Undercharged at the store. What do you do?

[roliepolieoliefan]

In my college days, I worked at a gas station, when a customer gave me 2 bills stuck together, I never returned it. Morally wrong, you bet. But I was a poor girl in college and that extra money meant a night out or a new pair of shoes.

Fast forward until the here and now. A couple months ago I was leaving Sams. Someone bought a gigoonda pack of toilet tissue. Put it on the bottom rack of the cart and must have loaded up the car, put the cart back and drove away. I so thought about taking that toilet tissue. If I didn't someone else would. I returned it to the store.

Yesterday I was in Wal- Mart and gave the cashier 2 bills stuck together even after recounting it 3 times. She counted it and handed me a 20 back.

Thank goodness she's more honest than I was in college.

 

[Cindy B]

I was undercharged an entire Wii last November.

Picture this: Wii opening day frist release day at Best Buy. DH and DS were camping out. It's chaos.

We bought two Wii's, two sets of nunchucks and controllers, three games and more accessories. We also had some Best Buy coupons--some American Express prepaid cards (DH gets them as rewards at work) and other things.

Because of the coupons, the pre paid cards --they are very tricky to key in correctly--, the multitude of accessories,==the cashier never charged DH for the Wii. Because of all the extra steps, the manager was helping the cashier ring all of DH's stuff up. Remember the store is crazy busy it is full of Wii people.

We got to the car--DH looks at the receipt. He notices that all the accessories with the coupons/prepaid cards were charged but not the Wii unit. He actually laid all the items in his trunk to match the receipt.

Of course, all things went through our mind. Wii--such a hot item, I can sell this for anything since it was free! Or I can donate it/put it up for auction for kids school/charity. These thoughts were only about a few seconds.

So all four of us go back in the store (remember DH and DS were up all night!) with the receipt and all the stuff. The security guard sees us and we tell them what is going on. Quickly a manager shows up-- the same manager that rang us up. He looks at the stuff, and the receipt--and us, very suprised that we came back in.

We paid for our 2nd Wii with a good conscious.

 

[daughtersrus]

Uh, I was confused because here daycare children can't leave the daycare without written consent of the parents PER TRIP.

I'd personally be pretty irritated if a daycare person took my kid to a supermarket without me knowing it-- much less to buy 6 cases of beer.

Let me clarify.

In my state, you do not need a per trip permission slip. All of my parents signed consent forms (issued by the state). The permission forms include "child pick", "trips, excursions, and public facilities", "emergency care", "administer patent medication", and "administer prescription medication".

I am up front with all of me parents and they know that I will take the children to the store, park, library.... As a matter of fact, there are many times when a parent will call me and ask that I pick something up for them if I'm going out.

The only reason that I brought that tidbit into the conversation was because I was a little distracted at the register because I was paying attention to them and not watching what I was being charged.

 

[daughtersrus]

What's confusing to me is that you didn't even realize you were undercharged right away.

I'm sorry, but if I knew I had $60 worth of beer to pay for and the total didn't hit at least $60 red flags would go up in my brain right away. This was not a $2 or $3 mistake.

.

Had I paid cash or check I'm sure that I would have. I used my debit card, punched in my pin and left. I didn't even look at the receipt until I pulled it out of my purse a few hours later.

 

[daughtersrus]

Am I the only one wondering what kind of beer is on sale for $9.99 a case? That's a good deal!

Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Genuine Draft Lite and Lite. It's a four day sale that ends today.

 

[daughtersrus]

i . As far as stores go they rip off people left and right by advertising one thing and it actually rings up something different.

The funny thing is that last week I was in line at Meijer to return something. The lady in front of me was there for a price adjustment. They had an in-store sale going on for Meijer canned veggies. The sign says 4 for $1.00 but they were ringing up 69 cents each. She bought 48 cans so they owed her $21.12. She told the cashier that they were still in the center isle and still miss marked so that they could correct the computer. The customer service clerk told her not to worry about it. If the customers realize the mistake, they will make the price adjustment.

I suppose that she could have asked to speak to a manager but she may not have had the time to wait.

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm going back to the store today with my receipt to tell them what happened.

While I'm there, I'll probably pick up some shrimp that's on a one day sale. Buy 1 get 2 free!

 

[daughtersrus]

I agree with you, I would not be happy if a daycare worker took my kids out with them to buy beer.

I was at the grocery store to pick up some items that happen to include beer. It's not like I took them to a bar!

I have to laugh because we socialize with many of my daycare families (some I've cared for for over 10 years) and guess who's the only one that doesn't drink? ME!

I bought the beer because it was on sale for a great price and wanted to have extras on hand for the upcoming holiday parties that we will be hosting. As a matter of fact, I told the mom of one of the children that was with me that she could have a case for her son's first birthday party today. She stopped at Meijer on the way home and they were all out of MGD.

 

[Jeanne B]

As far as stores go they rip off people left and right by advertising one thing and it actually rings up something different.

I can't tell you how many times over the years stores have made mistakes on items I purchased that were supposed to be at a reduced price yet they ring up at the original, higher price. It always makes me wonder how many people buy items that are on sale only to be overcharged and not notice because they don't look at their receipt, intentional or not I'm sure it adds up to quite a bit of revenue for the stores.

 

[LanaJae]

I'm going back to the store today with my receipt to tell them what happened.

While I'm there, I'll probably pick up some shrimp that's on a one day sale. Buy 1 get 2 free!

You are a great person for having read all this baloney and are still able to talk about a sale - long live the budget board!

 

[powellrj]

the problem with the beer is that the beer salesman could lose his job because the cashier wasn't doing hers. When they have inventory, if his shrink is too high, he could be kicked out of the store and then lose his job. 5 cases of beer is different than a couple of can goods not being scanned. $50 is a HUGE amount of money to let go compared to .50.

 

[finz2left]

You know, I guess it comes down to this for me: it wasn't hers to give away, and many people's butts are on the line for inventory -- like the manager's and the beer delivery person (as noted above). And, it simply is an ethical issue. If I owned a small mom and pop, I'd be hurt by those kinds of mistakes quite quickly --- so why is it that if a large corporation has grown, we don't realize that those "hurts" add up and the cost just comes back to everyone anyway.

OP, thanks for doing the right thing!!! You rock -- and I commend you for your consideration of the issue! If I sent my kids to a home daycare, it would be because I knew and trusted the person .... and anyone I trust would occassionally buy a beer -- heck, a bottle of tequilla!
Certainly, you weren't drinking it on the job and others need to get a grip. If you don't approve of alcohol, that's fine. But, make sure you are choosing a daycare provider who will never have it in their home. Geesh, imagine a child reaching for milk and seeing Bud -- The HORRORS

 

[Mono~rail]

I'm a scrapbooker, and a few years ago, I was building up my Sissix die collection. I had bought some at Michael's, and I was distracted by my infant twins while I was checking out. The total seemed low, and when I got to the car I looked at the receipt. I realized the cashier had not charged me for 2 of the dies. I put the babies back in the stroller, and I went back in to pay for them.

At first when I realized the mistake, I was like, "Cool! Free sissix dies!" then my conscience kicked in. I was worried about the cashier getting in trouble, but I didn't want a nagging conscience.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

What's confusing to me is that you didn't even realize you were undercharged right away.

I'm sorry, but if I knew I had $60 worth of beer to pay for and the total didn't hit at least $60 red flags would go up in my brain right away. This was not a $2 or $3 mistake.

I don't find it surprising...When I'm shopping with my kids I'm on borrowed time, mere minutes from the next meltdown...I often don't pay too much attention to the total, I just swipe my card and check the receipt when I'm unpacking at home.

 

[mum4jenn]

Once at Christmas I went to Meijer and bought a meat tray and a scrimp tray, got home and couldn't find them anywhere!!! Had to go back and get new ones (they gave them to me since I said they weren't put in my cart) waited in line at Customer Service for 30 min. since it was Christmas Eve day. Got home and FOUND the other two on the table, DD carried them up (she nevers helps with groceries) so it didn't occur to me to ask her. So I had to go back to Meijer and wait in line AGAIN to pay for the second trays that I got!!!! I took in the UPCs so she could charge them out (it took 2 people to fiqure out how to do it). We had double food that year!

What is a scrimp tray???? Did you mean SHRIMP???

 

[mrsklamc]

On another note, I have been stolen from many times from retailers, when I buy an item only to see it go on sale for a large percentage off a few weeks later.

How does the fact that the item went on sale = they stole from you?

 

[runwad]

A little OT but along the same lines. I ordered an insta-bench for my DH's soccer team online. Dang thing costs 100 bucks w/shipping. Its a six seater can hold up to 250# per seat. Well they sent two. I'm thinking crap they charged me twice thinking I wanted two. No checked my charge card, only charged once. DH says keep it we can use it for DS's team. I sit on it a few days then email them because that is just too much money to keep. I emailed them said I got two only ordered one if they'd send me a shipping label I'd send it back to them. Well they call me and ask can they make me a deal and have me pay 40 bucks for it. They don't want to take it back cause of shipping and restocking, blah,blah,blah. I'm like Dude I just spent 100 bucks for one I don't want another. He says well you can sell it to someone for 60 and you'll make money on it. I said if I wanted to make money on it I'd of did that right from the get go and not let you know about it. Well we ended the call with him wanting me to check around to see if anyone would buy it off me for $40. I'm not even going to try to ask anyone when they send me the shipping label I'll send it back, if not I'll keep it with a clear conscience. I really felt like the guy was irritated I didn't just do that anyway instead of bothering him. So sometimes when you try to do the right thing you profit from it anyway

 

[JennsBabySky]

On another note, I have been stolen from many times from retailers, when I buy an item only to see it go on sale for a large percentage off a few weeks later.

Personally, I do not understand this statement. If every store always offered all the items for the lowest price, they would all be out of business. They need to make a profit in order to pay their expenses and employees. Their income needs to come from somewhere! If the stores you shop at are making that much money, I would buy their stock. Then you could share in their profit making.

 

[jamesmommy]

Personally, I do not understand this statement. If every store always offered all the items for the lowest price, they would all be out of business. They need to make a profit in order to pay their expenses and employees. Their income needs to come from somewhere! If the stores you shop at are making that much money, I would buy their stock. Then you could share in their profit making.

Not to mention the fact if it is within a certain time frame, if you return with the receipt, many stores will credit you the difference. Of course, I have only done this a couple of times, since I seem to never be able to find a receipt when I need it.

 

[mickeyfan2]

You did not realize you only paid $10 instead of $60? What else did you buy?

I see you paid by debit and did not look at the total.

While I'm there, I'll probably pick up some shrimp that's on a one day sale. Buy 1 get 2 free!

WOW!!!! I wish we had a store like that around here.