Gretchen and Toby have an on-going debate on this topic and I thought I’d get a feel for
what everyone else was thinking on this late night.
You go to a store and they neglect to scan an item that you planned to purhase, is this stealing or not? And what should you do about it once you figure it out?
Now this is an “honest” mistake. There was no intent to hide the object or shop-lift, it was simply the item wasn’t scanned by the clerk for whatever reason.
Gretchen’s belief is that they made the mistake so it isn’t our problem. Toby thinks that as good citizens we should then pay for the item to make them aware of the situation.
Of course, Toby is the guy that golfed at Hidden Valley Golf Course last year when it was closed - they have a bucket to pay your $2 when they are closed and he only had a $20 - but he paid for it the next time he was at the course.
So who is right, Toby or Gretchen?
Popularity: 23% [?]
December 30th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
If I bought two $10,000 diamond rings at Gretchen’s Jewelry Store and somehow one didn’t get scanned then it isn’t my problem.
The Golden Rule-Jesus Christ
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12 (New Living Translation)
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:17 am
I would consider it stealing because as a customer you have the obligation to tell the clerk he messed up. If it’s not considered stealing then it should be unethical because you are taking from the owner of the store and the employees. Someone’s check might be short the next month because of people who walk off with goods without paying.
January 2nd, 2007 at 8:33 am
Thanks for stopping by Fred and Lady Aeval and I have to agree — in theory.
What prompted this discussion is that we had planned to purchase a $5 item from a super-store 25 minutes from home. Got home and realized that the clerk had missed one of the items.
For $5 is it stealing, theoretically yes, but practically - I will not spend an hour of my time driving back to the store, deal with the “super-store employee”, to PAY them $5. I charge $50 an hour for my time and when you factor in gas and the fact that working with one of these employees will probably ruin my day — it isn’t practical.
So I guess this is where “theory” meets “practicality”
Thanks again for stopping by!