Cashier forgot to charge me for $64 of merchandise. What to do? I need advise :(

[tandot]

I went to Kohl's last weekend because they had great sales and I had coupons and cash back totaling $45. I bought some Halloween decorations, several pants and a jacket for my 4-year old, a shirt for my husband, and those ultra comfy go walk shoes from Skechers ($64). I usually don't buy expensive stuff but I walk a lot and can't handle uncomfortable shoes.

Checking out, my total was about $50 and the cashier told me that I saved $140. I was elated. However, by the time I got home, I sensed something wasn't right. I looked at the receipt and she forgot to scan the shoes.

I wanted to go back but then I thought they might fire her for that oversight. I didn't want that. I still feel guilty for essentially stealing.

What would you do in that situation?

[Kaleva]

1. I'd go back and either return the shoes or pay for them.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. I would go back.

It is stealing (I'm not judging you) in my book, and anyone can make an honest mistake.

[NYC_SKP]

3. You go back and return the money to Kohl's. If it comes up and you have the opportunity...

...you could even take the blame for it, something like it must have gotten into my cart without the cashier knowing it, or something like that.

You could also mention how nice she was, if you're concerned about her job.

But you have to take it back and make it right.

[tammywammy]

4. Take them back to the store and pay for them. n/t

[SeattleVet]

5. I would go back.

Not sure what would happen if the management gets involved, but perhaps you can discretely talk to the checker and explain what happened. Let them scan it and pay.

Good karma always comes back in your favor!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Sounds like a recipe for getting interrogated by loss prevention or, worse yet, the police.

I wouldn't be doing anything "discretely" in a major department store full of cameras.

[rug]

12. +1

[steve2470]

24. yea I'd be concerned about that too

Loss Prevention/Police: Um yea, sure, you really didn't pay because of a cashier mistake and NOW you want to pay. Um yea right. Pull my other finger. Why didn't you come back the same day or right away ?

You: Really honest, that's what happened....

Them: *Looking at you with complete suspicion*

[avebury]

37. That was my first thought as well. nt

[Agschmid]

85. Yup!

[nolabear]

6. Go back. It's the right thing to so.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. I could live with my conscience knowing it was an honest mistake on both parts...

.... and move on with my life.

I wouldn't bother going back.

Your time is worth something too. In my mind, worth more than a return trip.

I could be biased because I just spent 4 hours Saturday in a Sprint store straightening out an account problem created by the Sprint rep's mistake when I upgraded a phone 2 weeks ago (spent 4 hours on that Saturday also).

[tandot]

11. Thank you

that is what my husband said. However, I still feel bad about owning something that I didn't pay for.

I know that they add $$$ to every item because of people stealing stuff. I love those shoes and every step I am taking, they are saying "you didn't pay for us"

It was a mistake on both parts ... I should have checked the receipt before I left the store. But NOW that I know that I didn't pay for them, there is no way around it.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Do your shoes squeak?

There's an old wives tale that says if your shoes squeak they are stolen.

If your shoes are not squeaking leave it alone.

[tandot]

18. No, they don't squeak ... they are extremely comfortable

it is like walking on clouds

I like Rug's idea of donating money to a homeless shelter ... Maybe it would make me feel better?

[pipi_k]

34. Yeah, that's

what I would do, also.

Donate the money to a worthy cause.

[Vashta Nerada]

16. Same here.

[Agschmid]

90. Flip it... If they overcharged you what would you do?

[Broken_Hero]

8. I'd go back and pay for them

I had a similar experience in Sept of 2007 at a local GameStop. It was close to my brothers Bday and he came down to visit and I took him to the GameStop so he could pick out a game. He picked out a Ninja Gaiden game for the PS3 and he got a tshirt and a players guide book for the Ninja Gaiden game.

I didn't really listen to the cashier when she rang it up, and I just handed her a 100$ bill. When I got home I got the receipt out so I could enter a 500$ gift card drawing that the GameStop puts on and I noticed that the lady didn't charge me for the Ninja Gaiden game which was about 60$. I went up to the GameStop the next day to pay for the game in full, because I didn't want anyone to get fired, and it was the right thing to do. My brother gave me shit about it aka "hey its free!" but I did return and pay for it in full.

eta:changed my subject line from "return them" to "and pay for them"

[tandot]

10. Thanks for all of the good advice.

I agree, I will definitely go back and pay for them. I was feeling really bad ever since.

I am worried that once they know my name and have my debit card number, they could trace the cashier that checked me out. Maybe I should get some cash and pay for it without them knowing my name. The last thing I want is someone to get fired ... but I want to pay for the stuff I got.

Again, thanks. I'll try to find a way to pay for it without jeopardizing her job

[rug]

13. Undoing a small error is sometimes worse than leaving it be.

Donate the $64 to a homeless shelter.

[tandot]

14. Thanks, Rug

My husband thinks that I or the cashier might get in more trouble trying to rectify the error. I emailed Kohl's customer service and see what they say. I love your idea of donating to a homeless shelter. Either way, I'll pay that money. A homeless shelter might be in more need than Kohls.

[In_The_Wind]

30. I tend to agree with your husband and rug.

If it was a small shop (not part of a large chain) I would return to the store to make things right.

[steve2470]

25. great idea nt

[Vashta Nerada]

15. Keep them and move on.

That's what I would do.

[seabeyond]

59. You have been quite consistent in your short time here. Of course this is what you would post

[Vashta Nerada]

61. Is it worth returning them with the possibility of the poor cashier losing her job?

No. It is not.

BTW, I am so glad I have someone following every singe one of my posts here. It makes me feel special.

[seabeyond]

62. oh ya. like that is happening. you come into one of my threads...

and you will see, i replied to the OP. was happy to see so many people see the simple truth of the issue. then i came ot your post. so.... if that is following and it gives you a warm feeling, go at it.

[tandot]

19. I am going to bed and will sleep on it

I emailed Kohl's customer service to see what they have to say.

Either way, I'll pay $64 to either Kohl's or to some homeless shelter.

Thanks for your input!

[MiddleFingerMom]

20. No offense, but your "guilt" over an honest mixtake may end up costing the cashier her job.

.
.
.
How "guilty" would THAT make you feel? Don't mess with someone's livelihood just so you can feel better.
.
I think donating the money to a homeless shelter is a WIN/WIN alternative.
.
.
.

[marzipanni]

21. Since they weren't scanned I'd just take them back,

go to a cashier, tell them you noticed they weren't on your receipt when you got home, and pay. The cashier would just be grateful for your honesty, you don't need to show them the receipt that the shoes aren't on, they won't have to know who made the mistake.
It would be hard to walk out of a store with a shoebox- I thought most merchandise had little alarm strips stuck on or tucked in somewhere, or a clunky plastic thing the cashier has to remove... if she was on "automatic pilot" maybe she de-activated it and by handling it in her mind she had also scanned it.

[LiberalElite]

49. about those clunky plastic things...

twice in different stores, a cashier forgot to remove one from something I purchased and when the alarm went off at the door I stopped but was waved out by the security guard.

[tandot]

56. Yes, it had a security cable tying both shoes together and she took it off

I agree, she might have thought that she already scanned it and just put it in the bag.

[LeftyMom]

22. No retail store is going to can an employee this time of year if they can help it.

At least not for an honest mistake where there isn't a history of it.

The cashier will probably get written up and receive a bit of a talking to about being careful and not getting distracted while scanning items, because thieves will fluster cashiers on purpose in order to steal.

[davidpdx]

28. Probably not

But even getting written up could hurt the employee. I think if the OP has the opportunity to approach the cashier personally that would be best. If the customer (in this case the OP) is nice enough to catch the mistake, bring them back and pay for them, it should be no harm no foul.

[lastlib]

33. you can black out the cashier's name/number on your receipt if you're worried.

Take a Sharpie to anything that identifies the register or cashier, then go back.

[LeftyMom]

48. That wouldn't work. Modern registers are computerized,

and tied to the camera system in such a way that the various information on the receipt (register number, time of transaction) can be used to bring up video of the transaction. That's what those customer surveys are for, if you complain a manager can look at the video and compare the complaint with the video of the transaction.

[Sherman A1]

50. Don't bet on that

I would not take them back, simply for the hassle and as it may very well affect what is likely a much needed job by the checker. If the party feels guilty donate something to a charity.

Retail Loss Prevention Departments are generally a very "interesting" assortment of people, policies & philosophies (something of a cross between the Keystone Cops & the Secret Police), I would note the recent "shopping while black" issues in NYC at major stores there as one example of that.

[applegrove]

23. Bring the shoes back and pay for them

so you won't feel guilty about that. Play dumb about the cashier and when you bought them. Don't bring the receipt because it might have the cashier's code on it and the date and time. You don't need the receipt. If fact you can just take the shoes back and pay for them without explaining anything.

[Hoyt]

26. Several times I have received too much change, like $10 or more. Clerk got ticked when I gave it

back. But, I'd do it again.

[davidpdx]

27. You should go back and pay for them

If they weren't rung up the cashier would only get in trouble if they figured out they were missed. Eventually when they do inventory they would come up a pair short and be counted as stolen. It affects the profitability of the store.

In the event you talk to a manager, then make him/her assure you that the cashier won't get in trouble. If I were you I might even take a copy of the receipt (not the original) and mark out where it identifies the cashier (that can be found pretty easily) and save the original.

If you can find the cashier, possibly she'll remember you and she can just handle it quietly for the sake of both of you.

[handmade34]

29. return and pay for the shoes...

…just my two cents… if you don't, you ARE responsible "for essentially stealing"… who am I to judge though??

…it's a slippery slope… inadvertandly walking out without paying for shoes one day, to intentionally taking a bag of beans because you're hungry (and can't afford food), to taking pencils from work, to robbing banks some day… do you really want to go there??

[B Calm]

31. They'll fire her. I'm sure Kohl's made a profit anyways!

I would keep quiet!

[LisaL]

32. I find it very unlikely they would fire the cashier.

So you can simply go back and pay for the shoes.

[dipsydoodle]

35. What would I do in that situation?

Smile.

[MissMillie]

36. I can understand why you wouldn't want to get the cashier fired

I also understand your conscious is bothering you.

What about donating $64 to a local food bank or to the ASPCA? Would you feel better if you put that money to good use somewhere else?

[Orrex]

38. Go back and get some more free shoes.

[Dash87]

78. "Hello, I'd like to get my money back for these shoes."

[panader0]

39. I once asked for cash back ($60) and the cashier gave me three bills.

When I got to my truck, I noticed that the top two were twenties, but the bottom one was a hundred dollar bill.
I went back in and told her what she had done. She was so happy, and told me that she would have had to cover the loss
from her own pocket. People in line congratulated me on being honest.

[MineralMan]

40. Go back with the shoes and the receipt.

Pay for the shoes. That's the only right thing to do. It is that simple.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the supermarket. I used the self-checkout lane. When I exited the store with the shopping cart and got to my car, I found a can of mixed vegetables in the cart that I hadn't scanned. So, I went back into the store with it, took it to the customer service counter and explained that I had missed this item at the self-checkout. The customer service person seemed surprised, but scanned the item. I gave her the 99 cents for it and returned to my car.

Just go to customer service in the store and handle paying for the forgotten shoes there. They're not going to go after the clerk who checked you out. They'll be surprised that you bothered to come back and you'll feel better about the transaction.

Doing the right thing is always the right thing, in my opinion.

[AnneD]

41. Every day we have .....

moral pop quizzes. They are not graded but your answers reveal much about your character.

[datasuspect]

42. $64 for shoes is expensive?

[Callmecrazy]

43. You put them on the counter to pay for them...

and you got them for free?

Move along. Nothing to see here.

[tandot]

44. *update*

I emailed Kohl's yesterday but haven't heard back.

My plan is to take just the empty shoe box that has the bar code to their customer service, explain the situation, and pay for the shoes with cash.

There is no need to bring the receipt, since they could use it to figure out which cashier rang me up. Also, since the cashier didn't scan the shoes, they are not on the receipt anyways.

I appreciate all the great input I've received from all of you.

Thanks!

[Squinch]

45. You are a good person, and I bet you get back the Karma you are giving out ten-fold!

[davidpdx]

52. That is a good idea

Would have never thought of it that way. It solves both the problem of trying to pay for them while not getting the cashier in trouble.

[pipi_k]

54. Character...

is what we do (or don't do) when nobody is looking and nobody is likely to find out anyway.

I think that's a great solution.

[seabeyond]

60. Very honorable and perfect. Disregard post below. Nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

72. u r honest

[trof]

46. WINDFALL!

[grahamhgreen]

51. Kohls? Might be considered a clawback from the corporatocracy???

[Sienna86]

53. Donate them and go buy a new pair

Clerk won't get fired or dinged, and you do the right thing.

[Iggo]

64. I like this solution the best.

Donate the inadvertently ill-gotten merch.

Buy a new pair and walk around guilt-free.

[tandot]

55. * update 2 - change of plans - will donate money to a good cause *

After emailing Kohl's and explaining very clearly what happened and that I would like to pay for the item that the cashier forgot to scan, I got one of those form emails. They apologized that I am unhappy about the item I purchased and that they have a "No Question Asked - Hassle Free" return policy, and to just return the item for a refund or exchange it for another one.

So, their "customer service" didn't even read the email. Maybe they have a computer program that scans the emails for certain words and then automatically sends what it deems the appropriate form email back to the customer. Or maybe they just outsource the customer service to a foreign country and have people there who barely read/speak English.

Kohl's is a pretty big corporation and their response shows that they don't need my money.

So, I'll donate it to a local homeless shelter.

[Agschmid]

91. Lol right?

Sometimes...

[Kaleva]

76. Your 1st plan was much better.

This one, IMHO, doesn't make you look so good.

[ScreamingMeemie]

92. Agreed.

[tammywammy]

77. I don't know why you think a crap email from them justifies not paying for the shoes.

You should take the receipt, go back to the store and pay for the freaking shoes. Since you know you didn't pay for them, you're now justifying to yourself why it's okay to keep stolen merchandise.

This is how it should go:

Walk in customer service or the checkout lane.
Hold up receipt and set the shoe box down.
"I was in here on such and such day" (the receipt will confirm that you were in there).
"I noticed after I got home that these shoes weren't on my receipt, and this is the first time I've been able to make it back. I'd like to pay for these shoes."
Pay for the shoes.
Leave the store.

Secondly, you should donate to the local shelter (or wherever) since it's a good thing to do not because you need the self-redemption.

[PasadenaTrudy]

57. I would go back

It would suck if she lost her job...

[seabeyond]

58. Go pay. You should have spoken up at the time.

You were already at register, committed to spending that money. It is not a gift from universe. It was a mistake

Pay it

[tandot]

63. I was at home when I discovered the error not at the register

here is what I wrote in my OP:

"However, by the time I got home, I sensed something wasn't right. I looked at the receipt and she forgot to scan the shoes. "

The earliest I would have been able to go back is this weekend. I never claimed it was a "gift from universe"

Maybe read before commenting?

[seabeyond]

65. mmmm. k. nt

[progressoid]

66. Well, if they are like the Skechers I purchased at Kohls, they're gonna fall apart in a few weeks.

The rubber part of the sole that wraps around the tip of the toe is separating already. Haven't decided if I should go back to Kohls or just email Skechers directly to complain. I haven't even worn them much.

[marzipanni]

70. If I may ask, were they Go Walk II with laces?

I tried on a pair of the slip-on Go Walks a couple of times and they were instantly comfortable. They do get good reviews, and a runner said the Resalyte soles last longer than you'd expect.
I know I've had other brands of walking/running shoes where the rubber sole wrap on the toe has begun to peel away.

A PSA about many "comfort shoes"- (I don't think Skechers have Polyurethane soles, but many comfortable shoes do)...

Years ago I bought some Ecco shoes on sale, and really liked them. The leather uppers were still in great shape when the sole started to crack across the ball of the foot and I thought it must be because I was crouching a lot attending to a toddler. A shoe repair man glued a layer on, but it didn't stick long. Later I saw the same style on sale and bought them, since I wasn't having to crouch much anymore. I only wore them occasionally and a couple of years later the soles of those cracked and turned Gooey! I searched on the internet to see if other people had this problem with Eccos, and there were bizarre tales of people walking along leaving their shoe soles in gooey bits behind them! There were accounts of how Ecco told customers who complained that "the soles are made of a special material that has to be exercised!" I emailed Ecco and they sent a mailer bag with instructions to send the shoes and $65.00 and they would resole them. Even though the uppers still looked almost new, I threw the shoes away.

This tells why molded polyurethane soles on "comfort shoes" fall apart-
http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/consumer/want-your-comfort-shoes-to-last-1.1310918#.UnKh7921-No

[progressoid]

73. Stamina - Nuovo

http://www.skechers.com/style/50988/stamina-nuovo/ccbk

They're pretty comfy. Too bad they're already falling apart.

[Jenoch]

67. I just read the entire thread.

You should go back and pay for the shoes. Donating money to a non-profit makes you feel better, and that's a good thing to do. The legal thing to do is to pay for the merchandise.

[benld74]

69. GO back and pay for them,,

her job may be affected.

[Sissyk]

71. I can't believe you even had to ask.

It would never occur to me NOT to return them immediately. However, I don't see a way I could miss a $70 discrepancy at the counter. Especially if my bill 50 and the shoes were 70. Math!!

IF, and a big if, I had this happen, the only reason I'd start a thread on DU about it would be to try and soothe my conscious because i knew I was wrong not to immediately take them back.

[noamnety]

74. I've gone back to pay for things I wasn't charged for.

Don't bring the receipt, they won't be able to track the cashier.

I've had it happen when it was my fault and other times when it was the cashier's fault - either way, next time I'm in the area, I go back and pay.

[Yavin4]

75. That Cashier will pay for the mistake

Take the merch back and pay for them, and ask that the cashier should not be punished.

[TeeYiYi]

79. I'm amazed at all the guilt you signed up for in this thread...

I hope you got what you were looking for.

TYY

[Bigleaf]

80. Go back and make sure the same cashier is working. Load up another cart and when you leave the

store, do your best impression of the lady in the Ikea commercial. Run to your vehicle while screaming, "Start the car! Start the car!"

[tandot]

81. I apologize for not responding to all the replies right away

My 4-year old son was sick the last couple of days with a pretty nasty cold.

I am also sorry that I don't have too much time to individually reply to all of you. I know it is rude but I can't change that. I'll check back once he feels better.

I emailed Kohl's to explain what happened and to offer to pay for the mistake THEY made. I got one of those form emails back that made clear that they didn't even bother to read my email. Despite what I posted that I'll donate to a homeless shelter, it would still be wrong to not pay for the shoes. So, I'll do both. I agree with the response I got from some of the DUers...I was just really pissed. A lot of people would have just walked away not even bothering with it. I don't want to own stuff that I didn't pay for. However, I also didn't want anyone to get fired. The cashier never scanned in the shoes and she would have not been held responsible for the mistake SHE made.

Also, for me going "discreetly" back inside the store with the actual shoes that have NOT been scanned and paid for, is just asking for trouble. As some pointed out, some overzealous security person might think I did something wrong.

I'll post more on Sunday, after I had a chance to go back and straighten everything out.

I really appreciate all of your input. If I wouldn't care, I wouldn't have posted the OP.

[krispos42]

82. Two things

One, you can go back, buy the same pair of shoes (with cash) then "forget" them in the basket when you leave.

They'll probably hold them for a period of time in Customer Service, then put them back on the shelf when nobody claims them.



Two, you can go to customer service with the shoes, tell them what happened, and request that they scan and charge you for the shoes. Refuse to show them the receipt from your previous trip or reveal the identity of the previous checker, and pay with cash.

They get their money, you get your shoes, and the checker doesn't get grilled.

[tandot]

83. * update #3* This was very interesting

Again, I really appreciate ALL the posts I've gotten. The ranged from "windfall" to "how dare you not paying for the shoes" ...

I am not going to respond to each of your posts, put I learned a good lesson.

I went back to Kohl's today with the empty shoe box to pay for my purchase. The customer service clerk was very surprised and happy. While she was scanning in the bar code on the shoe box, she said that she'll give me 25% off. So, I paid

Price of the shoes: $64.99
minus 25% = $16.25
Plus Tax = $3.90

Total $52.64

On top of that, I got $10 cash back (for every $50 purchased) that I can cash when I make my next purchase. The whole transaction took less than two minutes ... no questions asked. I doubt they'll investigate which cashier was on duty and forgot to scan the item.

Also, I donated $100 to

Family Promise of Sacramento
[e-mail]
9164433107


Most of the homeless shelters are run by religious organizations. I didn't have a lot of choices. However, they have a range of "guest churches" that help feed the needy:

Host Congregations
Bethany Presbyterian
B’Nai Israe
Calvary Lutheran
Carmichael Presbyterian
Beth Shalom
Faith Presbyterian
First UMC
Fremont Presbyterian
Grace Lutheran
Rancho Cordova UMC
St. Anthony’s Catholic
St. Mark’s UMC
St. Johns Lutheran
Sierra Arden United Church of Christ
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Unitarian Universalist Society

Since Unitarian Universalist Sociaty was one of them, I think it was the best choice.

I'll probably not be able to check in for a couple of days. I can't express how much appreciate all of the replies. Thank YOU!

[davidpdx]

88. I'm glad that worked out well

and that they didn't grill you or try to find out who the cashier was. I'm sure the cashier will hear about it, not specifically, but my guess is they'll gently remind the employees to double check that they have scanned everything in a customer's purchase. I would bet later the cashier did remember what happened later and will be revealed to find out you were honest. So I'm sure in his/her heart they are thanking you for handling it so discretely.

The 25% off for being honest is really a nice thing for the store to do.

[Agschmid]

84. Go back.

They most likely will not fire her.

[tandot]

86. And to some of you who are surprised that I didn't notice right away:

I bought about 10 items: children's clothes (pants, sweaters, a jacket), a sweater for me, a shirt for my husband, and those shoes, Halloween stuff at reduced price, etc.), most of the items were between 50 - 70 % off.

I had a $35 coupon from the rewards card I signed up when I did my last purchase
I had a $20 coupon in Kohl's "cash back" from the last time I purchased stuff
I had a 20% off coupon that I got via email from Kohl's

I always save lots of money when I take advantage of their sales and coupons I get via email. I do that a couple of times a year to get my kid new clothes and maybe some for me and my husband. I am used to hearing "your savings are $150" ... or more

It was Sunday morning and I wanted to get back home ... I didn't do the math in my head and I am pretty sure a lot of people wouldn't have either.

[No Vested Interest]

87. All's well that ends well.

You did fine.
Now put it behind you and move on.
Life is a learning experience every day..

[ScreamingMeemie]

93. There's always going to be someone in a thread who woke up on the wrong side

of the bed.

You did the right thing by going back to the store.