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

This

What's worse, stealing shorts, or a moment if mild embarrassment.

Of course she should take them back, otherwise she would have stolen them

Because it turns an honest mistake in a delivery into a deliberate choice to steal.

Taking them back will be no issue at all..

IMO I can’t give them to a charity shop knowing they are stolen - it doesn’t “fix” the problem that I have them but didn’t pay for them!

I’m not Robin Hood 🤣

Why would you choose to give them stolen goods over returning them to the original shop?

This is what I would do. Just casually act like you're browsing the shorts, pick up a few pairs, put the pair you have down. Pick up the ones you want. Pay for them. Nobody loses money or face.

Couldn't you sneak them back and just put them back on the rail..?

This

I wouldn't do anything convoluted - just go to Customer Services and tell them the truth!

are you sure they didnt give you a separate receipt?

Just take them back without a receipt and buy a new pair. I don't understand the stress.

Just take them back without a receipt and accept that you won't get a refund. Or just buy another pair and give the others to the charity shop.

I would just give them to charity and buy a new pair and not think about it any more.

charity shop!

Happened to me.

Took item back and said when I got receipt out for exchange I couldn’t find item on there so can I return it and buy right size.

Guy on customer service just laughed and said shame they didn’t fit as I’d have had a free pair 😂

Charity shop or put them on vinted (the latter is going to go down well on here 😂)

Ha ha the hand wringing on here! The vast majority of people (clearly not on Mumsnet) would think oops and either stuff them in a drawer, give them to a friend as a lucky win or give them to charity. One ‘theft’ of a what, £15 pair of shorts, from a supermarket is literally a drop in the ocean of the shoplifting thefts that happen every single second of the day. It literally makes no difference to anything.

I’m finding the charity shop suggestions a bit odd. Surely you just hand it back to the shop or if you’re worried about that, put it back on the hanger when you buy another size?

Its not up to customers to steal, than donate. Now its an accident, but if you don’t bring it back it’s a steal and donate

This is also what I would do.

Sneakily trying to return them to the rail could have you suspected as a shoplifter if anyone witnesses it. Just take them back to Customer Services the next time you go in. They won't mind.

Yes just go and hang them up then get the other size and pay for them.

Are you sure it's the correct receipt?
It's unlikely you could have not scanned them these days as the self scanner would have gone off

It’s a pair of supermarket shorts, just to get it into perspective 😁

You're all setting yourself up for sitcom-esque levels of embarrassment, surely? The security guard taps you on the shoulder before you get to the clothing section. Then try explaining that somehow you accidentally didn't pay for them last week and were just doing the honest thing by trying to smuggle them back in 😂

Please don't give them to a charity shop. If you can't face a person, just leave them on a rack, as others have said. Shrinkage, another name for theft/loss, costs retail businesses and they pass the cost onto us. If it was a small business, people wouldn't think twice about returning them.