Ethical dilemma:
You’re paying for your purchases at the local chain bookstore. The clerk rings up your purchases, then tells you an amount that’s wildly inaccurate in your favor. The clerk should realize this, based on the number of books you are buying, but she doesn’t. Do you say anything?
Are there other people in line behind me who can add?
Yep, you say something 🙂 The only time I’d think twice is if I was someplace that served food and I was concerned about revenge.
Uh, I just glanced at the psot again and realize I skimmed over the “in your favor” part. In that case, I would usually say something unless the service had been especially bad or I’d been overcharged by the same store in the past.
I usually say something like, “I’m pretty sure I owe you more than that.” I don’t want to overpay, so I shouldn’t allow myself to underpay. It’s got to work both ways.
it’s a chain, right? how about “wait a second while i run and get some more books”?
no, i usually try to be honest about that kind of thing…
Yes, you speak up. It’s a pleasant surprise to see so many speaker-uppers. i expected more “it’s not wrong unless I’m caught” answers.
I would speak up, I was (mainly) kidding….part of it is, I used to be a cashier in another life, and if it doesn’t all add up at the end of the day, it’s your job to sit there and figure out how you screwed up.
i once did this in a restaurant, in which i was given change over & above the tab by several bucks, no major big deal but i understand the having to balance out the till thing. ended up having to *argue* with the girl, who was clueless. however, i’d do it again, (point out errors) but not proceed to argue. that part was just silly.
What did you do??
“In that case, here’s an extra big tip. Remember me when they’re balancing the till tonight.”
I’d speak up. I’ve even given change back after receiving more change than was warranted.
Of course, I’m not sure how many people are likely to come out to say “I’ll take the deal and run” now that so many have weighed in on the more honourable route. =)
Seeing as how the checker might have to pay for this error out of her/his own pocket, I’d have to say, “I would point out the error.”
…so. if the checker has to reimburse the store, ignoring the error is stealing, but if the store has to eat the loss, it’s okay…(?) Self-righteousness aside, this happened to me once. I argued with the clerk for about five minutes to get him to take more money; he spoke with a thick foreign accent and kept saying I was the one who didn’t understand. Finally he amended the total. Then I walked outside and read on a sign in the window that they offered volume discounts. Not really; I just made that up. I hoped an anecdote would drive home my point.