Cashier forgot to ring up an item and just put it in my bag - what would you have done?

[Anonymous]

I was at a discount department store today buying several items of clothing. All around $20. The cashier was a little scatterbrained, and kept walking back and forth between his station and the security device removal area, and the bagging area. Between all the walking back and forth I thought (but wasn't sure) that he may have forgotten to ring up an item. He was taking a while, so I was also screwing around on my phone at the time. I paid and left.

Later I checked the receipt and saw that he had indeed forgotten to ring up one of my items, so essentially I got it for free.

Would you have said anything?

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Enjoy your discount. Aside from the obvious (yay, something for free!), taking it back to the store could get the cashier in trouble, which is probably not what you want if you're looking to do the 'right" thing.

[Anonymous]

I had a young lady do this years ago on a $160 hard drive.

[Anonymous]

We once got a ladder free this way. We did not realize until we had left Lowes and debated going back but never did!

[Anonymous]

I'd go back. But be forewarned, going back can be more trouble than it's worth. Sometimes they don't know how to handle odd situation like that.

[Anonymous]

King of Queens episode.

[Anonymous]

If I noticed at the time, I would say something. If I didn't notice til I got home (as in your case), I'd consider it karma. Given how many times I've been charged for two of something I only got one of, I figure it all balances out.

That's for the supermarket/ discount store, of course. If it were a high-value item, like the ladder or hard drive, I would go back, because otherwise the employee would likely end up paying for it out of his/her own pocket, and that's not right.

[Anonymous]

If I noticed a cashier miss an item, I definitely would double check before paying (happens plenty). If I noticed something didn't get rung up after I got home, and it was inexpensive, I wouldn't go back. If it was a pricey item, I would go back.

So, I think in your case you did the immoral thing. Not quite stealing, but not all that much better.

[Anonymous]

heck no. keep it. you need the $ more than the store does.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you suspected it had been missed, if that the case you should have checked before you left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I noticed at the time, I would say something. If I didn't notice til I got home (as in your case), I'd consider it karma. Given how many times I've been charged for two of something I only got one of, I figure it all balances out.

That's for the supermarket/ discount store, of course. If it were a high-value item, like the ladder or hard drive, I would go back, because otherwise the employee would likely end up paying for it out of his/her own pocket, and that's not right.

How would the employee end up paying for it? At a big store they will have no idea which cashier may have missed a big ticket item and if they did not ring it up, there is no record of it.

[Anonymous]

You should return the item back. You did not pay for it, so give it back. You will not get the cashier in trouble, as you do not have to say who rang you up.

[Anonymous]

Go back and get in line and buy it and don't say anyone screwed up before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I noticed at the time, I would say something. If I didn't notice til I got home (as in your case), I'd consider it karma. Given how many times I've been charged for two of something I only got one of, I figure it all balances out.

That's for the supermarket/ discount store, of course. If it were a high-value item, like the ladder or hard drive, I would go back, because otherwise the employee would likely end up paying for it out of his/her own pocket, and that's not right.

How would the employee end up paying for it? At a big store they will have no idea which cashier may have missed a big ticket item and if they did not ring it up, there is no record of it.

Cameras. A cousin of mine was busted for shoplifting, during a review of video footage meant to catch employees sneaking freebies to their friends or just failing to ring up items.