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

That's true, but this pair of shorts is insignificant when it comes to supermarket waste - the amount of waste and loss is huge. The amount of stuff that gets thrown away due to human error or carelessness, as well as theft, and not used or donated makes this one item basically meaningless.

This

Don’t do this. op. Anything done surreptitiously may be spotted on camera and may be mistaken for a different action. Could lead to more problems.

I would do what others suggest. Either explain that you didn’t pay and buy the new shorts or just buy the new shorts and donate the other pair to charity.

I would donate the shorts to a charity shop

This!!

No, because I would be very stealthy 🥷 🤣

Am I missing something? Just hand them back at the shop and say you don't want them, have lost the receipt but don't need a refund. This is a non-issue.

I don’t think you know what the majority of people would do. You only know what you and the people you know, would do with an item they have accidentally ‘stolen’.

OP I would just hand it in and buy the shorts that fit. It’s not as big a deal as you think.

it’s reasonable to say that you would find it embarrassing, but not on to try to make someone else feel embarrassed

About a year ago I somehow managed to exit Sainsbury’s with a whole trolley of shopping and was at the car before I realised I hadn’t paid. It was using the self scanner and I had swiped my card but left before the scanner said that I needed to use a a different card

I was mortified. Went back in and explained. They found my shopping on the self scan pay station and let me pay and barely lifted an eyebrow.

In our local supermarket the guy who watches the cctv lets shoplifters wheel trolleys full of scotch out because it's not his job to try and stop them/not paid enough to get knifed/can't be arsed, so if you think he's going to pounce on someone who's going through a rack of shorts, hangs up a pair and takes down a pair that she then pays for....? Really....? Nah.

Sounds like a humble brag. No need for all the faux mortification. Just give them to customer service, they have seen a lot worse and won’t bat an eye lid.

Are you joking?! Just give them to charity if they dont fit, and buy a new pair!

I recently got £100 of free underwear from M&S because of a screw up with their online ordering system following the cyber attack. I chased up an order, was told it was lost, was issued a refund, and it turned up the next day anyway. As if I'd go running off to M&S to tell them!

I went shopping in m & s for food. Did the self checkout tapped the card and waltzed out. Got home and when I checked my banking app it said I needed to use the pin. Oops. The only problem is I live 30 miles away.
4 weeks later I returned to confess to be told it was too late to do anything about it and not to worry. I was concerned that there might have been a picture of me on a staff room wall and I do enjoy an m & s treat.
Just take them back to customer services. Forget all the BS about donating them or putting them back . Ridiculous.

I don’t get why it’s so embarrassing. Are there really so many people who find the idea of admitting that they made a mistake so difficult?

There’s no way for it to be misconstrued/ suspicious if you go straight to customer services, say really sorry I ‘bought’ these but I can’t see them on the receipt.. I might ask them to check in case I might have missed it (I bought a top from Sainsbury’s recently and it just showed as a code so could be missed if you’re not sure how much they are) but otherwise just give them back, apologise and be on your way. I would be paranoid putting them back as well. Imagine trying to explain that you didn’t pay last time but you really do plan to pay this time, and having created that situation for reasons that don’t really make any sense.

OP I also thought she’s not Robin Hood reading the charity shop suggestions! 🤣 such a bizarre suggestion

I think they'd just be more shocked at your honesty tbh. I'd just go and buy the ones you want and donate the others to charity shop

But the shop will!

I don’t know what to suggest really, the store might be fine with it or they might be unhappy and consider the item as stolen. It’s good that you’re happy to return it but the possible shoplifting has already happened, so I wouldn’t automatically assume they will be fine about it. Did you go to a manned till or self checkout? Did you not realise the payment due was shorter than expected?

personally, I would buy the other size separately to whatever you do with the pair you have.

if it’s a self service till that the receipt corresponds to, then the only way this would have happened is OP not scanning them at purchase ie theft. It’s different if it’s a manned till and staff error. Personally I would say this is risky.

Also OP would be essentially conning them if wanting a direct exchange for the shorts due to size, knowing they weren’t paid for. Some shops allow for no receipt exchanges. So i
agree that the 2 transactions need to be handled separately.

For the same reason the OP is in a dilemma, because she thinks they may accuse her of something that she did innocently. And as someone whose DS worked for a major supermarket throughout his student days, I know that the store won't necessarily welcome her with a smile and a "don't worry, thank you much for bringing them back". They might, and they might not.

I'd just go and buy the right size and give the other ones to a charity shop personally. Or just go and put them back on the rack... The supermarket staff aren't going to care whatever you do so don't overthink it.

I'd just go and buy the right size and give the other ones to a charity shop personally. Or just go and put them back on the rack... The supermarket staff aren't going to care whatever you do so don't overthink it.

Just take them back tell the truth pay then swap, it will be fine.

Reverse-shoplift. Take them in and hang them up, select the right size and take it to the till. Your conscience is clear and you’ve got what you want without the embarrassment.

All this talk of charity shops..

They are not hers. She should just return them. either to customer services or just leave them in the shop.

Massive over think going on here!