Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

vox.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 66 posts

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#31

Post by yellow_postit »

kylehotchkiss wrote: post #10

I've wondered for some time why card processors don't have an API to accept receipt data so that they could handle storing receipts along with the transactions. It would be a little less wasteful but also allow some of the newer banks to create some interesting products. Your bank or card issuer already knows which store you visited, when, and where. Knowing what products your purchased doesn't add too much more dime…

Given how much advertising companies would pay for item level data I’m sure someone and the credit card companies is trying to make this a reality.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#34

Post by cyphar »

kalleboo wrote: post #27
ac29 wrote: post #15

I wish we could just get rid of paper receipts by default. At the end of more or less every retail transaction, they kindly hand you a few inches (or feet) of trash, which is a waste. Many places are kind enough to ask if you need the receipt, but it still prints out if you say no - the cashier just throws it directly away for you. I get that some people need or want receipts for various reasons, but judging by the t…

I believe that sometimes there are regulatory requirements to print receipts (as a transaction without a receipt is more likely to be cash-in-pocket tax avoidance). My parents lived in Greece during the financial crisis, and at the time the tax agency would randomly audit people and require them to present 25% of their yearly income in the form of receipts. This was introduced as a way to get consumers to ask vendors…

> I believe that sometimes there are regulatory requirements to print receipts (as a transaction without a receipt is more likely to be cash-in-pocket tax avoidance).

Though it is quite ironic that most original receipts don't last long enough for any audit purposes. In Australia businesses need to keep all receipts for 7 years (and for individuals it's 5 years), for tax audit purposes. But I have yet to encounter a paper receipt which lasts more than 2 years.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#35

Post by yawaw0rht »

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #24
ajxs wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to bash the obvious, but If you're eating McDonalds there are more pressing health concerns than the ink on the fries.

No, there are not. This meme that McDonald's is inherently bad is nothing but elitist signaling and needs to die.

McD's is very low quality nutrition. There is more to nutrition than macronutrients. There are wayyyy better things you can put into your body with better vitamin and mineral absorption and much better for gut health.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#36

Post by fmj »

Animats wrote: post #7

I can live with the long receipts. What I hate is the huge penalty for not having an affinity card. Safeway did that first, then Walgreens and CVS followed. Lucky doesn't do that, and I usually go there.

If the store lets you use your phone number instead of the card try (local area code) 867-5309. Somebody has usually registered it already.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#37

Post by hanniabu »

ajxs wrote: post #12
14 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t stand when I go to Mcdonals and ask to hold the pickle. They print a grill order receipt and tape it to the burger. It is a little receipt that states no pickle. All I can think when I see them is their ink is rubbing off on my fries.

Not to bash the obvious, but If you're eating McDonalds there are more pressing health concerns than the ink on the fries.

This is like saying that since you're eating McDonalds they shouldn't even have to follow health regulations.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#38

Post by zxcmx »

anbop wrote: post #30
ajxs wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to bash the obvious, but If you're eating McDonalds there are more pressing health concerns than the ink on the fries.

Actually of all the restaurants in your vicinity, the McDonalds probably has the highest food safety.

My brother works as a plumber and he’s seen grease traps and “back of house” at a lot of restaurants. On the rare times he eats out, he prefers to eat at big chain fast food stores.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#39

Post by solatic »

ac29 wrote: post #15

I wish we could just get rid of paper receipts by default. At the end of more or less every retail transaction, they kindly hand you a few inches (or feet) of trash, which is a waste. Many places are kind enough to ask if you need the receipt, but it still prints out if you say no - the cashier just throws it directly away for you. I get that some people need or want receipts for various reasons, but judging by the t…

For me, paper receipts are a quick and simple way to verify on-the-spot that the retailer hasn't screwed up the billing. If you're at the supermarket and everything is scanned by barcode, then everything's probably OK. If you're at a random mom-and-pop shop where product numbers and prices are entered into the POS by hand, well, cashiers are human beings, and we all make mistakes sometimes.

It would be nice if I could get an instant notification on my phone whenever my card is charged, itemizing the exact charges being added to my account, but today, that's a pipe-dream. Even then, paper receipts might be better because they keep that higher resolution of purchasing behavior private from my bank.

I'd agree that it would be a waste if I didn't get some kind of value from it. But I do. Whether society in aggregate gets enough of a benefit from it and whether more ecologically-friendly solutions are worth developing is a different question.

Re: Why are CVS receipts so long? (2018)

#40

Post by krapht »

yawaw0rht wrote: post #35
kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there are not. This meme that McDonald's is inherently bad is nothing but elitist signaling and needs to die.

McD's is very low quality nutrition. There is more to nutrition than macronutrients. There are wayyyy better things you can put into your body with better vitamin and mineral absorption and much better for gut health.

Yes, but nobody likes people who tell them sanctimoniously that their dietary/smoking/drinking/non-exercising/chair-sitting habits are wrong.
Post reply on HN