Would you be dishonest?

[LauraLeigh]

If at the store when I noticed, I would have said something..... If at home and the value is low, likely would have just shrugged... Mistakes like that are made the other way as well, where customers overpay, and they get home and notice it don't bother to go back, so in all honestly it likely evens out.....

Unlike some on here (Including a close friend:yikes:.. LOL ... Still luv ya tho ) I don't consider it stealing but an accidental over/underpricing. In fact the stores don't consider that stealing either...

2 real life situations that happened to me:

1) Not that long ago, I made a large purchase at WalMart and paid part Debit, Part Cash... I was at my Car when I noticed I STILL had all my cash... when the cashier was working out how to do it she forgot to take my cash ($50) I went back in, and they audited her till to be sure and it was short... I would not have been able to live with the fact that poor cashier would have been out that much and I KNEW..... The manager on duty was very nice and gave a $25 customer service gift card!!!! It only cost me $25 to do the right thing and I felt great!!

2) Many MANY years ago in Nova Scotia when we were struggling with two babies paycheck to paycheck and buying groceries with a meager budget I went to the ATM to get out my grocery money (I always did this instead of using debit at the till because often... there was less than I though...) and in the tray of the ATM was $300... a FORTUNE to me!!! I held it, sighed and took it to the customer service counter... Just as I was checking out a Mom with a toddler and very pregnant was freaking at the till because she lost her money.... The cashier asked how much and when she took it out and a frantic Mom was reunited with her grocery money... It felt GREAT.....

I guess everyone is different.... LOL

 

[iluvdogs]

To be honest, No..I wouldn't have gone back.

 

[Squishy22]

Interesting thread. Everyone has their 'version' of stealing and when it's okay. If you would return it in front of your children, why wouldn't you when you're alone? What are you afraid they might witness by your example if you didn't return to the store? Is it okay to steal/not pay for an item based on what store the item is from and also what is the monetary limit that would compel a return to the store.

Simply possessing an item that was not paid for is a criminal offense in Canada, if you knew it was stolen. If a cashier is stealing from their employer by giving/not charging for items, and you know, you are risking getting charged just as much as the cashier who is stealing from their employer. An employee is risking jail time as the courts tend to be very harsh with those an employer has placed trust in and has stolen in return - very, very serious. It is not viewed as simple shoplifting.

Not doing a holier than thou thing - like all of you, I too have "well - it depends".

No, I would not hide something like that from my children. In fact, they probably wouldn't even know anyhow. I dont see the point in hiding the fact that someone messed up, so its their loss. I pack a 24 pound baby around all day. I'm not bending over backwards for someone elses f*ck up. I guess we are all raised differently. Yes, returning would be a nice thing to do, but if you do not, then I do not think its that big of a deal, and you certainly should not be held accountable for someone else mistake.

I do not equate something like this as stealing, and I think that law is ridiculous. Tell me how you would prove that someone KNEW they got too much change or they were not charged for something. I NEVER look at my receipts, ever. This is petty.

Theft is when you intentionally take something, in my opinion.

 

[Squishy22]

If at the store when I noticed, I would have said something..... If at home and the value is low, likely would have just shrugged... Mistakes like that are made the other way as well, where customers overpay, and they get home and notice it don't bother to go back, so in all honestly it likely evens out.....

Unlike some on here (Including a close friend:yikes:.. LOL ... Still luv ya tho ) I don't consider it stealing but an accidental over/underpricing. In fact the stores don't consider that stealing either...

2 real life situations that happened to me:

1) Not that long ago, I made a large purchase at WalMart and paid part Debit, Part Cash... I was at my Car when I noticed I STILL had all my cash... when the cashier was working out how to do it she forgot to take my cash ($50) I went back in, and they audited her till to be sure and it was short... I would not have been able to live with the fact that poor cashier would have been out that much and I KNEW..... The manager on duty was very nice and gave a $25 customer service gift card!!!! It only cost me $25 to do the right thing and I felt great!!

2) Many MANY years ago in Nova Scotia when we were struggling with two babies paycheck to paycheck and buying groceries with a meager budget I went to the ATM to get out my grocery money (I always did this instead of using debit at the till because often... there was less than I though...) and in the tray of the ATM was $300... a FORTUNE to me!!! I held it, sighed and took it to the customer service counter... Just as I was checking out a Mom with a toddler and very pregnant was freaking at the till because she lost her money.... The cashier asked how much and when she took it out and a frantic Mom was reunited with her grocery money... It felt GREAT.....

I guess everyone is different.... LOL

I think that second situation is much much different than not being charged for something at walmart that only costs a few bucks. Nobody is going to lose their grocery money over that. Its not "personal".

That first situation is also different. I would have also gone back in. Making a big purchase and realized that I was not even charged for it. Yikes. I think thats different than a candy bar, magazine, or liter box.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

Theft is when you intentionally take something, in my opinion.

Uh.. I always thought theft is when you take something that isn't yours.

 

[Dani]

I've never been in that situation, but most likely I would have gone back. My guilty conscience never cuts me any slack.

 

[Squishy22]

Uh.. I always thought theft is when you take something that isn't yours.

but in this situation, you acquire something that was not payed for due to the employees mistake. Who is at fault here? The employee that didn't properly do their job.

You didnt take something with the intention of not paying for it. Ill intentions.

 

[bubbatd]

I think that we are comparing apples and oranges now . Oddly today something odd happened to me . I just went to the grocery and checked my receipt when I got to the car . I had coupons etc so had over $6 deducted . I shop there on Thursdays because with the store card , seniors get 5% off . I've never seen my senior discount mentioned on tape , so did go back in to see where it's noted . Found out ( since it's new there ) my card didn't pick it up . So I had to fill out a paper stating my age etc for the future . And they gave me $9. :hail: I thought about it all the way home ..... my total came to $60 . How in heck did they come up with $9 !! I should have only gotten $3 back . Well , I'm sure not going back as I'm sure over the last few months , I've lost that much there on Thursdays !! Will see what happens next Thursday !

 

[LauraLeigh]

I think that second situation is much much different than not being charged for something at walmart that only costs a few bucks. Nobody is going to lose their grocery money over that. Its not "personal".

That first situation is also different. I would have also gone back in. Making a big purchase and realized that I was not even charged for it. Yikes. I think thats different than a candy bar, magazine, or liter box.

I fully agree.... as Grammy said apples and oranges I was using the last two incidents as a kind of example that even though I would likely keep a small item I was undercharged/overlooked on if I noticed later on... I ( and many who have said they'd do the same...) am a honest person and do have morals.. LOL

 

[Squishy22]

I fully agree.... as Grammy said apples and oranges I was using the last two incidents as a kind of example that even though I would likely keep a small item I was undercharged/overlooked on if I noticed later on... I ( and many who have said they'd do the same...) am a honest person and do have morals.. LOL

Yes, it depends on the situation. That doesnt mean that you have no morals and do not care about other people.

 

[Whisper]

Even if was the cashier's mistake, if I'm sitting in the parking lot looking at something I know I didn't pay for, to realize that and then drive away, to me that's stealing. JMO, as always.

 

[Island dog]

No, I would not hide something like that from my children. In fact, they probably wouldn't even know anyhow. I dont see the point in hiding the fact that someone messed up, so its their loss. I pack a 24 pound baby around all day. I'm not bending over backwards for someone elses f*ck up. I guess we are all raised differently. Yes, returning would be a nice thing to do, but if you do not, then I do not think its that big of a deal, and you certainly should not be held accountable for someone else mistake.

I do not equate something like this as stealing, and I think that law is ridiculous. Tell me how you would prove that someone KNEW they got too much change or they were not charged for something. I NEVER look at my receipts, ever. This is petty.

Theft is when you intentionally take something, in my opinion.

I was referring to the previous posts where people stated if their children were aware of the $ mistake, they would return to the store to correct it. It was not referring to anyone messing up.

Regarding the bold text. This would apply also to the example of a cashier knowingly undercharging you and you being aware. There have been instances where an employer suspected as much and had video to back up his suspicions. Both the cashier and the friend were charged.

Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

I did answer the charged for 2 instead of one question . And I haven;t gone back because I was either almost home, or already home and didn't feel like going back. Plus, once you are already home, how can they prove they charged you for two and not just one?

If I saw someone drop 10$ on the ground, i would pick it up and give it back to them. I have done it before. But if I just found 10$ on the ground, and no rightful owner around...I would keep it. I dropped a 20$ bill before at Toys R us a few years ago, and never got it back. Made someone happy I'm sure.

I brought those items to the cashier knowing I would be paying for all three items. It wasn't my mistake, and it wasn't me being a THIEF that made her not scan all 3 of them. And honestly, it would have been an inconvenience to me and probably them (Considering they were getting ready to close) to go back inside and pay for the two cat boxes. Doesn't mean I don't have morals, and I AM an honest person. I have never stolen anything in my entire life. And I still don't consider this stealing! They won't notice the two litter boxes were missing. And like I said, If I would have noticed in the store I would have told her she forgot to ring them up.

 

[Southpaw]

I guess another question is, would you go back in if they hadn't charged you for something that was kinda expensive? What's considered expensive is different for everybody but I'm thinking somewhere around $20+, something a little more substantial than $3 or $4.

At the beginning of summer when my mom was buying all her flowers, she bought 4 plants that were $24 each. She only got charged for one of them. Don't ask me -how-, but my mom didn't even realize it until she had gotten home. She had planned on calling the place or going back or whatever, but she never did.

I gotta say in that situation I would have been honest about it, to me there's a difference between getting away with a couple bucks, and getting away with $70.

 

[ACooper]

I gotta say in that situation I would have been honest about it, to me there's a difference between getting away with a couple bucks, and getting away with $70.

Why? Stealing is only stealing if it's a large enough amount?

I must point out that "a large enough amount" is going to vary person by person. To some people, dropping 70$ on a tip at a restaurant is chump change.........nothing at all, and to others, that would be grocery money for a WEEK.
.

 

[Jules]

To me, the amount is important. We are talking about noticing the honest mistake after the fact. I don't know how your Walmart is, but ours is always crowded. If I see that the cashier forgot to scan something that's a couple bucks, I wonder how much worth my time is for going back... battling the cashier, who mostly doesn't care anyways. I work, I go to school, I have things to do.

Yes, I have noticed small mistakes before, where I was overcharged by a dollar or two... so I guess that'll even it out.

To me, stealing is when I deliberately go out and take something without paying- the situation in the OP sounds like an honest mistake.

Now, if I notice that the cashier gave me $50 change too much, yes I will go back. It will screw up his/her drawer and I don't want to screw anyone over.

 

[~Jessie~]

To me, the amount is important. We are talking about noticing the honest mistake after the fact. I don't know how your Walmart is, but ours is always crowded. If I see that the cashier forgot to scan something that's a couple bucks, I wonder how much worth my time is for going back... battling the cashier, who mostly doesn't care anyways. I work, I go to school, I have things to do.

Yes, I have noticed small mistakes before, where I was overcharged by a dollar or two... so I guess that'll even it out.

To me, stealing is when I deliberately go out and take something without paying- the situation in the OP sounds like an honest mistake.

Now, if I notice that the cashier gave me $50 change too much, yes I will go back. It will screw up his/her drawer and I don't want to screw anyone over.

I feel the same way.

There have been plenty of times where I've been overcharged by a few bucks, and it's not worth my time to go back inside and wait in line to get my money back.

I've never had a substantially priced item ring up wrong, but I've had smaller things that were forgotten about (like items less than $5). If I don't catch it until I'm in the car/home, I don't go back to the store to say anything.

If I was in a similar situation as the OP, I probably wouldn't have gone back inside either. It's their mistake, not mine, and my time is more valuable. The cashier could've gotten in trouble for ringing it up wrong, and they'd realize she made a mistake once it was brought to their attention.

 

[bubbatd]

^^^^ my thought too on the cashier part .

 

[Dizzy]

You reckon they'd come running out to find you if you over paid???

hahahahaha.

Ha.

Cold day in hell.

 

[Squishy22]

To me, the amount is important. We are talking about noticing the honest mistake after the fact. I don't know how your Walmart is, but ours is always crowded. If I see that the cashier forgot to scan something that's a couple bucks, I wonder how much worth my time is for going back... battling the cashier, who mostly doesn't care anyways. I work, I go to school, I have things to do.

Yes, I have noticed small mistakes before, where I was overcharged by a dollar or two... so I guess that'll even it out.

To me, stealing is when I deliberately go out and take something without paying- the situation in the OP sounds like an honest mistake.

Now, if I notice that the cashier gave me $50 change too much, yes I will go back. It will screw up his/her drawer and I don't want to screw anyone over.

This is exactly how I feel about the situation. A few bucks is nothing compared to 70 or even 20. I've worked as a cashier before. I would get hell for missing 20 bucks out of the register, but a few bucks? Not so much.