Ethical question, too much change back.
 

Hi all. I just bought some groceries and wanted $10 back. As I was using a debit card, the default amount back was $20 so I changed it to $10. Anyway, I was given a $20 back and the receipt reflected $10, as it should.

I know what's right, trust me. But money is tight, $10 is $10. What would you guys do?

I'd give it back to the cashier as discreetly as possible. You're right, money is tight but it would become especially tight for the cashier if they were to lose their job over this.

On the other hand, if you used a self-checkout line and the machine accidentally spat out a $20 instead of a $10 then I'd keep it without much of a second thought.

Money being tight can't excuse theft ethically, but this isn't as simple as ethics. Ethics are just general principles and have to be measured against a pragmatic view of consequences.

The immediate consequences of keeping the $10 would be that the store takes a $10 loss, and you feel guilty. The longer term consequences might be that you become more comfortable with adjusting your own personal ethics with personal gain and possibility of punishment. Are those worth $10 to you? If yes, then you might consider keeping the money. If no, then I think you should give it back.

I would give it back because it will cause a shitstorm at the end of the shift if you don't and I don't wish a shitstorm on my behalf on anyone that doesn't deserve it.

Well, Ladies and Germs, I just got back from the grocery store. I was able to get the $10 back to her before the end of her shift, so no harm done. She was pretty amazed. Lol.

Well Done! :)

Ha, ha. You're awesome. You just restored a little bit of her faith in humanity.

(Trust me, as a cashier, her current faith is probably pretty low.)

Yeah, I'm proud of myself. I know it was just $10, but I know I did the right thing. And there's zero-doubt in my mind that she made a mistake, so I made it right. I'm really happy that I caught her before the end of her shift. I kept pretty quiet about it, just quickly told her what happened and handed the ten to her. So hopefully, she's in no trouble.

Yeah, I have a personal policy of always correcting those sorts of errors. I once got out to the car in a department store parking lot before realizing I didn't get charged for one of the shirts I bought. Agonized briefly, then turned right around and went in and paid for it. It's not a moral thing, exactly, just that I want to be treated fairly and so I'm going to treat others fairly. One less person in the world out for whatever they can get from others can only be a good thing.

She is very cute, Looking back, should have folded a phone number into the ten dollar bill. Oh well, I'll be there again. That would be some nice Karma, Lol.

I've been told I'm too honest with this kind of stuff. I'd give the money back as soon as it happened by instinct, and then probably feel like a dumbass later...

^^ I've never had that problem ...

If I notice it when I'm given change, I'll correct the cashier. If not, I keep it. I'm not making a second trip back to the store to drop off the money. This also counts if I'm the one shorted, I'm not going back an hour later claiming I got shorted. I think that is a fair standard.

Wyo, you're a considerate guy. I'm glad that the cashier made the mistake with someone like you!

There you go! The good karma is bound to start flowing any minute now.

I don't think I would have made the trip back, mostly due to laziness. I'm sure it made that cashier's day to have a customer who didn't run off to the manager to complain about her mistake.

+1 for what kutulu said.

Personally I'd keep it but not for the normal reasons most might. To me it's a lot of anxiety to have to go back and talk to the person about it and it was their mistake. Just because I happen to benefit from a mistake does not mean I'm stealing. Yeah their are extremes and exceptions, but generally that's what I'd do if it was ~10$...especially since it goes the other way too; I've noticed mistakes once I got home from being overcharged/not given all my items.

^^ I don't necessarily quite agree with kutulu but I also do the exact same thing. Waaay too much time wasted and I NEVER check my change. This is because I don't make purchases above $20 anymore. If I were to check it and be shorted or advanced, I would let them know at the spot.