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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Duplicate stuff - I need to return it, don’t I?

141 replies

Merryoldgoat · 07/08/2018 22:27

I ordered all of DS’s school uniform from Sainsbury’s.

I’ve been sent two pair of school shoes, two pairs of trainers and two pairs of shorts.

I only paid for one of each. It was a pretty large order so I suspect the picker got confused.

I have to ‘fess up and return them, don’t I?

Or AIBU to keep them? Or return the duplicates for a refund? Or pop them on a selling site?

Jesus - as I typed that I realised I’m BU.

Mumsnet jury?

OP posts:
Tutulafromage · 08/08/2018 00:11

Give them to a charity shop...
The person who packed your order might get in trouble..

RoseWhiteTips · 08/08/2018 00:13

Shows how much you know, frog. 🙄

chocolateaddicted · 08/08/2018 00:14

I agree with a lot of the PP. calling them up to explain might ease your conscience in the situation but it will then require you to take time out to contact them, time to return them, plus someone in packing will get in bother and that's all bad karma anyway. Best bet is to donate them to another child (there will be plenty of kids across the country in the same colours) and that way your guilt can be abated and balanced by the good that has come from the situation. That struggling family with a little boy or girl will be happy they are starting back in September in a brand new school uniform. Plus Sainsburys won't go bust because of one set of school clothes.

SlothSlothSloth · 08/08/2018 00:15

It wouldn’t even occur to me to feel guilty about this or consider returning! If it was a small business, sure -but Sainsbury’s? No way.

NT53NJT · 08/08/2018 00:18

Keep them as spares or give to someone more needing.

Sainsbury's staff probably steal 100000x more than what they've sent you out by mistake so I wouldn't worry

jade9390 · 08/08/2018 00:22

How many other times have you bought goods and never received them or got a refund? It is swings and roundabouts. If you are not going to use them, donate them to someone needy.

PitchBlackNight · 08/08/2018 00:36

I always phone and let them know regardless of what size company it is. I’ve often been given the items for free which is great as I get to keep something for free.

I was a bit disappointed that Amazon asked me to return a console (PSP) they had mistakenly sent me along with a pan 🤷🏻‍♀️
I think it’s really cheap to keep something that you haven’t paid for. Even if I knew 100% that it wouldn’t be found out I still wouldn’t keep it. It wouldn’t cross my mind to.

Beeziekn33ze · 08/08/2018 00:39

Return them, that's what you want to do.

IamReginaFalange · 08/08/2018 00:59

Keep it. Just give some money to a charity next time you see a collection box.
I don’t think I can believe in Karma anyway.
Some terrible things have happened to the nicest, kindhearted people I know yet Donald Trumps rich, successful and alive and well 🤔

Seren85 · 08/08/2018 01:03

I'd contact them and see what they suggest. Probably they'll say keep it. I'm always conscious of the fact that any dishonesty (keeping something you know full well you haven't paid for is dishonest) would mean losing my job as unlikely as it is anyone would ever find out.

DaintySong · 08/08/2018 01:15

I recently got an extra piece of clothing from Next, sent it back, obviously.
What will you do if it appears somewhere and they charge you for it? It will be too late to send it back then as how would you explain why you didn't let them know before?

SupposedStudent · 08/08/2018 01:30

All this stuff about whether it's legal… under civil law they'd probably find against you, and under criminal law it could be seen as "dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving them of it" i.e. theft.

It's not legal. Whether it's okay to do it is down to you.

esk1mo · 08/08/2018 01:32

This reply has been deleted

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esk1mo · 08/08/2018 01:34

seriously though, keep them or donate them to food bank. they probably cost about £1 to make.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/08/2018 03:24

All those saying that you should just keep the duplicates without telling the shop only have a potential moral case if they would not chase up/complain had they not received their actual order at all, yet still been charged for it.

WhentheDealGoesDown · 08/08/2018 04:08

I got a duplicate order from a company, their mistake and they just said keep it when I rang them. I think if it is their mistake they have to collect it anyway as you could say it is difficult to return and its their problem.

They would come under unsolicited goods as you did not order a second lot of uniform, so I would follow the guidelines for that which you can find online.

WhentheDealGoesDown · 08/08/2018 04:15

Scrap that last bit about unsolicited goodsBlush

What if it the delivery was sent by mistake?

It’s a different story altogether if items are sent to you by mistake. That is, if the order wasn't meant for you, if it was sent to you twice, or if there's extra stuff on top of what you ordered.

In all these scenarios, they are not classed as unsolicited goods, they still belong to the trader and you should try to give them back.

Firms can take you to court to recover their goods, if you were to resist.

You will need to contact whoever sent the goods and ask them to collect them. This shouldn't cost you anything or inconvenience you in any way. You should also give the company a reasonable deadline to collect the items, of say, 14 days.

Make sure you keep written evidence of your contact with the supplier.

So ask them to collect, which I doubt they will, then you know you have done the right thing Smile

GripNeeded · 08/08/2018 06:33

Food bank donation or similar is the most moral option

NicoAndTheNiners · 08/08/2018 06:38

I had similar from amazon and a friend said if I returned it the warehouse person would be in trouble and that they treat their employees badly and would probably sack them.

So I sold the extra items and then donated the £60 to the local food bank.

buddahbelly · 08/08/2018 06:46

Just keep them, I don't understand why this is even a thread to be honest.

Its their mistake, its not theft in the sense of you going out stealing it from he shop. if it makes you feel better our local food bank have a school uniform drop off section also so see if your local one does also.

PorkFlute · 08/08/2018 06:58

Well some people on here will say that not returning them is theft equivalent to a bank heist but I'd donate them myself - Sainsburys make enough money and Id worry about the picker getting a bollocking as others have said.

Slartybartfast · 08/08/2018 06:59

You may find you need two lots of the things that have arrived, I would keep them.

1099 · 08/08/2018 07:05

Those of you saying it's not theft need to spend some time reading the Theft Act, before making such sweeping statements, retaining the property would actually be classed as Theft,

Basic definition of theft. (Theft Act 1968)
(1) 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.
(2) It is immaterial whether the appropriation is made with a view to gain, or is made for the thief’s own benefit.

The Dishonest appropriation occurs now that the Op has realised a mistake and elected to retain the property, the property still belongs to the store as it hasn't been paid for, and if the OP were to donate the property or similar she would be treating it as her own and therefore satisfy the intention to permanently deprive element.
OP - Why not just contact the store and tell them they'll either say keep it or return it, you won't lose out either way.

Bramble71 · 08/08/2018 07:05

When you speak to Sainsbury's, if they say just keep them, it'd be a nice gesture to donate them. They'd be genuinely appreciated by a family in need.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 08/08/2018 07:09

I would contact Sainsburys and explain their mistake. They will probably let you keep the extras.

A similar thing happened to.me with an order from Lakeland. I phoned them.up and they were lovely, told me to keep the extra item and apologised for their mistake. Sadly it was only a baking tray and not a Kitchen Aid mixer!