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

[Keyansier]

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?

interesting, if you went into store and walked out with semi skimmed milk, without paying for it, because they didn’t have skimmed milk, would that be the same?

Nice analogy @Gilead !!

Problem is, if loads of customers cheat the big chain like this, then prices will inevitably go up and honest people will bear the brunt.

I class it as stealing.

I also get an email confirming subs and exact costs if it’s based on weights (ie veg & meats) before the order is delivered.

I also can’t believe anyone would have enough time on their hands/be arsed to sit on the phone to a call center over a few quid 🙄

I don’t believe you op. You can also check your sheet….subs and out of stocks are at the top, you can’t miss them.

Meh, I couldn’t get worked up about this, it’s not like Tesco aren’t screwing people left right and center.

Don't you check the email you get with the subs on?

What is weird about my experience being different to yours? Do we live in the same city? Have the same amount of drivers around, and do they have the same amount of customers to deliver to in a certain time frame? I've repeatedly said in this thread that I've never once been asked about substitution's and that I barely have time to unpack before the driver is off. Despite people repeatedly calling me a liar, I'd say I've been pretty honest on this thread about what I'm doing, so why would I lie about what happens when I get a delivery delivered? I'm not. I don't get asked for these, or get confirmation beforehand, only afterwards.

It's not stealing unless you are deceiving someone. If Tesco willingly refund you without question then that's up to them so not steeling. Maybe they should sort out their substitution policy- I stopped shopping with them because they always substituted with completely irrelevant items- they once substituted pampers nappies for pampers bed sheets- eerrr- they are not for similar usage? They make so much money and there is so much wastage of produce i can't get bothered about Tesco losing a few pounds through their own silly policies.

You may find that eventually they just refuse to supply you. This does happen.

You lie that a substitute is unacceptable in order to defraud a company of money.

Splitting hairs about whether that is theft or fraud isn’t the point.

Every single supermarket delivery service in the U.K. emails all their customers before the delivery happens except yours? Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.

Please read my posts on this thread - I've already said I don't get a sheet and didn't even know that they provide some customers with one.

I have my Tesco delivery booked for 5PM-6pm and I always have the emailed receipt by midday, so I dont believe OP gets it after. She probably doesnt bother to check her emails🤷🏻‍♀️

My drivers are always polite, always wait for the boxes as they have to be counted back in, and will always wait for me to say if I dont want a sub and take it back.

OP I think you are stealing, not necessarily from Tesco, but from all the consumers purses who have to pay more because of CF like you.

If you do not get your delivery note, how do you know what it will cost?

What area are you in?

Perhaps you like the word “fraud” more than stealing?

Either way, you sound like a selfish, deceptive and entitled person as people who don’t care what others think of them so often are

But when I ordered meat and they send me stuffed mushrooms in exchange.. well?

That's an extreme difference! Then I might want a complete refund, certainly if it wasn't going to give the same number of helpings.

No one believes you because that is highly improbable and you are a liar

Really don't understand how you get your delivery without the email receipt beforehand. Me and everyone I know do. Is it rather that you don't look at the email before you take delivery?
Even if they don't specifically ask you, you have a tongue in your head to say I don't want these.

It is not stealing but you're being very dishonest and CF. There is an option for you to decline substitutions.

How does this work, they always hand me the paperwork first and ask me to check all substitutions first and take back the ones I don’t want. They don’t allow you to keep them and get a refund.

If you use the product without paying then it is stealing it.
It's hard to know what to believe from your posts as you openly admit to being dishonest. It seems very odd that you have the unlucky combination of not being informed of substitutes via email or text beforehand or from the driver. Do you not check your emails very often? Perhaps it is bring sent earlier than you realise.

Odd that you seem to be the only person who has no advance notice of the substitutions OP.

No I don’t think your friend is being unreasonable in calling you a thief because you are one.

Why should she pay for stuff she didnt ask to be delivered. I dont think youre doing anything wrong. Theyre the ones that havent delivered the right stuff, and im really not concerned about tescos profit margins being affected.
Youre mistake was to tell her.

I don't think this is true, I think you're just trying to wind people up