Up to how much money would you give back? (clerk's error)

[Kyriakos]

I was just out to buy a snack, and in total the cost was 3.50 euros. I gave the clerk (who was new) a 20 euro note and three coins which in total were worth 0.5 euro, so that he could easily pay me back 17 euros.
But due to an error of his, he gave me 37 euros. So I returned the 20.
Now, obviously it would have been irrational to pretend the error hadn't happened - gaining 20 euros wouldn't help me with anything. Moreover as I said this clerk was new, and I am a frequent customer there so would run into him again. Still, even if this was a store I'd never have to buy from again, taking the extra 20 euros would just be miserable and (maybe?) could cost him a new job or create other useless drama for him.

But I asked myself at what amount I'd pretend there was no error. If this was 20.000 euros, I doubt I'd be giving it back.

(PS: 1 euro is worth slightly more than 1 US dollar)

Poll provided. For me it's over 9000.

If you are wondering what I bought, it was a large toblerone chocolate and a zero sugar 500 ml coca-cola. I already regret both.

I note that there's no option for "I'd give back any amount". I forgot this option, although I doubt it's realistic that you'd give back millions, assuming at least that you couldn't be traced as the beneficiary of the error (already a ridiculous hypothetical...). Still, who knows.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I rarely count change and almost never check coins so I might not notice an overpayment. But if I did, I'd give it all back.

Is that what the first poll option is?

I guess not. I think it should be an option.

It seems I cannot delete my vote my vote.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I'd probably give any amount back, assuming I noticed. So I might "keep" small amounts, in the event that I don't.

There are people/organizations I hate enough that I'd consider making an exception, but I probably still wouldn't keep the money, for a few reasons.

 

[Zardnaar]

Would probably give it back. Having worked those type of jobs they do check the numbers at the end of the day.

 

[Gelion]

Made me think of this

 

[Kyriakos]

I rarely count change and almost never check coins so I might not notice an overpayment. But if I did, I'd give it all back.

Is that what the first poll option is?

I guess not. I think it should be an option.

It seems I cannot delete my vote my vote.

If you feel like it, you can add one final option (after the 'over 9000' one, which will read: "I would return the money, regardless of the amount")
(I can't add it myself)

Would probably give it back. Having worked those type of jobs they do check the numbers at the end of the day.

Yes, and this was likely his first day of work there. He'd better be more careful, if he is going to last.
When I gave him back the 20 note, he mumbled that he thought I had paid him with a 50 euro note (I didn't say anything more, but if it was a 50 euro note then he should have given me 10 more euros. Imagine if I had went for that: "Sorry, you owe me 10 more euros!" )

 

[warpus]

Here's the thing.. If the amount is small enough, then who cares, I'd return the money. Otherwise I'd be thinking about this and wondering whether I got the cashier fired and other such thoughts. It's not worth the extra stress, especially if this store is near my house and I'm a frequent or even occasional customer.

If the amount is considerable, let's say in the hundreds of thousands.. technically the money does not belong to you, even if the cashier made a mistake. Here in Canada at least, they could go after you to retrieve it, assuming there was enough evidence.

I would really only take money that doesn't belong time of it's coming from Rogers communications. They are evil. Let them jump through whatever hoops they want to retrieve the money. I'll hold on to it until then.

 

[amadeus]

I gave the clerk (who was new) a 20 euro note and three coins which in total were worth 0.5 euro,

Why do you have coins worth minus €6.50?

I’d return just about any amount if I notice it immediately. If the amount is something trivial, like ¥5, and I notice it an hour later rummaging through my pockets, there’s no way I’m going out of my way just to bring it back.

 

[Kyriakos]

Why do you have coins worth -€6.50?

I’d return just about any amount if I notice it immediately. If the amount is something trivial, like ¥5, and I notice it an hour later rummaging through my pockets, there’s no way I’m going out of my way just to bring it back.

It's be tedious to pay him just with the 20 euro note, since then he would have to give me back 16.50 (best scenario: 10+5+1+0.5). Easier to give 20.5 and get back 10+5+2 (well, in his case, not easier, since he was nervous/inexperienced)

 

[The_J]

So you didn't consider in your post that someone is honest ?
And you assume that people are more likely to keep it if it is more money?

Man...I think you gotta learn something about humans ^^.

 

[Kyriakos]

@amadeus , I read that as minus in the first place, I just don't get the joke I mean, the three coins added up to 0.5 euro - 10 cent+20 cent + 20 cent). (nevermind, I got it now, originally I thought it would be some negative coin the clerk would pay back, while you meant that my handed note+coin was worth that, har har )

So you didn't consider in your post that someone is honest ?
And you assume that people are more likely to keep it if it is more money?

Man...I think you gotta learn something about humans ^^.

It makes sense, imo. It removes the possibility that the amount is too little to matter (such as 20 euros). Of course one can still not keep it, but I am not at all sure I wouldn't keep 20000 euros. Theoretical case, of course: some banking error, not caused by myself, grants me 20000 euros. I am not likely to give it back if the loss is only to the bank.
Now if the loss was to an individual, and more so if it was a very bad or even devastating loss, I'd certainly give it back.

 

[The_J]

I'd say 20€ is definitely an amount which already matters, and if I'm standing at the counter, and I notice it's even 2-3€, I'd already say something.

 

[Kyriakos]

I'd say 20€ is definitely an amount which already matters, and if I'm standing at the counter, and I notice it's even 2-3€, I'd already say something.

It matters to the clerk, but usually not to the customer (obviously there are exceptions). It's not like you can live for many days on 20 euros.
While 20000 euros can buy some time off ^_^

 

[amadeus]

While 20000 euros can buy some time off ^_^

I would like to test this theory. If there are any benefactors interested in performing this experiment, please contact me immediately.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I added an option to the poll. Poll

 

[warpus]

This actually sort of happened to me a couple months ago. Went out to a patio with a friend who knows some of the people who work there.. He had to run early and I was paying for the tab, but when he ordered one of his drinks he chatted with somebody by the bar, instead of waiting for our waitress. This confused her and she ended up thinking that he already paid for his drinks, which wasn't the case. So when I got the bill at the end of the night (after my friend was already gone) - It was about 50% of the amount i expected it to be and did not include my friend's beers. Probably worth around $20 canadian after everything, maybe a bit more since this place is a craft beer type bar that carries pricier beers.

Anyhow, I pointed this out to the waitress right away, since I'd just feel so bad if I didn't. But there's definitely been times when I noticed a $5 or $10 in my favour after I already got home. In that case it's a "moving on" sort of situation. I figure it balances out with all the times I was overcharged by accident or whatever, which has definitely happened before. If it was a larger amount I might be tempted to walk back and give it back to them. It depends. My internal moral compass is really boss here. If it complains too much I do the right thing, otherwise it's going to be a case of me lying awake in bed at 4am, my inner moral compass throwing bad thoughts at me for the rest of the week. Gotta keep that thing happy.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Here's the thing.. If the amount is small enough, then who cares, I'd return the money. Otherwise I'd be thinking about this and wondering whether I got the cashier fired and other such thoughts. It's not worth the extra stress, especially if this store is near my house and I'm a frequent or even occasional customer.

If the amount is considerable, let's say in the hundreds of thousands.. technically the money does not belong to you, even if the cashier made a mistake. Here in Canada at least, they could go after you to retrieve it, assuming there was enough evidence.

I would really only take money that doesn't belong time of it's coming from Rogers communications. They are evil. Let them jump through whatever hoops they want to retrieve the money. I'll hold on to it until then.

This is true.
Banks, social security etc, they pay you the wrong amount and they will chase you to the ends of the Earth to get it back.
If I noticed it at the time of the transaction I'd give it back what ever the amount.
If I notice it hours later depends how much was involved, how inconvenient it was to go back there and if it was a store I valued and/or was a regular customer at.

 

[stinkubus]

It's sort of ridiculous that banks don't have to accept responsibility for their errors. If I accidentally overdraw my account, do I get unlimited and/or state mandated mulligans? No, they are permitted to charge late fees which are indistinguishable from usury. If the bank honors a transaction that overdraws my account what they've done is provided me a loan. If you call the finance charge a fee then I guess usury laws don't apply.

Cash handling businesses accept the risk of shrinkage by making the choice to allow a human to handle their money. Caveat emptor applies to the labor market, too, imo. I can tell you from my time in retail that cash handling, even if very busy locations, is not all that difficult. Any cashier who consistently has large variances is overwhelmingly likely to be stealing from you. Someone whose till is consistently over is a bigger red flag than one who is consistently short.

 

[really]

Worked on tills and cash office for a while, there is some tolerance for mistakes but it is low.
If I notice it I hand it back.

I rarely pay cash these days, card 99% of the time since March last year.
As above I have reminded servers of forgotten drinks etc too on occasion.

 

[Kyriakos]

It's sort of ridiculous that banks don't have to accept responsibility for their errors. If I accidentally overdraw my account, do I get unlimited and/or state mandated mulligans? No, they are permitted to charge late fees which are indistinguishable from usury. If the bank honors a transaction that overdraws my account what they've done is provided me a loan. If you call the finance charge a fee then I guess usury laws don't apply.

Cash handling businesses accept the risk of shrinkage by making the choice to allow a human to handle their money. Caveat emptor applies to the labor market, too, imo. I can tell you from my time in retail that cash handling, even if very busy locations, is not all that difficult. Any cashier who consistently has large variances is overwhelmingly likely to be stealing from you. Someone whose till is consistently over is a bigger red flag than one who is consistently short.

If the clerk is alone, can't they (if they mean to steal) just charge a smaller amount and pocket the difference? (typing an even smaller one in the register). Although it'd have to be a relatively large number of items purchased together, otherwise the customer would easily notice the disparity (but the price being smaller than anticipated would not trigger a complaint from the client). It'd still be tricky to provide a receipt that presents the accurate amount, but many clients just don't bother to look at the receipt if it's not that much money to begin with.