Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Let’s do a little test, ok?

We’ve been watching old episodes of “Golden Girls” and there was one that made me wonder how many of us would do what is right?

Show of hands, how many of you would tell a merchant they made a mistake (in your favor)? Oh yeah? Even if that mistake was in the $600 range?

Let’s be honest here. It’s not like I know you, nor will I judge you. I’m curious to see how many are really that honest.

You need a little more contexts? Here it is: You go to a little shop near your place where you buy something, let’s say clothing. You go back and order a few more pieces. The merchant, a nice lady, requests a deposit. When you go back to pick up your order, you remind her about your balance, pay everything and leave with your articles. When you get home, you check your invoice to notice a mistake. The merchant miscalculated and completely forgot to charge you some articles. After calculation you realise you saved about $600. What would you do? Would you let the merchant know and pay it, or simply play dumb and enjoy the new clothes?

I’m really curious to see what you’d do in this situation, so please do tell, leave me a comment!

I’ll tell you too, no worries!

13 comments:

Unknown said...

While I can't really say from this side of the poverty fence, but were I to be in a position to buy enough clothing that $600 could be missed, I would go back. Especially since the shop sounds like a Mom and Pop type of place. Now if it were a big chain store like Sears or J.C. Penny's then it would be my duty to stick it to the man.

Anonymous said...

Tough one- $600 seems like it would be missed. And they probably have my contact information. To avoid the embarrassment of being called a theif, I think I'd have to fess up- but not because I wanted to

channeal said...

I have many vices and imperfections - but when it comes to money, I am scrupulously honest. I have returned to a shop even when it has just been a relatively small mistake in my favour, so I would certainly do it for $600. I always think of the poor people in the shop - they can often get into trouble even if they are a few pounds/dollars out!

Purple Pigeon said...

Well, I've seen so many signs that say ''Check your change, as mistakes cannot be rectified after you leave the shop''. If they are going to be like that, I think that it should work the other way round, too. Maybe I'm just a bitch, but i suffer the brunt of peoples stupidity so often, you should get the rewards of peoples stupidity too.

Yeah, you all think I'm a bitch now....

soz

Green-Eyed Momster said...

$600.00 is big. I mean house payment big so I guess if I'm dropping that on clothes it's not an issue so I'd run back and drop another house payment on stupid, over-priced clothes?
That wouldn't happen to me these days but when someone gives me too much money, I always give it back.
Now if I found a bunch of unmarked, untraceable money, I'd keep it.
I swore the last time I found a lady's purse and a man's wallet and I turned them in so that the people at Walmart could rifle the cash that I'd never do it again. I'd take the items straight to the police if it happened again, unless I could get away with keeping that unmarked, untraceable cash I mentioned above. We just need it!

Hugs!!

wisegirl said...

$600 is a LOT.... i wouldn't go back if it was a small amount but 600 dollars??? i would definitely go back

kara said...

despite not being catholic, i have a flourishing guilt complex. i'd take it back (and have done similar such things before). sad.

Charlie said...

Reread Marius's comment because that's exactly how I feel.

Mom & Pop shops are going the way of the gooney bird thanks to Wal-Mart and others of its ilk, so be honest with Mom.

lizgwiz said...

I'd go back. If it was a mom-and-pop place, I wouldn't even have to think hard. If it was Walmart...well, that would be more of a struggle, I admit. I'd probably go back for fear that they'd discover the mistake and dock the cashier for it, though. They're evil like that, I'm sure.

Periwinkle Studio said...

I would go back and pay. I have done it several times already, but always caught them when they undercharged me at the store.

I would feel too guilty keeping them if they were not paid for. I don't even like owing anyone a dollar....That's just me.

Site manager said...

I would want to keep it. I would think of all the reasons to keep it, and then my do the right thing would kick in and I would tell them.
Otherwise I would feel too much guilt.

flurrious said...

For $600, I would go back regardless of the size of the store. For less than that, I would pocket it, but the question is how much less. I once went back to Macy's when the salesperson mistakenly didn't charge me for a $100 skirt (and she ended up giving me 10% off everything I bought that day as a thank you), but recently I was in Target and didn't get charged for a $22 item, and I said nothing. The cashier had scanned several items more than once that I caught and corrected, and when looking at the receipt after I left the store, I realized that she hadn't charged me for one item. I figured the amount of time I spent supervising her dumb ass was worth the $22. Completely false rationalization, but I'm sticking with that.

stinkypaw said...

Marius: Hmmm... interesting...

Monkey: Also interesting...

channeal: Thank you for "delurking" for this.

Pigeon: You're not a bitch, you're a bird!

Momster: If untraceable... interesting.

wisegirl: Thank you for "delurking" as well!

kara: Guilt is religion-free or relilgion-full, whichever way you look at it! ;-)

Charlie: Re-read my answer to Marius'

lizgwiz: Also interesting...

Periwinkle: Why am I not surprised?

Grail: Here goes the guilt again...

flurrious: Have I told you lately how much I love you, woman?