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In the not too distant past, some brick and mortar stores started asking not just if you wanted you receipt with you or in the bag, but also if you instead wanted it sent to you via email. This can be good, or bad. Which side are you on?
The Case For Having your receipt emailed to you: The less paper and other materials I need to strip away from my purchases the better. Between the tag, extra buttons, any sizing stickers, and other plastic dohickeys, the deconstruction process of your new shirt can be as awkward as your first trip from first to second base. (Stupid. Damn. Hooks.) The last thing I want is to file a mile long paper receipt. And by the way, a note to retailers: If I buy a just single pair of socks, I’d rather not walk out of your store hauling something that could double for the Magna Carta.
The Case Against Email Receipts: They ask to email you your receipt because they want you on their mailing list. That, and as little as it costs to print out a receipt, that’s still paper and ink the retailer doesn’t have to buy. So don’t think they’re doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Most of our in-boxes are littered with order confirmations, shipping notifications, and receipts from online purchases. Paper receipts from brick and mortar stores are oddly nostalgic. You buy the thing, and here’s your ticket that shows you own it. Besides, not all of us have smart phones that we can easily call up our e-receipt on (does that even count?) so that requires us to print out the thing if we need to return something. And that’s a real quick way to blow through expensive toner.
Have you noticed this change? Did you opt for the email receipt the first time around? And if you did, have you gone back to the old fashioned paper and ink receipt? Leave your vote in the comments below.
