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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my friend is wrong and this can't be classed as stealing?

331 replies

Keyansier · 14/08/2022 11:06

Whenever I order a home delivery from Tesco I always get a refund on stuff that they have substituted in exchange for what I originally ordered to get money back and to keep the food, sometimes when I genuinely dislike their substitute choice or sometimes when I just want some money back.

My friend said "that is what is known as stealing". I replied "HOW can it be stealing when I call up and ask for a refund and it's at their discretion if they give one or not?" Also, I used to work in a few call centres and so probably speak to people who work at call centres politer than most other people, so that might factor their decision to give me refunds.

Unless someone tells me that they work for Tesco on the call centres and they are obliged to give everyone a refund that asks for one but they will later be punished or sacked for it if they say yes, then I can't see what the issue is if they say yes? I don't shout, or threaten or rant. I ask nicely and they say yes. If they were to ever say no, I'd simply say "okay then" and that would be that. So how is it stealing?

I just can't believe in this day and age someone would begrudge someone free food. Their tagline is "Every Little Helps". This is helping me. If they didn't want to help, they can easily say no. Or AIBU and out of touch?

OP posts:
My3bigdogs · 14/08/2022 14:30

Keyansier · 14/08/2022 14:02

I say along the lines of: "I ordered xxxx item and you sent me xxxx item as a substitute instead, I didn't want that and don't like it, can I get it refunded please?"

Show quote history

But from what you have already said, that’s not the truth. It’s not that you don’t like it. By your admission you phone and ask for a refund to get free food. In other words, you eat the food and get the refund. If you truthfully don’t like a food item that’s been delivered, you tried it, you didn’t like it, you might have a point. But to call and ask for a refund for Heinz beans that have bern delivered as a substitute for the Tesco brand and eat them anyway, that’s a different matter. Especially if you lie to the call centre people in the process.

Did you enjoy being lied to when you worked in a call centre?

And here comes the drip feed with claims that you give it to a food bank. Just stop. You already proudly told us in post 1 that you do it to get free food for yourself because “every little helps”. Stop back pedaling with more lies.

Yoir problem is you wouldn’t know the truth if you fell over it.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 14/08/2022 14:41

My favourite part of this thread so far is the OP declaring that they were "not gonna really respond to this any more for a while" because people weren't listening, before responding to a post exactly 1 minute later.

Comedy gold.

Original poster
Keyansier · 14/08/2022 14:46

My3bigdogs · 14/08/2022 14:30

But from what you have already said, that’s not the truth. It’s not that you don’t like it. By your admission you phone and ask for a refund to get free food. In other words, you eat the food and get the refund. If you truthfully don’t like a food item that’s been delivered, you tried it, you didn’t like it, you might have a point. But to call and ask for a refund for Heinz beans that have bern delivered as a substitute for the Tesco brand and eat them anyway, that’s a different matter. Especially if you lie to the call centre people in the process.

Did you enjoy being lied to when you worked in a call centre?

And here comes the drip feed with claims that you give it to a food bank. Just stop. You already proudly told us in post 1 that you do it to get free food for yourself because “every little helps”. Stop back pedaling with more lies.

Yoir problem is you wouldn’t know the truth if you fell over it.

Show quote history

That's a whole of assumption for one single person:

You must have missed the posts where I

-described what the substitutions were
-described my phone calls with the call centre staff

Did you enjoy being lied to when you worked in a call centre?

What does this even mean?

And here comes the drip feed with claims that you give it to a food bank. Just stop. You already proudly told us in post 1 that you do it to get free food for yourself because “every little helps”. Stop back pedaling with more lies.

I do, but realise I can't prove it. I didn't "drip feed" anything, because I didn't purposely keep it out of the way, just that I didn't think about it to mention it before it being specifically mentioned and then I referenced it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Keyansier · 14/08/2022 14:48

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 14/08/2022 14:41

My favourite part of this thread so far is the OP declaring that they were "not gonna really respond to this any more for a while" because people weren't listening, before responding to a post exactly 1 minute later.

Comedy gold.

I don't think people should have unchallenged lies without rebuttal from me explaining though? When it's especially lies.

Lol I do see your point however, and will not be looking for a while at this thread again (or if ever)

OP posts:
Quincythequince · 14/08/2022 14:52

Why post OP?
You won’t be told anything differently, so what is the point?

The phrase ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean you should’ springs to mind here.

You are being disingenuous in your intent here and obtaining goods through subterfuge.

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

You are a thief!

Quincythequince · 14/08/2022 14:54

And if this was Ocado (and I know it’s not) they would have all these returns etc marked against your account and your behaviour would be noted.

And Tesco’s profits are neither here nor there tbh!

EinsteinaGogo · 14/08/2022 15:02

What specifically do you say to customer services when you call up, OP?

AMIAMIBU · 14/08/2022 15:05

You're a thief! Not a very young looking one, but a thief all the same!

Another entitled post.

AMIAMIBU · 14/08/2022 15:06

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 14/08/2022 14:41

My favourite part of this thread so far is the OP declaring that they were "not gonna really respond to this any more for a while" because people weren't listening, before responding to a post exactly 1 minute later.

Comedy gold.

He flounces all the time..

Then comes back..

Then flounces again.

It's funny to watch.

AMIAMIBU · 14/08/2022 15:09

@Keyansier was it the same friend who said you didn't look 15/16?

powergrip · 14/08/2022 15:14

Oh you're that poster. No wonder this reads like a load of made up twaddle then. Because it is.

AMIAMIBU · 14/08/2022 15:15

powergrip · 14/08/2022 15:14

Oh you're that poster. No wonder this reads like a load of made up twaddle then. Because it is.

😂

Hobnobswantshernameback · 14/08/2022 15:17

I'm imaging the child like figure of the op pacing up and down next to his laptop after every flounce telling himself not to answer but the temptation is too much and back he comes over and over
😂

sst1234 · 14/08/2022 15:19

OP, I thought you said you were ‘out’. What made you come back? Are you getting bored because the school holidays are getting too long? Didn’t they give you homework or something?

Meraas · 14/08/2022 15:21

OP, I have to pay more for food because Tesco will just pass on the losses from people like you stealing to customers.

OneTC · 14/08/2022 15:25

I just can't believe in this day and age someone would begrudge someone free food. Their tagline is "Every Little Helps". This is helping me. If they didn't want to help, they can easily say no. Or AIBU and out of touch?

You are a CF

georgarina · 14/08/2022 15:52

I think it's their problem...they're choosing to give you the substitution and it's not a small family-run business...hardly like you're going to hurt Tesco's profits doing this 🤷

BrownStripePJ · 14/08/2022 15:59

Do you have to phone up to get a refund or can you email?

i ordered a fish pie and they sent me meatballs . Didn't know you could get refund until now!

They stayed with the brand instead of an actual similar meal

Quincythequince · 14/08/2022 16:03

georgarina · 14/08/2022 15:52

I think it's their problem...they're choosing to give you the substitution and it's not a small family-run business...hardly like you're going to hurt Tesco's profits doing this 🤷

Yes and If we all said that?
what do you think would happen to the price of food for everyone else.

Stop being so ridiculous.

Theft is theft

Crankley · 14/08/2022 16:05

Whether theft or not, it's a really scummy thing to do. I hope they ban you from ordering.

mycatisannoying · 14/08/2022 16:09

I've been having a weekly Tesco grocery delivery for donkey's years. Recently - and in order to cut down on paper - they have been emailing a copy of your receipt hours before the delivery is due. The exact substitutions are on there. If I knew I wasn't going to be happy with something, I would be prepared to hand it back to the driver.
So yeah, your friend is right and YABU.

FartNRoses · 14/08/2022 16:11

Keyansier · 14/08/2022 12:15

@justusandmoo
As an idea... why don't you get the refund and then donate the food to a food bank to help out those who need it?

With the substitutions I dislike, I do do that.

Does the person in the call centre refund you under the assumption that you’ve given the product back to the driver??
Do you tell the call centre that you still have the product?

Mississipi71 · 14/08/2022 16:13

More fools Tesco are for giving into your CFuckery.

CrappyJob · 14/08/2022 16:13

Also, for the thousandth time: I do not get delivery sheets and I only get email receipts after delivery

That's a lie.

Mississipi71 · 14/08/2022 16:20

Keyansier · 14/08/2022 11:36

I don't do it for pointless things like that. For instance, I ordered a pack of toilet rolls and they sent me a smaller pack and charged me for the smaller pack - I didn't ring and ask for a refund as I would still obviously use what they sent. But when I ordered meat and they send me stuffed mushrooms in exchange.. well?

Show quote history

They send you stuffed mushrooms, in replacement of meat. Course they do.