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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I’ve stolen someone’s shopping. Do I own up?!

251 replies

RachyRoo1 · 26/09/2021 22:25

I’ve name changed for this. I feel absolutely awful….

My shopping was delivered tonight.
As I was putting the bags in the house, the delivery driver told me that my “meat” bag was on the top of the tray of bags.

I wasn’t really paying much attention to what was in the bag, but I do remember thinking that it was heavy that I didn’t remember ordering that much meat…. I then briefly thought DH must’ve added it on.
I did think to myself, I wonder if this is even ours, but brushed it off as me just over thinking.

Once the driver had gone and I was unpacking the bags, I was checking off my items against the delivery sheet and realised the items infact weren’t on the list.

I checked with DH and he hadn’t ordered them, so we have been given a bag of meats by mistake.

We have….
2 x pack of chicken breasts
1 x pack of diced chicken
2 x pack of sirloin steak
2 x pack 20% fat beef mince
1 x pack 5% fat beef mince
1 x pack pork meat balls

I feel really awful about it now. I should’ve spoken up at the time.
I was rushing and just trying to get my bags in the house as quickly as I could.
DH has often added things to our shop last minute and I did just think he’d most likely done the same this week.

So what do I do now. Do I contact the supermarket and take the items back?
What if these items belong to someone old / vulnerable and they were reliant on them…

I’ve stolen someone’s shopping and I feel shit about it now.

OP posts:
NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 26/09/2021 22:38

Phone the local store. They are in no way going to question you, if they do ask why they didn’t check before sending it out?

There’s a built in budget for these kind of mistakes assuming it’s a big chain and not a teeny independent. It’s not going to cause even a slight ripple.

jackstini · 26/09/2021 22:38

It's very common

Just contact the main call centre
They will likely tell you to keep it as they can't come and get it now and pass it on due to hygiene

The people who are missing it will definitely have called to say they have not got it so you calling will confirm it

We had this one Christmas with 4 random bottles of spirits (the kind you only buy at Christmas!)

VampireBarbie · 26/09/2021 22:39

I had someone's entire fridge shop in amongst mine once, and even though I contacted them immediately they wouldn't return to collect it due to food safety. It's easily done with a bagged delivery.

TurnUpTurnip · 26/09/2021 22:39

I called the supermarket when this happened to me as I felt awful as there was a birthday cake and some alcohol so it was obviously someone’s birthday, I didn’t notice when unpacking as my son was helping and he tipped the crate upside down as I hadn’t it to him so I wasn’t really checking, the driver did actually come back and collect it!

TurnUpTurnip · 26/09/2021 22:40

Tesco’s came back to mine to collect it so depends on store and this was recent like a month or two ago

GunsNMoses · 26/09/2021 22:41

Happened to me once with a carrier bag full of Ben & Jerry's from ocado. I called them, they said keep it.
Best. Day. Ever.

NoSquirrels · 26/09/2021 22:42

@RachyRoo1

So do I call the local supermarket or a main contact center?

What if they ask me why I didn’t check before taking it in? 😩

I was just in such a rush trying to get my bags in the house, I did think it was a lot of meat, but it’s not uncommon for DH to add on stuff.

I don’t even know how a full bag of meat can be given to someone by mistake.

You’re hugely overthinking this.

If they ask you why you didn’t check say you thought your DH had added to the order. And now you’ve realised you’re letting them know.

Call whatever number you’d call if your delivery didn’t show up or you were missing a bag of meat!

PassTheDutchyUpYrLeftBackside · 26/09/2021 22:43

Don't panic, OP - it's one of those things - happens often.

It's not your fault - you're not supposed to check everything as it arrives.

My kids often take in the delivery and they have no clue what I've ordered!!

Mistakes happen. Let customer services know tomorrow. The 'real' customer will get a refund on their missing items.

Honestly -
Don't fret, it's no big deal.

annonymousse · 26/09/2021 22:45

Had that once. I phoned the super market and they said to keep it with their compliments.

whynotwhatknot · 26/09/2021 22:46

call the number on the delivery note-you didnt steal anythingit was an error

our meat is still packed in small bags so i wouldnt have noticed either

Asleanna · 26/09/2021 22:47

Happened to me years ago as a student. I did call the supermarket and they said not to worry and to keep it. It was a significant amount extra and as a skint student it was like winning the lottery. I honestly didn't realise. Back then everything was bagged up and I just took it all in. As soon as I realised I called up!

EmeraldShamrock · 26/09/2021 22:49

Tesco’s came back to mine to collect it so depends on store and this was recent like a month or two ago
Was it within a few hours?
If it was overnight I'd hope they wouldn't if it wasn't stored properly.
If they collect it they'll bin it so for that reason I'd say I received the wrong shopping but had no where to store it overnight, its binned.
The wronged customer gets a replacement and you save the meat from the supermarket bin. Grin

start batch cooking

Tiramiwho · 26/09/2021 22:49

From the title, I had you snaffling a bag out of someone's Tesco trolley as they loaded their car and running like the clappers 😄

Starsong82 · 26/09/2021 22:50

Just call the number on your delivery slip - same one you'd call if something was missing from your delivery. They're not going to give you the third degree they'll most likely apologize for the mix up and thank you for letting them know, they may or may not come back to collect it - I'd wager not. You've not stolen anything, it's their error as others have said so don't panic 🙂

Mysterylovingboy · 26/09/2021 22:51

With fresh food they won't usually come and collect it unless you literally catch them whilst the van's heading down the street. That's because they can't be sure whether it's been kept chilled and so can't guarantee safety. They will almost certainly tell you to keep it, but you should call them anyway - it will help the real customer's case to get a refund from the shop.

If they ask why you've only just called, tell them exactly what you said - you assumed DH had added to order, when he got home later and checked the fridge you realised neither of you had ordered the meat.

It's happened to us many times, especially as DC and DH take in the food I order so no one knows what it's supposed to be. I always call and only once have they returned, when we managed to catch them immediately. We had entirely the wrong shop and so did another family close by, the van was still in the area so they did an exchange.

EmeraldShamrock · 26/09/2021 22:52

Why are pp's voting yabu?

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 26/09/2021 22:54

I got some Mince veal once, told to keep it. More recently, a bunch of bananas.

TarpaulinEyes · 26/09/2021 22:56

Lucky people getting cakes and alcohol. I got a large bar of plain chocolate last Christmas by mistake and was thrilled enough with that.

TangledNemo · 26/09/2021 22:56

I used to work in a call centre that took calls from people regarding their online grocery deliveries. If a customer received something in error, we would tell them to keep the items. Meat and other chilled items are thrown out by supermarkets if out of the fridge for 30 minutes or if sold to a customer anyway so no point the store picking them up. The store is then notified of the call for training and KPI purposes though.

Somebodylikeyew · 26/09/2021 22:59

Just ring them and tell them so they don’t think the driver nicked it.
Nothing will happen to you and the other people will get a refund.

Original poster
RachyRoo1 · 26/09/2021 22:59

I’ve tried calling and they closed at 10pm.
Many delivery was just after 9.30pm.

I will have to call in the morning. I feel so guilty about it.

I wouldn’t feel so bad if it was just a few bits, but this could be part of someone’s weekly shop.
What if they can’t get another delivery or out to the shops. 😓

OP posts:
Chumleymouse · 26/09/2021 22:59

Happened to us loads of times ....... if they don’t come back for it ( never have ) we just keep it. Tesco.

snowdaysalldays · 26/09/2021 22:59

This has happened to us a couple of times. The supermarket tell you to keep the goods and they deliver fresh items to the other person. Not your fault, just an accident.

TurnUpTurnip · 26/09/2021 23:00

@EmeraldShamrock

Tesco’s came back to mine to collect it so depends on store and this was recent like a month or two ago Was it within a few hours? If it was overnight I'd hope they wouldn't if it wasn't stored properly. If they collect it they'll bin it so for that reason I'd say I received the wrong shopping but had no where to store it overnight, its binned. The wronged customer gets a replacement and you save the meat from the supermarket bin. Grin

start batch cooking

No I called within 15 minutes, I was surprised they came back as always heard they don’t come back, but I didn’t feel right considering it with a birthday cake (kids were disappointed though 😂)
Coffeeonmytoffee · 26/09/2021 23:00

It happened to me and they told me to keep it when I called.
I had quite a lot of the wrong stuff. I wasn’t in when it was delivered and my DH unpacked it and put it away. I thought I’d gone mad and ordered loads of crap.
I didn’t get as lucky as you mine was all crap. The kids were ecstatic.