Should I go back and pay for this?

Sports Journalists Forum – Media, Newsroom & Reporting Talk

Help Support Sports Journalists Forum:

MTM

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2006
Messages
8,099
Went to Wal-Mart this morning to get a new car battery. I also decided to get my headlights restored.
The battery was $75 and the headlights $40.
When I checked out, an hour later, the total was some $95.
After paying, I looked at the receipt and didn't see the headlight thing, although about $20 was adding to the cost of the battery in core recycling and other charges.
I thought perhaps they forgot to do the light thing, but got to the car and saw they did it -- quite well, I may add -- but I was running late for work and just headed out.
Should I have gone back in and told them? Should I go back tonight?
Is it different because the headlight cleaning involves mostly labor, and no real cost for parts?
Is it just the karma of you overpay at one place and it evens out an another?
I know I should do the right thing, just wondering how some of you would handle this.
 
Well, if they overcharged you and you didn't notice, I don't think they'd hunt you down to settle it.

In the long run I say it evens out. If you really feel guilty, donate the amount you were undercharged.
 
Maybe it's a wink-and-a-smile thing. I just had a brake inspection done the other day. They said it would be $14.99. When I went in a different guy was checking me out and charged nothing. I had my money out ready to pay. Instead I vamoosed.
 
I don't care if it's the ****ing Evil Empire, go back and pay up.
 
I think you should pay, but I don't get the $20 to recycle the battery.

Who don't you offer to give them $20 if they'll give you your battery back.
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
Ace said:
I think you should pay, but I don't get the $20 to recycle the battery.

Who don't you offer to give them $20 if they'll give you your battery back.
It was about a $10 charge for battery recycling, I think it's a California thing. There also was as a new cable and sales tax.
If the charge had been closer to the $75 quoted, I may have realized right away I wasn't charged for the other thing.
 
Ace said:
I think you should pay, but I don't get the $20 to recycle the battery.

Who don't you offer to give them $20 if they'll give you your battery back.

Yeah, and then crack it open and pour it down a storm drain!
 
ArnoldBabar said:
Ace said:
I think you should pay, but I don't get the $20 to recycle the battery.

Who don't you offer to give them $20 if they'll give you your battery back.

Yeah, and then crack it open and pour it down a storm drain!

I was gonna say heave it in their dumpster on the way out.
 
One time during my college days I was headed to a football game and stopped off at Walmart to buy a cooler. Mind you this was at 6 a.m. so not the brightest of employees were manning the registers. The one I went in had a middle-aged woman who was quite concerned that I had put something in the cooler to try and get it for free. Obviously I didn't, but she was so preoccupied looking in the cooler that she forgot to scan it. I didn't realize it until I got out of the store and noticed it wasn't on the receipt (we bought some food and other snacks as well). I didn't go back to pay for it, but my friend did get shocked by an electrical fence later that day. Karma I guess.
 
It's Wal-Mart. The company's strapped for cash. It can use every penny it can get.
 
What do you mean by "headlights restored?" Were they antiques or something?
 
I'm with spnited: Error in your favor, evened out by errors the other way over the years.

No harm, no foul.
 
I know Mizzou would go back -- and get a "refund" and buy cheaper lights at Target.
 
I knew a guy who used to brag about how he would always go back if he found an error like this, no matter how small.

Of course, this same guy also took out loans in his kid's name, which led to creditors coming after the kid years later. He also cheated on his wife for years before she finally divorced him. I won't even get into the legal but shady way he made his living.

That doesn't really answer the question, but I always thought it was funny.

I say don't go back unless it is going to keep you up at night. If it really is bothering you, peace of mind is worth a few bucks and a trip back to the store.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top