Keeping an item a shop sent you by accident for free?

[User364837]

I know MN normally takes quite a hard line on this stuff….

but what’s the consensus on a large big name retailer sending you two items when you paid for one? Say hypothetically it’s clothing and they sent you 2 of the item in different sizes. Sizing is out so the original size you ordered doesn’t fit anyway. Would you return the item for a refund and keep the other one they sent you for free? And consider it your lucky day since you’re financially struggling at the moment leading up to Christmas.

just hypothetically obviously

on mumsnet you go immediately to your local police station (run if need be barefoot) and hand yourself in screaming and crying.

Why won't this ever happen to me?

I got refunded for an item I hadn’t returned. I got an e-mail from Next saying they’d received my return and were refunding me £35….i hadn’t returned the item I was wearing it when I got the e-mail. I shrugged and kept the money as I wasn’t going to faff around their mistake. It was about 6 years ago and they haven’t approached me about it yet.

🙄🙄 Where would you be shopping?

I once ordered a custom blind for a window and it showed as delivered but was nowhere to be seen. I called up and they sent me a replacement. A week later the original blind showed up by my door so I suspect it was delivered to the wrong house and someone was nice enough to drop it round. I kept both blinds 🤷🏼‍♀️

Happened to me with Lakeland, I got my own order and presumably someone else's, four different baking tins and some other bits and pieces. I rang them and they said keep it or give it to charity, so we used it as a prize in the bake off fundraiser that we were doing in the office (slightly regretted that when my least favourite colleague won!).

I think unless it's really expensive many retailers can't be bothered with the faff of organising return collection, so you could potentially be honest with them and get to keep it with a clear conscience!

I ordered a pair of socks and received a pair of trainers instead. I wouldn’t have minded but they were so ugly. I’m going to sell them on Vinted

I like to think maybe it was someone in the warehouse doing a random act of kindness…

It would depend.

For example Asos - they do not make it at all easy to contact them. So if I had two of the same item and wanted to keep one, I could log it as a return and send the other back but then I'd get a refund so would still have a free item. I wouldn't want to send both back and then order another, which would be a way to make sure I didn't have a free one. So as they're online only and non easily contactable, I'd probably keep it.

If it was a shop with actual physical shops, then I'd take it back and explain that I was just returning an extra, not asking for a refund.

John Lewis, bedding. Rang to tell them, they said did I want to make them an offer for it as a spare set. No. They told me to keep it anyway then!
Small organic skincare brand, sent two items. Called to offer to pay, they said to keep it or pass it on to someone who might like it. Recipient is now also a regular customer.

In the summer m and s sent me two pairs of pyjamas instead of one, they were £12.50. I told the online chat person and they said keep them as they couldn't work out how I could return them. In October I ordered some microwave cook pots from Amazon and they didn't arrive so I was refunded. They arrived Saturday. Went on the online chat and they said keep them.

Not gonna lie, I’d keep the spare without hesitation!

Well legally they have 6 years to chase a debt so you'd have to keep the one you keep pristine for 6 years just incase they ask for it back, or be prepared to pay.

I always let them know. Often they tell you to keep the duplicate. But ‘big’ retailers often run on tight margins.

I would phone them up and have a conversation. I wouldn’t keep one and return one so you get one for free. That’s stealing and makes the costs go up for everyone

I once ordered 6 face flannels on ebay

They arrived,all good

Then another parcel of 6 arrived,then another and another

Long story short,I ended up with over 60 face flannels over 3 weeks from the same company

It seemed to stop,so I contacted them and they where really snotty and told me to send them back

I answered with 'please send me a label to do so as I'm not ending up out of pocket for your mistake' (not one parcel had a returns label)

Never heard another thing from them-and it turns out I hate using flannels anyway,so they are now used for cleaning the bathroom!

Once I had two very expensive toasters turn up - phoned them and they said they’d arrange a collection, they never did 🤷‍♀️ I think I chased them once then gave up…1st toaster is still going fine and the 2nd is still in a box waiting for the 1st to stop working

Amazon sent two packages, contacted them and they told me to keep them.

This is actually the best thing I've seen on the Internet today. So utterly random! I'm sorry, but if I knew you, I'd be annonymously sending you themed Mr Potatoheads at random intervals for the duration of your life.

Or...plot twist.. I do know you and it IS me?

I'm not a bootlicker so I'd get a refund on the item I didn't need and keep the item that fits!

If it was a small business, I would absolutely let them know.I wouldn't bat an eyelid if they wanted me to return one item and not get it refunded.

A good few years ago, a lovely Fortnum & Mason (I think) hamper was delivered to my door. I thought himself had ordered it, and happily opened it up. Before I dug in, I became aware it was not for us. I rang the company, and the buggers sent someone to collect it. I did think (hope) they were going to tell me to keep it, as it may be trouble to collect it. But, no (sad face)!

I had a similar experience with a pair of boots. It was a nightmare returns process. Getting a prepaid label was a fuss, then it didn't work, then some other shit. They were really unhelpful throughout. I finally got the refund through and then a few months later a pair of the boots rocked up at my flat.

Brilliant

I recently ordered a mattress topper in a sale (but still pricey enough). It took three months of them promising to deliver it, then never arriving, before I got it. Two weeks later another one arrived. They’re a big company and pissed me off with the delivery nonsense so I kept it and I’m giving it to someone as a Christmas present. I do feel a bit guilty though.

Also I once had a delivery of fifty pairs of shoes. I was awaiting diagnosis for mild bipolar disorder at the time and thought I’d finally lost my grip on reality 😂

Turns out a wholesaler had sent them to my address by accident. I arranged for their return!