Why Are We Now Always Asked If We Want Our Receipts?

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I'm gonna go all conspiracy theory on you. And it might be based in absolutely nothing, but let's give it a go.

All through the Christmas season and into today (the day after Christmas), every clerk at every store where I've done business has asked me the same thing...

Would you like your receipt?

I know this isn't the most recent phenomenon in the world (if you even want to call it a "phenomenon").

But now that it happens during EVERY visit to a retail establishment, I have to wonder why?

Time was, the receipt would come out of the cash register and the clerk would immediately hand it to you or drop it in your bag.

Recently, and I can't remember when so I can't link it here, unfortunately, I saw a post on social media that said we should ALWAYS take our receipts. A reason was given, but I can't remember it now and it didn't make a whole lot of sense.

But, that aside, my latent penchant for conspiracy theories makes me wonder why we are now always asked if we want our receipts.

Does anyone know why this is the case now?

Should I stop being suspicious?

Are we moving toward NOT getting receipts at all? (I have them emailed to me when the possibility arises.)

I know it's not that big a deal, but when someone or some people or, perhaps, the entire retail world does one thing for so long then changes, I get curious.

Happy New Year.