Costco and Walmart are two of the stores I frequent that require customers to show their receipts before leaving the store. But every time I hand mine over, I can’t help but notice how quickly the checker glances at it. Sometimes it’s just a swipe of the highlighter across the paper, other times it feels like they barely look at it at all.

It always makes me wonder—what’s the point? Is it truly a safeguard against theft, or more of a formality to remind us that the store is keeping watch? Maybe it’s simply a deterrent—just enough of a check to discourage someone from trying to sneak something past the register.

I admit I typically don’t want to stand in a potentially long line to have someone take a cursory look at my receipt. I just want to get out of the store, get my purchases in my car, and get on my way. And yes, I’ll also admit—having to show my receipt can make me a little cranky. I don’t let it show, but inside I’m definitely thinking, “Come on already!”

I mentioned this to my son one day, and his perspective stopped me in my tracks. He said, “I used to feel the same way. But then I realized what a hard job that must be—standing there all day while people are irritated with you. So I decided that if I could just be pleasant, maybe it would make their day a little better. And really, it costs me nothing.”

Schooled by my son, I started doing the same thing. It really is a small thing to do.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder—if the checkers only give receipts a quick glance, what’s the pont?

So yesterday as I exited Walmart, when the checker glanced at my receipt, and swiped it with a highlighter, I asked, as politely as I could, what exactly checkers were looking for when they checked receipts, since it always seemed like such a quick glance. I made sure he knew curiosity was behind my question, nothing more.

He told me that there were various things they were looking for but specifically mentioned 3 things:

1. High ticket items   (The checker is looking for high ticket items in a cart to be sure they are on a receipt.)
2. The date of the receipt  (He/She is looking at the date of a receipt to be certain that a customer hasn’t come into the store, picked up an item(s), and is leaving with a receipt from another day.
3. The number of items on a receipt  (He/She is making a quick visual comparison of the items on the receipt to the number of items in the customers cart.)

Now I know—and it actually makes sense. And when something makes sense, it’s a lot easier for me to accept. I had already made the choice to be polite when leaving these stores, but now I can be polite and understanding. That feels like a win for me, and hopefully a small win for the checker too.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about those receipt checks, maybe this will clear things up. And if not, just ask—sometimes the simplest question can make all the difference.