Walmart customer says employee ‘held him hostage’ after paying

A TikTok user went viral after posting an argument with a Walmart employee.

In a video that had more than 31 million views as of Sunday, TikTok user Travis Lee Ragan (@travisleeragan) is shown leaving a Walmart store in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A Walmart employee identified as Chuck allegedly refused to let him leave, even after Travis offered to show Chuck the receipt. claimed to have let go of the

@travisleeragan Powers and Palmer Park Walmart employees are holding me hostage after I pay for my stuff. First they removed the bag and now refuse to let you leave after you pay for the stuff? acted as if #coloradosprings #travislee #hostage situation #walmart #colorado #badservice #customerservice ♬ original sound – Travis Lee

“The Walmart employees at Powers and Palmer Park are holding me hostage after I have paid. Do you refuse to do that?” wrote Ragan in the caption. “The man saw me paying and still acted like I was stealing.”

In a follow-up video, Ragan provided more context for what happened in the video.

Ragan said he purchased “diesel exhaust fluid and four gallons of windshield wiper fluid” from a Walmart location and chose to pay using a cashier-operated checkout in front of Chuck. . Ragan claims he is sure Chuck saw him check out.

Reply to @travisleeragan @hectornavarro121 ♬ Original sound – Travis Lee

All this time, Ragan says he has been on the phone and is about to leave in a hurry. As he leaves, Chuck asks to see the receipt.

“I said to Chuck, ‘Thank you, I don’t have time today,’ and tried to walk past him,” Reagan recalls.

As a Walmart shopper, you don’t actually have to allow receipt inspection.

“You are not legally required to show your receipt to a Walmart clerk when you leave the store,” writes Aisle of Shame. “If you want, you can ignore the greeting and keep walking.

Ragan claims in the original video that Chuck actually violated his rights.

In a follow-up, Ragan says Chuck stood in front of his cart and refused to move him. Ragan then started recording and asked Chuck to get him a manager. Chuck replied that Ragan could get the manager.

“He said, ‘No, get a manager,'” recalls Ragan. “It’s not my job. I don’t know who the manager is. Why am I going to find a manager for you?”

Ragan claims the stalemate lasted for some time, and Chuck allowed others to leave the store without checking receipts during the process — which Ragan alleges is “not correct.”

Ragan then says, “Chuck can’t hold you back.”

The legal truth of this is a little more complicated.

“Under common law, shopkeeper’s privilege refers to the right of a shopkeeper to detain a suspected shoplifter for a period of time. , store owners may do this,” explains Aisle of Shame. I have.”

That said, Walmart and other stores cannot hold shoppers without reason, and there are certain rules that customers must follow in order to be legally bound. Chuck broke a rule he believes Ragan.

While detaining a customer, it states, “They may not use undue force or coercion. Walmart employees are not permitted to coerce you into complying with their demands. If you use force to detain them, you can claim wrongful imprisonment against the store.This is a civil offense.”

It further added, “Retailers must present certain facts. Walmart must present certain facts to support their suspicions or they cannot bind you under the Store Ownership Act.” ” In this case, no specific facts appear to have been presented.

Ultimately, Ragan says his receipt was verified by another employee and he was cleared to leave. He then followed up with the Walmart location, informing him that Chuck had received a “Level Red Warning” but was still allowed to operate the door.

“I didn’t want him to lose his job, but I also didn’t feel like he should work the door where this could happen to someone’s grandma or grandpa, sister, brother or child.” Something really bad could happen from here, I hope it doesn’t.”

Walmart was contacted via a media contact form and Lagan was contacted via direct message on Instagram.