It's a measure that doesn't please everyone. Automatically printed in-store receipts will disappear in 2023. Objective? To combat waste. Initially announced in France for January 1, 2023, the end of systematically printed sales receipts was postponed three times before finally coming into force on August 1, 2023.
"This postponement in no way calls into question the merits of this common-sense measure, which will be implemented," the office of Olivia Grégoire, Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Trade, told AFP, adding that "the sales receipt is a landmark for many French people, and we felt it was important to keep this landmark" at a time of peak inflation.
As a reminder, this ban on the automatic printing of in-store receipts is of concern to several consumer protection associations, including Familles Rurales andUFC-Que Choisir. On April 19, 2022, UFC-Que Choisir published a press release warning of the risks associated with this measure. According to the 12 consumer associations behind the statement, this decision could result in " depriving consumers of a real choice, and consequently of their rights ". According to them, " consumers would only be informed, via a display at the checkout, that if they wished to obtain a ticket, they would have to expressly request one ".
The associations also explain that this " measure paves the way for a forced dematerialization of the ticket", and would be "likely to facilitate, via marketing techniques, the creation of databases by retailers, and in particular to lead to the rise of intrusive or unwanted advertising ".
In this press release,UFC Que Choisir and the 11 other associations also point out that the sales receipt is " indispensable proof of purchase for legal or commercial guarantees, or for reimbursement in the event of a food product recall, or even to exchange an item of clothing ". With the abolition of the automatic in-store receipt, this " proof of purchase " will disappear.
Finally, the associations point out that the " ticket also makes it possible to verify the accuracy of the transaction amount ", a precaution that is all the more important at a time when the risk of contactless payment scams is growing.
