Why do they stamp my receipt?

[zhouhana]

Hi guys!

This might be a dumb question: A few days ago when I was leaving the supermarket there was a staff member manually putting a stamp on everyone's receipts. I remember seeing this once before at another supermarket, too. Why do they do that? Is it because some people make copies of their receipts to try to get money back twice?

[skylee]

The words are not clear but it seems to be a sort of reminder - to remind clients that they have to present the receipt for return / exchange of goods etc.

[yialanliu]

Typically, in China anything official requries a stamp.

A real receipt in China is always stamped. Or else it is a "小票" and not a real receipt. For tax purposes(deductions for instance) you need the receipt whereas the 小票 is not valid.

It's just a requirement so that's why. Also, in China, people are not required to give you a receipt, only a 小票. Because of this, you must also ask for a receipt if you are looking to get reimbursement when doing business.

This is a good question to ask by the way.

[zhouhana]

Thanks, skylee and yialanliu. I knew about the stamp fetish, but not that a receipt isn't "real" without a stamp on it. Good to know! Rather than having a person manually stamp every receipt they should do like Gome and other chains who use pre-stamped printing paper for their receipts, though. But I guess this is a way for someone to have a job.

[xiaocai]

I don't think this is the case. Many supermarkets do not stamp in China. All it says on this stamp is that please keep the receipt and bring it back if you wish to exchange any item. Please, do not make up stories if you are not sure. Normally the one needs official stamp is 发票 for 报销.

[liuzhou]

It's just something to give two or three of the 300 staff who normally stand around doing nothing other than blocking the aisles the chance to feel useful for a few minutes.

Zilch to do with receipts or refunds.

Ask the staff why they do it. They don't know. Ask the management. They don't know. They do it because they do it. Because another supermarket did it before. Because it's China.

And it's fun for them to see if you can find the till receipt. I mean, standing around all day doing nothing for minimum wages needs a bit of a diversion.

A Trip to the Supermarket 2004

[yialanliu]

I don't think it is a case. Many supermarkets do not stamp in China. All it says on this stamp is that please keep the receipt and bring it back if you wish to exchange any item. Please, do not make up stories if you are not sure. Normally the one needs official stamp is 发票 for 报销.

I don't know why you claim I make stuff up but I was not.

1) Good luck trying to get it approved through the 税务局 with an unstamped 小票

2) Receipts are supposed to be stamped. Either printed receipts(those are stamped prior to printing) Or denominated receipts(10,50,100,1000 RMB and more denominations used in some provinces especially for food and hotels)

3) One of the best way to know if you have a real receipt especially when you go to a restaurant is to see if there's an "award area" Typically, real receipts have an award area to make people get them as without it, many companies evade taxes and what not. However, these receipts are often pre taxed so companies don't like to give them unless you ask. The governement is really trying to get people to use them. It's also a good way to get some free money as you can win. I won 50RMB once from the scratch off of a receipt.

4) An unstamped receipt should not be able to be reimbursed from any major corporation. This is the policy of both the government and subsequently companies. For instance, at my company, meals can be reimbursed if you attach a real receipt. Also, you can use meal receipts to equal out forgotten reimbursements. Because often times you forget or they just can't really provide you with an adequate receipt.

[Redfirefox Wallenberg]

Hi,

the stamp says:once you want to return the goods or anything is wrong with the goods, you take this receipt to prove all the goods are bought in this supermarket, not another. so they need to stamp it.

[liuzhou]

the stamp says:once you want to return the goods or anything is wrong with the goods, you take this receipt to prove all the goods are bought in this supermarket, not another. so they need to stamp it.

No. That doesn't work. The till receipt clearly states which supermarket issued it. Stamping it adds nothing. Neither a stamped or unstamped till slip prove that I bought the particular goods in that supermarket. If I was bored enough, I could go to supermarket A, buy something and get the receipt. Then buy the same goods in super market B also with receipt. Then return the goods bought in B to A, showing A's receipts. How will they know whether I did or didn't buy the goods there?

In fact, only some supermarkets stamp the till receipts; some do always and some do if the mood takes them. It is a nonsense.

@yialanliu

The OP was asking about the till receipts handed to everyone at the checkout, which the door staff like to stamp. These are not official tax receipts and the stamp means nothing. Official tax receipts, which is what you seem to be referring to, are something else. The few people who need official receipts for supermarket purchases have to go to the information desk in most supermarkets to be issued with an official receipt.

[Redfirefox Wallenberg]

well, this is really a question, next time i go shopping i would ask the guy that stamps on my receipt.

[yialanliu]

My bad, didn't see the attached thumb as closely.

Yea, that stamp wasn't the stamp I thought it was.

If it was stamped as you left, then it's the equivalent of the Costco mark as you left the warehouse where it just means that they looked at your caught and don't suspect that you were stealing anything as you left.

If it was stamped any other time, I don't know then.

[大肚男]

liuzhoy, I loved you blog entry. I was laughing like an idiot in my.company's bathroom

[msittig]

My guess is that it's a loss prevention strategy (ie for deterring/catching shoplifters). Metro, a big-box supermarket in Shanghai, prints directly onto official fapiao paper with a pre-printed tax stamp, but still stamps the paper on your way out.

[zhouhana]

Thanks everyone for your input. Seems to me like liuzhou hit the nail on the head.

@yialanliu: I sometimes get what I believe to be a lottery ticket with my receipt at restaurants (without having to ask for either). I've been wondering about that as well. Do you mean the lottery ticket thing is a way to encourage people to ask for the receipt?

[imron]

Yep, because that way there is an official paper trail that the restaurant has to pay taxes on.

[zhouhana]

I see. One less question mark! Thanks, imron.

[liuwtt789]

I think u r right,unlike other countries use signatures to prove statement,nearly all of Chinese companies or governments use stamps to prove their statments or receipts ,regularly they should stamp for every recepit, however sometimes they dont due to lazyness or too busy.Its not a big deal with supermaket receipts,but becareful with big malls receipts and official documents they all should have stamps no special cases.Hope it would helpful.