Home > Duluth.Talk > Archives > 2006 > May > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USShould I have paid for chocolate cream pie?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One recent beautiful Saturday afternoon after a day filled with chores, errands and shopping, I treated myself to dinner at a local cafeteria-style restaurant.
Moving through the line, I made minor culinary decisions about whether I felt like a green leaf or fruit salad; whether I wanted carved roast beef or baked chicken; and whether mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese would delight my palate.
Finally, I got to the dessert portion of the line and, after salivating over the array of cakes, pies and puddings for what seemed like a pleasant eternity in a sugar factory — I chose a piece of chocolate cream pie.
I had no idea that choosing a dessert would engage me in a minor moral dilemma.
At the end of the line, a person issues a guest check, but you do not actually pay for your meal until you are ready to leave the restaurant. The woman who gave me mine was not particularly friendly and she barely made eye contact.
I did not think much about it, except that maybe she was tired or had limited English skills that might make her hesitant even to engage in the smallest of small talk. The woman gave me a weak cursory smile and handed me my guest check.
When I got to the table, I noticed that she had not charged me for the pie.
I thought for a nanosecond: She wasn’t really friendly so I should keep the pie without paying — as compensation for weak customer service.
But that thought quickly faded: Even if no else knew or cared that I could get away without paying for the pie, I knew—and that was sufficient for me.
I summoned the woman who clears the trays in the dining area and pointed out the error. She never said a word, but took my guest check from me and had the pie added to my bill.
Then, while waiting in line to pay, an older woman in front of me explained to the cashier that she had not been charged for her beverage.
The cashier, unlike the lady who cleared the trays away in the dining room, made a really big deal about this woman’s honesty and rewarded her by not charging her for the beverage. Then she asked the manager if she could give this honest soul a gift check for a free meal on her next visit. This customer almost floated out of the restaurant on a cloud of righteousness.
The cashier, manager, and the other honest customer did not know that I too had an item omitted from my guest check. I never even had the urge to mention to them that I had asked for my bill to be adjusted to reflect the price of the pie. I was satisfied with knowing that I had not sold out my values for $2.79.
Would I have been a ‘bad’ person if I had eaten the pie without paying? Is there any price that makes it worthwhile to sell out your morals?
Permalink | Comments (28) | Categories: Beni Dakar
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By dg
May 9, 2006 07:47 AM | Link to this
You did the right thing to pay for the pie. I know it’s nice to get a little instant recognition but your reward will come in some other way. There is no amount of money worth selling out your values because we live with our deeds for the rest of our lives.
By jg
May 9, 2006 08:16 AM | Link to this
You did the right thing! The other day I received too much change at a small store. I went back in and told the man - he seemed surprised. Imagine the indigestion from the pie if you did not pay for it!!
By mr_however
May 9, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this
Yes, Beni. Moral dilemmas come and go. It is my experience that “no good deed goes unpunished”, at least in the short run. I once asked a teller for change of a $100 and one twenty in a ten and two fives. She doled me five twenties and a ten and two fives! I immediately knew what had happened. I happily left the window, but I hadn’t gotten to the end of the line before I knew what I had to do. I returned the $20 only to receive a scowl instead of a thank you in return.
By Rod
May 9, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this
I’m with you on this one. Bottom line - you knew: so you did as you had been brought up. In this particular situation, no one would have ever known; however, in some cases when things come up short someone has to pay (the person in the store accountable for the error).
I’ve been in this situation numerous times - whenever I get to a cash register I already know approximately what my total will be (restaurant or store) - you should know this amount in case you’re over or undercharged. By doing the “right” thing, you don’t have to feel guilty later because you’re at peace with yourself and you (and God) know you’re an honest person.
Other people on here will say “ha, their loss!” But, just think about what kind of people they are - would you want to be like them and sell your soul for a piece of pie?
By meme
May 9, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
You did the right thing! There have been a couple of times when I have gotten too much change and given it back. Of course, if I don’t get enough, I ask for that too.
By Pamela
May 9, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this
We would not think twice if we were overcharged, so it is only right to bring it to management’s attention when undercharged. I buy the same drink from Starbucks on a regular basis so I know exactly how much it costs. On occassion a server has hit the wrong key always for a lesser amount. I always correct them. To do anything else is dishonest.
By E. Lewis
May 9, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this
I should always do, but sometimes I don’t, especially if it is a place that has overcharged me in the past.
By Carlton Johnson, ABA
May 9, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this
There are many reasons why we should correct underpayments; however, three stand out to me.
The first reason is a moral one. It’s simply wrong and is just another act of stealing to try and ‘get over’ on a merchant - even if the merchant’s behavior is unbecoming.
The second reason is economic. Simply take what you did an multiply that by the thousands of establishments in the state and that by multiple instances. It only means a cash flow shortage which will later equate to higher prices for the “free latte” enjoyed only on one day. There is truly no such thing as a free lunch.
Finally, the third reason is financial. Many people do not know what to do with the windfall when they receive it. More likely than not, they spend it elsewhere instead of saving or pooling it for an investment.
By pte
May 9, 2006 09:22 AM | Link to this
My wife and I are always amazed at the way many cashiers or servers react when we tell them they undercharged us. They are stunned that we care enought to get it right. My daughters both know that it doesn’t matter if you can get away with it, it is not right. As the youngest said quoting form something she heard - Character is who you are went no one is watching!
By pte
May 9, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this
Oops, I fat fingured it. It is Charatcer is who you are when no one is watching!
By G
May 9, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
Honesty is the best policy, though sometimes you pay for it.
By Jason
May 9, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this
It really depends on the situation.
Situation 1 I’m at a Mexican restaurant with friends and get some change from the waitress so we can split up the tab. She hands me $20 in change and my $20 bill. I returned the bill to her and she was grateful.
Situation 2 I’m at Houston’s with the wife for lunch and we decide to splurge and get pricey entrees and drinks, it was a Saturday. The service was very poor and I just handed the waiter my credit card without looking at the check when he finally came around. Got the check back and he charged me for the wrong table which was about $20 less than our bill. I tipped 20% on the lower amount and left after waiting 15 minutes for him to show up again.
By fluffy
May 9, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this
I was brought up to know what “intellectual honesty” is. That’s where you are smart enough to know what’s right and do it. Last week I went to the bank to cash my payroll check (ALWAYS a good idea when it is a company check) and the teller misread the bosses messy script and tried to give me $60.00 more than the check amount. I just asked her to check the amount again and she was VERY grateful that I did. The ensuing mess would have messed up her till as well as my bosses account. But I didn’t do it for those reasons; I did it because it was the right thing to do.
By fluffy
May 9, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this
As a sidenote to my previous post…the bank tried to get me to open an account with them AFTER this mess had happened. Needless to say, I replied, “I don’t think so.”
By Sexione
May 9, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this
Hello all. Got a good one for you…..lets say you pull up to the gas station to fill your tank with this ridiculously priced gas that the politicians are getting filthy rich on (doesn’t matter what size car or truck). When you get to the pump you realize that the price is listed as .02 cents per gallon instead of 2.75 per gallon. Do you proceed to fill up or do you go into the station to alert them. It happened recently in Plainfield, IN, and of course, there were those that paid the advertised price, and one person that alerted the store. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
By sexione
May 9, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this
Oops, I got it wrong….the price listed on the pump was .002 cents (two-hundredths of a cent). Even better!!!!! Now what?
By Rod
May 9, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
sexione - in your heart you know you should report it. Put it this way - if it’s not reported and this goes on for a while, someone will lose their job: the person who made the mistake. Will you enjoy your free tank of gas while knowing that someone got fired for it?
If you know the difference between right and wrong but do the wrong thing, that just says alot about the kind of person you are.
By Richard
May 9, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this
Well, sexione (you think alot of yourself with that name, don’t you - if you have to tell others you’re sexy, then…) first of all: the politicians aren’t getting rich off of high gas prices - the money doesn’t go in their pockets: that’s just a stupid comment. Secondly, by taking advantage of someone’s mistake you’re acting unethically - that may not bother you, but for honest, ethical, moral people - we would alert the station.
By Amy
May 9, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this
You know, lately it has really been on my mind how out of control we as a nation are. So entitled and self-seeking. By you making one choice to do the right thing, you will pass it on - even if the only person who knows it is the bus-person. You go Girl!
By sexione
May 9, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this
Rod First of all, I didn’t say whether I would or not, thanks for your ASSumptions. It was a question to ponder for all.
Richard Judge not, lest ye be judged. First of all, I meant the politicians, like your boy Bush, that have stock in the oil companies. And if you think they don’t, YOU are STUPID!!!
And to both, I state AGAIN, I was not stating whether I would or not, just a question to ponder. Jeesh, you all sure are judgemental. :-)
By sexione
May 9, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
Richard You don’t know who or how I got the “nickname”, so don’t hate. And men talk about the women being hostile…..we have nothing on you all. LOL!!!
By Cletus Snow
May 9, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
When I was in grammar school, a year or so ago,the coca cola co.gave wooden rulers to school kids each year. These rulers had the Golden Rule printed on them.I think a lot of us have forgot to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. we need that rule now more than ever
By OG
May 9, 2006 07:16 PM | Link to this
I recently purchased 4 picture frames from a store, and then returned one. When I returned the one frame, the cashier gave me back the money for all four. I quickly handed her the money back, and told her it was too much money. She was very appreciative, and I knew that I had done the right thing. So did you.
By jtw
May 10, 2006 07:36 AM | Link to this
Usually I’ll bring the error to their attention. It is pretty easy to miscount bills every now and then, Its an honest mistake. However, I have to draw the line with blatent stupidity… example, I was at the big orange hardware store with a large cartful of stuff. When ringing the items up, they missed one… As it was the fourth time through the items, with the manager’s help no less, I was so frustrated I just wanted to pay and go. Checking out should not take half an hour.
In that case, I have to say that if the store wants to save money by hiring incompetent people (and they have a lot of them there) let them reap the rewards.
By Benin "Beni" Dakar (The Duluth Blogger)
May 10, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this
jtw—I also become frustrated with incompetent employees. However, are we really certain that all employees who have errors are truly incompetent or are they new on the job or simply ill trained for their job? Everyone who works has had a first day or has been confused over some policy or procedures. We must be more tolerant of our fellow human beings. After all, most of us want others to be patient and forgiving of us.
Just because an employee is not as efficient or as accurate as we may prefer is no justification for a customer to keep extra money, product, or enjoy an additional service that they have not compensated that particular business for. Otherwise, one is stealing.
Thanks to everyone for posting their opinions.
Peace,
Beni a.k.a. The Duluth Blogger
By MDD
May 11, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this
Benin,
Honesty is always the best policy? You are a ‘right on’ kind of gal.
By Honest Abe
May 11, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this
This world is a better place with honesty. Too bad so many people think that lies and stealing are okay. But truth always somehow previals…well eventually.
By Johnny
May 15, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this
What is the big deal? It is only a * piece of pie. No one is hurt one way or the other, if you pay or not.