Charged short when buying something: How many of you actually bring it up?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

What if it's a big Co-operative like Calgary Co-op, a government run crown corp?

Sorry to go off topic, but Calgary Co-Op is a government crown corp? Or am I reading that wrong?

[FireFly]

If I notice at the cashier, I'll say, Woohoo! On sale! Score! I don't think any cashier has ever corrected that assumption.

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I'm curious how you know it wasn't on sale and just priced wrong?

I never say anything when I am undercharged because you just never know what the price is suppose to be. Someone could have forgotten to change it on the shelf. However I do say something if they forget to scan something because then it can be considered stealing.

Well it was tagged $30 but was only charged $20 for it. When she said the total, I thought I heard wrong but until I saw the receipt...I then was happy and left the store.

[stang]

How about this?

I bought an air compressor at sears, its was regularly like $289 but it was on sale for $149 AND it came with bonus Air tools. This paticular one had the ground prong broke off on it for some reason when I opened it, (after the sale ended by this point) so I called down and talked to the manager becuase I couldnt find my reciept for it, and she said to just bring a copy of your M/C bill to show the cashier as it was just going to be an exchange anyways.

So I took it down (Without the bonus airtools) and went to get an exchange. After a couple minutes of looking they told me they were all out of that paticular compressor so they would give me my money back. I had spent a bit there so my M/C showed over $400 from there, and I told her I got it on sale from the week before. She scanned it and gave me back $289, cause thats what the price was this week.

I them went back and bought a good one the next time they were on sale.

[keenan87]

I was at Burger-King the other day and the lady totally forgot to ask for my money..As I started to walk away with my food and she started to attend another customer, I just bursted out laughing and she noticed what she had done.

Another time..while I was waiting for my order at McDonalds, one of their scratch 3 "alike" to win cards were lying around and I won 50 bucks.

Nothing else really..but I think it all depends on the situation and how much it is

[JustAnotherGuy]

I always bring it up. Just seems proper.

I did have one time when I tried to give it back but the cashier didn't agree with me. After trying to tell her three times that she is giving me too much change she started getting pissed at me. So I said the heck with it and took it.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by MissKat

......

Another time, few years back I was exiting the mall and this dude walking ahead of me drops a $20 bill when reaching into his pant pocket. As I get close to the bill, I picked it up off the floor and put it in my pocket and scoot off to my car.

MissKat, that is awful.

[Berger_4_]

If it's at a bar (like Cowboy's or whatever...you know, a big club where drinks are stupid expensive) I won't say anything. If it's in a pub then for sure.

Generally, I'll bring it up but if it's a big company I would lean more towards not saying anything. If it's at a restaurant though, I'll always bring it up since I'd hate to have to pay shortages if I was working there for 15 bucks an hour.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Yes, always.

I was under-charged by about $40 when buying something for the lady friend. I informed the girl, and she was grateful. I'd hate to think that SHE'D have to answer for the missing cash and have it come out of her cheque. I expected to pay the $40 anyways.

Just last week, someone hit my fiance's car in the parking lot and caused $4k worth of damage. He was nice enough to leave his name and number. I wish the best karma in the world on that man. Otherwise, we'd be 4k short on our wedding in Sept.

Even though they're two completely unrelated events, having your outlook on life makes society better as a whole. If more people believed in the old saying of what goes around comes around, there'd be a lot less misery in the world.
I'm trying not to look down my nose at people who would keep the cash, I just don't understand why anyone would want to knowingly take advantage of another person's mistake. I mean, it's one thing to notice that something is obviously under priced and to legitimately purchase it, but IMO it's quite another to take too much change from a cashier or waitress. I dunno. I really hate to sound judgemental on this topic (as most of you know I'm out of the closet judgemental on many other topics) but it just seems a bit low to take advantage of people that way. Especially when you know that at the end of the shift the person is going to be on the hook for it.
But to each his own. It's not like I'd stop being friends with one of my buddies if he came out of a store giggling that he received too much change. But I'd probably give him a mini guilt trip that the cashier is likely going to have to pay for it herself.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by 4X4

...the cashier is likely going to have to pay for it herself.

This keeps getting repeated, but is it true?

In the handful of jobs I've had where I handle money, only one (vendor at the Stampede) required me to correct shortages out of pocket.

[alltherage]

I was about to post about how cool it was that the most people chose option 1. Then I realised that over 60% said never or only at mom and pop shops. Dispicable, CP!!!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Gozer

This keeps getting repeated, but is it true?

In the handful of jobs I've had where I handle money, only one (vendor at the Stampede) required me to correct shortages out of pocket.

It's true in most places. Waitresses almost always, most stores. I worked at the gas station at Co-op back in high school ans when working the till, if you were short you didn't have to pay, but you sure looked either stupid or guilty if your till was short at the end of the shift.
At least twice that I remember a customer corrected me. Both times I was just distracted with heavy thoughts (probably about something like a fight with the woman or whatever). Having my ass saved like that sure got me honest in a hurry. I really don't care whether anyone believes me but I would never keep extra money that a cashier or waitress gives me. It's happened a few times and the thanks and relief on the face of the person that made the mistake makes giving the cash back worthwhile.
Sometimes it makes my day to make someone else's. That way I can justify being a total road rager.

[The Yen Man]

Just think of this as justification:

It's not really like stealing. It's more like you found something but that person who lost it didn't realize it was lost until it was too late. So it's fair game.

Ah, who am I kidding. Yes, we're filthy thieves.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by fotze

exactly the same type of rationale the board members of the companies use when approving marketing campaigns. You feel you have moral high ground on them and I feel I have it on you,?bottom line it's all a bunch of people stealing with no real impacts. It's really harmless and we home lying to ourself skills.

Actually the rationale board members use is, "we better do this or another company will and take away from our profits." I'm not saying it's not stealing, it might be but that's just semantics. I just don't feel any moral obligation to point out the mistake. Although, I have always pointed out the mistake in the past and don't even remember the last time it happened.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Gozer

This keeps getting repeated, but is it true?

In the handful of jobs I've had where I handle money, only one (vendor at the Stampede) required me to correct shortages out of pocket.

In some cases it's true and in others it's not. Just like some places are franchise owned by small business owners that are integral members of the community, whereas other places are "Big Bad Corporate" owned locations operating under the same banner.

All this crap about feeling justified for stealing extra change usually requires a few due dilligence questions of the cashier to be sure to even execute the 'rule of thumb' accurrately. Isn't it just better to be an honest person?

[Russic]

I'm in the "never" camp. I won't sit here and argue that I do it for any particular reason beyond simple greed. Perhaps it has something to do with my underlying belief that karma is largely a joke, or perhaps I'm just a dick. In my eyes both are true.