Ethical question

[Danmel]

The other day, I went to Costco. When I took the cart in the parking lot, there was a large package of Gillette Fusion power glide razor blades in the cart. I went to customer service and gave them the blades, figuring it was an expensive item and the person who accidentally left them in the cart might return for them.

When I was shopping, I saw them on the shelves and they were $52.00

Apparently a lot of people think I'm a fool and should have just put them in my trunk and headed on in to shop.

So my question isn't did I do the right thing, because I know I did. My question is this: is merchandise left behind accidentally fair game? If so, how does it differ from finding a wallet?

[teach1st]

1. You did the right thing and way to go!

They were not fair game anymore than a lost $50 bill, in my opinion.

[geardaddy]

2. You did the right thing.

I would have done the same.

[Phentex]

3. Of course you did the right thing unless you are into stealing...

and they will keep the item on a shelf in case the person comes back and asks about it (I did this once!)

I don't think it differs from a wallet. I would turn that in as well. If it's not something I paid for, I don't feel it's mine to keep. The only exception would be if you find something in a place where it would be very hard to trace the owner.

[Fla Dem]

4. You absolutely did the right thing. Don't even 2nd guess yourself.

The only difference between finding a box of razor blades and a wallet is, the wallet hopefully has an id so you can contact the owner directly. You returned the razors to Costco because you did not have an id. If the customer returns to Costco and lets them know they left a box of razor blades and show them the receipt, Costco will probably replace the razors whether or not you had returned them.

[panader0]

6. Once at Wal-Mart (I know..)

I asked the cashier for forty dollars back on my card. When I got to the parking
lot I looked and saw that she had given me a twenty and a hundred instead of two
twenties. I went back in and told her. She was shocked. The lady in line said it was nice
to see an honest person. The cashier said that the eighty dollar difference would
have come out of her pay. Everyone was happy.

[mrmpa]

22. They can't take the money out of her pay......

In Pennsylvania the law is:

It is not lawful for an employer to withhold any amount from an employee’s pay not specifically authorized by law or contract. An employer cannot unilaterally deduct from a cashier’s paycheck unless that employee agrees to allow the employer to do so, in writing, prior to the deduction.



Violation of this law may subject the employer to penalties under the Wage Payment and Collection Law and possibly other laws.

[Major Nikon]

8. The problem is it will probably never find it's way back to it's original owner

Wal-Mart probably just put it back on the shelf and sold it to someone else, which means they reap the windfall of your find.

I don't think it means the blades were fair game, but I don't think it's the same thing as finding a wallet which you could turn into the police.

[Danmel]

9. It was Costco

And maybe that's what happened. Or maybe someone who spent a lot of money got home, said oh shit, where are those razor blades, went back and had a bit of faith in humanity restored.

[Major Nikon]

10. Missed that

It's possible that it all worked out. My philosophy is I don't want anything I didn't come by honestly, so I would have done the same thing. It's just I can't really see it having a happy ending.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

18. I've read that costco treats its employees well so...

...odds are good they look out for customers as well.

[underahedgerow]

11. More importantly, who's stupid enough to spend 52 bucks on RAZORS? They're literally 2 bucks worth

of industry and product!

Just sayin'.

Yeah, it was nice that you returned them, but finding goodies in your cart really is fair game. That's a middle of the road thing.

[True Dough]

12. No doubt about it

Crazy amount of money in razor blades. It's criminal how much they cost.

That said, OP is a man of integrity for not pocketing them. Way to go, sir.

[Danmel]

14. I'm a ma'am

Danmel is a combination of my kids names😀
We have 4 people here who use razor blades, but knowing someone paid for them and it wasn't me stopped me from keeping them.

[True Dough]

15. My apologies, ma'am!

I saw the Dan up front in your username and combined that with your potential interest in razor blades and made an assumption. My bad!

[Danmel]

16. No worries

[handmade34]

13. therein lies the problem...

"a lot of people think I'm a fool and should have just put them in my trunk..."

[benld74]

17. Small steps taken

Result in future steps not needed

[Tikki]

19. This is my only experience with this subject and it was second hand...

A lady I worked with was in a shopping mall and found a package,
with a sales receipt and all, in front of the store the items were purchased at
on a bench near the stores entrance.

The package contained two party type dresses in a size that her daughter
would be wearing within a year.

She said..."God blessed me with those dresses, I would never have
been able to afford them"...

She talked about many things I found difficult to understand.

Tikki

[Danmel]

20. I would never do that

I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it.

[hibbing]

21. Of course you did the right thing n/t