#3 (3 of 9 for June 9, 2000)

Disappearing ink on receipts

Computer Stores, Other

From: Charles Halvorsen Email User

Date: Thursday, June 08, 2000 10:30 AM

Sent To: Email User,Email User

6/8/2000 10:30:52 AM

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I have noticed a trend with receipts from certain stores. The ink tends to begin disappearing within a few weeks after the purchase was made -- and it seems to disappear more quickly and more thoroughly if receipt is exposed to heat, such as heat from being in a closed car or even body heat if the receipt is kept in a wallet for some time. TARGET, Office Depot, Radio Shack, and BEST BUY are among stores that use cash registers that print "disappearing ink" receipts. (To their credit, Office Depot and Radio Shack were nice enough to offer e-mail addresses for this complaint. Target and Best Buy insisted on online complaints being individually Web-posted at their Web sites.) It should go without saying that receipts are something that some of us take seriously as records of purchases that contain important information, including model numbers and part numbers, in addition to the basic information. I posted this under "Computer Stores" since hardware and software purchases seem to generate the most important receipts for me -- but many general discount and department stores use the same kind of paper and toner for receipts. A rep at Target says they are aware and are addressing the problem. Are any other stores addressing this problem?