Keeping receipts from fading

[Deactivated] on 03/04/2011 - 23:35

Any tips on keeping receipts from fading. This can be a problem especially for items with extended warranty.

I recently bought an Xbox arcade console from Big W. As the console didn't fit in a bag and I walked out with the receipt in hand some sweat went on the receipt and faded out some of the ink. I went back and was told as long as the numerical code could be read and entered into the system I'd be fine. Thing is there is a faded line down the middle where the printer didn't print it out properly. This might assist in fading out a didgit.

I went into the store for a re-issue and they said they don't re-issue receipts. I tried explaining that these consoles have 3 year warranties and asked to speak to a manager. Instead the lady spoke to the manager and again repeated no, we don't re-issue receipts. As long as the numerical code on the receipt was legible I'd be fine.

Some stores seem to be notorious for having poor quality paper and ink or just don't bother re-stocking when ink is low. MSY and JB Hifi are two I can think of. Apparently keeping receipts in plastic is bad as it assists in rubbing off the ink. I usually fold my receipts over and over and put them in a bag or box.

General Discussion

Comments

  • issh on 03/04/2011 - 23:41
    +4

    Tips:

    Do not keep in plastic
    Do not keep in heat

    Once you get home, photocopy it(i know jbhifi accepts photocopied receipts, they were the ones who told me to do it)

    • perkinma on 04/04/2011 - 10:32
      +2

      Bunnings are the same - on big price purchases they tell you to photocopy or photograph the receipt as soon as you get home. In hot, humid climates they will fade extraordinarily fast.

    • msmhw on 12/08/2013 - 12:23

      one extra tip
      try to scan them when you got home and organize them in a folder with names and dates
      and it will be great if you can upload them in the cloud like dropbox in case something happen to your laptop

      this what I do and I know OW and HN accept that

      • _Bruce_ on 12/08/2013 - 12:47

        Uploading all your receipts to a service like drop box without locally encrypting them first is asking for trouble, just FYI.

        • davidl2 on 21/08/2013 - 22:26
          +1

          why is that? it doesn't have full credit card details, doesn't have full name(some does), doesn't have full address(some does), but what's the problem like having $199.99 receipt for a console bought from JB Hi-Fi?

  • qazwsx on 03/04/2011 - 23:45
    +1

    Photocopies of receipts for warranty purposes are fine.
    Having worked in a retailer, we would photocopy the receipt given by the customer and send that to the repair centre for warranty claims. Original would go back to customer.

  • Jabba the Hutt on 04/04/2011 - 00:21

    As long as the receipts sit flat (i.e. you don't get a lot of curly receipts) it's quicker and less wasteful to snap them with a camera. Allows for higher quality copies and better searchability to boot.

  • JY1 on 04/04/2011 - 01:53
    +1

    You can try put some clear tape on the receipt. I always put clear tape on the label underneath my laptop to prevent the windows os product code from fading.

    • llama on 04/04/2011 - 10:14
      +2

      Clear tape is DEFINITELY NOT the go… it makes thermal transfer printing (almost all cash registers) vanish within a week or two.

      I know this because at work we muct tape our expenses receipts to paper to submit them, and I haven't been paid for ones where the tape has made the price disappear.

      • alebox on 04/04/2011 - 10:27
        +1

        yep. used to work at target. all the places where customers stick tape stuff are completely gone even if the rest of the receipt is fine

      • perkinma on 04/04/2011 - 10:30
        +1

        Yep, 100% agree was going to say the same thing. I used to process expense claims and I always had to repeatedly hammer home the point not to use tape, always use staples to attach them to the expense claim. Something to do with the acid in the sticky.

        • llama on 04/04/2011 - 13:34

          Do you reckon it's the acid? I know that they fade under sunlight, but I couldn't believe how fast the printing disappears under clear tape!

        • perkinma on 04/04/2011 - 22:20

          @llama - Yep, at least I think so. Many (but not necessarily all) sticky tapes contain a plasticizer which (according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer) "are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length"

          From the Koehler Paper Group (http://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/service/faq.php): "Why do thermal paper receipts fade over time?
          The image which develops on thermal paper is produced by a chemical reaction between color-forming substances and color developers. This chemical reaction can undo itself over time, since the dyes tend to revert to their original state – white, that is. Plasticizers, oils, sunlight and liquids can speed up this process."

      • moooooooo on 14/04/2011 - 18:21

        Your accounts department has certainly worked out quite the money saving idea for the company there!

        1. You must tape your receipts.
        2. You will not be reimbursed where your receipt has faded due to the use of tape.

        Brilliant!

  • Davo1111 on 04/04/2011 - 02:05
    +2

    scan them straight away.

    out of sunlight etc

  • pauly on 04/04/2011 - 02:05
    +2

    I went into the store for a re-issue and they said they don't re-issue receipts.

    If I recently got a console and Big W refuse to reprint a receipt, I'd just get a refund and re-purchase it.

    As for keeping receipts safe, I'd go with issh's advice. Personally, I keep all my warranty receipts in a filing organizer.

    • Trance N Dance on 04/04/2011 - 07:05
      +1

      Re-purchase it… that would mean NEW WARRANTY!!! :D

  • scrimshaw on 04/04/2011 - 03:30

    Stores cannot reprint receipts but you can get them to resell it back to you again to generate a new receipt.

    • Tal_Shiar on 04/04/2011 - 05:32

      there would be a reason why they dont reprint receipts, to say they cannot is just not the truth

      • [Deactivated] on 04/04/2011 - 07:39
        +1

        Very simple as they issue a refund based on the receipt. if they have two, then some clever person steals a duplicate item and gets a refund on one or both.

        • Hellfire on 04/04/2011 - 10:18

          It would be very simple to just forge a duplicate receipt yourself if you wanted to scam a company.

          The problem is usually it is very time consuming to locate a receipt and/or front line staff do not have the permission on the POS to do so.

        • perkinma on 04/04/2011 - 10:27

          Surely you couldn't get a refund on both, that their system would register the fact that a refund on that particular receipt number or ID had already been issued? Or am I putting way too much faith in 'the system'?

          Still would leave the possibility of 'steal a second one and return it and keep the new one' - I guess a way of laundering stolen goods - but would need to steal one in very good condition or else store won't accept the return with significant signs of use and in any case you could do this with a single receipt anyway, don't need two receipts.

          Besides if you take in the faded receipt and explain the fact that it is faded they should be able to take the faded one from you and replace it with a non-faded one and then you only ever have one receipt in your possession.

  • perkinma on 04/04/2011 - 10:42

    From the National Archives of Australia: http://www.naa.gov.au/records-management/secure-and-store/ph…

    "If, for whatever reason, an original thermal paper needs to be retained, a copy should be made as a back-up, in case the original becomes illegible. The paper should then be stored in optimum environmental conditions, ie not exceeding 20°C or 50 per cent relative humidity. Extremes of temperature and humidity can cause rapid deterioration of the image. Avoid prolonged exposure to light as this can also speed up the deterioration of the image. To avoid the possible danger of thermal copies affecting other papers stored adjacent, thermal copies should be filed separately from other paper records."

    Note that they also say that even with optimum storage and handling conditions thermal papers can be expected to display significant fading in as little as five years.

  • hindes83 on 04/04/2011 - 13:35

    i bring a separate wallet for receipts.. it keeps them straight and wrinkle free long enough for me to get home and have it scanned.. plus while it's still in my bag the wallet protects it from getting wet etc…

    • lazed on 05/04/2011 - 19:28
      +4

      What the heck?

  • Lenneth on 04/04/2011 - 22:53

    I thought the reason why receipts fade so easily is because stores WANT this to happen so that you can't bug them with warranty claims and to make you buy more stuff. :o

  • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2011 - 01:04

    Thanks for all the responses.

    My console purchase might be outside of the return period, would be nice to return it in 2 years 364 days. I will give it another go and photocopy the receipt.

  • leafie116 on 06/04/2011 - 20:21

    photocopy it a few times!
    When I bought my GHD & GPS thats what the sales assistant suggested.

  • inherentchoice on 07/04/2011 - 01:50

    I've been storing most receipts in the original box/packaging and they don't seem to have faded too badly. It's also kind of logical for when I need to find them later on. I also keep scanned copies on my computer which I can print/email as needed.

  • issh on 08/04/2011 - 17:09
    +1

    Whirlpool: Best way to store receipts

    some trolls there

    • A Banana4scale on 14/04/2011 - 22:57

      qw12 Is that you Issh?

    • chansthename on 22/04/2011 - 18:01

      I read the first sentence and thought that's genius. What I thought was that you meant uploading the receipt to whirlpool (ozbargain works just as well) and if you ever need it just find that post again :)

      • issh on 22/04/2011 - 18:04

        haha lol
        i get it!

  • grog on 18/09/2012 - 16:33

    Take it to work.

    Photocopy it using the bosses photocopier and paper

    Scan it at home [or work]

    Email the scan to your yahoo, hotmail and Gmail accounts.

    Put the original in an old envelope with the details/date shop/item etc written on the envelope

    easy!

  • dealman on 31/03/2013 - 20:36
    +4

    Email yourself to Gmail with a Special label"Receipts" and archive it,

    At the end of the year you can use the same to filter by date and you have all the current financial year claims.

  • Geewhizz on 01/04/2013 - 07:39
    +2

    We recently had to return an item to Bunnings under replacement warranty. Although we'd scanned the receipt they wanted the original as well as the printout, and was told, "even if it is blank."

    We've taken to storing copies of our receipts in an online file - makes them easy to find, and saves having a growing pile of photocopies.

    • marquise on 06/04/2013 - 20:17
      +2

      Man I hope that was just one employee's interpretation of the process and not mandated by the company. There's no way I'm going to find the correct receipt if it is blank. And it sure puts a dampener on those trying to unclutter their houses.

      I've taken to using Evernote on my phone to take a photo of select receipts and just quickly typing the store and item for quick retrieval.

    • perkinma on 07/04/2013 - 19:06
      +1

      My approach - if they want to pull this kind of bs - is to stand in the front of the checkout queue and call the ACCC from your mobile and lodge the complaint right in front of them. If you don't have the number handy, take the time to look it up while standing there and make sure you let the sales person know in a calm but well-audible-to-casual-listener voice what you are doing.

      While you're on hold to the ACCC (takes a while, make sure you block the queue while you're at it) you can throw in a few clearly audible comments so all nearby shoppers can hear about how Bunnings are discriminating against pensioners / the poor / people in regional and remote area's because they would be unable to get their receipts into appropriate storage conditions and can't afford expensive photocopiers / scanners etc etc, you get the picture I am sure.

      I bet you would get the warranty replacement pretty quickly….

      By the way - you don't even need a copy of the receipt, you just need to be able to prove that you purchased that product from the store so bank statements, credit card statements and EFTPOS receipts can even count. The Chaser boys covered this just a week or two ago on their new show "The Checkout", a great watch for all.

      • tonka on 08/04/2013 - 06:53

        I tried this at Bunnings once, the store manager had never heard of ACCC and told me they weren't subject to Australian Consumer Law and the consumer guarantees, only store policy. I was stunned to hear that from the Manager of such a large store. Escalated and sorted in the end.

      • padfoot07 on 19/04/2013 - 17:48

        I agree about calling the ACCC, but it seems a bit rude to the other customers and the person working on the checkout. The customers just want to buy their items and leave, not be held up by you.

        I'd suggest moving to the side, calling the ACCC after letting the manager know what you're about to do. That way you don't hold up everyone else's day.

  • jonno82 on 26/04/2013 - 00:42

    Scan your receipts straightaway then save in your dropbox folders, then it will be accessible anywhere anytime

  • rocketron on 12/08/2013 - 10:33

    There is a iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad solution for fading receipts and to organise valuable receipts forever!

    Its called My eVault and has just been released on the iTunes store this year.

    At the time of purchase, photograph the receipt, warranty and the item you have purchased and add the purchase date, seller and price you paid for it.

    My eVault allows you to keep a personal inventory of those valuable items so should you ever lose them or you need to claim warranty, all that information is available at your fingertips.

    This should resolve problems of fading, lost or piles of unfiled receipts!

    Website: www.myevault.com.au

    Download from iTunes now for FREE to try it out and pay $6.49 as an in app purchase for unlimited registration and reporting of those valuable items:
    https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/my-evault/id580424919?mt=8

    • _Bruce_ on 12/08/2013 - 12:48

      I really wouldn't trust a service like this will all of this personal information.

      • rocketron on 12/08/2013 - 15:08

        To address security concerns:

        1. The latest iOS devices have hardware and software data encryption - users simply have to enable the password security on their device to activate this -this is advised when signing up to use the app. We have checked with a mobile repairer and the iOS devices are virtually impossible to hack data assuming security has been setup in the first place as advised.

        2. The app has a patent pending security passcode entry to access the application. This is a mandatory setup for users so its virtually impossible to get to the data

        3. the app has a timeout function so if you dont use the app for 2 minutes it self locks and you need to enter the security passcode for the app to get back in

        4. The app has a quick lock and logout function so you can protect data immediately

        5. iOS devices have remote wipe security functionality so should you lose the phone you can wipe everything on your phone remotely

        6. There are plenty of apps with no security passcode entry or timeout feature e.g diaries, notebook apps and other inventory apps -this is where this application stands out in front ahead of the others for peace of mind and security.

        Hope that helps.

        • _Bruce_ on 12/08/2013 - 17:54

          You missed the point by a mile. To use this app you are entrusting the author of the app with all of your data. It doesn't matter how good the security of the app is - the creators can still get everything. And store it. Forever. Until the next script kiddie breaks their servers of course (unless the data is just sold for profit).

  • unity1 on 25/08/2013 - 13:26

    I always used to curse the old HN dot matrix printed receipts. They took ages to print, they were large and they were ugly but at least they never faded.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2013 - 14:50

    Just right down the important details on the back of the receipt or the box i.e. Receipt number, date, place, name, etc.

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