Posted on 12/21/2010 8:13:48 AM PST by Tazzo
When I got home, I noticed that the receipt showed that the cashier had only charged me for one of the sets. I did not notice if she put both under the scanner so I don't know if it is a misread or an error on the part of the cashier.
There was a woman in front of me who caused her nearly a half hour of grief over coupons and sale prices, so she was a little distracted when she got to me. I don't want her to lose her job, but I feel the need to call and tell them that I was not charged for all my items.
It is only a $20 DVD but I feel a twinge on honesty. I would love to have the opinion of your readers.
There have been quite a few times in my life that I went back and did the right thing. I remember that those times happened, but I don’t really remember them individually.
There was also a day that I kept what wasn’t mine, allowing the clerk to face the music on their own at the end of the day. The details of that one are still stuck in my craw 30 years later.
People aren’t looking at the big picture. The problem is that cashier’s # is on that receipt. She could very well lose her job for not charging you. If you feel you should return the money send a $20 bill in a blank envelope. This way you’ve attoned and the checker still has her job.
Look at all the creepy comments at the site justifying stealing. “it’s a write off”
The website should be called “The gravy sucking pig”
I had the opposite experience at Walmart. I didn't notice I was a bag short until the next day. I went back to Walmart and they told me to go to the Customer Service desk where people go to make returns, exchanges, etc. and they had my bag sitting there waiting for me.
There are various theories on the origin of the nickname "Honest Abe." When Abraham Lincoln was working as a clerk in a store in New Salem, he once took 6 1/4 cents too much from a customer. That night when the store closed, he walked three miles to return the woman's money. Another time a customer who asked for 1/2 pound of tea was mistakenly given only 1/4 pound because Lincoln had absent-mindedly left a 1/4 weight on the scales. Very early in the morning, when he discovered the mistake, he walked a long way to give the customer the right amount of tea.
It is a shame that people aren't taught our heritage in school and that Sunday school was obviously not a major part of this person's upbringing.
I’ve always pointed out items that weren’t charged. I’ve also walked back into stores to pay for things on the bottom rack of my cart or that I stupidly stuck in my pocket out of absent mindedness. I’ve never had a moments regret about that. Nor have I ever felt compelled to write someone for advice about whether I had done the right thing. Whether gains are ill gotten isn’t determined by the victims status, but by the gainer’s intent.
Having said that, I’m not Abraham Lincoln. If I drive 10 miles for something and find that they have made a $2 error to my favor when I get home, I’m not going to spend an hour and $3 in gas to get it back to them. I consider that a business mistake on their part that I’m not obligated to lose money on. And believe me, you can’t just give them $2 the next time you are there. They won’t take it. But if its an uncharged item, you can have them ring it up for you next time.
I once discovered that I had failed to leave a tip for a substantial bill (did the math wrong), and did call the next day to ensure the waiter got the intended tip, but that was 100% my fault and a substantial issue of net profit for the waiter.
It’s your karma. Pay now or pay later.
It’s your karma. Pay now or pay later.
I went to the full article and read the comments. There’s a pretty sorry bunch over there. I think the guy posted the question looking for validation to keep something he hasn’t paid for, and he got about 30% in favor of doing just that.
I’d say there’s an obligation to speak up if you catch it at the store. But after you’re home and if it is entirely the store’s error, the time and expense of going back to the store and straightening it out would far outway any $20 ‘owed’—and so would not reasonably be expected.
Thanks for pointing out the “replies” on the Consumerist site. Those replies were my reason for the original post. I really didn’t anticipate any support for stealing from freepers.
Ah, I see you made essentially the same point ahead of me.
Wow. Just Wow.
Must be a liberal.
There was a cool article in our paper yesterday about someone who found $2000 worth of savings bond at a recycle plant... the person spent hours of their own time tracking down the heirs and gave the bonds to them. Some of the comments were unbelievable! Most congratulated the person for being a good citizen, but some just couldn’t understand why he didn’t keep the money (couldn’t have cashed them in anyway with someone elses name on them) or take the reward... one person suggesting keeping the money, investing it, then giving the rightful heir the original amount and keeping the profit... they thought they could invest it better than the heir! They must work for the government! :)
Some of us have that instinct. When mistakes are made and we are aware of it, we correct it. There is a judgment from these “special” times.
Shoplift from them. They have a goofy mascot. They deserve it.
You would think that you would get a clue and make sure YOURSELF that you had all of your bags.
No excuse to steal.
I just had something like this happen to me at Walmart. I only had about 7 items but one item was $5.99 but they were only charging me $8.00 plus. I knew the amount was wrong & asked if they were sure they counted everything. Found out it should have been $13.00 plus. Everyone makes mistakes but why should the clerks pay for them if its an honest mistake. If I owe it I pay for it & consider it a plus in my book of my life.
Yesterday I purchased a few items from a grocery store. The total was $2.17. I gave the guy 2 dollar bills, one nickel and 12 pennies. The kid stood there counted the change over and over. Finally he said, “I keep feeling like I need to recount this.”
I said “It’s a nickel and 12 pennies.”
A light bulb went off and he said, “Oh, yeah.”
When we were dating my wife came out of a store with a potted plant and was bragging that she wasn’t charged for it. I told her if she didn’t go back in and pay for it the plant would die. She laughed. Two days later all the leaves fell off. True story. This was before she got saved. Now she always goes back in or checks at the register. As do I.
Believe in God. Or believe in karma. Either way your future will be brighter if you’re honest.
We have become a nation of “gimme gimme gimme” and “I hate people I think have more than me”
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