'IT WASN'T A FLYING CARPET' | Mandurah shopper baffled after Carpet Call demands driver's licence for over the counter cash purchase

Cheryl Bateman shared her experience in a Mandurah community group post, saying the request caught her completely off guard and left her questioning whether the demand was even legitimate.

"I bought a rug from Carpet Call and the sales assistant asked me for my drivers licence," she wrote.

"I told him I was paying cash and he insisted that it was required for identification purposes!"

"I told him that I didn't have it on me so he continued with the sale. I find this requirement most unusual, has anyone experienced this as it's all new to me."

The post drew a flood of responses from fellow Mandurah locals, most of them incredulous.

Lorraine Kember delivered what was widely regarded as the comment of the day.

"Should have told him it wasn't a flying carpet so you don't need a license," she quipped.

Leon Peridot joined in the humour, adding: "She may look Persian."

But beneath the one-liners, the post quickly struck a more serious nerve with the community.

Pete Miller didn't mince words: "No way. I'd tell him to p*ss off and ask for his."

Amanda Stoneham urged Cheryl to take the matter further.

"Tell management Cheryl. A licence is NOT needed for the sale of a rug at all!" she wrote.

Others saw the request as part of a broader creeping trend.

"Sounds like we are being made ready for digital ID. Nothing can be done without ID," Neil A McAllister wrote.

Keith Lupton called the practice an "invasion of privacy big time," while Mark Lefanue urged Cheryl to report the incident to Consumer Protection, arguing it went against civil liberties.

Several commenters were simply bewildered, asking what possible reason there could be for a retailer to require identification from a paying customer.

Jason Higgins summed up the general mood: "What reason would they want that? Very weird."

Carpet Call has been contacted for comment.