WWYD: Free Item at Checkout
So here’s the deal: the other day Rob and I were at a major discount store, which shall remain nameless. The harried lady scanning our items at the checkout lane did not seem to have complete control of the scanner, so in rapid succession she scanned a corkboard/whiteboard combo; a wall clock; a shelving unit; a lamp; a matching lampshade; the lampshade again; a laundry hamper; the lid to the laundry hamper; and other sundries. (Exciting night out for the Jersey boys, eh?)
As some point, the checkout lady realized her error, and asked for the lampshade again. She rescanned it, taking it off the total bill. But that seems to have gone through twice, as well. So she rescanned it, then unscanned it, then rescanned it. Quite honestly, I lost track. It was actually difficult to keep from laughing.
We paid up and went on our way. As we headed out the door, Rob said “What happened back there?” And I said, “I don’t know. Maybe we got that lampshade for free!” But it was dark and we couldn’t see the receipt, and frankly, we weren’t about to go back in that store and deal with customer service.
When we got home, we did look at the receipt. Sure enough, three scans in, and three scans out. We got that $5.97 lampshade for free.
Now, you could argue that we earned it, suffering through that process. You could also argue that, out of a total bill of $150 in household goods, $5.97 is neither here nor there.
You could also argue that it’s just plain old stealing.
It reminds me of the Monopoly game, and one of the Community Chest cards is “Bank Error in Your Favor: collect $10!” Does anyone actually get a pious look on his or her face, turn to the banker and say “No, I’m sorry, I can’t accept that, it wouldn’t be right” … really?
Of course life isn’t a game. And we didn’t pay for that lampshade. What would you do?
In that situation, once home, I would just keep the lampshade, no big deal. Had I noticed this issue at the store, I would have prompted a sales clerk to ring up the item for me. I figure it balances out with the instances where I’m overcharged and I decided making a fuss is too much work. Like the two line items for my one bag of brussels sprouts and the mysterious (unpurchased) bunched spinach line item I noticed on last night’s grocery bill when I was recording items in my price book.
I don’t feel that keeping the item out of some corporation “payback” is justifiable – just that, based on your particular situation, I’d just call it even at that point. I have returned to a store days later to pay for an item that I took home by mistake. Recently it was in the middle of the holiday rush at the checkout counter and I’d been holding all my items in my hand. It seems that in the rush to manage payment and get out of the way for the next person, I’d overlooked a small rubber stamp that got tucked away with my wallet. Since I was heading near the store a few days later, i just took it with me, explained the situation to the clerk (who looked utterly confused about the entire process) and went home.
Guess the longwinded difference in the recent situation and the one you listed also considers the responsibility of the oversight – the lampshade falls under employee error whereas the stamp was clearly a mistake on my part. Not sure how relevant that is, but something else I’d prolly think about before making another trip to the store.
I would keep it, as you didn’t steal it on purpose (or even by mistake), it was an error on behalf of the store. If you feel like you should really do something, you could send an email to the store website and ask them what they want you to do… but what do you think they would say? Also, its only a $6 lampshade – your time to go back, explain the situation, and return it is probably worth more than $6, so the store is actually costing you money (under the time is money theory) because of their error. It would be different if you noticed it at the store, or if it were a more expensive item, but I think you’re in the clear.
I’d keep the receipt in my wallet and try to remember to settle up next time I was at that store. I’m guessing that if you spent $150 there, you like that place and will be returning.
Keep it! No brainer. It was unintentional, it’s only six bucks. You spent enough time waiting for them to try to get it right. Don’t sweat it! If I were the store, and you came back to pay for it after all that, I’d say, “That’s very nice, but please don’t worry about it.”
Ooh, tough one. I’d love to say that I’d go back and pay for it, but the one time that I actually did that, the customer service rep was so confused that they ended up calling security, and it appeared to other customers that I had been stealing. When the entire thing was sorted out, the guards, employees, and even other customers looked at me like I was nuts for coming back and trying to pay for something, when they had better things to do.
It would be quite a stretch to suggest “it’s just plain old stealing.”
Dare I admit that I might only begin to feel guilt if the dollar amount were triple digits…? Please don’t hate me!
Well it’s their mistake I’d say forget it. If you’d noticed it at the store I’d say fix it. It’s not worth your time to make a trip back to the store.
I would go back and pay for it.