How honest would you be in this sort of situation?

[likalaruku]

It depends on the mood I'm in & how high the bill is.

I go grocery shopping once a month & get a pretty hefty bill. I'm not sure how the clerk managed to forget to scan something as large as a box of cat litter, but nothing in it's price range showed up on the receipt, & that shit isn't cheap. I sure wasn't driving back to the store though.

Now if it's a cheap little family owned restaurant, then I'll say something.

 

[MagunBFP]

You're the one missing the point.

The companies who treat their employees so poorly don't deserve to stay in business, and therefore don't deserve customers doing nice things like offering to pay missed items on the bill. Andy Shady's decision is more morally reasonable, because ultimately it will support stores/managers/owners who actually care about employees and offer quality of service.

Back to OT, the customer should never be expected to pay for items on a missed bill. I agree with you OP about how it's the mistake of the waiter. Things like this happen ALL the time in shops/restaurants/like any service anywhere, and it's one of the things the store must be accountable for. The blame should go all the way to the top. I.E. If a waiter forgets to put it on the bill, then it's actually the manager's fault for not overseeing the smooth running of the restaurant or hiring an incompetent waiter, and the regional manager/CEO is responsible for hiring a good manager who makes sure their employees do well.

It makes sense to not pay, because as the consumer, it's a bit like "tough love" from a parent -- you shouldn't reward a restaurant that provides poor service (waiters who don't pay attention and charge wrong). Of course, the nicer thing to do is to point it out to the waiter so they become aware of their mistake so it hopefully won't happen again.

So punishing an employee who screwed up and effectively gave away money of the stores is mistreating that employee? Being honest shouldn't be expected it should just be something nice you do? The message I seem to be read from you is that the store/manager/owner is responsible for the fuckup directly so by not correcting it you're punishing them. What if they charge you for something you didn't order and the waiter realises it after you've already paid? Should he say nothing to punish you for making a mistake? or would you want him to let you know and give you back the extra you were charged? I mean surely you should be accountable for not overseeing your own money efficiently, if would be nice if the waiter made you aware of your mistake so it hopefully won't happen again, but really it's a bit like tough love from a parent.

As for a single mistake should be accountable all the way to the top, if when a cop pulls you over and is rude to you the blame for that should go all the way up to the President? Damn Obama, it's his fault the cop was a dick. Or if your iPod breaks then Tim Cook himself should be accountable because he didn't personally ensure factory worker #5467865 soldered every connection perfectly, or he didn't have the solder inspecting for impurites before it was used on an Apple product?

As for your last paragraph

It makes sense to not pay, because as the consumer, it's a bit like "tough love" from a parent -- you shouldn't reward a restaurant that provides poor service (waiters who don't pay attention and charge wrong).

What a massive justification, "I can feel good about stealing from them because I'm teaching them a lesson that they will never know about" Theft is theft, doesn't matter if they overlooked something or if you took it through deception. In the US the punishment for poor service is a tiny tip or no tip at all, if you're not willing to do that because you'll feel bad or "tips are expected" or whatever then not speaking up isn't an act of discipline, but deception by omission.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Depends how long or how far I had realise the product wasn't paid for.

If I was outside or near the place where it was then I would go back in and explain it wasn't paid for but if I was back at home and realise the mistake or half way heading back home then I would leave it. While I am in for honestly but time is a different matter.

Also it doesn't matter who is the blame for it, it's the right thing (moral) thing to do depending what your moral compass is.

 

[keiji_Maeda]

It happens to me regularly, while shopping or or occasionally at a restaurant, i'll bring it to the attention of the staff. Not out of any necessitated feelings of inherent goodnes, but rather because it feels right.

 

[Ryan Minns]

I do this a lot, mainly at Subway. They keep forgetting to charge me for my extras (Double cheese and bacon!) so I constantly have to remind them. Granted I'm extremely honest to the point as a child I would constantly dob myself in, as far as I was concerned it was what happened so why not retell it? Granted most of this was due to me thinking justice would prevail etc etc but when you have me and ONLY me saying someone else did something but you're admitting to what they claim you're kinda fucked.

 

[Yopaz]

I am pretty sure I would point it out, but if the food was awful or the service was bad I think I might have taken it as an apology and left them unknowing of their mistake.

 

[FamoFunk]

I'd keep quiet and hope they don't notice, I really cannot be honest in that situation.

With the supermarket one, if I notice before I pay, I'll add it on. If it notice after, it's mine for free unless a staff member points it out.

 

[Spinozaad]

When I notice it before the transaction, for example at the cash register in the supermarket or when checking the bill at a restaurant, I speak up.

If I'm in a hurry - and I don't really check the bill, and I only notice afterwards that they made a mistake - than I don't bother to return.

Although one time, when enjoying a sweet week in Vienna, me and my girlfriend noticed we did not have enough cash money on us to pay for all our drinks. I promised to return the day after as soon as they opened up for the day. The waiter was all kind of "yeah, sure, whatever. It's not like we turned a loss with our inflated prices anyway."

You should have seen their faces when I returned the next day, insisting I "give" them 20,- euros.

 

[T3hSource]

Consider the environment I live in is very very financially predatory. The suits and politicians take everything and give nothing, the majority of the working class get only minimum wage which is only enough for bills, food and nothing else! Gypsies will mug you if they get the chance, or the very least beg you for money. Everyone is petty and no one is happy.
So when I get a freebie, hell yes I keep quiet. I've had the bus give me a free ride about 7-9 times in the 13 years I've been traveling between my village and the town I study in.

 

[AngloDoom]

Unless it was a failing business that I loved and supported, I don't think I'd even hesitate to smile and hope I get away with it.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

In the restaurant situation, were I to get a free starter or something, I wouldn't mention that it was a freebie but I would tip as though I was charged. I wouldn't intentionally steal anything but I see somebody forgetting to charge you for something as a mistake in your favor; like getting an extra nugget when you order a 4-piece.

 

[Vrach]

Been there several times, always pay for it unless the service was really shitty (and I mean to the point of rudeness).

 

[SecondPrize]

Last weekend I went to stay with a friend for a few days that I hadn't seen for about 3 years. One evening we were wondering what to do for food so I suggested we go for a curry. We find an Indian restaurant and we each have a starter, curry, naan and a drink. When the bill comes we realize they've only charged us for one started but when the waiter comes over, we split the bill and both pay on card so pretty much got a free starter. We leave a nice tip and head on our way.

When I got back home from the visit I told my house mate about it and he said that, if that had been him, he would have said they'd left a starter off the bill. He told me that, once, he had done some shopping and left a magazine in the trolley by accident but only realized when he got outside so went back in to pay for it, because he's honest.

Thing is, him not paying for his magazine was his own fault for leaving it in the trolley, it wasn't the establishment that forgot to charge him for it.

So what would you do if you realize an item had been left off your bill at a restaurant? Would you tell them or keep quiet? Would you keep quiet if you realize you hadn't paid for something in your shopping trolley?

You should have paid for it, because you noticed it before paying and leaving. The bill you get isn't the word of god from on high, it's just a piece of paper with numbers on it, made by people capable of making a mistake. That one of your starters was left out does nothing to change the fact that you ordered and ate it.
Now, were you in the States i'd be all for it because you essentially traded the price of your starter for a larger tip to your waiter, and they get paid $2.13 an hour before taxes by their employers, so fuck the restaurant. I've never had anything unnoticed in a shopping cart but I've corrected totals which were off in may favor before.

 

[Abomination]

I would point out any such situation. Why? Because I can afford to. If I were constantly broke, I probably would not, but I am unsure.

That's pretty much my situation with one stipulation: did I feel the food I was served was worth what I was being charged?

Because there is no logistical support for negotiating the price of a meal once you've already eaten it.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

I would be conflicted about it, but ultimately wouldn't. If it didn't involve my money, I'd probably be honest, but being the cheap bastard I am, I'll take every discount I'm given.

 

[PatrickXD]

I've been given too much, or too little change before and I've always tried to point it out. So I guess if I were in a situation where they had just forgotten to add an item onto the bill I'd remind them of it and give them the money for it. That being said I wouldn't really criticize someone for not being quite so honest.

Also, 1000th post. Yay me!

 

[000Ronald]

Last weekend I went to stay with a friend for a few days that I hadn't seen for about 3 years. One evening we were wondering what to do for food so I suggested we go for a curry. We find an Indian restaurant and we each have a starter, curry, naan and a drink. When the bill comes we realize they've only charged us for one started but when the waiter comes over, we split the bill and both pay on card so pretty much got a free starter. We leave a nice tip and head on our way.

When I got back home from the visit I told my house mate about it and he said that, if that had been him, he would have said they'd left a starter off the bill. He told me that, once, he had done some shopping and left a magazine in the trolley by accident but only realized when he got outside so went back in to pay for it, because he's honest.

Thing is, him not paying for his magazine was his own fault for leaving it in the trolley, it wasn't the establishment that forgot to charge him for it.

So what would you do if you realize an item had been left off your bill at a restaurant? Would you tell them or keep quiet? Would you keep quiet if you realize you hadn't paid for something in your shopping trolley?

This has actually happened to me before, and I both pointed it out and paid in full.

It was a good meal, so I thought they deserved the full price for it. If it had been a terrible meal, I might have done differently, but I don't think someone who did something well deserves to be cheated out of payment because they forgot to ask you about it.

 

[Longstreet]

Keep quiet. It's simple, it's YOUR job to make sure all the bills and stuff are in order, if you fuck up, i am not gonna correct you.

Had a situation like this actually, my former girlfriend and I went on a 3 day vacation somewhere here in the country and we rented some bikes to travel to the beach and such.

When time came to pay the bill, they forgot to charge us for the bikes. I noticed it, payed what they did charge me for and walked away. Not feeling guilty in the slightest. Like i said, not my job to make sure you do your job correct.

 

[omega 616]

Fuck no!

I'll take any advantage I can in that situation. I remember I once went into a local corner shop for a £5 top up on my phone and some other bits, thing is there is no £5 top up for phones (I didn't know this before this indecent, so it wasn't a scam I was running).

So what happened was I took my stuff up to the till and he scanned the stuff and said "anything else?", I give him my phone top up card and 2 £5 notes and said "£5 on that please", he then put the 2 fivers in the till and tried to put £5 on the card, which obviously never happened, so he gives me a fiver and the card back presses some buttons on the till ... then gives me change of the £10 instead of £5.

I immediately saw what happened and said nothing. I know it sounds a little far fetched that a shop keeper just fucked up so blatantly but it happened. Went to another shop and got a £10 top up with the free fiver.

The way I see it is, it's better in my pocket than theirs. It's not very often life affords you little gifts, so take advantage while you can. What is going to happen if you say something? They say "oh thanks for keeping our profit margins up"? I doubt they will even remember you doing that for them in a week, so it's not like you will get a future discount or better service.

I guess if you believe in karma, then fair enough but there is no reward for being honest in that situation, just you giving money away.

 

[Lieju]

Probably not.
To be honest, I'm pretty bad at pointing out things like that whether the mistake was made for my benefit or not.