For keeping an order that I’ve received a refund for?

[Phallicfriday]

Long story short. Ordered DH a fairly expensive tech item for his birthday from large retailer. Item didn’t arrive and when I chased the retailer it was presumed lost and they sent a replacement. It was supposed to be on next day delivery but this didn’t materialize either. Week later I call again to be told the item was detained by customs and it would be returned to the retailer. They point blank refused to send another item and instead only offered me a refund. Feeling very frustrated as I still had no birthday gift, I reluctantly accepted and ordered a replacement on Amazon (which I haven’t received yet either). Since receiving the refund, both the ‘missing’ orders have turned up. I am overseas and so I imagine it would be a hassle/expense for them to arrange a courier to collect them for return? AIBU for just keeping quiet and keeping both? Appreciate that this is morally ambiguous and I am quite sure I will get lots of mumsnetters up in arms at my morally bankrupt thought processes but they are a large company and surely will have insurance to cover such losses? And who really gives a flying fuck if the insurance company are out of pocket a few hundred quid when they rob the living daylights out of us all? My only concern is if they can track / trace that they have been delivered and force me to return / repay? What would you do?

Chill out. Why are you getting so invested? Fair enough if you wouldn’t do it, you’re obviously a ‘better’ person than me but there’s no need to be vindictive. I wouldn’t question it if it were a small business or if they hadn’t provided such an abysmal service to begin with but they aren’t and they did

Because it's theft but if you're ok with that then why on earth are you posting on here?

Because I’m interested in what other people would do (less in your judgement) and if I’m likely to get caught.

Tell them. I had something like this happen with Amazon and they told me to keep the extra item. You’ll sleep better at night and won’t have worries. Mental peace is worth a lot.

Well you've got 6 years to get caught... so just make sure you put aside the money for 6 years or don't use the items for 6 years.

If they do eventually figure out they did arrive (depends who you ordered from, but most companies have a finance system which will track goods, refunds and payments, so they'll eventually realise they have neither item nor money) then you just hand the goods back or pay the full amount.

These massive companies are forever screwing us over, they make fat profits and have bad customer service. The cost of these two items are a drop in the ocean for them. The losses have already been accounted for and for all you know have even been repaid through some kind of insurance set up. You keeping these items will have zero impact on the company, and it probably a nice bit of Karmic rebalancing.

These are my thoughts exactly

Would they really go to all that trouble, years down the line, to recoup a few hundred quid?

Yes it’s a UK based retailer

Morally ambiguous!

It’s totally wrong, eventually the company will get tracking details and will know it was delivered. I understand your thoughts on insurance, customer service etc…. But where’s the line between a small and large business??

I would keep quiet

I would keep both without even worrying about it. Sometimes you get a bit of luck from the universe! Give it a month or so keeping 1 in packaging in case they message then do what you want with it

You need to come up with a better description that "morally ambiguous". How about "thief"?

Shops in every part of the country and huge online presence. Fairly large business 😂 Yes it is morally questionable but seriously is there really a victim other than the fat cat CEO who might get a few pence less in his enormous bonus?

I see. So getting caught is your only concern. In which case, I'd say you're unlikely to get caught, so knock yourself out and keep the items. But don't kid yourself that the situation is "morally ambiguous", or that you're doing anyone a favour. Getting caught is the consequence you need to accept for your admitted "morally bankrupt" behaviour. I wish I could say "good luck" with this, but I don't!

Also how did it get delivered, did you sign for it? Or was it left in a safe space that they can't prove it wasn't stolen

Yeah alright then, if you like 😂

Delivered by local postie, no signature and left in an open garage

Your chances of getting caught or not getting caught bear no relation to the fact that it’s theft and not remotely morally ambiguous. Do what you want I guess - my conscience wouldn’t let me, no matter how bad the customer service process.

I’d message and state you received the missing order on xx date and could they please organise a courier to collect the parcel, along with a free returns label.

If you want to be no better than a thief with the morals of an alley cat knock yourself out.

Not that give you appear to give a flying fuck about that anyway.

Because it’s dishonest ?? No matter who or where you bought it from.

Had similar happen, ordered books from UK, didn't arrive so complained and the company sent them again, then the original ones plus the new set arrived. I thought about telling them but honestly the hassle of returning a massive heavy box of books from abroad put me off so I said nothing and gave the spare books away (would have felt bad if I sold them and profited from this)

I'd keep it!

Didn’t say I was doing anyone a favour. Can’t believe how many people are getting on their high horse about this. No one is asking you to do anything wrong. Yes the best thing to do is to fess up but I’m pissed off with them for ruining my DH’s birthday and I can’t be arsed to deal with the hassle of organizing a return when I still don't have a gift. Hardly the crime of the century is it? 😂