A recent confrontation at a Melbourne Coles supermarket here shows a problem. The Coles staff were suspicious and demanded proof of purchase for the customer's items. The customer said she had brought it into Aldi, did not have a receipt, and refused. There was nothing the Coles staff could do. This highlights critical compliance challenges facing Australian retailers.
Legal Framework
Mandatory Requirements
Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), your business must:
- Automatically issue receipts** for transactions ≥$75 (excluding GST)
- Provide receipts within 7 days** for purchases under $75 upon request
However, the client does not need to take or keep them, and most customers do not.
Here is the problem: You cannot legally demand receipts from competitors to validate the goods in the customer's possession.
Conclusion
Your point of sale system can tell you whether you recently sold these items. Our labels will show if the goods came from your shop, and cameras might show what the customers had before entering the shop. However, all this might not be enough.
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
