What would you do? Hypothetical

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 22, 2003

I treat people, including businesses, the way I would want to be treated. 

I try to do the same thing but there are a couple of circumstances where I'll take the advantage I've been given.

One is when I point out the error and the person to whom I point it out gets nasty about it and insists they're right.

The other is when I get a quote from a vendor and have already included it in my bid to a customer. My feeling there is that the vendor is in the business of doing whatever it is they do and ought to be able to quote it properly. Additionally, MY word is now on the line with my customer and I need to stand by the price I've given. I shouldn't have to eat the difference because of a vendor's error.

If I haven't already quoted it as part of my bid to my customer, I'll always let them correct their error. I think that's about as fair as I can be.

If I mess up a quote and a customer accepts it I'll stand behind it even if it costs me hundreds of dollars or more. I just expect the same thing from my vendors. I think that's fair.

OkeeDon · Sep 22, 2003

You stole my thunder on the McDonalds experience. If they charge too little or give me too much change, I can see that immediately and will let them know they're cheating themselves.

But, when it comes to the food order, especially if I've been through the drive in, I just accept the mistake. Every once in a while, I get two sandwiches or fries in the bag instead of the one I ordered. I know what will happen (by company policy) if I take it back - they'll throw it away. So, I eat it. It bothers me a little (usually until I take the first bite) because (a) the manager doesn't know of the mistake, so can't take corrective action, and (b) I got something I didn't pay for. By the time I get done with the sandwich I've gotten control of my conscience.

But, on anything more substantial, I would (and have, many, many times) correct the mistake.

MikePA · Sep 22, 2003

would you be so inclined to accept the error if it was in the retailers favor?
My goal is to (1) Get what I paid for and (2) Pay for what I get. In other words, an error free transaction with the retailer.

PhilNH5 · Sep 22, 2003

Mike,
Yes I agree. I think my last post may not have been as clear as I should have. You were saying you treat others as you like to be treated. I was agreeing and quoted the garden web poster - about seeing it from the other side ie. how you want to be treated.

Phil

GaryM · Sep 22, 2003

( One is when I point out the error and the person to whom I point it out gets nasty about it and insists they're right. )

That's a good point and I agree that if they get nasty all bets are off.

MikePA · Sep 22, 2003

Phil, now I understand. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

TresCrows · Sep 22, 2003

Last Fall Atwoods put Winchester Wildcat 22 ammo on sale for 9.99 for a brick of 500. I got down there as soon as I could but the shelves were nearly bare, there were about 10 bricks left. I grabbed two and went to the counter. It was semi busy but not really crowded. I plopped them on the counter and the female working the counter I had seen before and knew she was like assistant, assistant, associte, member manager or some such. Well, she rang up two dollars plus tax. I said---wait---that is not right---it should be 9.99. OK, she explains to me how I am wrong, I insist and even show her that the boxes inside have the same bar code. She is angry now at me and the people behind me are stomping their feet and telling me to pay up and get out "type" looks and verbage. You know--trouble maker. The manager is right there and he is acting the same why-=--I AM THE TROUBLE MAKER. I insisted on paying the correct price and they took my money and not even a thankyou. SOOOOOOO, being slow to anger but hellfire once I get mad I was lighting off about the time I reached the car, did a relay handoff of the ammo to my wife and marched back into the store, picked up the remaining eight bricks and --guess what. I went to the same idiot cashier, with the manager standing beside her, plopped them down---and paid exactly 8 dollars plus tax for 800 .22 rounds. I then called corporate Atwoods and complained and told them the entire story. They thanked me and now the store has a better manager it seems, maybe he and she eloped or something, and I still have nearly 1000 rounds of ammo for a very cheap price. J

Inspector507 · Sep 22, 2003

This was not exactly a retail sale, but a restaraunt meal. 3 adults had meals with a few adult pops as well. Bill that came was for $57+change. Gave the waiter the debit card, came back with the receipt for me to sign. Holy cow........the total now was $22.57. What'd I do...??? Knowing the $35 was coming out of the waiters pay, I fessed up and paid the correct amount. I usually check my purchases in line at the drive-thru, I know that pi$$es a few off but... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I count my change and try to return any overage I get.

SOMETIMES they look at me as a nice guy, other times a trouble maker for holding up the customers behind me.

TresCrows · Sep 22, 2003

Oh, Atwoods told me to keep the ammo, seems there had been something like 500 bricks sold at that store apparently for 99 cents per brick over the sale period, save for the two I insisted on paying correct price for. I shop there regular still but I noticed the ammo counter now has the correct price on the Wildcats. J

IndianaPaul · Sep 22, 2003

Funny you should ask..... Couple of Saturdays ago, went into a local retailer in my small town with my two kids in tow. New kid working the register. Rings up everything, then proceeds to give me $10 too much change back. I point out that I had paid with a $10, not a $20. He proceeds to argue that no, he gave me the correct change.

Leave the store shaking my head, get in car, explain to the kids what had happened. Call store owner at home and tell him that when the register comes up $10.00 short tonight, he should require the kid handling register to call me at home and explain that....ummmm, yes sir, I did give you too much change.

They are closed Sunday, so Monday morning he calls me at office to apologize and make arrangements to pick up the money. Knew I could have had even more fun with him at that point, but decided he had suffered enough as it is. Besides, I know the owner well enough to know that by 10:00 that MOnday everyone in the coffee crowd had been told.

Paul