Not Being Charged An Item: Stealing?

[shaneteen8]

So I went Christmas shopping and bought 4 items. The cashier didn’t see I had 4 items and initially charged me just 3 items. Consequently, we reminded her that we had 4 items. When we got home, we realized that despite our reminder, she accidentally still forgot to charge us the 4th item and simply just removed the anti-theft device on the 4th item. What is the Catholic thing to do? I’m afraid that this may be unintended stealing.

 

[crystal_waters]

If you dont want to speak to the store staff in person then write an anonymous letter, explain what happened and include payment…they deserve to be paid, you do have their item

 

[RocketRM]

So I went Christmas shopping and bought 4 items. The cashier didn’t see I had 4 items and initially charged me just 3 items. Consequently, we reminded her that we had 4 items. When we got home, we realized that despite our reminder, she accidentally still forgot to charge us the 4th item and simply just removed the anti-theft device on the 4th item. What is the Catholic thing to do? I’m afraid that this may be unintended stealing.

You did nothing wrong whatsoever. In fact, you made it clear to the cashier that she missed an item and again she failed to charge you without your knowledge (until you got home). Also, I don’t believe one can steal unless one knowingly steals - someone can correct me on this?

As for what to do, you could always return it if you have the ability to do so. If you bought it out of state or at great distance from your home that might be more difficult if not impossible.

In any case you have to do what’s in your heart.

God Bless!

 

[JRKH]

You have stolen nothing. I would -if possible return to the store at your earliest convenience with the item and the receipt, go to the service desk and offer to pay for the item.

Peace
James

 

[PaulfromIowa]

The original fault lies with the store clerk. However, keeping the item without paying for it would be stealing from the store. You should pay for it or return it.

 

[KP3243]

I would go back with the receipt and pay for the 4th item. I forgot I had a cookie sheet on the bottom of my cart at Wal-Mart and when I got to my car and started loading the trunk, I realized it so I went right back in and it almost caused a riot because even after I told the greeter why I was coming back in store with the cookie sheet, so I could pay for the item, he was so confused so was the the woman at customer service. I had to explain it to both of them three times.

 

[JRKH]

I would go back with the receipt and pay for the 4th item. I forgot I had a cookie sheet on the bottom of my cart at Wal-Mart and when I got to my car and started loading the trunk, I realized it so I went right back in and it almost caused a riot because even after I told the greeter why I was coming back in store with the cookie sheet, so I could pay for the item, he was so confused so was the the woman at customer service. I had to explain it to both of them three times.

This is all too true. It sometimes seems to cause more bother for the store when one tries to do the right thing than if one just keeps it. They just can’t get their head around the idea that someone would come back for this reason.

I actually had this happen once and the person at the desk thanked me and told me to forget about it. So I thanked her and went on my way.

Peace
James

 

[yellowbird]

If I told the clerk to charge me and she didn’t - and I didn’t notice it until I got home, I would not spend my own gas $ or time correcting her mistake. It was not my intention to steal anything and I would not feel guilty in the least.

Recently my daughter purchased something and they left the securty tag on the item. We had to drive an hour to the store and an hour back because of their mistake. Didn’t even get a “I"m so sorry this happened.”

My advice to businesses - hire people who pay attention and do their jobs well if you want to keep customers and avoid loss such as the OPs.

 

[Joe_5859]

If I told the clerk to charge me and she didn’t - and I didn’t notice it until I got home, I would not spend my own gas $ or time correcting her mistake. It was not my intention to steal anything and I would not feel guilty in the least.

Recently my daughter purchased something and they left the securty tag on the item. We had to drive an hour to the store and an hour back because of their mistake. Didn’t even get a “I"m so sorry this happened.”

My advice to businesses - hire people who pay attention and do their jobs well if you want to keep customers and avoid loss such as the OPs.

Yeah, the only times I’ve ever had something like this happen have been with small items (worth a dollar or two). It would cost me more in gas to go back and forth to the store. It evens out with the times they double charge me.

 

[Cristiano]

We can look at the issue as two different scenarios. The first is where the intent of the seller is to obtain correct payment for every item and only the correct payment for the items. That is usually the scenario that happens in small mom and pop stores. In this case I think that restitution is important because the seller-buyer relationship is based on a specific assumption.
The second case is for a large supermarket where the owners choose to use accounting methods that are subject to error and such error could be at disadvantage of either the seller or the buyer. The store management still decides to use this methods prone to error with the intent of having an average desired outcome while accepting errors as statistical fluctuations that are part of the business. This business model is different from the first one and it works on a seller-buyer relationship that is based on different assumptions. In this case restitution is not important because the seller makes a conscious choice of having a business model that accounts for that kind of losses as well as losses like food becoming old and unsellable and at the same time the buyer pays a little more.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

This happened to me recently, but I didn’t realize they hadn’t charged me for one item until I’d left the cashier’s line with my purchases. I stopped by customer service and explained what happened and said I wanted to pay for the item. Security came. The store manager came. They gave me all sorts of grief. I told them to keep the item and started to walk out. They stopped me and told me to wait until the matter was resolved. I told them I am an attorney and if they sought to detain me, I would sue them. Security walked me to my car. I asked why they would treat an honest shopper like that. he shook his head and smirked. He knew what a stupid reaction that was. I haven’t been back since.

 

[Orogeny]

You did nothing wrong as everyone on this thread has mentioned. You are feeling guilty because you have a well formed conscious.

Take the item back and pay for it. It doesn’t matter how much gas you would burn or how their accounting system is set up, it is not yours to keep without paying. If you take it back and they tell you to keep it without paying, well, that is a different story. But based on what you have described, you have a moral obligation to pay.

Peace

Tim

 

[Catholic80]

So I went Christmas shopping and bought 4 items. The cashier didn’t see I had 4 items and initially charged me just 3 items. Consequently, we reminded her that we had 4 items. When we got home, we realized that despite our reminder, she accidentally still forgot to charge us the 4th item and simply just removed the anti-theft device on the 4th item. What is the Catholic thing to do? I’m afraid that this may be unintended stealing.

You didn’t commit a sin because you didn’t intentionally steal. You can always return to the story and tell them about the cashier’s mistake and offer to pay for the item. If you are questioning the morality of the situation, ask a priest. It may be a sin of omission if you don’t go back and pay for the item.

 

[fremaochris]

I have now decided to attend Mass.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I’m afraid that this may be unintended stealing.

Theft is a mens rea charge, meaning you had to have the intent to steal. The cashier forgetting to ring in something doesn’t constitute theft. You can’t “unintentionally steal”. You can forget to pay for something, but that isn’t stealing.

The Catholic thing to do would be to, if possible, go back to the store with the item and your receipt, go to Customer Service and say, “I was in here earlier today (or something similar), and paid for my items, but when I got home I noticed this item wasn’t rung through. I would like to pay for it now.”

They aren’t going to call the police on you. They may be a little surprised you came back to pay for it, but they’ll ring it in, you’ll give them your money and life goes on.