I shop several Wal-mart's in the Atlanta, GA. market almost weekly. I usually go in and out through the garden shop, as this is usually the fastest moving register. As we all know, the greeters only speak to you if you are brining back merchandise, and unless I have been purchasing electronics, they do not stop me to look at my receipts.

Except at the Wal-mart in Duluth, Ga. Here they stop all customers leaving the garden shop and want to check receipts. By law, a customer does not have to show anything, unless the retailer wants to arrest them and charge them with shoplifting. As such I do not stop and show my receipt.

I asked one of the customer (non)service managers about this, and she attempted to tell me they check receipts at all entrances, which is not the case as I stood to observe how many customers were stopped. When that did not work, she attempted to tell me it was due to the fact the store had been designated as a high shortage store. Sounds like they might want to put more associates on the floor to watch customers.

Instead, they invite the cutomer into the store and then as you leave through the garden shop basically tell you we know you are a theift. This particular Wal-mart is heavily shopped by numerous minority customers, and it surprises me, one of them has not made this an issue. With the negative press Wal-mart continues to get on employee relations, foreign merchandise, etc.

I cannot understand how, again according to the (non)customer service manager is a corporate policy. I shop 2 other Wal-marts in the Atlanta market monthly and have never been stopped for a receipt. I guess the Duluth, Ga. store wants you to come in, spend your money and as you leave let them tell you they do not trust you in the store. This seems like being invited to someone's home and then searched upon leaving.

I plan to phone the corporate office and voice this complaint.