Ethical Dilema...What would you do????

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

You weren't actively trying to pull a fast one and they made a mistake. Innocent enough. It's not your job as a customer to fix a store's problem.

How about just rewarding the stores with repeat visits (and not hoping for more of the same, of course)?

 

[cbcbd]

Honest mistakes all around. For such small items I wouldn't sweat it, but if the sock drawer appears to be beating like the tell tale heart then just go back and make your conscience right.

 

[Mildcat]

If I notice it at the checkout I'll say something even if it's a big store like Walmart because I don't want the cashier to get in trouble. I wouldn't go back if I noticed later because the cashier will get in trouble. The employees don't make enough money to have to carry the burden of every little mistake in my honest opinion.

 

[Warp Daddy]

You can just call them up and read the sku #'s to them and charge it over the phone.

like he said and if the company has ANY customer relations at all my bet is you'll get a deal

 

[David Metsky]

I would arrange (either by visit or by phone) to fix the mistake. It's not for the store, but for yourself and to set an example for your kids. You know what the right thing to do is; everything else is rationalizations.

 

[BeanoNYC]

You'll probably get the cashiers in trouble. If you feel guilty, give the items to charity and repurchase.

 

[drjeff]

You're suppose to pay attention at the register.

I was as much as possible, all the while trying to make sure that my two kids weren't messing up/taking things from the displays of small items that were next to the register at both stores - as a parent with young kids I realize why retailers insist upon placing small items at/near the register, but really dislike the fact that they do

Would it be an ethical dilema if you discovered in the parking lot that the cashier gave you too much change back?

Normally I'm very diligent about checking my receipts at the register or as soon as I get to my car, but because of the hour (very close to the kids naptime), I just signed the receipts and didn't even think about them until Sunday AM(18 hours later) when I went to wrap up the gifts for my mother, and as soon as I saw the lack of charge from Golfer's warehouse then I checked the remainder of my receipts and noticed the REI ommission too

If it is a long trip or you got to go out of your way i would settle up the next time you was there..

As I posted in a previous post, the area where both stores is located is basically a 45 drive each way from my house and the last time I was in that area was just before Christmas for some x-mas shopping.

 

[drjeff]

I was just thinking it was a good thing there no anti-theft device to sound an alarm at the door because it would have been a little difficult to explain an item in the bag that was not on the receipt..

Like I said, in BOTH stores the cashiers placed the items in the bag, and given that it's maybe a 15 second walk from the register to the front door, my guess is they probably would have remembered that THEY put the items in the shopping bag a few seconds before.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I keep it cashiers loss, remember theres also been plenty of times in your life while out at a store or a restaurant that you have been overcharged and never realized it on the receipt, it all works out eventually.

 

[severine]

It's a difficult situation. On the one hand, driving there and back makes it pretty inconvenient and costly to rectify an error that wasn't yours.

On the other hand, parents must set a good example for their children. Whether you realize it or not, your children are learning from the things you do, not what you say.

Tough call..

 

[noski]

The fact that it seems to be weighing on you tells me you need to go with your concience, which is to go back to the store. Then you can file it.

 

[campgottagopee]

If I noticed at the time of sale I would've said something, If I had gotten home then noticed I would've just kept them and considered myself lucky.

 

[ckofer]

This would probably not have happened if they had a strategically placed associate after the checkout reconciling your purchase and your receipt.

 

[mondeo]

I'll back up what a few others have said, and add to my previous statement, that having kids involved sways it towards paying the stores for the inadvertently uncharged items. It's the kind of thing I could see my parents doing, and I turned out as someone who still feels guilty about stealing a pack of baseball cards in 3rd grade, and being 24 years old with a completely legal music and software collection.

 

[riverc0il]

If I notice it at the checkout I'll say something even if it's a big store like Walmart because I don't want the cashier to get in trouble. I wouldn't go back if I noticed later because the cashier will get in trouble. The employees don't make enough money to have to carry the burden of every little mistake in my honest opinion.

Really depends a lot on the manager regarding the "trouble" aspect of finding a big mistake. As a retail manager myself, I have caught issues in which cashier mistakes might have resulted in $100+ worth of merchandise walking from the store unaccounted for. Most associates are mortified enough just being alerted to their performance lapse. There is never a need to pursue corrective action for one or two such mistakes because the cashier naturally is usually self motivated to ensure the problem doesn't happen again. Same cashier making the same such mistake with frequency would be another story. But my management philosophy is people are self motivated not to screw up and almost always self correct when alerted to the problem. For the occasional error that does happen, reasonable shrink is expected and everyone makes mistakes. You just have to hope the mistakes are small ones and the big ones are caught. It is all about good training and development and a solid system of accountability.

 

[wa-loaf]

It's a difficult situation. Tough call..

Just give the shop a call, ask them what they suggest you do. You'll prob save a trip that way.

 

[riverc0il]

Interesting look into ethics here. I am particularly fascinated by the issue of it being a higher ethical precedent to due it because of the kids but if there were no kids to impress an ethical lessons on many people would say cashiers error and keep the goods. Remove the kids from the situation and the ethical conclusion essentially is cashier error--do not return goods to store for purchase which means it is only being done because it is a convenient lesson for the kids. You have to wonder how the kids would appreciate the situation if they had known the motives. (???)

Do we base our ethics on our own internal beliefs, the situation, or on value calls and judgments about other people and things? A lot of arguments are being made in this thread based on external issues rather than internal ethical values. Not saying there is anything wrong with that but just making an observation.

 

[severine]

This would probably not have happened if they had a strategically placed associate after the checkout reconciling your purchase and your receipt.

:lol: Do you really want to go there?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

:lol: Do you really want to go there?

AndyZee is going to get the ACLU on your ass...and the Costco receipt checkers..lol..

 

[ckofer]