Isn't it a huge waste of paper? There's a push to use less plastic bags, less plastic bottles, but not much talk of reducing receipts. In my opinion if you pay by card or digitally, the receipt should be digital. If you pay cash, I guess you might need a paper receipt, but it should be optional to receive the receipt. I think the pos industry is outdated.
Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
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Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#2It is optional in most places in the US. They normally ask if you want the receipt. Lots of people say no. I only say yes when I need to report expenses.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#3It's to make sure the cashier rings up the sale and isn't stealing from his employer.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#4 > If you pay cash, I guess you might need a paper receipt, but it should be optional to receive the receipt.
This is how it is in most places in India. Even the card machines will ask if you want to print a customer receipt. Most people say no.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#5It is optional in most places in the US. They normally ask if you want the receipt. Lots of people say no. I only say yes when I need to report expenses.
It is not really optional, it is always printed I think, and just thrown out by the cashier if you say you don't want it. If you do self checkout in my experience it's always printed. I think maybe gas stations are the only place where it asks you if you want a receipt.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#6Over here in the UK it is optional in many places. Most self service checkouts will ask you whether you want a receipt when you're done, and most cashiers will ask the same.
So for the most part it is optional. Only encountered one shop in the last few years that always printed the receipt out.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#7CVS will email you a receipt.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#8It is optional in most places in the US. They normally ask if you want the receipt. Lots of people say no. I only say yes when I need to report expenses.
It is not really optional, it is always printed I think, and just thrown out by the cashier if you say you don't want it. If you do self checkout in my experience it's always printed. I think maybe gas stations are the only place where it asks you if you want a receipt.
It depends on the place. I know a couple of small, independent cafe/takeouts that don't print it and don't even ask you if you want one. They'll give you one if you ask. (One doesn't even give you a paper bill, it's displayed on a tablet at the cashier.)
Come to think of it, 7-Eleven is the same way, you have to ask for one.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#9It's not a huge waste of paper. It costs far less than a penny to produce that amount of paper. It's a fraction of the credit card processing fee and this way less information about customers or purchases is shared between entities.
Re: Ask HN: Why do we still use paper receipts?
#10A: it’s simple and easy.