WWYD - Cashier goofed

[mjkacmom]

I'm not holier than though but I am honest. I would absolutely contact the store asap and see how they wanted to rectify the situation.

One time I was leaving the grocery store at night and thought I may have scraped the car next to me a tiny bit while I was pulling out. I wasn't 100% sure though. I pulled back in and sat in my car for 45 minutes waiting for the person to come out so he or she could tell me if the scrape marks were already on their car or if I had done it. The person didn't come out and I had to leave. I then left a note on their car.

They called me that night and said that they didn't see any damage that wasn't already there.

I also had my car door blow open one time into a parked car. I left a note on their car, they called and I gave them my info and I paid them for the damage. Even if it costs me money, I'd rather do the right thing.

But these things were your fault - I also hit a parked car, left a note, and wrote them a check for $850. But why should the OP have to give up her time and gas, because the cashier made a mistake? If I felt that badly, I'd call, and offer to hand them a check when they arrived at my home.

 

[nathalee81]

But these things were your fault - I also hit a parked car, left a note, and wrote them a check for $850. But why should the OP have to give up her time and gas, because the cashier made a mistake? If I felt that badly, I'd call, and offer to hand them a check when they arrived at my home.

I like this idea!

 

[Scurvy]

Why is it holier than thou to do the right thing?

Maybe because it's easier for people who wouldn't pay for the item to insult the people who feel they are doing the right thing than it is for them to accept they might be doing the wrong thing.

This has only happened to me once, the last time I went on an exercise kick. I was buying lots of exercise clothes and they were all separates, but the cashier apparently assumed that one outfit actually came together and only charged me for the top and not the pants. I took them back and paid for them because I would have felt bad about it if I hadn't. I would have felt like I was stealing if I knowingly kept something without paying for it. Usually I watch the total as the cashier is ringing everything up, so this sort of thing wouldn't usually happen simply because I point out anything they missed (or overcharge me for) before I pay. In stores where I can't watch the total, I always check my receipt as I'm going back to my car so I won't get home and then notice a mistake.

 

[N&B'smom]

But these things were your fault - I also hit a parked car, left a note, and wrote them a check for $850. But why should the OP have to give up her time and gas, because the cashier made a mistake? If I felt that badly, I'd call, and offer to hand them a check when they arrived at my home.

True, but no matter what the situation I would fix it, my fault or not. If I had this happen I would definitely take care of paying for the item. It's the right thing to do.

Ironically, one time I had the opposite happen. I paid for everything but the goof that worked at our local Old Navy left out 6 items. I didn't notice until I got home, called them and had to go back the next day. They had actually put away everything so we had to go around the store with the receipt/barcode numbers to find everything. This was definitely the fault of the employee, she was so freaked out by the spider costume I bought my dog that she made a huge scene. She claimed she couldn't even touch it. She had to have another employee come over and help her put the items in the bags because she was just SO scared of it. (DRAMA QUEEN!)

 

[Art 1]

Shouldn't even be a question of what one should do.

 

[katesorad]

Do the right thing. You'll feel better in the long run. I found $10 cash outside the bank the other day. It was with a receipt for an ethnic food store and probably the person couldn't afford to lose it. I turned it in to the bank. Will it ever get to the real owner? I doubt it, but I feel better anyway.

Oh yeah, I asked the two people near by and outside the bank if it was their money, no one claimed it. So, I wasn't the only honest person there that day.

I just saw this, and I figured I should probably point out that nobody should even HAVE to "afford" losing any money, even if they "can" afford it!

Also, I shop at ethnic food stores all the time, and while dropping $10 might make me very sad when I realized it and couldn't find it, I don't think it would ruin my life. I shop at ethnic food stores because they have ingredients that I can't get anywhere else! And, a lot of those items certainly aren't cheap! I had to buy white soy sauce for a fancy Japanese recipe.. I nearly fainted when I saw the price!


Oh, and edit in this: My 2 cents on what I'd do in OP's situation.. I'd give the store a call and let them know what happened. I'd ask what would be the best way to go about getting the money for that item to them. Since gas prices in my area are through the roof, I'd see if I could possibly give them my credit card # over the phone, or send a check in the mail, or just pay for it the next time that I was in the store. Sure, the idea of getting something for free is somewhat exciting and scandalous in this situation.. but even though it's not directly stealing, it still isn't being honest, in my opinion! And who knows.. maybe the manager will just tell you to not worry about it! If that happened, I'd say "spread the wealth!", and donate the money to an organization that the company supports.. or one that is close to your heart

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I would love to return the item but the fact is I would be afraid that I would be accused of stealing the items in the first place.

That is not going to happen.

I don't think anyone mentioned this.

what about the cashier IF you return it?

I know she made a mistake, but what if it gets pretty detrimental to her if she is called up on it?
reprimand? fired? (you never know now adays)

I just might be more worried about what the repercussions would be , rather than return it. I dunno, feel guilty,,(?) donate somethng , somewhere.

it was not like leaving something IN the cart & you just forgot to put it on the check out, you said she missed it.
but OTOH I guess you could go back & TELL them it was your fault it was under your coat or something, ahh but then the checkout person is supposed to make certain nothing is IN the cart.

(did you see some stores have scanners at the floor area, so they will catch stuff that is on the bottom of the carts & forgot to put it up?)

I don't see why you would even feel compelled to tell them which cashier it was.

Shouldn't even be a question of what one should do.

No kidding.
I'm kinda floored right now.

 

[shortbun]

I'd call the store.

This is exactly what I would do. I'd let THEM tell me not to come back. Or-I'd get there in the next few days to say-'you didn't charge me for an item and I'm here to pay.' You should not feel compelled to run right back but in some way you should make it right.

 

[nathalee81]

That is not going to happen.



I don't see why you would even feel compelled to tell them which cashier it was.



No kidding.
I'm kinda floored right now.

Not that I think the cashier would get into trouble, I really don't think that will happen, but if you present your receipt to the customer service desk they will know who the cashier is. And, the times I have brought items back to pay for they always ask for my receipt to ensure I wasn't charged (I guess cause they think I am lying -I don't know why).

 

[Anna_Marie]

I would not drive right back to pay for it, but I would definitly call the store and let the manager know. As someone else said, you could pay by phone, or do it the next time you were in that area.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I'd go back to the store, go to the same cashier directly and pay for the item. I wouldn't tell the manager in case the cashier would get a scolding. But I'd feel guilty keeping something that cost $25. If it were a $1 head of lettuce, I'd just forget about it and hope the cashier overcharged someone else by mistake to make up the difference!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We checked out at Kmart one time and realized we weren't charged for our Tide as soon as we got out of the store--not $25, but probably $8-10, it was a large bottle. I took it to the customer service desk and showed them my receipt and they said that since we had gotten out of the store, it was their fault not ours. I didn't agree, but she wouldn't ring it back up.

In the OP situation, I would call the store and speak with the manager.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

This happened to me once - a cashier at Lowes rang me up for 2 individual boxes of Christmas lights instead of 2 cases of Christmas lights a few years ago. I was undercharged by about $50. The store was about 30 minutes from my home. I never even considered going back and asking to correct the charge.

 

[paintnolish]

I'd tell the cashier no matter what price the item was if I caught it during checkout. If I was home wit ha free pack of gum, no I wouldn't do anything about it. But, if the item were expensive, I would call. I wouldn't make a special trip, but maybe I would suggest I pay next time or give my CC over the phone.

 

[midori sweet]

Let me preface this with the fact that I totally believe in karma. If I find money, I try to find out who it belongs to. If I am undercharged for an item, I point out the mistake. I have found a couple of wallets before, and it never crossed my mind for a second not to turn them in. Once I had to contact the person, and I dropped it off at her home.

However, my time is also precious to me. If I wasn't charged for the item, because I never took it out of the cart, I'd be going back. But if it was her mistake, I'm not going to spend close to an hour giving them money (with the round-trip drive, plus the CS line).

I pretty much agree with this.

I am very into keeping up the good karma, also. If I noticed at the checkout that I wasn't charged for something, or have been given too much money in change, I would surely point those things out.

However, I also agree that I am generally not going to invest tons of time on correcting someone else's mistake. I wouldn't spend the time or gas on an hour's drive just to take care of this.

I would call the manager and explain the situation. I would give them the option of charging my credit card over the phone, or bringing the item by to settle up the bill the next time I was in the area.

 

[npmommie]

OP what did you end up doing about it?