to online banking, and it exacerbates personal data privacy concerns.One of the main reasons grocers oppose the bill is it interferes with federal guidelines that require paper receipts for WIC and SNAP recipients. The federal government has specific regulations around receipts for purchases made with WIC and SNAP benefits.
These regulations exist to ensure that WIC and SNAP participants receive the correct benefits and to prevent fraud and abuse of the program. Food retailers comply with these regulations so they can continue to participate in government programs and provide access to healthy food for low-income individuals and families. AB 1347 threatens local retailers’ participation in the SNAP and WIC programs.AB 1347 would ban the practice of printing coupons under or on the back of paper receipts.
Printed receipts are typically used to reconcile sales and inventory records, allowing store managers to identify discrepancies and investigate possible causes. For example, if a cashier is consistently ringing up fewer items than are listed on the receipt, this could be a sign that something is wrong. Discouraging the use of receipts will only exacerbate the problem of retail theft.
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