WWYD - I want to return these shorts but realised I didn’t pay

[Aneena]

Bought some shorts in the sale at a supermarket a few days ago. I tried them on at home and they didn’t fit well so I want to return them. Now I have got out the receipt I realise somehow I haven’t paid for them? Honestly no idea how as I could have sworn they were scanned. I am absolutely mortified

I really want to just bring them back to customer services and explain. I want to buy them in a different size if they still have them so I would be giving them back and spending money on top of that - so surely that would show I haven’t done it on purpose.

I am just so paranoid they will think I have done it purposefully and now I’m only bringing them back because they don’t fit. Am I massively overthinking this?

YANBU - yeah they will think you’re a thief
YABU - just take them back

I’ve done this before and took the item back with no issue. They won’t be bothered!

You can go in and tell them the truth; there won’t be any drama, though they might be surprised at your honesty. Or you can take the shorts back without a receipt, swap for a larger size, and then donate the money to charity instead.

I would just go in and go to customer service and say “hey, I have no idea how it’s happened, but in looking to return these shorts I can see they aren’t on my receipt. I can’t think how it’s happened. Anyway, please can I give them back?” And then once that’s done, go and get some new shorts and go and buy them through a normal till. They rent giving you money for the “stolen” shorts so it’s not like you’re trying to con them out of anything.

If you haven't paid for them, buy pair in the correct size and donate the original pair to a charity shop. You'll be no worse off than if you'd paid for them as originally believed.

You can’t do this. It would be unbelievably embarrassing. As you haven’t spent anything on them anyway, just buy the new pair in the size you want and pop the others in the charity shop.

Just buy the new pair and if you're that worried about taking a few quid from the supermarket (they can afford it) just buy something else too, no need to bother with the palaver of taking the other ones back

take the shorts back, make sure there is the right size, hand over your receipt, let them search

or just donate to a charity shop

@JMSAof course she can do that, its not embarrassing, everyone makes mistakes.

Could you sneakily pop the pair you don't want back when you go to get the bigger size? That's what I would do.

I don’t understand why it’s embarrassing? These didn’t get scanned, so I am returning them.

Then go and actually pay for the size you want.

No need for donations or long explanations or actual theft.

Sainsburys wouldn't let me swap a faulty jacket when I didn't have the receipt. A bomber jacket for dd, within two days of buying it a popper broke, I looked everywhere for the receipt tried to exchange it but the man on the customer services told me I couldn't without a receipt as they didn't know how old it was. It was brand new stock but I gave up.

But as your shorts were free, do what a pp said and buy a new pair and drop those in a charity shop, you haven't lost out.

Or.. you can just go and buy yourself some shorts and donate the others to charity.

Just buy another pair of shorts and donate the others to a charity shop if you need something to clear your conscience. I think if you try and take them back they're going to be confused what you're on about and it's going to make you look like you're up to something.

But what would be the point when the alternative charity shop suggestion is so much better?

Or just take them back to the shop since she's going anyway

I'd donate to charity as I'd be worried about getting the checkout assistant into trouble!

Something kinda similar happened to me and I was really embarrassed but they didn't bat an eye! Bought trousers from Tesco, didn't get a receipt from the self check out and then realised later they still had security tag on! The customer service rep's response was "real shoplifters don't tend to come back apologising, don't worry!" 😂 Fair point, hope that makes you feel better!

I would just take them back, place them where they were (just drape with other shorts if you didnt take the hanger) and buy the correct size.

No but the shop has. What you're suggesting is giving stolen goods to charity

Had something similar myself in M&S, bought 4 of the same T-shirts in different colours and the one I took back wasn’t scanned. Only difference was I went through a staff operated till so it wasn’t on me. I just shrugged and handed it back, the staff were a bit “oh were not sure how to deal with this”.

if you went through a self scan, I would donate to charity I think.

Just take them back but pretend you don’t know they’re not on the receipt. Act all surprised when they can’t find the item listed.

Take the original ones back and put them back on the rack and buy the ones you want!

That’s what I would do. Don’t mention the fact that they don’t fit. Buy the new ones separately.

It’s not better, though - it’s mildly dishonest, as to all intents and purposes the shorts are stolen, albeit innocently (and of course I can understand people thinking the supermarket can stand the loss and the money would be better going to charity) and is probably more hassle for the op too.