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Original poster

Smug thread- got free pair of Birkenstocks!

55 replies

mrsflux · 10/06/2010 14:56

Just got my new Birkenstocks.
even better they sent another pair, different style same size. No charge! The invoice in that box was same as in the box of the ones I paid for!

Pretty sure they messed up- can't check bank statement till dh brings laptop home tmrw but think theyforgot to charge.

Should I fess up and tell them or keep them as I'm a loyal customer of this website and would be pain to send them back to Germany.

Want to keep them and feel v smug. But do feel a teensy bit naughty

OP posts:
wineismysaviour · 10/06/2010 16:25

naughty but nice. keep em.

Rexy · 10/06/2010 16:50

Keep them until they ask for them - they probably never will. Big companies never miss them.

AlaskaNebraska · 10/06/2010 16:50

its theft obv

traceybath · 10/06/2010 16:51

I'd email them and tell them they'd sent two pairs by mistake.

nigglewiggle · 10/06/2010 16:58

I had this with a coffee maker. I let them know and they sent me a £30 credit for being honest! Not as much as the machine was worth, but my conscience was clear.

wineismysaviour · 10/06/2010 17:51

uumm, is it theft? She didn't steal them, she was given them?

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 17:53

No you need to tell them, this is not a freebie - it would be wrong to keep them.

The other week I tried to exchange some year-old, unworn wellies I got for ds. I took them back and said can I exchange them please as one is a 2 and the other a 13!

I had no receipt and was told I could only get wellies, but the kids'ones were really pricey and ours had been £5 in the sale.

Eventually I found a pair of Joules ones for me that were nice, and the lady went to the till to ask how much they were, I think she said £25. I hummed and harred and decided there was nothing else that fitted anyway so I'd stump up the extra £20.

Got to the till, the chap said he would do a straight exchange - I think he couldn't be bothered to faff around, but anyway I said 'er - you do realise these were a fiver?' and he said 'yeah, it's fine!'

I was like this
and I got to feel OK about it (well, just about!)

Please do the right thing. You'll feel so much better.

Original poster
mrsflux · 10/06/2010 18:50

Hmmm still umming and aahing. Oh and still gotta check I wasn't charged - online banking doesn't work on my phone.

Looked online at returns policy. Will cost me £7 I think as they don't do free returns- only exchanges. The shoes were £27 I think - not that that actually makes a difference.

In my defence it's not stealing as it's not something I set out to do.

'please do the right thing' makes me feel like I've done something very bad indeed. So far I'm only thinking about it.

OP posts:
MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 18:52

Sorry, I know what you mean but I was just making a case for it really - as though it were my decision, which of course it isn't.

I would be tempted too I expect but you start to realise there is little joy in profiting from someone else's mistake...call it karma if you like!

I'm sure if you explain, they will either say hang onto them or just cover return postage for you to send them back.

wineismysaviour · 10/06/2010 18:54

mrsflux, what does your dh think? If you send them back they need to cover the cost of postage tbh.

I feel like i'm in the minority, but I totally agree with you, you have not actually done anything wrong at all, this is not your action it is theirs.

I'd wait a week and see if they contact you, by then you'll know how you'll feel about it.

fifitot · 10/06/2010 18:56

Yes the Karma police will get you! However I would just e mail them and tell them their mistake and ask what they want you to do. You shouldn't have to stump up the cost of returning them - they might send you an SAE or similar.

I know someone who got sent 2 P and T buggies! Very nice at the price.

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 18:56

also I think in a situation like this you need to turn it round.

What if you ran a business and sent someone two of something - would you want them to keep them, or let you know?

what would you think of the person that decided to keep them?

I think every time we do something like that (not saying you will) a little part of us feels slightly less nice.

nigglewiggle · 10/06/2010 18:56

I would say it technically it is theft. She knows that she didn't pay for them, therefore she knows they are not her property. So if she kept them, it would be a technical theft, but it would be unlikely to result in a prosecution.

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 18:57

Oh I got three M&S mattresses...actually the same blardy one delivered three times. Or was it four? I think I refused it the fourth...

M&S customer service are knobbers.

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 18:58

It might be legally fine but morally or personally or whatever, it would feel wrong to me.

nigglewiggle · 10/06/2010 19:02

With the coffee machine - I told them to come and collect it. I wasn't prepared to go to the expense or inconvenience of posting it anywhere and they understood this. I'd try that line with them and they'd probably take the view that it wasn't in their interests to retrieve them, or they'd make it worth your while to put yourself out.

That way you still benefit and you can polish your halo .

wineismysaviour · 10/06/2010 19:03

If they sent two out then they are 'knobbers' then and you shouldn't feel bad..

They need to tighten up their systems...

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 19:10

Well I'd only say the shoe people were knobbers if they dumped said shoes outside your door in the rain, insisted you give them house room until collected, Oh, a week or two later and that any damage (including rain, maybe?) would be your responsibility until such a time as they deigned to collect them...then sent them again, and again, and AGAIN while you spent several quid on phone calls telling them oyu had actually cancelled the order weeks ago...then they would be knobbers.

MargaretAtwood3660 · 10/06/2010 19:11

and a double mattress is not something you can stuff in the under stairs cupboard really

knobbers.

funkychunkymunky · 10/06/2010 19:17

I was sent two prams. I was very honest and phoned mothercare to tell them. It took me 8 phone calls and around 1 hour before they finally understood and sent the courier back to collect the second one.

I should have just kept it!

Original poster
mrsflux · 10/06/2010 20:25

That's one of the off putting aspects.

They were delivered by ups while I was out today. Well sort of. I went home, they hadn't arrived so tracked them online. They said they they'd been delivered and signed for. There was no card and The name was not anyone I know so I rang.
20 mins later they were still working out where they'd gone when my neighbour came round with them!

Ups are divvies round our way so wouldn't fancy my chances of getting them picked up without fuss.

Will sleep on it I think.

Normally I'm a big believer in karma but in this case who knows...

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 10/06/2010 20:30

Sorry but the minute you know you are not entitled to it and you fail to return it, it is theft. Contact the company and ask them to send you the cost of the return postage or have them collected.

MargaretAtwood3660 · 11/06/2010 07:27

MrsF you can but try.

If they stuff it up then whatever. But what you describe in terms of neighbour signing then numpty delivery person forgetting to leave a card is just normal!

You should at least try - and then if they fuck it up you can keep them with no compunction.

diddl · 11/06/2010 08:27

It´s not up to the OP to return them though.

If she tells the company, it´s up to them to decide what to do & do it!

brimfull · 11/06/2010 08:29

I would return , I had two coats delivered by mistake..it was very tempting but I did send it back.
It is theft.