Would you judge a friend for stealing?

[inkyspells]

So met up with a friend today.
She told me she had bought a knitted top and trousers from a store (I won’t name names but its not exactly known for its quality clothes)
She said she bought it before Christmas and after a hour of wearing it ,it went bobbly.
Its been all over Tik Tok going bobbly etc

Anayway she said she took it back and they wouldn’t return it as she removed label and said it was “wear and tare”
So she said she went in fitting rooms and swapped it for something else.

i just find this a bit wrong
Me personally would of just took the £20 loss not resort to stealing.
She doesn’t think it’s stealing but it is tho isn’t it…let’s be honest.
I don’t know ..would you feel the same as me or am I being precious?
The quality is rubbish and the prices have gone up
I don’t shop there much anymore.

Well, she obviously shouldn't have done that, but the shop also shouldn't have rebuffed her. The item must be fit for purpose and going baubly after one wash, provided washing instructions were followed, means they should have accepted the return as it was 'faulty/not fit for purpose'. It's unreasonable for them to expect the label to still be on it as it wasn't a standard return, it was being returned for being fault/not fit for purpose.

She should have dealt with it correctly by making a complaint to head office, and reporting them to Trading Standards.

I would judge but if she was great in every other way I wouldn't cull her.

I woukdnt go shopping with her tho!!

Yanbu if it's a deal breaker for you!

I'd think she was daft - not worth a criminal record for.

I wouldn't judge.

I can't steal. I just couldn't cope with the thought of getting caught.

But lots of people around me, including people earning good salaries, see stealing as a perk of self serve tills.

I don't agree and I was shocked at how many people around me admitted to stealing regularly.

Knitwear isn't going to go all bobbly after an hour's wear, however cheap it is.

Seems like she's a liar as well as a thief. Nothing but a common criminal in fact.

They judged it wasn't faulty and also wasn't re-sellable as it didn't have the label on, which was her fault for removing. I would be pissed off but No, I wouldn't steal another.
Reminds me of a time when I met with someone who I was thinking of engaging for some equity release advice for my MIL. After a long chat he told me gleefully how he'd bought some clothes in John Lewis and the cashier hadn't run through one item through the till, which he clocked immediately but didn't own up to. I messaged him afterwards to say "why would I possibly use you for financial advice now I know you're dishonest!"
I was gobsmacked that he thought nothing of telling a prospective client about this

It’s shoplifting and fraud I think? Cause of the swapping element.

Sounds like the shop were wrong not to take a sub standard item back. It should have lasted longer than it did. She should have stood her ground for a refund. I wouldn’t end a friendship over this.

I'd judge and I'm also thinking she's a bit daft as surely the stolen top will also bobble easily. Does she plan to steal another top each time the last one goes bobbly or something?

This.

But legally you can escalate without theft. Raise a chargeback with your bank, complain to head office etc? You don’t need to break the law to force compliance. But I work in a field where convictions would end my career.

I would judge on this occasion. I probably wouldn't if someone had no access to money and needed bread and milk, or some nappies or school shoes for their child. Though even then there's food banks (I often donate nappies or sanitary products to them), or the school maybe able to signpost for uniforms etc.

I'm with @dancingthroughthelightningstrike on this. But it would stay in the back of my mind that she is prepared to steal for petty revenge. I also think it's stupid to risk getting prosecuted for a £20 item. Stealing is never good but if you're going to stoop, at least make it worth the risk. And you really didn't need to know that so I would also bear in mind that she runs her mouth unwisely and be very cautious about what information I shared with her.

Theft and no I wouldn’t continue to be friends with a thief

Yes, it’s stealing.
And that’s exactly why prices are going up, because of people like her.

I couldn't care less. I just look at the people who call themselves above us. They have no morals whatsoever.

I wouldn’t consider it as an approach to poor customer service myself, she would have been better escalating, but I wouldn’t put it in the same category as stealing for fun or profit.

Stealing. It doesn't matter if £20 or £200. Andfrom the storrs viewpoint thousands of people stealing cheap outfits ,certainly add up. And she has no shame. Telling you!

Same as this.

id expect a £20 top not to go bobbly, £20 is a lot to pay for one wear and I wouldn’t regard that cheap.. The shop should have exchanged it IMO. I get her frustration over it, but I’d have found an email address on line and emailed in photos of receipt and of the jumper complaining that for £20 I’d expect it to last more than one wear. Then I’d stop shopping there for similar items

I wouldn't judge in this situation. I don't judge people easily.

I wouldn't do what she did, even though poor quality stuff like that is annoying.

Yes she is stealing and she is very stupid to pull that stunt. does she want to end up in shit?

I would not bother with her again as if she has done it once she will do it again and next time she could try and drag you into it - avoid her and block her on everything.

Does not justify theft.