If you break it, you pay for it. One day in Macy's Department Store,

I have broken items before (or rather my children with me have), and have done the same thing of taking the item to customer service OR the store owner. Only one time was I asked to pay for the item, but the lady was very kind and understanding how the accident occurred - she also sold it to us at her cost rather at the selling price. We took the item home and repaired it. I think the larger stores have no problem just writing it up as a loss for either their insurance or their taxes to cover.

If I broke it and they said I had to pay for it, then I would. Usually they have signs posted saying"You break it, you pay for it" If they said I didn't have to pay for it, I would accept that, though.

I always assumed I'd pay for anything I broke so, like you, I'm careful and don't pick anything up unless I'm really interested. I would do the same as you did, though, I'd offer to pay for it.

hi anawar I would have done the same thing as I would be embarrassed and feel guilty as sin. it was nice of the salesman to be kind to you. I imagine most pf us would have done exactly the same as you. we are as abunch of mylotters pretty nice people dont you think.

I'm responding to this discussion as well as the Cleanup In Aisle Five. Supermarkets and department stores expect mishaps; that's probably why the prices are high. If you accidentally drop and break something, by your own merit, you should try to report it to the nearest cashier or Customer Service. However, I've seen people who just walk away! Thank G-d I only dropped boxes or cans that got dented; I bought it anyway. (I'm too honest.) I have seen people carry around in their cart ice cream or meat, then decide they don't want it - and have a nerve to put it back - sometimes not even where they found it. Not me - if I took it I buy it, even if I decide I don't want it. On the other hand, I have purchased something that broke in use, or they decide it doesn't work well or they just don't like it. Some people (like me) just throw it out and go buy another. Some will return it to the store, claiming it was defective when they bought it, and try to get another one free to replace it. I hate returning anything, even if it means throwing it out and buying another, giving it away, or just use it anyway.

If I break something while in a store I would bring it to the customer service desk and confess up to it that I broke it and would pay for it that is the right thing to do. I have done this a couple of times and felt bad about it for I shouldn't have been touching it in the first place or this wouldn't have happend but yes I would turn it in and pay for it.

I have offered in the past to pay for broken items. Or to pay for a second drink if I spilled the first one. The usual response is that it is not necessary. But I still am willing.

LOl I would have done the same thing you did lol. But the truth of the matter is if the store has no signs stating that you have to pay for things that you break you don't actually have to. I work at a store called peavy mart and we sell lawn ornaments and farm supplies. Well one day while I was working it was crazy busy and some guy just pushed his cart to the side instead of taking it back and he hit and broke a $150 fountain he the proceeded to pick the pieces up and one of our floor guys went up and said he would take care of the mess and the guy left. I was shocked because like you I always thought if you break something you have to pay for it. That's when I asked about it and was told that there has to be a sign posted.

In stores that size they are used to having stuff get broken and not paid for. They ship it back to the manufacturer for a refund so they really aren't out anything, either. I'd still take the pot to customer service and pay for it if they asked, but in a large department store they expect a certain amount of breakage and don't ask you to. In a mom & pop type of store, however, I would pay for it even if they said I didn't have to. Most of them have signs up (I've seen them in smaller shops in the mall or in the kiosks) saying if you break it you buy it so people will be more careful. Some of the stuff is handmade and can't simply be re-ordered. They don't have the wiggle room on the profit side that a large store does and breakage could hurt their bottom line.

Hi anawar-I would of done what you did and offered to pay for it normally here in england you can get away with it but sometimes you also haveto pay for it so its a catch 22 situation-your friend littleowl

I would do the same as you. I was taught that if you break it you buy it. Even if they say its all fine they have many of these I would still feel very guilty if i wasn't required to pay for it.

Well that was nice of him - I always thought if you break it you pay for it also! I'm always super cautious around any expensive items because I wouldn't know what to do if I broke it. Of course I would tell the truth, but would do it with the hopes that someone would be merciful enough not to make me buy it :-) I'm glad you didn't have to pay for it.

I would go admit my mistake and be prepared to pay for it! I always warn my daughter that she should only look and not touch things because if she breaks them, mommy has to pay for them, and mommy doesn't want to have to pay for something she didn't want that she cannot use because it's broken.

I would do exactly what you did. It's the only right thing to do. Of course, if it happened to be in a store like, oh, say Tiffany's, and I broke an expensive, one-of-a-kind glass knick-knack, I would have a lot more than sorrow in my eyes! I'd be bawling like a baby, because I KNOW I'd have to pay for it! But it really is your responsibility to pay for something you break. A lot of the time, though, I think that the reaction of the store would be the same as yours... no worries! I just couldn't live with myself if I tried to "get away with it" by not telling a salesperson or customer service. The stores have insurance on their merchandise, so they'll get paid no matter if you have to pay for it or not. Of course, that may just be a good argument if you break something like I mentioned above. Unfortunately, I've heard a lot of stories from my son who works at Wal Mart. There are a lot of dishonest people in this world. He's not only seen broken merchandise, obviously broken by a customer, just sitting on the shelf or floor, or even worse... empty boxes from people stealing whatever was in the box. It might be hard to steal a Mr. Coffee machine from the box, but I think you get my point. He's found a pile of empty movie cases in the restroom, and he tells me that he's seen people walking into the store, picking up something on the more expensive side like a DVD player, and take it right to customer service saying they lost the receipt, to get "their money back"!!! Sorry, I'm rambling. It just makes me so angry when people do things like that because it usually ends up with the store raising prices to offset the stolen or broken merchandise, instead of improving security.

I always assume I have to pay for something I break. No other option than to pay up. I'm not going to pretend I didn't break anything and walk away.

U are lucky to be in such a good shop with understanding staffs.. haha ^_^ If not most of the time, it will be, 'once broken considered sold'.. ANd it's actually quite rare for shops to say that u need not pay but i will pay for the thing i have broke if it's my mistake ^_^

Girl that is a big one; I try not to touch certain things in the store that might have to be paid for out of your pocket. But I'm surprised that you didn't have to pay for it. Macy's is a high end store they have really exspensive things and that was cool that you didn't have to worry about it. That was real nice of the sales man.

wow, that was nice of him. u know most stores will make u pay for it. they want to make sure they get their money for the item that was broke. they want to make sure their profits don't go down.

i think i would have just left it and walked away. i know that is super bad, but if i am just looking and i accidently break it i only have like 5 dollars to my name so i wouldnt be able to pay for it so.

when i was in college, i was holding a paint for my art project and on my way to the cashier when it slipped in my hands. i called for the saleslady, unfortunately i ended up paying for it. good thing was there was still leftovers from the container, so we just had to transfer the contents to another container. i was still able to use some of the paint when i get home, but it was pretty embarrassing for me. if ever i broke something i can afford, i think i will call the sales person's attention. but if it is something i cannot afford, im not sure what i might do...