Pros and cons of receiving e-receipts

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - To get a receipt through email or even a text message you have to give out some personal information and how that information is used may surprise you.

The next time you make a purchase, you may be asked whether you want an e-receipt.

They're sent to either an email address or phone number.

Sergey Petrik of Westfield told 22News, "I feel like email is a better idea because you always have it and paper you can lose."

The paperless option is convenient and environmentally friendly, but there are some drawbacks.

Kevin Green of Chicopee told 22News , "no I want a physical receipt because if it's emailed to me, I'm not gonna look at my email all the time and I'm going to delete."

And while the move may save you some space in your wallet by giving out email many of those companies actually sell it meaning more spam in your inbox.

"I absolutely despise that so they have their own account and I had to keep it separate from my own account because I don't want all this junk," Said Dan Sandberg of Greenfield.

The Better Business Bureau has these tips:

• First, talk to the cashier, find out how the business plans to keep your information secure.
• Ask if you can opt out of receiving promotional emails
• Beware of scams. Scammers can pose as retailers or banks with links that contain viruses.
• Also make sure your anti-virus software is up to date.

There are also online companies that will offer to organize and store your digital receipts, be extra careful with these; many require you to give up debit or credit card information.