Can a retail employer make you provide your own supplies?

I would think the employer would provide the tools needed to do the job.

We were provided one. Has she lost the one she started with and needs to pay for a replacement? 

Not retail, but I have a friend that works in the restaurant business and needed a box opener and she had to purchase her own.

When I waited tables, I had to provide my own waiter's corkscrew and pens for customers to use. I had a lot of pens stolen from me by customers, who probably thought the restaurant had paid for them.

I just learned this about a year ago. I was astonished when the waitress made sure she had her pen back and said it was the only one she had left for the night as she had several taken and hadn't brought more with her.  Never dreamed a restaurant made their staff supply the pens. I understand is a weeeeee way, in that they might not be as responsible making sure they get them back and may loose more, but one can buy cheap Stic Bics for a little of nothing when bought in bulk. Probably not a huge expense overall for a restaurant.

You can no longer claim unreimbursed job-related expenses on your taxes. Thanks, Trump!

I wound up getting a set of fairly heavy weight pens from Sam's or Costco and used those for my customers. They were maybe a buck each, so not cheap, but also not super pricey. I actually wound up getting better tips, as I think it enhanced the dining experience (upscale independent restaurant owned by a James Beard award winning chef). I also never had any of those pens stolen, as I guess people realized they didn't belong to them. The problem with a cheapo pen is customers often think it is their pen. 🤷‍♀️

I purchased my own box cutter with retractable blade when I worked retail because I got tired of having to waste time tracking down a mangled and dull knife in the storeroom. I kept mine in my pocket. So it was a matter of personal preference.

I can see that your way would work. I too think it is all about making the customer aware it's not their pen. My cheapy Bics had a rough spot from the engraving which would make them look at it. They said things like Mine, Poison Pen, Don't Even. They would always giggle and give my pen back. Several wanted to know where I got them and one lady asked to buy one. I gave it to her.

I had to always supply my own pens as a waitress.. never thought about it really.

The box opener though, I would think that is a huge liability for the company. When I worked at my grocery store, they provided special box openers so that they couldn't take you hand out. They had to check them in/out.

I was astounded when I found out that cutters at Hancocks provided their own scissors. The ones I talked to though preferred it as anything provided by the store would be duller than a butter knife.

The thing with box cutters is there are good ones and there are not so good ones. Plus, the blade would get dull fast and need replacing yet if it was the store's cutter, no one would take responsibility for it. Then there is the issue of the box cutter accidentally going home in someone's pocket and then never making it back. I'm sure that would happen very often.

Of course they could do what my school did about staplers and tape dispensers. We had to check them out at the beginning of the year and then check them back in at the end of the school year. I always tried to get mine as early as possible to be sure and get a decent set.

I worked at Petsmart for a brief time and they provided the utility knives/box cutters. I had to buy my own khaki pants and approved shoes and they provided the shirts.

So what happens if she shows up to work without box cutters? I'm curious.