WalMart Shoplifting

[Bird]

I've had the same problem, Jim, with small items, and of course just do the same as you; hold them in my hand.

Chris, I can't recall ever accidentally shoplifting anything; however, I've many times called a cashier's attention to mistakes they've made in my favor. Since I call it to their attention if they make a mistake in their favor, I have to tell them when they make one in my favor, too.

A little over a year ago, just before Christmas 2006, I bought several strings of outdoor lights at our local Walmart. When I got home, I discovered I had one more string than was charged on the receipt (the cashier handled all of them and bagged them, but apparently one didn't get rung up). Later that day, I decided I needed about 3 more strings, so I went back to Walmart, got 3 and told the cashier to ring up 4 because of the earlier mistake. She did so, but I think she thought I was crazy.

The most recent error I thought was rather interesting. My wife wanted me to take our dog's quilt to a laundromat and wash it because our washing machine is a small one. The laundromat has change machines, including one clearly labelled to change a $20 bill and clearly shows that it will give you three $5 bills and 20 quarters. So I put a $20 bill in it, and it shelled out 80 quarters. So I wind up with $15 worth of quarters in my pocket and they're a bit heavy. I had to go to Walmart for something, so I went to the bank in the Walmart and asked a young fellow there (probably late 20s or early 30s) if he could use a bunch of quarters. I lined them all up on the counter; 15 stacks of one dollar each; i.e., 4 quarters in each of 14 stacks, and 3 quarters, 2 dimes, and a nickel in the 15th stack. Now his name plate showed his name and "Management Team". He counted the stacks, opened his cash drawer and handed me a $20 bill and a $5 bill. I said, "Whoa, that's not right." He said, "Well, you had fifteen dollars, didn't you?" I said, "Yes", and held out the two bills he had given me. He stared at them a few seconds, and then a light come on somewhere and he took the $20 and gave me a $10.

 

[Podunkadunk]

Bird,
Does that guy still work there and what's the address?

 

[Soundguy]

I'd say the string of lamps and the soda incedent are fairly close enough to count.

soundguy

I've had the same problem, Jim, with small items, and of course just do the same as you; hold them in my hand.

Chris, I can't recall ever accidentally shoplifting anything; however, I've many times called a cashier's attention to mistakes they've made in my favor. Since I call it to their attention if they make a mistake in their favor, I have to tell them when they make one in my favor, too.

A little over a year ago, just before Christmas 2006, I bought several strings of outdoor lights at our local Walmart. When I got home, I discovered I had one more string than was charged on the receipt (the cashier handled all of them and bagged them, but apparently one didn't get rung up). Later that day, I decided I needed about 3 more strings, so I went back to Walmart, got 3 and told the cashier to ring up 4 because of the earlier mistake. She did so, but I think she thought I was crazy.

The most recent error I thought was rather interesting. My wife wanted me to take our dog's quilt to a laundromat and wash it because our washing machine is a small one. The laundromat has change machines, including one clearly labelled to change a $20 bill and clearly shows that it will give you three $5 bills and 20 quarters. So I put a $20 bill in it, and it shelled out 80 quarters. So I wind up with $15 worth of quarters in my pocket and they're a bit heavy. I had to go to Walmart for something, so I went to the bank in the Walmart and asked a young fellow there (probably late 20s or early 30s) if he could use a bunch of quarters. I lined them all up on the counter; 15 stacks of one dollar each; i.e., 4 quarters in each of 14 stacks, and 3 quarters, 2 dimes, and a nickel in the 15th stack. Now his name plate showed his name and "Management Team". He counted the stacks, opened his cash drawer and handed me a $20 bill and a $5 bill. I said, "Whoa, that's not right." He said, "Well, you had fifteen dollars, didn't you?" I said, "Yes", and held out the two bills he had given me. He stared at them a few seconds, and then a light come on somewhere and he took the $20 and gave me a $10.

 

[Chuck52]

I've corrected errors stores have made in my favor, but lots more when they were against me! I like to think it's because they make more that way!

The last problem I had with Walmart was when my wife bought a couple of bathroom throw rugs of two different sizes. When she got home with them, they were both the same smaller size, even though one was in a bag marked as the larger size. So, since I was going to town, I took the wrong-sized rug in to exchange it. When I took it in, a nice little lady tagged it for me and said to go get the correct item, take it to Customer Service, and they'd fix everything. Of course, there were none of the larger size rugs available, so I went to Customer Service just to get the big $2 difference in price returned. The girl behind the counter listened to my story and refunded the whole price. I told her I was just due $2, and that really confused her, so she called her supervisor. I went through the whole spiel again, though it didn't seem as if the supervisor was paying much attention, and when she left after conferring with the original clerk, I was given an additional $2. I tried to give back the original money I had been handed, but the girl said that was mine. At that point I gave up and left the store with my small rug plus the purchase price plus $2. I decided they were paying me for my lost time.

Chuck

 

[Bird]

I decided they were paying me for my lost time.

Chuck, you just might be right. Not long ago I bought 3 cans of coffee at Walmart and noticed on the receipt that they were rung up at a higher price than the one posted. So I went to Customer Service where the lady issued a refund (credit on my credit card) for the difference in price plus $3. I told her that was too much and she said their policy was refund plus $1 per item that was overcharged. I don't know whether that was just our one store's policy or if it's company wide, nor do I know whether they still do that.

 

[Chuck52]

Well Bird, maybe that's what was happening. I know that the supremarket that gets most of our business does it that way. I recently bought a marinated pork tenderloin there because it was marked at about half price. I didn't pay enough attention at the checkout, and later found I had paid full price. When I took the receipt to the customer service counter, they found out that the price marked was not correct, but then gave me a full refund on the price anyway, so I got it for free. I have gotten refunds before at Walmart, but not full refunds like that.

Chuck

 

[dmccarty]

Its not theft if you did not INTEND to deprive the owner of their property. Pretty sure it has to be concealed to be shoplifting but it depends on the state.

I'll stop splitting hairs or is it hares?

Yesterday I get home and there is a grocery bag on the counter with a bulk plastic bag of sugar. I like to use Turbinado sugar with my coffee and a local food coop has it for $1 per pound in the bulk bins. The supermarket is $2.50 a pound so we get it at the coop. The wifey had gone to the coop and bought a few things including the sugar but when she got home she noticed that the sugar had not been wrung up.

She is going to take the sugar back to get charged so we can pay.

It will cost more to drive back to the store than the sugar is worth.

While I was at the regular supermarket I noticed a lady parking in the Handicap spot. Not sign on the rearview mirror. I'm eyeballing her. She puts up the sign and walks in the store with no problem. Body language said she knew she was playing the system. But we have hashed this one out before as well.

Later,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

At least if she had the sign she was technically legal. On the flip side.. she may have a medical condition that only effects her at certain times.. like leg or joint problems that come and go.. perhaps she could walk fine one day and not the next.. or walk fine for 30 min. then not the next. if so.. she may still be righfully entitled to the parking plaque and spot.. I got no problem with it as long as they got the plaque.. whether they need it every day.. or just 1 day.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Bird]

At least if she had the sign she was technically legal

Chris, I don't know all the state laws, but in Texas . . . the sign is issued for a specific person, not a specific vehicle. I used to have one in my car, but only for use when my Mother was in the car because it was issued in her name. My sister had that same sign in her car before I did. Of course, Mother was restricted to a wheelchair at the time. And in Texas, it would be illegal for me to park in a handicapped space, even with the sign hanging on the rear view mirror, unless the person to whom the sign was issued was in the car at the time. I'd be inclined to think that law's about the same in other states. At least it seems the right way to do it to me.

 

[texbaylea]

Chris, I don't know all the state laws, but in Texas . . . the sign is issued for a specific person, not a specific vehicle. I used to have one in my car, but only for use when my Mother was in the car because it was issued in her name. My sister had that same sign in her car before I did. Of course, Mother was restricted to a wheelchair at the time. And in Texas, it would be illegal for me to park in a handicapped space, even with the sign hanging on the rear view mirror, unless the person to whom the sign was issued was in the car at the time. I'd be inclined to think that law's about the same in other states. At least it seems the right way to do it to me.

The only thing that those of us that legitimately have handicapped placards can do is to report apparent violators.

Handicapped Parking Fraud - Handicapped Parking Violators - Help Make a Difference

They do send the reports to DMVs nationwide. Like the elderly relative prescribing chicken soup for any and all ailments - can't hurt, might help!