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| Brown Mouse says - Are you talking to me? |
Mom and I did a speed trip to Costco yesterday stocking up on all the items she needs for the next few weeks and for the first time ever something really weird happened. At Costco Canada they have a guy at the door who checks your receipt against items in a cart then lets you go out into the parking lot after you have paid. He spotted an item in our cart that the cashier missed.
So there we were at 4pm on a busy weekday with many people in the lineup behind when he realized that we had not paid for something. The poor kid (looked about 17) didn't really know what to do. A co-worker told him to call a supervisor. In the mean time I suggested we pull over to the side so he could let some of the 10 people in the lineup behind go through - plus I felt like we were becoming a bit of a spectacle.
Soon a supervisor rushed over, filled out a little slip, led me to a till and put the charge through. I felt weird like all the other customers were looking at us as if we were trying to steal. I simply left the large heavy items in my cart like they tell you to rather than putting them on the counter. What did they miss? Five litres of dish soap. Yes, I had to pay for it. Really, based on what went on, I kind of felt that they should have done something for me as this was not my fault at all. How obvious is a large jug of dish soap in a cart? Not really an item that should have been missed.
So, has this ever happened to you? I left there feeling a bit weird,. Am I over analyzing it? Not a great shopping experience.
Can't say that this ever happened to me, but way back when I was a teacher, a colleague was overpaid on her checks for several months. When the error was discovered, they called her in. She was nervous, so I went along with her. They said she had to pay the overage back. I said since it wasn't her fault, couldn't something be worked out. They said no, but they did send her a bouquet of flowers the next day at school. At least that was something. - Margy
ReplyDeleteThat is really lousy, I really hope the HR person who was responsible for pay got a talking to as people tend to spend what they get paid and to find out afterward they were overpaid is really crappy.
DeleteIt's happened to me...two cases of water at 3.45 each and one was not charged for...went back and paid for...felt like I was trying to steal something, but honest I wasn't!
ReplyDeleteYeah, like you could put a case of water under your coat lol :)
DeleteMy problem is usually that I pay for the things on the bottom of the cart and forget to unload them into my car. :-/ Glad you're feeling better. That photo of Brown Mouse is precious!
ReplyDeleteI have done that too. I try and check receipts when I get to the car now mostly due to overcharges though. This all happened before we got to the car so I didn't have time to look at the receipt.
DeleteNo,but I've had the alarms go off as I walked out of the doors in a store.I was horrified as everyone turned to look.A cashier just yelled .."Oh, it does that all the time". Too late,I was mortified.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I have seen that too. Really, you just let it continue to happen and make people feel like crooks rather than fixing it? Sheesh!
DeleteHappened at JC Penny's.... I bought 3 article of clothing for my daughter and one had one of those white clips on them that buzz as you go out....I had recipe in hand and they came rushing over to me like I was some criminal.... I had recipe in hand and I had paid for it but the cashier had not taken it off.... I did nothing wrong and showed proof I paid for it... they never apologized and I have never gone back....Since that has happened I make sure in all stores I go to that I have paid for everything...It really through me for a loop how they all rushed towards me... and never apologized..... Will never buy from them again...Lisa
ReplyDeleteOh that is really lousy. I would have gone back again either!
DeleteOh thank you for the precious photo of Brown Mouse - I love them from their beady little eyes to their little stumpy tails. We had one in the classroom for a couple of years - the kids were resonsible for feeding and keeping the cage clean. I actually bought a tiny hamster leash and the kids would take it out in the hallway. We made a lot of new friends that way - who doesn't love a hamster?? :)
ReplyDeleteHe brings us a lot of joy. This one is the tamest of all the ones we have had. Sometimes he will just snuggle with us if we let him, and not try and run away. Cute as a bug as they say.
DeleteI guess the person at the door, actually does work! I was recently at Costco with a friend; she had a cartful and I only had two items. As we were leaving the checkout I put the receipt in my wallet, but was too lazy to pull it out again. With all of our stuff intermixed in the cart, the person with the highlighter didn't notice my two items not being on her receipt!
ReplyDeleteI think he was kind of new and trying to do his job as best he could. I have had the same experience as you though in the past.
DeleteWall Mart has someone checking your receipt. It bother me that some of retail place now make the employees carrier there items in a see though bag.
ReplyDeleteTo make sure they don't steal anything. Well if they were paid a decent wage it would cut down on un-happy workers.
Not trying to promote steeling.
Coffee is on
I haven't seen them checking receipts at our Walmarts in Canada yet. We definitely have the greeters so if your stores in the USA are doing it I am sure that is coming here.
DeleteThat shot of Brown Mouse is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI've never had your particular experience. Have set off buzzers when exiting stores because the cashier didn't demagnetize a tag or remove the security clip. I HATE that!
I hate the buzzer think too. I used to have a somewhat expensive coat (a Christmas gift) that used to set off the buzzers all the time. Unfortunately they failed to remove the clip that makes the buzzers go off and it was somehow sewn into the jacket. I have since passed that one onto the thrift store.
DeleteIn the US, you are not obligated to stop for that. I walk right by and say "No Thank You." I don't know about the law in Canada, but in the US, a store must have a reasonable suspicion of theft to pull you aside and demand to search your bags. You can honestly walk by and say "No Thanks."
ReplyDeleteHm, good you bring it up. I have no idea what the legality of it is here in Canada, but generally Canadians are authority abiding bunch so am sure no one has challenged it, at least that I have seen.
DeleteIt's happened to us on a few occasions. I never think twice about it. It was the cashiers fault and they know that. We just go to the nearest register and pay. I never think anyone thinks we're trying to steal something, cuz at Costco that's pretty hard to do. Their error... Don't feel weird about it. :)
ReplyDeleteI tried to let it roll off my back but still, the attention, the whole experience was not great, they should rethink that policy.
DeleteGlad you are feeling better! No this hasn't happened to me. You are right it was an honest mistake, but they should not make such a spectacle out of it. I am not one who wants a lot of attention focussed on me anyways. Here's to better shopping trips in the future.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, hate the attention.
DeleteMy favorite game is to trip the alarms as you are leaving. So many times I have done this. One time at Christmas, I tripped the alarms and they pulled me over and went through everything and couldn't find out what it was. SO I just handed over my purse so they could check that I wasn't stealing. He said don't worry and I was on my way. Well later I saw on the news that people would steal something and then walk out with someone that looked honest. The thief would keep going and the honest person stops. Yup, someone brushed past me as I left the store. Rat B******!
ReplyDelete