I took advantage of a huge 40% off sale at JCPenney (which I combined with a 6% cash back rebate from Ebates, of course) to score a sweet deal on clothes for Lucy and me. But when my package arrived, instead of a $5 T-shirt, I received a $40 sweatshirt, pictured above. Pitfalls of online shopping.
Am I obligated to confess the windfall?
Everything else in the order was correct. Lucy got two new pajama bodysuits for $8 each, I got a pair of yoga pants for $12 (moths chewed holes in the butt cheek of my old ones) and I bought one v-neck T-shirt for $5 to wear under sweaters.
A second $5 T-shirt was supposed to be in the package, but instead I received the giant orange Nike sweatshirt you see above. It has two price tags, one for $40 and one for $50, so I assume the lower price is correct. I inspected the sticker on the sweatshirt package (each item came in its own baggie), and the sweatshirt was mislabeled as a T-shirt.
I could return the sweatshirt without the packing receipt (covering up the fact that I never paid for the sweatshirt in the first place) in exchange for store credit. However, because the sweatshirt package has a T-shirt label on it, the cashier may realize the store’s mistake. I’m not comfortable returning the sweatshirt out of the package, because then I really have no proof I didn’t just grab it off the rack.
My order totaled $46, including shipping, so if I keep the money, it will essentially make everything I paid for FREE.
Pretty tempting, wouldn’t ya say? Especially because it wasn’t my mistake.
Would you hand over the sweatshirt? Or pocket the $40?
Related reading
- A money lesson for my teenage sister
- Are samples only for prospective customers?
- Roommate: Good Samaritan or greedy stranger?
- Even more Ethical Dilemmas about Money (we know you have ’em!)
Evie Maurer says
Do the right thing – notify the company, expect that they will pay for shipping to return, and they may even tellyou to keep it! Bonus! Your conscience is clear and you were rewarded either way.
Bargain Babe says
@Evie I doubt JCP will let me keep the free sweatshirt because the price difference between what I paid for ($5) and what I received ($40) is $35!!! Even if they did let me keep it, I would donate it. It’s neon orange and way too big!
Ilene says
I would call them, ask for a free shipping label to send it back and ask for the t shirt you ordered. They might just send you the t shirt and have you keep the Nike shirt as well, but i would be honest and offer to do the exchange.
Bargain Babe says
@Ilene Good idea. I don’t want to 30 minutes drive to the store so unless they send me a return shipping label and package, I’m not sure how I’d return it. But I have a feeling they’ll send me the return label.
Jann says
I received two extra items with my online order, totaling $60.00.
I would like to do the right thing and return them but the only options they gave me were to take them to the nearest jcp or drop them off at the UPS store with a return slip.
Ok, so the reason I ordered online is that I can’t get out to shop!!! How am I going to get out to return them???
By the way, they are two huge bras!!
Any ideas anyone??
Dawn says
Do the right thing…you’ll always feel better about that in the long run. I’ve had it happen with other online stores and they have told me to go ahead and keep it. Win! =)
Bargain Babe says
@Dawn I had a return through Amazon and they let me keep the item! Granted, the item only cost $10. I wrote about it a few months ago…http://bargainbabe.com/2012/05/03/amazon-shopping-trick-let-me-keep-my-return/
TT says
I would not send it back. Things might get more confusing if you do. I am an honest person but in all truth, would keep the sweatshirt. This huge company is not going to take a hit because of it. If it would make you feel better, write to them and explain the situation. My guess is that they will probably tell you to go ahead and keep the sweatshirt if you’d like.
Best to you in whatever you decide to do 🙂
Bargain Babe says
@TT I agree, one sweatshirt is not going to significantly affect the bottom line of JCP, but I’m guessing they budget many, many mistakes like this one into their prices. If I really liked the sweatshirt, I probably would keep it. But I don’t, and I really want the T-shirt that I ordered!
Julie P says
The fact that you’re asking makes me think you know what you should do – contact JCP. Like Evie says, they may tell you to keep it but at least your conscience is clear. I had a similar thing happen with Kohls. I received a pack of luxury kings size sheets that retailed for over $100, that I hadn’t ordered. They arranged for the package to be picked up and returned with no hassle for me. Of course I would love to have kept them, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’m teaching my 6 year old son to do the right thing, but how can I do that when I’m not prepared to do the same thing.
Evie Maurer says
Thanks, Julie. It’s great to hear from a parent who is teaching by good example!
Bargain Babe says
@Julie P Ohhfff! I would have really had a hard time returning queen luxury sheets (king sheets are no use to me). But you clearly did the right thing to set a good example for your 6 year old son. My baby Lucy is not yet old enough to learn those kinds of lessons, but I firmly believe that (most) children grow up to be the kind of people their parents teach them to be. And kids learn by seeing what their parents do. Lucy already imitates almost everything we do!
Diane says
@BB ~ As I wrote earlier, I believe you knew the right to do from the beginning. But, as we said, these ethical topics always generate many comments.
Lisa W. says
I’ve actually had this happen to me. I returned the item. Didn’t want that coming back on me! Felt good doing the right thing even when they looked at me like I was crazy when I returned it.
Bargain Babe says
@Lisa W I believe in karma and don’t like the sweatshirt anyway, so my decision is not a very hard one. Especially after receiving so much feedback on what to do. Since I’ll make my return over the phone and through the mail, I won’t get to see the cashier’s reaction. But you must have felt amazing when you told them you were returning the free item!
Evie Maurer says
You can also return it to a store near you if that is easier.
Bargain Babe says
@Evie Shopping in RI is not great, especially where I live. The nearest JCP is at least 30 minutes away, and with Lucy, it’s a pain to take long car trips. She’s much happier crawling around, getting her wiggles out.
Michelle Ventresca says
I agree with some other posts, you have to do something because you don’t feel right about it…you wouldn’t have asked if everything was okay. I would call them and tell them what happened, and they’ll send you a return label. Karma does come around.
Bargain Babe says
@Michelle Ventresca Karma does come around! Which is a big part of the reason why I don’t donate everything I get rid off. I offer a lot of stuff to my local Freecycle.org network. I’ve gotten some really great – and totally free – stuff from Freecycle. So I like to offer things back.
Myke says
I would contact JCP customer service through their website instead of taking the sweatshirt to the store. Since they screwed up, let them decide how they would like it to be handled. If they send you a label with free return shipping send it back. You still haven’t received the t-shirt which you ordered and still want.
Bargain Babe says
@Myke I wonder if emailing JCP would be quicker. I hate calling customer service, it’s such a time suck.
Susan says
I once got an extra shirt from Kohls when I ordered on line. Yes, I could have kept it and no one would have known but I would have known. I have an 11 year old son so I told him what happened and together we took it to the Kohls store that was close by. The customer service person told me no one had ever brought something back before like that. He said it was nice to see that some people are still honest even when I could have easily kept the extra shirt. My son was very proud and said he would always do the right thing becuase that is what matters in life.
Bargain Babe says
@Susan Kudos to you for teaching your son an excellent lesson. Being a kind, honest person is the best way to raise kind, honest children!
Mona says
Yes, return it. Phone the store and ask how to send it back, or if it is something you’d like to keep, offer to pay the difference. They may let you keep it, but the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done the right thing is a good feeling that lasts along time (probably more than you’d enjoy the shirt.)
Bargain Babe says
@Mona, If I liked the sweatshirt I might offer to pay the difference, but it’s not my style. And the color!
Bargain Babe says
@Mona Good point. If I kept the sweatshirt without telling JCP I’d feel guilty every time I wore it. Plus it’s a hideous color of orange – as if I’m going hunting!
Terri Layne says
Yes yes yes return it!
Mindy S says
I agree that you should attempt to return it and I hope that you will follow up with a post with the response from JCP.
Bargain Babe says
@Mindy S I emailed JCP earlier today, taking Myke’s suggestion to avoid calling customer service. So far, I haven’t heard anything back but I’ll give JCP 48 hours before I get impatient.
Bobbi B says
Bottom line – they made a mistake. You call and ask them what they would like to do. Second bottom line – you are a mommy… EVERYTHING you do is teaching your child. They notice EVERYTHING. So, what would you want Lucy to do if it happened to her?
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi B If Lucy was buying clothes online, I’d be very, very worried. 1 going on 16!!!! 🙂
tracy says
i had this happen with macys i called after waiting forever for a ring i bought they sent earrings they were not worth what they were being sold for i called them they sent the ring but told me to return the earrings to send it back on my dime or take it to the store i went to the store they said your trying to return the wrong item i tried to tell them that but they were no help so i just ended up keeping them because i was not going to pay to send it or argue with some sales girl all day
Bargain Babe says
@tracy Sounds like a frustrating experience with Macys. Next time, try asking for a manager. They often have much more customer service experience and can resolve a situation smoothly.
EllieD says
The advice to call or go online to inform JCP about the error is right. Tell them you want the T-shirt from the original order (be sure you have the item/order # when you contact them), and ask how they want to handle the error with the sweatshirt. If they want you to bring it in person, explain about being a mom with a baby, and that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to do so. This way you’ve made an honest effort to do what’s right, so you have no reason to feel guilty. An “oooooops” can happen to anyone/anything, even a corporation.
Bargain Babe says
@EllieD I feel a mixture of guilt and annoyance. But you are right. It WASN’T my mistake. I emailed JCP earlier today and mentioned both the mistaken sweatshirt and the missing T-shirt. Waiting for a response.
Diane says
These kinds of situations, of which you’ve shared several over the years, always generate a slew of comments. And they’re usually “do the right thing” vs. “‘X’ budgets in taking a loss for mistakes,” etc. I’m guessing you already knew what you were going to do.
Also, note, BB, I’m [almost] not saying anything about the “Opps!” 🙂
Bargain Babe says
@Diane I find these kinds of situations very interesting, hence I write about them when they happen to me. As for the spelling misnake, it’s one I commonly make. What words do you have trouble spelling?
Diane says
@BB ~ I agree that the situations are interesting, but the responses will run along a predictable spectrum as they tend to do. As for the “opps,”, I was teasing because I assumed it was a typo and I know your staff doesn’t include an editor or proofreader. Had I thought it was an actual error, I wouldn’t have teased. And, yes, I caught your “misnake,” which I have used verbally.
Deb says
Tempting? Dishonesty isn’t tempting. Ever.
I’m a new subscriber to your blog, and sorry to say, but after reading this crisis of conscience I don’t think I’ll be reading further. You knew it was wrong and a) you wanted validation to keep the gain or b) you intended to do the right thing from the beginning and wanted validation that you were ‘a good person’.
Saving a dollar, or $35 at someone else expense is the same as stealing.
EllieD says
@Diane ~ LOL 😀
@BB ~ I suspect that Diane and I were born with the “SpellCheck” gene that makes sure we are good spellers. It’s not a matter of intelligence so much as an innate ability to spell! Either you can do it, or you struggle.
Bargain Babe says
@Ellie D Spelling may be innate, but there are certain words I almost always misspell, like commerical ->commercial. I trust you are an excellent speller, but aren’t there words that often trip you up?
Diane says
@EllieD ~ As I once shared with Yazmin, I automatically edit everything I read and hear. I truly can’t help it. I have studied English usage and grammar, taught it, and proofing and editing are constants in my current work. I am sure BB would not say “opps,” which is why I thought it was a typo. Like you, I have an innate spelling ability which may or may not have come from being a prolific reader in my youth. While some words give me trouble, I cannot think of one spontaneously and always look them up when I am not sure. I also pay attention to those wavy red lines in e-mails and here on the comments composing window.
EllieD says
@Diane ~ Two of a kind! I, too, have taught grammar, usage, etc., and was a prolific reader always. First thing I ever read was “The Kansas City Times” while sitting on my dad’s lap! I keep a dictionary by my computer, as there are times I run across an unfamiliar word, and want to know the correct spelling before using it. I think this is the only area in which I’m even slightly OCD, as I can look at my cluttered home and ignore the entire mess!
Diane says
@EllieD ~ There’s an excellent dictionary IN your computer: dictionary.com. And I recall our discussing our teaching backgrounds right here on the BB site.
EllieD says
@BB ~ At the risk of sounding like a braggart, I have to say that I can’t think of any off-hand that regularly trip me up… at least not relatively common words. I do have to stop and think about ‘ophthalmology” when I need to use it, but it rarely comes up until I need cataract surgery, which will occur on Thursday. Not the happiest way to spend part of Valentine’s Day! 😉
Bargain Babe says
@EllieD Not bragging at all, some of us are excellent spellers. I’m a good speller about 98% of the time. Sorry to hear about your cataract surgery! I hope you have lots of yummy treats afterwards to make you feel better. A bowl of ice cream or fresh brownies are my favorite pick me ups.
EllieD says
The surgery didn’t come as a surprise, as the doctor told me more than a year ago it wouldn’t be long before it was necessary. I’m preparing meals in advance to carry me through the weekend, so that I don’t have to do any “real” cooking. As for treats… I’ve been ignoring the Valentine candy which we all got at our Red Hat brunch last Saturday, so I just might indulge in a bit of that. Starches are my real weakness, so I think I’ll probably buy a loaf of a favorite bread to have on hand for when I get an attack of the munchies!
Thanks for your comments! HUGS all ’round to your family!
Bargain Babe says
@EllieD Sounds like you are more than prepared! Good luck and let me know how it goes. Hugs to you!
GwenD says
Call JC Penny tell them about the error. Expect to return the sweatshirt.
Susan says
Ethics: doing the right thing when no one is looking.
Bargain Babe says
@Susan That is a very succinct definition. I like it!
Scotty says
with a note that says, “This COULD be part of your problem with staying afloat.”
Bargain Babe says
@Scotty Maybe, but that’s a bit snarky for me. I make mistakes too, and I don’t enjoy it when others rub it in my face.
EllieD says
@BB ~ I’ve known you for quite a while, and I’ve never known you to be either snarky or unkind to anyone. We all make mistakes, and if we’re smart, we own up to them, rather than wait for someone else to point them out. I feel that when I stop making mistakes, I’ve probably stopped learning anything! At least that’s my excuse to making so many, and I’m sticking to it! I’m just thrilled whenever I’m able to do anything well, and try not to gloat… ever!
@Diane ~ I keep forgetting about dictionary.com Plus, I like having a dictionary in my hands, as I do with any books and the newspapers. Just old-fashioned, I guess!