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Would you have returned it?

(78 Posts)
pipstocking Fri 22-Apr-16 13:40:39

Yesterday as I walked out of a shop I noticed I'd been given too much change (almost £5 too much). I turned round to take it back but the queue was endless and the woman at customer services wasn't around. Plus I was running late. So I walked out. I wouldn't have done if it had been a small company but it's a super super market that I would imagine wouldn't ever notice. Still. I'm feeling uneasy. What would you have done?

fairy99 Sat 23-Apr-16 11:50:58

Do you not think it would be a lot easier if your change was counted out into your hand rather than being given a handful of coins? If there's a queue behind you, you can imagine them all rolling their eyes.

Also what annoys me is placing my bag on the counter and the assistant scanning the bar code on an item and pushing it through so hard that the bag gets all scrunched up and you find it hard to get the item in your bag. Once you do there are another three items pushed through so your bag is all scrunched up again, making it harder to pack, thus it takes you longer at the counter. Why can't they use some common sense?

Yes, I would return it if I was given the wrong change.

This is my first post. i enjoy reading all the comments on GN

tubbygran Sat 23-Apr-16 11:52:53

Could you return the money today or the next time you are in the shop? Or perhaps put it in a charity box?

WendyC Sat 23-Apr-16 12:03:07

If the cashier is too busy, there is no reason why money could not be returned via the Customer Services desk. Everyone happy then because the customer is given a receipt and the cashier's till will be balanced.

Stella14 Sat 23-Apr-16 12:08:50

I would have returned it (nipped to the front of the queue and explained to the next person waiting). I know from working in a supermarket during University holidays as a mature student, that large companies not only make the person working on the till (on minimum wage) at the time, pay it back, but they also interview, and monitor them on the basis that they may have stolen it. It happened to me when my till was £10 down. Not pleasent!

Wendysue Sat 23-Apr-16 12:29:57

Pip, I wouldn't beat myself up over it. You tried your best to give it back and it's not as if you deliberately stole the money or as if it were a large amount. It was the cashier's fault, not yours. And while I feel for her/him if he/she has to make up the difference, maybe they'll learn to be more careful in the future.

However, if your conscience is still pinching, then by all means, bring it back today or give it to charity as PPs have suggested.

About finding money in the street - it's very hard to find the owner, usually, so I can understand if someone just takes it. More noble to put it in a charity box, of course, or keep it but send a check in that amount to the charity of your choice. You (general) could just leave it there, of course, on the chance that the person who lost it will come back to look for it. I did that, once, when I was very young, but later realize it's more likely that someone else just picked it up.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 12:32:05

Why aren't you paying by card?!!!!

Save all this bother.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 12:32:21

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d4dsquared Sat 23-Apr-16 12:34:11

I recently tried (and failed) to return money to a large supermarket after we were credited for chilled foods that had actually arrived. The customer services person I spoke to said it was easier to refund everyone, than to separate out those (3 customers) who had received their goods. I decided that as the refund wasn't really mine I would use it for a charity (Lend with Care) that lends small amounts of money (micro-finance) to businesses in developing countries. So the supermarket, unbeknownst to them, are sponsoring a food stall in Africa! It seemed entirely appropriate to me!

barbaralynne Sat 23-Apr-16 12:37:47

Can only repeat what several others have already said - that cashier may have had to repay the shortfall and be monitored now. They are usually on minimum wage too. And I would have gone straight to the cashier and just handed it over - putting it in a charity box won't make that shortfall right.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 12:39:28

I have occasionally receive a couple of someone else's shopping in my online shopping order. I keep them of course, but they never seem to be anything to my taste.

rubylady Sat 23-Apr-16 13:50:11

That's a shame Jing you'd think people would order items that you liked! grin

I wouldn't have returned it, but that's just me. If I was in a rush and it was only a small amount then I wouldn't have worried about it. I've much more to worry about than a huge supermarket losing a fiver. Mistakes happen in tills and as a checkout operator I was never asked to make up for any made when I worked for a supermarket.

hicaz46 Sat 23-Apr-16 14:07:01

OK jingle bell frocks I'll grow up a bit and say ffs. The sentiment is the same, just making a comment not being rude.

SwimHome Sat 23-Apr-16 14:09:44

Similar has happened a couple of times to me and when I've gone to put things right, naively expecting at least a 'Thank you' from the recipient, I've had my head bitten off and not even a smile. Yes, I'd probably do the same again but with a heavy heart. Don't always expect gratitude.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 14:15:24

Right-o hicaz. That's much better. smile

silverlining48 Sat 23-Apr-16 14:25:58

Many years ago on a bus in southern Italy we found a wallet stuffed with notes on the seat. We were not well off but still not tempted To be dishonest, and we gave it to the bus driver . Friends later said he would probably keep it, but my response was that it would be on his conscience and not mine. 30 years later still happy I did what I did.

Shazmo24 Sat 23-Apr-16 15:16:44

They would have been out by £5 and may have thought one of their employees had stolen it...you could have gone back later to return it...

wondergran Sat 23-Apr-16 15:41:25

Both of my children work in the retail industry. Any shortfall in the till at the end of the day comes out of their wages.

Anya Sat 23-Apr-16 15:42:37

That's news to me hmm

Ana Sat 23-Apr-16 15:46:22

It's surprising anyone at all works in these places that make staff pay for shortfalls. Mistakes happen. I wonder whether they give any overpayment to those same workers...?

Jalima Sat 23-Apr-16 16:20:49

Many years ago when I was a student I worked in a pub in the evenings - I was told that if I broke a glass I had to pay for it out of that evening's wages (2s 6d per hour). The landlord said that a glass cost 2s 6d so I thought that, if I broke four glasses, I'd be working for nothing.
I didn't stay there long.

inishowen Sat 23-Apr-16 17:16:42

A girl I knew years ago worked in a night club. When the club closed each night the cleaners would find purses, jewellery and wallets. The manager would take the cash for himself and throw the rest in the bin. A shocking example to the young people who worked for him.

tiffaney Sat 23-Apr-16 17:27:01

Depends which Supermarket it was. I have been 'done' so many times at the one I use I would feel justified in keeping it. But that doesn't make it right. ( Btw I only use this particular one because I like their cakes!)

Izabella Sat 23-Apr-16 17:46:02

Would return it.

I am feeling guilty as realised we lifted an extra compost into the car between us at the garden centre earlier. Will pop and pay for that tomorrow.

ChocoholicSue Sat 23-Apr-16 19:30:52

My supermarket place of work doesn't make us repay shortfalls, however we do get interviewed which isn't pleasant. With our system it is difficult to be explicit as to which operator is responsible for a shortfall as there can be several different people covering the same till between till checks ie tea breaks, lunch breaks, follow on shifts. Once a regular customer came back and said she believed she had been short changed by £10. I called my manager who, unusually, said to give the lady the £10. Normally there would be a till check first. An hour later the customer came back with an apology. When she had returned home she'd realised she had been mistaken and brought the £10 back.

Conserve Sun 24-Apr-16 10:35:00

My sister works in a supermarket. Its on her contract that shortfalls in the till can be made up by her although I don't know if anyone has ever been made to do so.

I have and would always return too much change.

Over the years I have found 3 purses full of money and managed to return them to the owners. I like to think that if I lost anything it would be returned to me too.