Reprinting a lost receipt - KMart won't do it?

toomuchdogfur on 29/11/2011 - 10:24

I scored the Sony Xperia x10 Mini Pro mobile from Kmart (http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/51725) a bit under three months back, but I've managed to lose the receipt. Blargh!

So I headed back down to Kmart with my credit card, credit card statement and driver's license, thinking it would be an easy ask. Not at all - I was simply told that they did not hold records of past transactions and were unable to reprint a receipt.

The next day I called head office and was told that reprinting receipts was at the discretion of each store - head office had no say in the matter.

I'm fairly annoyed at this as I used to work at Dick Smith, where reprinting receipts was not a terribly difficult task, especially with mobile phones where we were required to take down ID. And since when does a store not hold records of its past transactions? Especially in regards to mobile phones?

Anyway, any ideas on how should I take this further?

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Comments

  • YadaYadaYada on 29/11/2011 - 10:32

    Why do you need the receipt? Is this for tax or warranty purposes or something? Maybe there's another way around it?

    • toomuchdogfur on 29/11/2011 - 10:34

      I resold the phone and advertised the receipt as included, but the guy on the other end says its not there. I'm pretty sure I packed it as I can't find it here, but I was hoping just getting another copy would be easier!

      • YadaYadaYada on 29/11/2011 - 10:58

        Hmm that's kind of annoying. You could always try your luck and go back to the store and see another staff member, pleading your case.

  • Doey21 on 29/11/2011 - 11:04

    Well I think it would take too much effort for them to track down your receipt…and furthermore they don't track their receipts. What would stop you from say, returning the product twice? (Just providing you their point of view)

  • [Deactivated] on 29/11/2011 - 11:04
    +2

    Issue with duplicate receipts is that some unscrupulous people use these to return items, for which they dont have a receipt. Now if you are in an area that they have had problems with this, they are less likely to oblige.

    Maybe you can ask them to print the receipt, but mark on it - not valid for refund, so that takes way this, if its a concern for them.

    • toomuchdogfur on 29/11/2011 - 15:05

      Yeah, I guess that's something to consider. Just surprised as its the first time I've run into this problem - I've requested a receipt from Big W once with no drama for example. I wouldn't mind having a marked receipt, but they don't even want to go there.

  • Realsteel on 29/11/2011 - 14:56

    Being in finance, i can tell you that if the system does not have the capacity to reprint the receipt on the spot (or if the people are unwilling to print it in the shop) then it would really be a struggle for you to be able to get it from head office!

    All past records are indeed kept as this is the legal requirement. However, no one would bother pulling it out. At at end of the day, all receipts are matched with the cash till and these are filed away. Though the filing is geenrally done in a systematic order and a record can be pulled out if deeemed necessary- no one would bother pulling out a receipt in head office for any retailer for that matter!

    • toomuchdogfur on 29/11/2011 - 15:07

      I'm just surprised as back at Dick Smith, we had a transaction search that could match via name, transaction number, date, card number, item code… pretty much any of the details that existed on the receipt. We did do the cash till matching at day end like you mentioned, but we still could pull out receipts from months (or years) back without much hassle as long as they were from our own store.

      I guess our system was pretty good in comparison then?

      • chiuy on 30/11/2011 - 02:11

        I wonder if those features are not intentionally left out for privacy reasons.

  • morpheu on 29/11/2011 - 15:56

    i find that in cases like this, the reason why you want the duplicate receipt makes all the difference! everyone who asks for a reprint says it's for "a refund or warranty" but they have heard this before, i have got a duplicate receipt before simply by telling them the item was bought for a business and the accountant needed a duplicate receipt for tax purposes, easy!

  • Realsteel on 29/11/2011 - 16:51

    I dont work for Kmart but I have worked for similar retail organisation before. Generally, it should be easy for them to print out receipts from shops - with a duplicate/copy/Reprint stamp if they wanted to!And certainly a retail organisation the size of Kmart- should have a decent information system! What I was trying to say is that if that doesnt work, it would be near impossible to get recipts from head office- reason being they would not want to waste time!

    As Morpheu suggested try using another reason. Since you bought it using your credit card, maybe call them and tell them that you lost the phone and you have insurance via your credit card (some credit cards where you pay annual fees have this complimentary insurance). Tell them that the insurance company needs a receipt before they approve your claim for insurance. Long shot but worth a try.

    Hope this helps.

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