# Oops! I didn't pay! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949 "2009-03-02T01:39:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/21 "2009-03-02T21:05:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > …So back we go to Lowe’s with receipt in hand. We talked to a cashier who didn’t understand what we were doing, and finally said, “Wow, you’re really honest, huh? Um… it’s easier if you just take it.” > > I insisted on speaking to a manager, because in my view the cashier has no right to give away Lowes’ merchandise just ot make her life easier. For unusual things like this, I’d go right to a manager or customer service desk. That way a) the poor inexperienced cashier doesn’t have to worry about making a judgement call; and b) if a manager/theft control person does see you come in, they won’t have to worry about what you’re doing (When I was working retail, and I saw someone walk IN with merchandise, I’d immediately be a little on guard, just because it’s unusual). ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/22 "2009-03-03T01:37:53Z")
When Mr Kitty was in the hospital this past summer, things were veryveryveryveryvery tight financially (as opposed to the veryveryvery tight they are now). He had just gotten off the ventilator, and was able to wear actual pants (well, shorts). Since we knew he’d be in the hospital for at least a month, I stopped by Walmart to pick up some appropriate hospital clothing, some DVDs, books, and games, some of his favorite snacks, chocolate for the nurses, and hygiene things. Plus a few other household things we needed. Total bill was $280. I gave the cashier $100 in cash that my mom had just sent me, then used my debit card for the rest. I was NOT in a clear frame of mind _at all_ so it didn’t dawn on me until I was well down the road that she’d only charged the debit card $80 instead of the $180. I had a huge crisis of conscience- on the one hand, that $100 was the gas needed for two visits to the hospital for me, or actual food for the next couple weeks. On the other, that was more than a simple error that could be written off. On the third, this was not a Walmart that I typically went to- it was on the way to the hospital, in the opposite direction from the way I normally travel, and it would be easy to just never go back in that particular store again. I called my sister, who told me to keep my mouth shut (sadly where I was leaning at that moment, but I just wasn’t sure). Going for a firm two out of three, I called my mom, who told me to call the manager immediately and let them know what had happened, that she would send me the $100. I called the manager, who was UNBELIEVABLY RUDE. I mean, WAY over-the-top rude, to the point where I finally pointed out that she did not have any way of figuring out who I was and that I was actually DOING HER A DAMN FAVOR by calling and offering to make things right. Then I hung up on her. :mad: I waited until the next day, called and got a different manager who was way at the other end of the spectrum attitude-wise, and sent a money order attention to him. Never received any acknowledgment from the store, nor have I been back there, but at least I felt okay about my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/23 "2009-03-03T02:04:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Why would you bring the receipt in? What receipt? They never paid for it! Pay them for the item and don’t narc out the checker. Everyone will feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/24 "2009-03-03T02:09:19Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > Hide the multimeter in your purse when you walk in. Then put it in your cart and pay for it. Simple. That is a good way to get it for shoplifting. Walk into the store with the item clearly visible and go to the service desk. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/25 "2009-03-03T04:25:01Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > That is a good way to get it for shoplifting. Walk into the store with the item clearly visible and go to the service desk. I have done that several times. When picking up a lot of small things I have the bad habit of putting things in my coat pocket, with the Idea of pulling it out and paying for them. Sometimes I get home and oops guess what is in my pocket. Next time I go I just have them ring up what I walked out with. Sometimes the person on the cash register will have to ask a supervisor how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/26 "2009-03-03T04:34:24Z")
This kind of thing happens to me fairly often. Go back and pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/27 "2009-03-03T05:54:33Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > I have done that several times. > > When picking up a lot of small things I have the bad habit of putting things in my coat pocket, with the Idea of pulling it out and paying for them. Sometimes I get home and oops guess what is in my pocket. > > Next time I go I just have them ring up what I walked out with. Sometimes the person on the cash register will have to ask a supervisor how to do it. Very bad habit. You run a great risk the next time you do that you will get nailed for shoplifting. You can claim all the absent-mindedness you want but the moment you put something in your pocket while shopping, you’re on really thin, and breaking, ice. Walk out the door and forget to pay and wait for the tap on the shoulder. Break the habit now, or it will break you. ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/28 "2009-03-03T14:36:38Z")
Wow… You guys are honest. I would have likely just shrugged and went about my business. ---
**Author:** ![accidentalyuppie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@accidentalyuppie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/accidentalyuppie)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949/29 "2009-03-03T19:34:14Z")
I’ve got the guilts today over something that happened with a on-line picture framing company. I ordered the frames and recceived them, everything looked wonderful. After I had both pictures framed I noticed the plexiglass on one of them was shiny. I had specifically ordered non-glare - at a substantial extra cost – so I called them. Customer service rep says did you unwrap it (the sheet of plexi) completely and chack both sides? I said " I’ve framed them and only one print has the non-glare. They send me out a new sheet at no charge. I get the new sheet and the packing list is for the wrong item. I call customer service and get the same questions about looking at both sides. They agree to send me a third sheet. Then the way she phrased the “both sides” question is a little different that the first rep, so I pulled the picture off the wall and out of the frame. The glass was correct all along, I had just inserted it backwards. I call them back immediately and confess to my stupidity, they cancel the second replacement but they had already sent me one I didn’t deserve. I offered to send it back or pay for it but they refuse, they are very nice actually, assuring me that I wasn’t the first customer to make this particular mistake. Now , I know the mark-ups on this stuff are incredible and this is not great loss for them, but still…I’ll make sure to give them more business in the future, I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-i-didnt-pay/487949.md?page=1)