Councilman Wants To Mandate Convenience Store Receipts
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Should receipts for purchases at convenience stores be mandatory? A Philadelphia City Councilman says yes, and he is now proposing exactly that.
"Just give them a receipt when you have a purchase."
City Councilman Curtis Jones is frustrated that not all convenience stores readily offer receipts. Some, he believes, are hoping to keep cash transactions off the records.
Jones says the benefits of mandatory purchase receipts are twofold: they hinder any tax-dodging efforts by convenience stores that deal mainly in cash, and they make sure customers don't have problems with exchanges.
"It'll document and memorialize the amount of receipts going through some of these small stores. And it will assure consumers (of) their ability to exchange goods in a reputable way, so it doesn't create conflict."
Jones says mandatory receipts would also hinder minors who are trying to buy tobacco products.
"Not allowing minors to purchase things like cigarettes and blunts, because it shows up on a receipt."
When asked if City Council has the power to require receipts at convenience stores, Jones said it does because of the city-specific sales tax.
"We can ask for receipts based on the fact that we levy taxes against those receipts."
Jones admitted that question could be debated, though, when the measure is heard in committee. No date for that yet.
