HELP - Took an item that they didn't charge me for!

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lizzyinthelight

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Hey everyone!

I’m really confused right now. Today I went Black Friday shopping at a store which offered a special, Black Friday-only item which is $20 when you spend a certain amount. So I put that item, as well as the rest of the items on the counter to check out, and as the cashier was scanning everything she must’ve missed that item because when i looked later (at home) i didn’t see it on the receipt. So, I know now that I wasn’t charged for that item, and I feel really bad about it.

My 1st thought was to go to the store & give them the $20 they would’ve charged me for it, but my mom pointed out that if I did that, the cashier in question (who must’ve been tired, etc from black Friday) would probably get in trouble, and I’d hate for her to lose her job over it. I also feel bad about keeping something I didn’t pay for, though.

What do you think I should do??

Thanks, & God bless!!
 
Don’t worry about it. Unless it was an expensive item it isn’t going to matter to the store. They offer sales like this just to get people in. They don’t need your $20 to survive–they’re going to make a huge haul. Many stores raise their prices just before Black Friday just so they can say they’re giving discounts. They rake in billions on Black Friday. You don’t owe them any more money than you already spent.
 
I had that happen to me at Home Depot. Bought some shelves, and they didn’t charge me for one. I went back to the store (40 miles round trip) and wanted to pay for it.
Manager said no charge because of our honesty.
Made me feel good.
 
lizzyinthelight said:
Hey everyone!

I’m really confused right now. Today I went Black Friday shopping at a store which offered a special, Black Friday-only item which is $20 when you spend a certain amount. So I put that item, as well as the rest of the items on the counter to check out, and as the cashier was scanning everything she must’ve missed that item because when i looked later (at home) i didn’t see it on the receipt. So, I know now that I wasn’t charged for that item, and I feel really bad about it.

My 1st thought was to go to the store & give them the $20 they would’ve charged me for it, but my mom pointed out that if I did that, the cashier in question (who must’ve been tired, etc from black Friday) would probably get in trouble, and I’d hate for her to lose her job over it. I also feel bad about keeping something I didn’t pay for, though.

What do you think I should do??

Thanks, & God bless!!
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Good advice; I agree with the above two posters.

However, if you really, really want to make up for it and feel guilty for having $20 more than you should, you can give twenty bucks to charity.
 
I thought this had happened to me the other day when I got home from the supermarket and found a pack of kitchen towels in my bags which I hadn’t put in my shopping trolley. After deciding I was going a little bit crazy, I thought I’d return them at my next visit.

Turns out the shop was doing a promotion - spend €10, get free kitchen towels. I ended up getting 3 packs that one week! 😃
 
I wouldn’t feel bad. It’s not like you noticed at the time and thought “haha, bonus” and took advantage of their mistake. Whether or not to take it back…I’m in two minds. I wouldn’t want the checkout person to get in trouble like you said - although one would hope the manager would be forgiving for mistakes made on Black Friday.

Edit: Does it even show their name or the register number on the receipt?
 
CarolNoel said:
I had that happen to me at Home Depot. Bought some shelves, and they didn’t charge me for one. I went back to the store (40 miles round trip) and wanted to pay for it.
Manager said no charge because of our honesty.
Made me feel good.
Click to expand...
I’ve done the same thing with the same result, though I didn’t have to drive as far. Also, I currently owe Wal-Mart for a package of cheese they didn’t charge for (I bought two and they only charged for one) and will bring it to their attention the next time I shop there.

OP, if you are afraid that the cashier would face discipline or dismissal if you would bring the matter to the attention to the management at the store, maybe you should consider putting the $20 in the collection plate at Church. I think that is what I would do if I were in your position.
 
You could always call the store and just let them know that you weren’t charged for something that you got. A phone call would probably keep you anonymous enough that you can determine whether or not you would get the employee in trouble. My bet is that the manager will just tell you not to worry about it since it isn’t an expensive item. Once the manager gives you the okay, then you don’t worry about it any more.

Also, like others have said, you can donate to make up for it. I did that one time as a kid when I got some money that I didn’t feel like I deserved. I was called out of class to go help as an altar server for a funeral Mass that already started. I think the church forgot to schedule altar servers for the Mass so they pulled a couple of us out of class at the school next door. It was a small and simple funeral and it really required no major effort on my part to help out. Families in my parish traditionally (though are not required) leave a small gift card or small bit of cash for altar servers after weddings, but it certainly isn’t expected for funerals.

After Mass, the family left $20 in the sacristy to thank me for altar serving at their loved one’s funeral. I completely felt like I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t expect anything for what I did and I didn’t feel right about keeping it because I wasn’t even there for the whole Mass. Of course, trying to give money back to them would have been awkward and inappropriate. I donated it to the church and that made me feel so much better about the whole situation.
 
I wouldn’t worry about it. Once I had purchased some things I needed from the feed store, including some medication for a sheep. The ordered totaled $10 less than I estimated it should have, but being busy, I didn’t really pay attention, just assumed it was a sale or something. Once out of the store, I looked at the receipt and noticed I wasn’t even charged for the antibiotic, so I went back in and explained. The cashier thanked me for my honesty, but I insisted on paying; it just made me feel better. Things happen. I’m sure if I had gone home and noticed this, then went back, they would have completely refused my paying for it.

Don’t worry about it! 🙂
 
If you really feel like you need to pay for it, all you have to do is walk into the store ask for the manager, tell him what happened, say you forgot the receipt and can’t remember which clerk help you out and give him the money. Most likely he will thank you for being honest and will say to keep the money, but if he doesn’t and takes the money you’ve done the right thing. Your conscious will be clear.
 
This has happened to me before. I just took it to customer service and said I wasn’t charged for it. They took it and said thank you! They didn’t ask who the cashier was, and I didn’t offer.

Anybody could make a mistake on Black Friday of all days!
 
Quaesitor said:
If you really feel like you need to pay for it, all you have to do is walk into the store ask for the manager, tell him what happened, say you forgot the receipt and can’t remember which clerk help you out and give him the money. Most likely he will thank you for being honest and will say to keep the money, but if he doesn’t and takes the money you’ve done the right thing. Your conscious will be clear.
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Or, if you don’t feel comfortable going to the manager, just go to a cashier. I’ve had this happen several times to me in the last couple years, either because I was tired or distracted, the cashier miscounted or my toddler had stuffed things into her pockets. The items I inadvertently “stole” ranged in price from 0.69-10.00. Each time I went back, told a cashier and had them charge me for it. The only time I needed a manager involved was when one of the items was a clearance item that was no longer in the system. The reactions ranged from shock to gratitude that I was that honest. Nobody was ever angry.
 
Wow, thanks to everyone for your kind & helpful words! I read through all of them and really, really appreciate it 🙂

Per Iheartcoffee’s suggestion, I called the store, talked to the manager and explained what happened, asking if there was anything I could do to make it up to them. The manager was surprised & said that was very honorable of me & to consider the item a gift from them, thanking me for my honesty.

That makes me feel so much better! I do, however, plan to donate $20 to the church or a charity.

Thanks again, everyone! Have a great weekend, & God bless!
 
lizzyinthelight said:
Hey everyone!

I’m really confused right now. Today I went Black Friday shopping at a store which offered a special, Black Friday-only item which is $20 when you spend a certain amount. So I put that item, as well as the rest of the items on the counter to check out, and as the cashier was scanning everything she must’ve missed that item because when i looked later (at home) i didn’t see it on the receipt. So, I know now that I wasn’t charged for that item, and I feel really bad about it.

My 1st thought was to go to the store & give them the $20 they would’ve charged me for it, but my mom pointed out that if I did that, the cashier in question (who must’ve been tired, etc from black Friday) would probably get in trouble, and I’d hate for her to lose her job over it. I also feel bad about keeping something I didn’t pay for, though.

What do you think I should do??

Thanks, & God bless!!
Click to expand...
Buy a $20 money order made out to the store without your name on it and include a note that you weren’t charged for the item that cost twenty dollars and you are reimbursing the store. Don’t detail the date or time and don’t put your name on money order or note then mail it to the manager of the store. Don’t include the receipt.
 
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