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AIBU?

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Original poster

to keep extra item delivered from shop in error?

133 replies

CookingCabbage · 20/12/2016 09:39

OK - This is actually my fault, not the shop's error. I will explain:

Ordered three identical multi-aperture photo frames from a well-known department store. Will be given as Xmas presents to relatives. Went to the store to 'click and collect'. When I got home and opened the plastic wrapping there were only two identical boxes in there.

Felt really annoyed that one is missing. Opened one up and put photos in - took ages to resize the pics and fit them but looked ace.

Went back to the store and explained they had only given me two frames. Was quite panicky as only 1 week until Xmas and needed that exact frame as photos printed in sizes to fit it. Also, it's an inconvenient journey to get to the store (live out in sticks). Store Manager gave me 15% off for inconvenience.

Went and collected third frame next day. Got home and unwrapped the remaining two boxes, and........there was TWO in the second box. So now I have FOUR frames.

It may sound silly that I did not open the second box originally, but the boxes were both the same size (quite narrow) and the frame in the first box was wrapped in bubble wrap - whilst the frames on the second were squeezed in, with no protective wrapping at all.

Do I own up and take the fourth frame back, or keep it for myself? I know everyone is going to say take it back probably, but please try to imagine what you would do.

OP posts:
QuimReaper · 20/12/2016 11:30

I never understand why people ask MN these things. Everybody I would keep it in a heartbeat which I assume is what you want to hear, but anyone who's been here more than three days knows you'll always get far more shock-horror how-could-you posters.

TheNoodlesIncident · 20/12/2016 11:31

If you ring them up with your card handy, explain and say you'd like to keep it and are prepared to pay, most likely they will turn down your payment offer.

So you'll be able to keep it with a clear conscience. And there's no softer pillow than a clear conscience, is there...?

DeepanKrispanEven · 20/12/2016 11:31

For goodness sake, take it back. Otherwise it's theft.

Phalenopsisgirl · 20/12/2016 11:31

Call them to let them know but explain you won't be making a special trip to return it but could return at some point in the future, they will very likely say you can keep it, then you won't have any nagging guilt. I used to work in retail and when similar things happened we just told the customer to enjoy. It would be different if this was a high value item but it won't be worth their bother.

diddl · 20/12/2016 11:32

So they had actually sent you what you ordered, you went to the store & they gave you discount for your error??

Of course you should return it!

Can't believe that you didn't open everything to check.

BeingATinselTwatItsABingThing · 20/12/2016 11:36

I'm afraid I'm on the side of this counts as theft. I had to read the OP a couple of times to understand what happened and I don't understand why you wouldn't open both boxes before trekking out.

I was once in a BHS buying some Christmas presents. They used to do a discount of like up to 30% so I had worked out how much the pre-discount price was but not the discount price before going to the till.

I was served by a new employee so there were two of them stood there. One scanned and one packed my bag. As one of the gifts was alcohol related and I look about 12 the newbie stopped to ask me for ID. The other assistant kept packing. I was shocked at how good the price was for everything but didn't think much of it. It was only when I got home and was telling my DP about the good discounts and looking at the receipt that I realised they hadn't scanned one of my items. I rang them, because I couldn't in good conscience keep it, and they told me not to worry about it.

Phalenopsisgirl · 20/12/2016 11:40

Ah yes re reading it I see .... I thought the shop had provided 2 frames twice so they had made the error but I see that there were 3 frames originally you just hadn't checked the box. In which case I'd return the extra with apologies.

OneADayAndThenWhat · 20/12/2016 11:48

I'm not clutching my pearls Grin but it wouldn't cross my mind not to take it back. You could pop it in the post for a few quid or wait until you are going in that direction.

I actually get more frustrated with people who are 'fake' honest than people who happily admit that they don't care and would keep it. Once you start trying to justify it you start to sound a bit dodgey. 'Oh I would take it back because I'm an honest person but, but, but.....'

If you are dishonest then at least be honest about it Wink

eatsleephockeyrepeat · 20/12/2016 11:55

Meh, I'd keep it. More important things to worry about than having accidentally robbed a national department store of a single picture frame.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/12/2016 12:01

I don't believe half of the 'take backers' because of the pure faff involved in reality.

What you should/could do OP is contact the store and tell them of their mistake, giving them the opportunity to properly arrange collection or return - or to tell you to keep it.

That's all you need to do. You will have done your bit, it was not your error.

Freshprincess · 20/12/2016 12:02

I had this with a wedding present, they delivered two of the same thing. They told me to keep it, because it was more hassle to get it back into their system.

I might phone and explain and ask them if they wAnt it back. They probably don't.

PuppyMonkey · 20/12/2016 12:07

YABU to start a thread like this, lesson learned I hope OP Wink

Happyinthehills · 20/12/2016 12:08

Take it back next time you're nearby. It was your error and you'd probably remember that when you looked at the photos. Alternatively if you want to keep it, call the store and offer to pay, they may say keep it.

Bobkinyoyo · 20/12/2016 12:08

I'd keep it, I am obviously morally bankrupt Confused

Abetes · 20/12/2016 12:13

It's your fault, not theirs. They acted in good faith, particularly compensating you for your inconvenience. Now that it is your fault, you really should take it back. It might well have been a mistake in the first place, but now it's stealing.

DeepanKrispanEven · 20/12/2016 12:14

What you should/could do OP is contact the store and tell them of their mistake, giving them the opportunity to properly arrange collection or return - or to tell you to keep it

But it's not their mistake, LyingWitch, it's OP's.

Standingonmytippytoes · 20/12/2016 12:16

Haven't RTFT but it sounds like you purchased a set of two them went up and got another set of two I'm assuming they don't come in set of one's so therefore you got the correct frame check online and make sure this is the case.

It's strange that 2 came in the one box.

MadisonAvenue · 20/12/2016 12:17

Give them a call and explain what has happened, if they want it returned then say that you'll do that when you're next near to the store but I think it's highly likely that they'll say that you can keep it.

I once went into Argos to buy a PlayStation (the original one, it's going back some years!) for my sons for Christmas, to this day I have no idea how it happened but when I got home there were two in the bag. I'd bought quite a few toys and hadn't noticed one extra box, and the assistant and myself were chatting away while she was serving me so both of us were a bit distracted. Had a slight dilemma for all of two minutes about whether I should keep it and let them have one each but just couldn't do it so returned it to the store. The manager came out to see me and was very grateful and gave me a £20 gift voucher for being honest.

tootsietoo · 20/12/2016 12:24

Keep it! It really is not worth the faff to send it back. I had two identical items delivered last week - the shop's fault, not mine. The options were either to return one and get a refund, thus making the extra one free, or kept both (I did the latter, as it will be useful to have a spare).

TheProblemOfSusan · 20/12/2016 12:29

I don't think it's on to keep it without saying anything - I would however phone them in the full expectation that they would tell me to keep it, then be really irritated if they said I had to send it back.

The fact that they're on sale and how busy it is this time of year with Christmas and the sales etc. probably mean that they're just going to say thanks for letting us know and don't bother sending it back.

Christmasheartache · 20/12/2016 12:32

I'd keep it.

Ahickiefromkinickie · 20/12/2016 12:32

Just call them to tell them you have an extra.

If they ask you to return it, say yo can't buy they can come and collect it on the weekend.

I doubt they will.

QuizteamBleakley · 20/12/2016 12:38

Let me set the record straight here... If you kept it, it would be theft.
A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and “thief” and “steal” shall be construed accordingly.

^“Appropriates”.
(1)Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to an appropriation, and this includes, where he has come by the property (innocently or not) without stealing it, any later assumption of a right to it by keeping or dealing with it as owner.^

Just call the store and explain what has happened. The responsibility is yours.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/12/2016 12:39

Deepan, it would have been IF OP had been responsible for packing the frames into the boxes... she wasn't and didn't. The shop did that - putting two frames in one box, in error. Their error.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/12/2016 12:40

I do see what you mean but unless the boxes are 'packed 2' then how was OP to know until she unpacked them?