Ethical question, too much change back. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Wyodiver33 · 07-06-2009, 10:58 AM

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?

Manic_Skafe · 07-06-2009, 11:20 AM

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.

Willravel · 07-06-2009, 11:21 AM

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.

Lasereth · 07-06-2009, 11:54 AM

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.

Wyodiver33 · 07-06-2009, 11:54 AM

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.

Leto · 07-06-2009, 11:57 AM

Well Done!

Baraka_Guru · 07-06-2009, 11:58 AM

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.)

Wyodiver33 · 07-06-2009, 12:01 PM

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.

ratbastid · 07-06-2009, 12:12 PM

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.

Wyodiver33 · 07-06-2009, 01:46 PM

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.

Punk.of.Ages · 07-06-2009, 01:50 PM

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...

Xerxys · 07-06-2009, 02:54 PM

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

kutulu · 07-06-2009, 03:02 PM

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.

genuinegirly · 07-06-2009, 03:07 PM

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

Wrexify · 07-07-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyodiver33

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.

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.

Zeraph · 07-07-2009, 09:59 AM

+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.

Xerxys · 07-07-2009, 04:52 PM

^^ 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.

07-06-2009, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	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 like stuff.

07-06-2009, 11:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Manic_Skafe More Than You Expect Location: Queens	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. __________________ "Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian Last edited by Manic_Skafe; 07-06-2009 at 11:24 AM..

07-06-2009, 11:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	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. __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

07-06-2009, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	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. __________________ I like stuff.

07-06-2009, 11:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	Well Done! __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

07-06-2009, 11:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	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.

07-06-2009, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	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.) __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

07-06-2009, 12:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	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. __________________ I like stuff.

07-06-2009, 12:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	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.

07-06-2009, 01:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	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 like stuff.

07-06-2009, 01:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Punk.of.Ages Forming Location: ....a state of pure inebriation.	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... __________________ "The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion..." - Henry Steel Commager "Punk rock music is great music played by really bad, drunk musicians." -Fat Mike

07-06-2009, 02:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	^^ I've never had that problem ...

07-06-2009, 03:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	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.

07-06-2009, 03:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Wyo, you're a considerate guy. I'm glad that the cashier made the mistake with someone like you! __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

07-07-2009, 09:59 AM	#16 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	+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.

07-07-2009, 04:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	^^ 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.