I can't believe I did that.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85742)
United States
December 3, 2016 9:58pm CST
So a post or so ago I mentioned I had been in a lot of pain this week due to to my back and neck (injuries from a car wreck over 10 years ago). So I blame the incident I'm about to share with you on a week filled with more migraine pills, pain pills, and muscle relaxers than I had taken in a while (I'm familiar with rebound headaches, as well as how much is too much pain medicine, so there is never any danger of bad interactions or over dosing).
Yesterday afternoon I went to a Neighborhood Walmart grocery store (you know, the small stores that just sell groceries) to get a few groceries. I got what I needed, and went to the self checkout lane. I rang up all of the groceries, bagged them, and wearily loaded them in my car and pulled out of the parking lot. As I pulled out of the lot a weird sensation overtook me. I felt like I was missing something...
Like PAYING for the groceries! I had walked out of the grocery store with a little over 50 dollars worth of items. I immediately went back, walked into the store, hoping no one had gone through that lane, and I could just pay with my credit card, get my receipt, and leave.
An employee was near that lane, and she asked if I forgot something. I told her yes, I had forgotten to pay for my groceries. No one had any idea that I had done that. She had seen the groceries tallied up in my lane, but had thought someone had decided not to get the items, and had just left. So she had canceled my grocery amount.
She first thanked me for being honest, and walked out to help me reload my groceries, and bring them back in. She then scanned them for me, and I paid for them and left for good.
Some of you may remember my mom was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46, and died last year of it at 55.
You can see why I'm blaming it on the medication and pain.
Feel free to laugh. Believe it or not, the lady said it wasn't the first time someone had done that. And if anyone thinks I should have just thanked my lucky stars and gone without paying...no, it would have bothered me the rest of my life.
14 people like this
16 responses
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
4 Dec 16
Happens to the best of us. I've gone back to stores and groceries to pay for items that I forgot to pay for.
3 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
6 Dec 16
@AmbiePam I would feel bad about myself if I use a product without paying for it.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
4 Dec 16
I haven't actually walked away without paying but have started to. I take my wallet out and give my Air Miles card, put the card back in my wallet and start to walk away, but when I grab my wallet I say, "Oh, I guess I gotta pay for these." One day I may actually try and walk away without paying. I hope not.
Good for you for doing the right thing.
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
4 Dec 16
i am sure it would have. i know what you mean. at one place i worked, i found a 50 dollar bill on the bathroom floor after a check out and yes it ran through my mind but then i thought what if this was truly needed by someone even though it was a fancy resort where i cleaned. when i handed it in, all my co workers said i was nuts. but 6 months later, they gave it back after investigation about it and no one reported loosing it. now that was a clear contence easy fifty. lol. btw, i was alone but i knew God was looking. Don't worry about the dementia. we all forget some important things at times. i have went to the store just for something specific and got all kinds of other things coming home without that item. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118630)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Dec 16
Wow, thank your lucky stars that they didn't catch you trying to leave without paying! They would have arrested you for shoplifting, even if you told them the story about accidentally forgetting to pay! I bet every thief they catch probably tries to use a story like that, so when it happens honestly (like in your case), they wouldn't believe you.
And way to go for being honest! I've done the same thing with portions of my groceries (like forgetting to ring up the stuff that was underneath my shopping cart), but I've never forgot to pay for my entire order! And like you, I'm always honest and go back in and tell them I forgot to pay for something!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85742)
• United States
9 Dec 16
I actually think they might have believed me. I've been going there for years, and have gotten to know a lot of the staff. But I'm thankful I didn't have to test that theory. Because it sounds so odd I don't know if I would believe someone who did the same thing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118630)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec 16
@AmbiePam Luckily, you are a regular customer there, so I think in the end they would have given you the benefit of the doubt. I used to work for a grocery store, and even though I didn't know every single one of our regular customers by name, I did recognize them by face. So if any of our "regulars" would have faced a similar situation, I would have given them the benefit of the doubt.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
4 Dec 16
I'd have been guilt ridden too. Occasionally I'll forget to scan an item, or the cashier will make an error and won't scan an item. When I figure it out I always feel guilty.
I believe in Karma.. the universe has a way of working itself out. If you failed to pay for those items, you'd have lost money at some point.. like just dropped it.. and probably at an inopportune time, and probably more than you would have spent on the groceries. I've had things like that happen before!
I do think it was probably your pain and medication, I wouldn't worry too much until it starts happening frequently!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
4 Dec 16
Now that CA charges 5-10 cents for a plastic or paper bag.. I opt not to take it (if I forget my canvas bag) so every time I walk out, it's like I'm stealing but I did pay =)
Very nice of you to go back in & pay.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48497)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
I would blame it on the meds and the stress of the pain-it can take its toll.
One time I was using my debit card at the check out and I stood there and stood there and then finally it was cancelled. And I thought why is my transaction cancelled? It turns out I was a bit too preoccupied and didn't hit the OK button to complete it and it timed out. I was very young when that happened, but I remember it embarrassed me! Another LOL moment!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459654)
• Switzerland
4 Dec 16
It happens to all of us. I did something similar last week. I bought my grocery, I also needed a marker and a pencil. I put everything in the cart, except the marker and pencil. I opened the bag to pay for the grocery and automatically put inside the marker and the pencil.... that I found in my bag only one week later.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
5 Dec 16
I'm glad you were able to go back in & pay. I've heard stories where someone forgot to put an item up to pay for (like toilet paper on the bottom of the cart) and was accused of shoplifting. so that could have been very stressful!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130233)
• India
4 Dec 16
Those with a conscience would have that guilt feeling if they did not pay, rest of their life. You have a concience apparently (lol)
1 person likes this
