Cashier mistakes

**Rhayne** · 04-20-2011, 09:08 AM

Last night I went to a Target that I don't normally shop at, it's a bit out of my way. We were there right at closing. I had printed 6 coupons from Ore-Ida.com. 3 were "1.00off on one bag of Ore-Ida frozen potatoes" and the other 3 were "get 1 free jar of Heinz gravy when you buy 1 bag Ore-Ida frozen potatoes". Well Target had the potatoes on sale Buy 2 get 1 free. I also bought baseball card inserts for my new coupon binder. Here is the transaction:

3 Ore-Ida frozen potatoes - 2.49 each (buy 2 get 1 free) = 4.98
3 Heinz gravy - .99 each = 2.97
1 baseball card insert = 4.95

Subtotal = 12.90
Total after coupons and not including tax = 6.93

Here's the problem.... The coupons scanned but the register asked the cashier to input the amount of the gravies since they were free. I think this confused her because instead of inputting the .99 three times, she input 2.49 three times. So the total after tax was 1.82 instead of the 6.93. My boyfriend had paid because I had gone to use the ladies room. I came out after he was finished and we walked to the car. He handed me the receipt and told me he loved when I couponed. I thought nothing of that because we coupon all the time now and didn't look at the receipt til we got home.

So now what do I do? Do i travel back there to make it right? Do i call and tell them what happened? I'd hate it if the cashier got in trouble for that. Will she get in trouble if she didn't know she made the mistake?

**wanderlusting** · 04-20-2011, 09:57 AM

I don't know about Targets policies but when I worked as a cashier at the commissary, I didn't get in trouble if anything like that happened. The head cashier (who did all the drawer counting and all the coupon redemptions) probably didn't even notice because there were just sooooo many coupons

**Cricketlegs** · 04-20-2011, 09:57 AM

I wouldn't waste my gas or my time by going back.

I tend to just let these things go.

I make mistakes and so do others and since you were not on the spot to fix it then(which I would have if I had been there on the spot) I would let it go.

**Greebo** · 04-20-2011, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Rhayne

So now what do I do? Do i travel back there to make it right? Do i call and tell them what happened? I'd hate it if the cashier got in trouble for that. Will she get in trouble if she didn't know she made the mistake?

If you operated the store, what would you hope your customers did?

**Sophia** · 04-20-2011, 10:38 AM

I personally would call and explain and see what they wanted me to do next time I was up there way. It was a mistake and honest mistake. That still doesn't make it right ya know. TC

**Nishu** · 04-20-2011, 10:39 AM

I really doubt they'll fix it. The coupons are long gone and they're not going to fix a transaction and take more money from you just because you said they should. I've seen mistakes like this often, and unless you're right there to catch it as it happens, they'll just tell you it's no big deal.

It's a problem that amounts to what, 4.50? They don't go through and match coupons to individual transactions. They're not going to notice, and they're not going to care.

Call them and ask them if it will make you feel better.

**Greebo** · 04-20-2011, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Sophia

I personally would call and explain and see what they wanted me to do next time I was up there way. It was a mistake and honest mistake. That still doesn't make it right ya know. TC

Originally Posted by Nishu

I really doubt they'll fix it. The coupons are long gone and they're not going to fix a transaction and take more money from you just because you said they should. I've seen mistakes like this often, and unless you're right there to catch it as it happens, they'll just tell you it's no big deal.

It's a problem that amounts to what, 4.50? They don't go through and match coupons to individual transactions. They're not going to notice, and they're not going to care.

Call them and ask them if it will make you feel better.

I agree with both - call them up - don't make a long trip that could be wasted - just call em up and let em know what happened.

Like nishu said, they probably won't care, but COUPON manufacturers DO reconcile accounts - so if this serves as a training point for the cashiers for later, they may just thank you for letting them know.

**chowder** · 04-20-2011, 10:56 AM

This works both ways.I went to a grocery store,cat food on sale,when I get to the checkout the kitten food came up full price.I said it was on sale and was told,not the kitten variety,even though I swore I saw a ticket on the shelf that said kitten.Oh well.
When I got home I fumed about this thinking I know I am right.Went back the next day and grabbed 8 boxes,saw the ticket,I was right and went to cash.Told no not on sale.I said you better get someone to check that out.Woman comes back and says nope not on sale.This time I said come with me and took her back and showed her the sign,which was not directly under the kitten but was still there.Ends up that because of their mistake I got all 8 boxes free.(store policy)
If I had not have gone back their mistake would have cost ME money.

**mauimagic** · 04-20-2011, 12:12 PM

I tell them either way the mistake was made and the cashiers have never seemed to care either way. While I know this is silly, at times I resent the energy to check everything they ring up = probably because they are so darn fast when then ring things up. I have questionned things and held up the line while the cashier checks - but that's part of my job and it's my money!!

**ladytoysdream** · 04-20-2011, 12:32 PM

I try very hard to concentrate when they are ringing up my order. Usually I have added things in my head as I put them on the counter, so I know within a $ 1 what my total should be.
If I get distracted, and my total is wrong, I look at the receipt before I leave the store. Hopefully I catch a mistake before I cash out.
Today was interesting. I go into Family Dollar store because I needed a couple of small things. Checked the price of Dawn dish soap in the big bottle, just to track the price. Knowing I still have some at home. Noticed it had gone up 50 cents, per bottle

So I am thinking and hoping I have a few coupons at home, and should go back in sometime soon, and get stocked up. So I pass a end cap and there are 2 big bottles there. Marked at $ 3.00 for the 56 oz bottle ....which is the old price. I figured it was on clearance because of the price change...whatever.
Get up front, and watching the stuff ring up...and the Dawn rings in at $ 3.50. I make mention to the cashier that the price sticker on the bottle is $ 3.00 and I am not going to pay the 3.50
He did adjust the price for me down. So maybe I will go back in again real soon, and see if there are any with the old price still in place and take in some coupons. The cashier is the one who did the price changes he told me, so it was a oops on his part. I figure it was old stock and not new stock that just came in.
I don't think it's fair when they mark up the current inventory. Maybe they think so. But I don't see it that way.

**madjen** · 04-20-2011, 12:37 PM

Call the store you went to last night. The store will likely thank you for being honest and tell you not to worry about it.

**shoiji** · 04-20-2011, 01:39 PM

Once at a store I returned an item. They did not credit my account but took the dollar amount out of my account again. So I was paying twice for an item I returned. I went back and tried to tell the cashier what happened but they had no idea what I was talking about. So I went back when the manager was there. She was already with me telling me I was wrong that she went through the reciepts. So I stood there and argued with her. She proceeded to ring up the item as a return to show me that I was wrong. Well the "fake" receipt made it more than obvious that I was correct and she ended up giving me my money back. It was a pain but it was also $30 in total. For me $30 can pay for groceries for a week.

**imagine** · 04-20-2011, 01:45 PM

I would let them know the mistake. They generally thank me and we settle things up right.

It just wouldn't sit right with me to not correct the mistake.

But I'm also one who returns pens when I accidentally take them with me.

**frugalwarrior2** · 04-20-2011, 01:57 PM

I went to Aco Hardware last night and the cashier was a disaster. She had double charged me $2.49 for easter candy. Charged me full price for lint traps. Going back was on my way and I got all the money back. In fact I charged it and ended up w/ cash. This is an older cashier,she turns her hearing aid off. Trying to deal w/ her is very difficult-they know.
Your reciept will show which cashier. If she has a history of goof ups it will even be easier. If its by something else I would go back. On the phone they will just tell you to come in.

I always get my money back. Walmart overcharged me a good $60. over 1 time. Then she took a .05 coupon off,supposed to be .50. And I'm sure you know-handle the checkout yourself from now on and always double check the reciept before leaving the store.

**Ramona** · 04-20-2011, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Sophia

I personally would call and explain and see what they wanted me to do next time I was up there way. It was a mistake and honest mistake. That still doesn't make it right ya know. TC

I agree. It's a mistake, and I wouldn't feel comfortable about it. Call and ask the store manager how to handle it.