[Cody Dawg]

If you are shopping and slip something into your pocket knowingly and willingly and walk out without paying for it - on purpose - that is shoplifting or stealing, of course.

However, what if you are at the grocery store and you put beer underneath the cart and the bagger is supposed to pull it out and have the grocery store clerk scan it and ring it up...and he doesn't? Then you drive home and discover it is not paid for.

Is that stealing?

Should I then drive all the way back and pay for it?

I'm just curious.

[rjenkinson]

so you accidentally left the store without paying for an item. since you didn't pay for the item, it does not belong to you, meaning you should return to the store and pay for it. it only becomes stealing after you realize your mistake and decide not to return to the store.

-r.

[isao bered]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Should I then drive all the way back and pay for it?

I'm just curious.

sounds like you have in issue with your conscience. why not just call the store and ask the manager how the store would have you handle the situation?

be well.

laeth

[OldManMac]

Yes that is stealing, even if it's not intentional. You didn't pay for it.

[rickey939]

That is stealing. And I know a thing about stealing.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Well it is their fault so I say a case of beer will alleviate any guilt.

[Cody Dawg]

I was going to drive back. They closed at 10 o'clock PM though and I called and no one answers the telephone.

[andi*pandi]

It depends what the worth of the item is, vs the hassle I think. Your conscience must decide... but once I was purchasing a whole armload of clothes etc, including a messenger bag, which I kept slung over my shoulder while I piled my arms high. When I got to the counter I dumped everything down but forgot about the bag. The clerk didn't notice it, I was so tired from shopping I forgot about it, and I walked out with it. Says something about how comfy the bag was I forgot it was there. It was only when I got to the car I realized I'd never paid for it. Of course I go back in to pay, the security guard gives me a look, so I FEEL like a shoplifter, the clerk makes me feel like a shoplifter while she rings it up... I didn't even want the thing at the end, just OUT. :/

your mileage may vary.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

The question is... would Jesus drink the beer?

[Cody Dawg]

That is stealing. And I know a thing about stealing.

I didn't steal a base, Rickey!



Anyway, I'm not sure what I think. They should have rung it up. They didn't. They are not going to reimburse me for gas to drive back. I have to put my baby in the car and drive back tomorrow - 10 minutes each way - to pay for beer that they should have rung up the first time?

I'm actually kind of pissed off, but yes, stealing bothers me.

[ghporter]

Most of the grocery stores around here have special reminders for both shoppers and checkers to check the underbasket for items. It's a real problem, and not really because there are tons of people intentionally walking out with stuff on the bottom of the cart, either. It's a matter of noticing and remembering, or maybe remembering and noticing.

Either way, if you did roll out with unpaid-for merchandise accidentally, going back and explaining the situation AND PAYING FOR THE MERCHANDISE is always a good idea.

[Cody Dawg]

It was $11.89 for a 12-pack of Warsteiner beer.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I didn't steal a base, Rickey!

Phew, thank goodness...that would have been really bad!

[mdc]

the same thing happened to me, but with bottled water. we had 2 cases under the trolley, and we forgot about it. when we got home and realized that we didn't pay for it, we phoned the shop and they thanked us for phoning but said it was okay.

[Dork.]

I don't think I would go back and deliberately pay for something small that was missed at checkout unless I notice it right away -- i.e. if I notice it in the parking lot, I'd go back and rectify the situation, but if I notice after I get home I'd just chalk it up to the universe catching up to my good karma or something.

To be fair, though, if I notice a discrepancy in the other direction, I'd honestly do the same thing. I've noticed grocery items that got double-scanned on the register receipt after I got home, and I didn't drive back to the grocery store to get my $3 back.

What constitutes "small"? I don't know, but $12 beer is probably at the borderline. I'd keep it. Then I'd return the bottles to the same store to get my refund.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

The question is... would Jesus drink the beer?

He'd probably turn it into some of the best wine ever made.

But seriously, to answer your question you ask so frivilously: Yes, He probably would, His first public miracle is turning water into wine. He wouldn't drink enough to get drunk though.

ON TOPIC: My wife and I once did what Cody Dawg did but with some soda pop. We put it on the bottom shelf of the cart and after going through the register, putting the groceries in the car, driving home and getting the groceries out, did I realize I never put the pop on the counter of the register. I checked the receipt, and sure enough, we wern't charged for the pop. The next day I stopped to pay for it, so I went to the service counter and asked for the manager. I told him what happened and that I wanted to pay for the pop. He said, "our mistake, the pop is free". He then asked who the cashier was. I knew what he was getting at, he probably wanted to reprimand the cashier for not looking for items on the bottom shelf of the cart. I didn't want her to get in trouble so I told him I didn't remember. He then wanted to see my receipt because he could determine it that way. THAT is where I had my true dillema(sp?). I think I made a mistake at this point because I refused to show it to him and he got quite mad. I just turned around and walked out. I am still not sure I did the right thing by not showing him the receipt. I know I did the wrong thing by lying and saying I didn't know who the cashier was , because I did know who it was.

[phantomdragonz]

I work at a grocery store, and honestly if I had a customer call me and say that they forgot about the case of water/beer/ whatever and if it did not make it on their order I would say dont worry about it...

or you could call them and say you forgot and you will bring in the barcode next time you go shopping I bet they would appreciate that....

it really all depends on how much you shop there, if the would recognize you because you go in all the time, I bet they would not give a fawk... it's basic customer relations, give them the case for free and they will always come back, unless you screw them some other time...

all the cashier needs is the barcode on the case, at VERY least the number under the barcode, but it would help the cashier if you had the whole thing so they can just scan it.

Zach

[jonasmac]

Cody, it would be stealing, if you decided to keep the booze without paying.

[torsoboy]

I was shopping at ACE Hardware with my 2 year old boy the other day and I bought a quarter pound of nails [bought in bulk] that should have cost me $.35 or so, but the cashier was not extremly inteligent and rang it up at $.07. I had already corrected her mistake with another half pound of different nails (twice) that were about $.50 for the half pound and I was tired of trying to help her get it right, so I left knowing that I got the nails cheaper than they should have been... saving me a total of about $.25. My repayment plan is to go in and buy some more nails, write up the weight to be slightly higher than what it actually is (they don't have scales at the checkout), and get my $.25 back to them. Hopefully it will be a different cashier or I may have to go back again!

It's only $.25 but stealing is stealing.

[brapper]

You're paying with guilt. So drink up.
Seriously though, if you really feel bad call and ask for the manager and see what they say.

[demograph68]

Thanks for the tip> I'll keep that in mind. (Put the more expensive items under the cart.)

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

The question is... would Jesus drink the beer?

[demograph68]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Jesus is sleeping.

[Kevin]

[Doofy]

This exact thing has never happened to me, but there's been instances of the cashier giving me too much change. I tend to shop at the same small stores on a regular basis, so just let them know and give it back to them when I'm next there (even if it's only ten pence). At small stores this works both ways - whenever I need something but haven't got cash handy, the stores let me have it anyways 'coz they know I'm not going to rip them off.

Cody, next time you're passing the store go see the manager like Railroader did.

[Kevin]

Cody the fact that this is bothering you should tell you that your conscience is in the right place.

[Cody Dawg]

Now I've slept on it.

Here is the thing: I am pissed off about it. I have to jump through hoops like driving back, pointing out that beer wasn't paid for, yada, yada, yada.

I'm not going to say a thing to anyone.

HOWEVER, the next time I buy beer at the store, I'm going to tell her to ring it up twice because I got it the last time for free.

I'm not going to load up my car and drive all the way over there (baby and small child and all), find a place to park, unbuckle the kids, put them in the cart, walk into the store in order to fix their mistake. The thought of it just annoys me beyond belief.

I'll just do it the way that I said.

I was just wondering what any of you thought, that's all.

[demograph68]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I was just wondering what any of you thought, that's all.

You should be ashamed. I'll see you in HELL!

[m a d r a]

are you lot for real?

so, you got a freebie. enjoy it, and deduct the money you should have paid for the beer from the money all the supermarkets owe you for the times you've bought food that's gone off after a couple of days because it had been kept at an artificially low temperature for so long... or for the times when what came out of the box was about half the size of and bore little resemblance to the glossy 'food-porn' picture printed on the package... or when your "natural" "healthy" product turned out to contain half the content of a chemist's laboratory - having god knows what effect on your health... or [in the case of frozen meat] when what you're left with after thawing it, has ended up weighing about half of what you originally bought coz it was injected full of water.... or those times when you've caved into pressure from the whining kids because the supermarket has strategically placed all the sweets, comics and toys right by the queue for the checkout....

c'mon folks. big business disnae have a conscience. why should you?

[residentEvil]

I've done it twice; once was beer, the other time was cat liter (two different stores, years apart). Both times I called (once the night of, the other the next morning). Both managers said thanks for letting them know and not to worry about it.

[Cody Dawg]

I'm not ashamed, though, you know?

I didn't do anything wrong.

And, now that I've read Railroader's post and the issue with the manager wanting to get upset with the cashier, I'm even more reticent.

Let me tell you something: This store is in a very affluent area. Milk is $4.89 a gallon. Bread is about $3.00 a loaf - average bread. I bought Skippy peanut butter last night, medium sized jar, it was $5.89. NY strip steaks are $12.89 a pound. It is the #1 store in the entire company for profit. They have valet parking for Pete's sake! The bagger boys tell me that they make about $100 a day in a 6-hour shift and $150 on a Saturday 6-hour shift. Do I feel like I'm shafting the little guy? NO.

[Cody Dawg]

m a d r a,

I am pretty much in line with your thinking, actually.

[m a d r a]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

...Let me tell you something: This store is in a very affluent area. Milk is $4.89 a gallon. Bread is about $3.00 a loaf - average bread. I bought Skippy peanut butter last night, medium sized jar, it was $5.89. NY strip steaks are $12.89 a pound. It is the #1 store in the entire company for profit. They have valet parking for Pete's sake! The bagger boys tell me that they make about $100 a day in a 6-hour shift and $150 on a Saturday 6-hour shift. Do I feel like I'm shafting the little guy? NO....

now you've got it!

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

HOWEVER, the next time I buy beer at the store, I'm going to tell her to ring it up twice because I got it the last time for free.

That'll do.

Originally Posted by m a d r a

are you lot for real?

c'mon folks. big business disnae have a conscience. why should you?

You've been cohabiting with the scallies for too long.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by m a d r a

c'mon folks. big business disnae have a conscience. why should you?

If you want anyone to have a conscience, you've got to have one yourself. The next time you're in the store, tell them they forgot to charge you for it. They'll probably tell you to forget about it (I've had it happen before), but at least you will have been honest.


On the other hand, it was Warsteiner, and they probably should be paying you to take it.

[Kevin]

I read somewhere about something that had to do with 2 wrongs not making a right or something.

[demograph68]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I read somewhere about something that had to do with 2 wrongs not making a right or something.

Do what I say, not what I do.

[Cody Dawg]

"Do what I say, not what I do" is what is wrong with half of the kids in the country.



Their parents don't give a damn about doing the right things and setting an example.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

"Do what I say, not what I do" is what is wrong with half of the kids in the country.



Their parents don't give a damn about doing the right things and setting an example.

Congratulations! You've just volunteered to load the kids into the Suburban and make a special trip back to the store to explain what's happened to the manager just so you can explain to your kids what you just did and why you did it.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by wallinbl

If you want anyone to have a conscience, you've got to have one yourself.

Quoted for emphasis.

[Cipher13]

That's not stealing. If you got home and realised, screw driving back to pay for it. It was their mistake... not if it was something like a case of beer. If it was a television, then sure.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by demograph68

Do what I say, not what I do.

Yeah.. basically the same point.

[wdlove]

Hi Cody,

My dear friend.

Yes, it would be stealing.

Chances are I wouldn't make a special trip. At my next visit then I would pay for the item.

[saddino]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Is that stealing?

Yes.

Should I then drive all the way back and pay for it?

No. Simply dump the beer in the trash. The store will count it as lost inventory, and you won't have to feel guilty about drinking it.

[Stradlater]

It's one thing if you conceal an item; however, it is almost always the responsibility of the person behind the counter to scan big items that reside under the cart. If you're actually feeling bad about it, then return it, but personally I don't think it's worth it.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by Stradlater

It's one thing if you conceal an item; however, it is almost always the responsibility of the person behind the counter to scan big items that reside under the cart.

I generally put them up on the conveyer belt when I put the rest of my groceries up there. I see it as my own responsibility to tell them what I'm buying.

Regardless, the simple answer is to inform the store the next time he is there. They will probably not bother collecting money from him, but he will have been honest and informed them. Problem solved.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by m a d r a

are you lot for real?

c'mon folks. big business disnae have a conscience. why should you?

My personal sense of morality is self-driven, not determined by outside forces. So whether or not someone I am dealing with behaves in an un-conscionable way does in NO WAY justify that sort of behavior on my part. At the end of the day I am responsible for my actions regardless of those around me with whom I interact. Stealing from a thief is still stealing.

[Stradlater]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy

My personal sense of morality is self-driven, not determined by outside forces. So whether or not someone I am dealing with behaves in an un-conscionable way does in NO WAY justify that sort of behavior on my part. At the end of the day I am responsible for my actions regardless of those around me with whom I interact. Stealing from a thief is still stealing.

But stealing is a conscious act. Don't let your conscience bother you if you didn't consciously try to acquire items without paying for them. I'm with madra; no one here is saying steal from big business because they rip you off, we're merely acknowledging that if big business, for once, happens to do the opposite, so let it be.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy

My personal sense of morality is self-driven, not determined by outside forces. So whether or not someone I am dealing with behaves in an un-conscionable way does in NO WAY justify that sort of behavior on my part. At the end of the day I am responsible for my actions regardless of those around me with whom I interact. Stealing from a thief is still stealing.

Indeed.

She is doing the right thing though. She is paying it back.

[Bandit240]

Im just wondering, is said beer still around or has it all been drank?

Now in your case i would just call and ask what they do in a case like that.