Would you point out a cash register error (in your favour)?

Would you point out a cash register error (In your favour)?

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    90
RedWolf

RedWolf

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Joined
Feb 2, 2001
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3,113
Location
Ontario, Canada
Ok so I'm at the LCBO (Government run retailer of alcohol) today buying wine for the holidays.

I pick out 4 bottles - 3 red and 1 white. The prices are as follows:

1) $8.99
2) $12.95
3) $12.45
4) $15.00

I get up to the cash register after waiting in line for about 5 minutes. The clerk scans and bags all 4 bottles and tells me "That'll be $34.95". Now - I'm not a math genius but it only took me a heartbeat to realize that the average price of those bottles was certainly greater then $10 and therefore there's no way the total price could have been less then $40.

BUT... I kept my mouth shut, paid the guy and quickly got out of the store so I could check my receipt.

Turns out that for whatever reason the $15 bottle got missed... SCORE!!!

Afterwards though - I felt a little guilty. Am I a thief? (moraly or legally) Was it my responsibility to point out the mistake? Or is a retail error in my favour a bonus that I'm entitled to when it happens?

What would you have done?
 
I have chronic honesty. I alway point it out when I've been undercharged - it can get a bit annoying, when later it occurs to me that if I'd just kept quiet then I could have saved some money. :( Otoh, I'm very definate about getting the correct change when I've been overcharged. :D
 
It depends on the store. I've had this happen at an LCBO too and I walked away -- government is making a killing through taxes there as it is. I've also had it happen at small independantly-owned stores. I pointed out the error there.
 
Just this summer, I was up 8$ when buying a slushie, because the girl at the counter mistook my $5 for a $10. It is from this even that I've concluded that Sir Wilfred Laurier is, in fact, a Ninja.
 
How's this for karma though?

I just found out that the bottle of white I bought (this wasn't the free one)was NOT the one my girlfriend wanted.. so I have to go stand in line tomorrow at the store on one of their busiest days of the year (Christmas Eve).
 
I almost always do, unless It's something like a couple of cents and it's really more hassle than it's worth.. I'll also point out when they forget to ring something up.
 
Karmakramer?

I'd keep the dough, since it is their responsibility to be on alert for any errors.
 
I wouldnt (well, if it was in my favor).

Yes, I'm a cheapstake and karma will probably get me.
 
Once I was buying a pizza pluss something and when I was about to pay, I began to calculate the price in my head. I mumbled slightly mathematicly and managed to fool myself and the cashier. I did however pay the full price when I found the error.

Anyway, i would have returned the money.
 
I think it was morally wrong. I'd have fessed up.

RedWolf said:
How's this for karma though?

I just found out that the bottle of white I bought (this wasn't the free one)was NOT the one my girlfriend wanted.. so I have to go stand in line tomorrow at the store on one of their busiest days of the year (Christmas Eve).
Click to expand...

She still wouldn't have wanted it even if you paid full price for the other bottle :p
 
RedWolf said:
Ok so I'm at the LCBO (Government run retailer of alcohol) today buying wine for the holidays.

I pick out 4 bottles - 3 red and 1 white. The prices are as follows:

1) $8.99
2) $12.95
3) $12.45
4) $15.00

I get up to the cash register after waiting in line for about 5 minutes. The clerk scans and bags all 4 bottles and tells me "That'll be $34.95". Now - I'm not a math genius but it only took me a heartbeat to realize that the average price of those bottles was certainly greater then $10 and therefore there's no way the total price could have been less then $40.

BUT... I kept my mouth shut, paid the guy and quickly got out of the store so I could check my receipt.

Turns out that for whatever reason the $15 bottle got missed... SCORE!!!

Afterwards though - I felt a little guilty. Am I a thief? (moraly or legally) Was it my responsibility to point out the mistake? Or is a retail error in my favour a bonus that I'm entitled to when it happens?

What would you have done?
Click to expand...


at the end of the day if her cash register was short by ten dollars she would of probably of been ok. So no harm really or is there? Let's just say that a few other seedy characters decided to do this that night and left her $50 short, now she's in trouble, maybe it's happened before she get's fired, you get a free bottle of wine but are you really thinking about what would happen?

She's left out of a job turns to prostitution, and get's involved with crack, and ends dying of an overdose in a scum soaked alleyway after dragging herself into hell.

OK seriously it's no big deal, but, me personally I always point out underpayment, who knows how many crack whores I'd of created in my life otherwise.:)
 
Sidhe said:
at the end of the day if her till was short by ten dollars she would of probably of been ok. So no harm really or is there? Let's just say that a few other seedy characters decided to do this that night and left her $50 short, now she's in trouble, maybe it's happened before she get's fired, you get a free bottle of wine but are you really thinking about what would happen?

She's left out of a job turns to prostitution, and get's involved with crack, and ends dying of an overdose in a scum soaked alleyway after dragging herself into hell.
Click to expand...

:eek: I'll never accept extra money again!:lol:
 
Sidhe said:
at the end of the day if her cash register was short by ten dollars she would of probably of been ok. So no harm really or is there? Let's just say that a few other seedy characters decided to do this that night and left her $50 short, now she's in trouble, maybe it's happened before she get's fired, you get a free bottle of wine but are you really thinking about what would happen?

She's left out of a job turns to prostitution, and get's involved with crack, and ends dying of an overdose in a scum soaked alleyway after dragging herself into hell.
Click to expand...
Never thought of it that way! :eek:
 
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