MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Alan give the laptop back?

philgee

Toughie - if it went through at say £50 less than advertised, I don't think I'd have a problem, but I don't think I could let it go without saying anything at £3.99.

I remember during the fuel crisis in 2000, I put £30 of petrol in my car at Morrisons, and in the chaos at the till, it went though at £3 (card machine was not linked to tills back then). I didn't notice until later when I got home, thought about going back, but must admit I never did.

alouise32_2

I would take it with out feeling bad, and with the £396 i had saved i would book a holiday on teletext and sit by the pool surfing the web, with no sense of guilt when i used it but with glee at the bargain laptop and holiday i had acquired for the bargain price of £399, as for the store You snooze you lose!!

Henwen

Think of the poor cashier - he/she may be sacked or have the difference deducted from their salary. You went there expecting to pay £399 (and, being a good MSE-fan, after saving up and/or buying from the shop with the cheapest price). Why should you have a windfall at the trainee's expense?

Moneysaving? Definitely in favour. Unfair advantages over individual sales staff? No way. Have a heart.

alouise32_2

Aspal wrote: »

I am probably really going to regret posting this, having seen how much debate and arguing has been thrown up already........but I know someone who had something similar happen to them....

A friend of a friend purchased 2 PSPs and a DS Lite (or might have been other way round...) at Game along with some other stuff using her kids Xmas money. Cashier scanned 1st PSP then put it in bag, scanned other bits, then put 2nd PSP in bag without scanning it (presumably didn't realise she was buying 2 and thought it was one that had been scanned). She didn't say anything, and kept it, even though she knew total was £100+ less than it should have been, and later went back in and spent the rest of the money on games for it.

I would do exactly the same thing, the cashier should be paying attention!:T

mrg9999

katecheshire wrote: »

Wouldn't you feel really shady every time you used it?
And what if it broke or got stolen - would you expect a replacement or the full amount back? (not much chance with your 3.99 receipt!)

Kate
If it got stolen, insurance new for old would replace it.
If it broke, you've only lost 3.99, you could probably sell it for parts on ebay for £100.

a win, win situation.

sluggy1967

A.Jones wrote: »

The original suggestion came from someone that thought it is good if you get a 40p tin of beans for 4p because of a pricing error.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11985555&postcount=10

What price does the mistake have to be made at for something to change from being a good deal, to being theft?

Incidentally, what if the buyer is paying by card (presumably would be, because they think its £399), looks at the screen when typing in their pin and, having poor eyesight, thinks the price says £399 and doesnt realise it's actually £3.99? Is it still theft?

sluggy1967

adamski82 wrote: »

The Theft Act 1968 Section1 (1) states that a person is guilty of theft if: he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.

He has done so as he realised the shop assistants mistake at the time of purchase and failed to act on it.
Therefore he should pay the full price.

Regards your local constable.

I would love to see this taken to court, at the end of the day, the customer HAS A RECEIPT. Although it is stated in the scenario that he realised his mistake, he could claim he didn't realise, and it would be difficult for the store to prove otherwise. I wouldn't convict if I were a juror!!!

sluggy1967

lindsayg wrote: »

Absolutely. Some poor bod in a low paid job made a mistake which will probably get taken out of their wages. Which given it's nearly £400 of mistake will probably take two weeks.

If anyone thinks they could use their new, cheap laptop with a clear conscience when they let someone else who made a simple error pay so badly for it, then good luck to them. I only hope someone makes you pay so severely for your mistakes in future.

Saving money is one thing. Being a b*st*rd is quite another...

(and yeah, I do know it's hypothetical, I'm just sayin')

:A

Legally, are employers allowed to deduct mistakes from their employees wages? If so, isn't this a form of theft? If so, why should a customer have any morals about "stealing" from a shop with such appaling work ethics?

A.Jones

sluggy1967 wrote: »

Legally, are employers allowed to deduct mistakes from their employees wages? If so, isn't this a form of theft? If so, why should a customer have any morals about "stealing" from a shop with such appaling work ethics?

As they were placed in such a situation on the first day, the trainee could easily claim the mistake was due to a lack of training, and that they should not have been put in such a situation with no supervision or training.

ssgarri4

I am suprised at the amount of people that wouldnt give the laptop back!!!! stealing is stealing on any scale and talking yourself into stealing seems very easy for alot of you!!!!!

'Its their mistake' is not an axcuse for stealing. Honesty is something that this world lacks and that most people lack. How infuriating to know that most of you would kick me or anybody else while i was down. ( and if somebody has done that to you , it is not a reason to do it to them) treat everybody how you would love to be treated please please please!!! think!!!!