Poll of the Day > What would you do in this situation?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I wanted to buy two packages of cocoa at $5 each. On my way back to the car, I checked my receipt and noticed I was charged for three packages, so I went back inside. I had to wait several minutes, but ended up talking to the person who originally rang me up. He apologized and rang up a return for the extra item, then handed me $10.

Should I have been honest and said that he only owed me $5, and thus pointing out that he'd made another stupid mistake? Or should I spare the man's feelings and pocket the extra money?

If its a small business Id give the money back, if its a big box store then Id keep it.

I would have pointed out the mistake. I don't think he would have been that mortified by the error. The second best thing to do is to just donate the $5 somewhere.

I'd be honest If the store's managers or accountants go through the receipts and somehow find out about the mistake, the cashier could lose his or her job.

captpackrat posted...

Should I have been honest and said that he only owed me $5, and thus pointing out that he'd made another stupid mistake? Or should I spare the man's feelings and pocket the extra money?

If I noticed while I was already there I woulda gave it back, but if I was already out then whatevs

...well, unless serendipity leads me back to the store, then I'd give it back again.

Give the money back. I've seen people get anxiety bad when their register comes up short.

Lokarin posted...

If I noticed while I was already there I woulda gave it back, but if I was already out then whatevs

...well, unless serendipity leads me back to the store, then I'd give it back again.

Yeah kinda. I've gotten away from walmar4 with a free bottle of wine but I didn't notice I was till I got home. I've gone back in and paid for shit though if I caught it while loading the car in the parking lot. Because of the former though I haven't sweated it when I've accidently rang up a item more times than I meant to going through self checkout. I don't think I've done it enough to equal that bottle of wine but should be closesish.

Why should he be humiliated and made to feel stupid? You yelling at the dude? People make mistakes. If you handle it discreetly and with tact, there's less chance the dude will be humiliated over an honest mistake.

That you refer to it as a "stupid" mistake is off-putting to be honest. No one is perfect. I hope you're phrasing it that way more as it was just a mistake, rather than that the cashier is stupid for making a mistake. Like, the mistake is stupid in that it was a mistake that anyone could make which shouldn't happen but does because people are fallible, and you understand that.

Don't be dick about it, and don't be a thief. Just explain the situation calmly and discreetly and go on your way. If he looks embarrassed you can try to lighten the mood with a joke "Hey if you're giving money away can we make it a cool hundo?" but it's strange the way you're wording this... "Should I embarrass him for making a stupid mistake?" sounds like "Should I punish this idiot for fucking things up?" but maybe I'm reading it wrong

Lokarin posted...

If I noticed while I was already there I woulda gave it back, but if I was already out then whatevs

This. However, I've had people who can't count argue the point with me. Like if I owe you money, I'm not going to argue with you to take it. I'm only gonna tell you once.

I think you should make the cashier feel bad. $5 really isn't that much and hurting their feelings will last longer which is worth more than $5.

I remember once I was trying to be honest. Dude hand punched in the price for something I was buying. I told him it was wrong and told him the correct price which was higher. He just said we'll you're getting it for this today cause I don't feel like checking. Even though I told him the correct price. I bought the shit often enough I knew the exact price which he shoulda known cause he was usually the cashier there when I would buy them.