Here's the scenario: You come home from the store and are unloading your purchases. You look at the receipt and realize that you've been charged twice for an item. Upon furthur inspection, you also realize that you were not charged for another item. The difference between what the item you were charged twice for and the item you weren't charged for is about $10. Thinking back, you realize that the cashier had both items in his hand when he was scanning them and never bothered to check the prices as he was ringing things up.

Would you take the item back to the store or forget about it, rationalizing that it was their mistake?

By Monicamomof3 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 12:26 pm:

If I were owed $10, I would take it back at my earliest convenience. But, I wouldn't load the kids up and all that drama for $10! LOL! Then again, maybe it's just because I am 8 weeks away from baby #4! UGH!

If you are going to, I wouldn't wait too long.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 12:30 pm:

Hmmmmmmmmmm my honest side says to bring your receipt back and point it out.

But at our local Winn Dixie, they are SO bad about this, they screw things up all the time, then you get home and there's a bag of groceries missing, or they've somehow added someone else's stuff to yours.

I have to admit, they've made errors in the past in *my* favor and I haven't said anything about it, though it was nowhere near close to $10. And to offset those *positive* errors, they've also made a bunch of errors in THEIR favor, which I also didn't do anything about either. And I've gotten a number of items there that spoiled within 24 hours.

So.....it's your call. How honest are you feeling today?

By Nicki on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 12:41 pm:

Well....being honest, ditto Karen.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 02:04 pm:

I wouldn't worry about it personally. If I was still there and noticed the mistake, I would have gone back in and told them, but if I was home no way. That's just the way it goes sometimes...does that make me a terrible person? I've purchased things before that never got put into my bag, realized it when I got home, and never went back for them. It goes both ways. Sometimes they get a little more of your $ and sometimes you get a little more of theirs.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 03:36 pm:

I wouldn't worry about it. I can't tell you how many times I bought something that was supposed to be on sale, and I didn't get the sale price for it. Or how about taking something back that you bought a week or two ago, and because you can no longer find the receipt and it "magically was on sale" you only get partial credit for it. You did your part. You gave them your items to scan. They gave you a total. You paid them what they told you to. Their mistake shouldn't be your inconvenience.

I bought a Furby for Christmas for my son. A couple of weeks later I found the exact color he really wanted, so I took my receipt (big mistake) and exchanged it. Since it was on sale when I bought it the first time, and not when I wanted to exchange it, I had to PAY THEM an extra couple of dollars simply to exchange the exact same item. If I hadn't had the receipt, I wouldn't have had to pay the difference.

Sorry, off subject. But point is, I think we've all been burned enough by the big guys that if we are on the receiving end once in awhile, then hurray for us!!!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 04:00 pm:

In whose favor is the error? That's my first question.

Second, if the error is in their favor and you want to do something about it, I would call immediately and tell them about it - but I'll bet they won't believe you.

One lesson learned here is to watch the screen as things are rung up (where that is possible - some stores have their screens set up so you can't see them), and check your receipt before you leave the counter area.

I know what you are talking about, Adena. Used to be you could walk in with the unwrapped item in your hand and your receipt, speak briefly with a clerk, and just literally exchange it. But now you have to return the first item, and then buy the second item. But, if it were me (and I don't have small children with me when I'm shopping), I'd ask to see a manager and explain that I want to make an exchange because they didn't have the desired color in stock when they had the sale, so I feel I should get the sale price on the same item in the desired color.

By Missbookworm on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:07 pm:

Here if a mistake is made like that, where they've charged you full price for something on sale or rang it up wrong...I can't remember all the details and you point it out to them then you get your whole grocery bill for free.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 06:30 pm:

I would make them aware of the mistake, no matter who is owed the money. I just feel it is so dishonest not to and part of the reason we pay such high prices. My dh on the other hand wouldn't say a word & gets mad when I do.

By Sunny on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 07:02 pm:

I appreciate your answers.

This happened at a nationally known department store and it is in my favor. I had my youngest with me as usual. I do try to follow along with the prices as the items are scanned, but can't always divide my attention between my kids and the cashier. I trust that everything is correct when I leave the store. It's usually when I get home that I have a chance to look at the receipt and that's when I would notice any mistakes.

I do consider myself a pretty honest person and called their customer service to tell them what happened. They told me I should bring the receipt and the item back in and they would fix it. They also told me it didn't have to be today. When I got off the phone, I got the impression they thought it was an overcharge and they owed me money, hence the "no rush" attitude. I couldn't get back there today and am not sure about tomorrow since I already have a lot planned, so as you can see, I still haven't made up my mind what I'm going to do!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 08:55 pm:

Sunny, I don't know how old your kids are, but if any of them are old enough to hear you say "tell the truth" and "be honest", and "that's not yours, put it back" - if you go back to the store and have your kids see you hand the $10 back to the store because it is theirs and not yours, you will be a powerful model to them for honesty and fairness.

By Conni on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:30 am:

Sunny, stick the rcpt in your wallet and the *next* time you go shopping there take care of it then. You dont have to rush back or make a special trip. I walked out with a toy one time that I didnt realize Blake had and we just paid for it the next time we went shopping (a week later). I took it in with the tags on it and explained. I think it cost me $1.97 snd the lady was laughing at me for paying for it. She kept saying, how MANY people wouldnt have been so honest. LOL

I also do this when they have overcharged me. I will just hang on to the recp't and handle it the next time I am in shopping.