I Didn't Scan Items at Self Serve - Went Back and Paid for Them

Ljjb on 16/12/2017 - 09:42
Last edited 16/12/2017 - 09:54 by 1 other user

The other day I inadverantly didn't scan item at the supermarket self service scanners. I didn't realise until I got to my car a checked my receipt. I went back into the store, within 5 minutes, and paid for the unscanned items. The assistant just said thanks for coming back.

I have never been in trouble with the police, not even a speeding ticket. But I am worried about what could happen next and I am hoping for some helpful answers. Could anything more come of this? Could the store/police review CCTV footage from the past? I am worried that this could have happened unintentionally before without me realising it.

Thanks.

Food & Grocery

closed Comments

  • Flying Ace on 16/12/2017 - 09:46
    +143

    You paid for the item. Why would the police become involved? You have nothing to worry about.

    • WatchNerd on 16/12/2017 - 12:14
      +65

      Exactly, the issue was resolved the moment they went back & paid for items.

      Call me cynical, but there must be another reason for posting this. The answer probably lies within the question the Op wants answered.

      Could the store/police review CCTV footage from the past?

      • Flying Ace on 16/12/2017 - 17:31
        +19

        You could be right, I didn't really think of that.

        The story could in fact be "I didn't scan an item at the self service scanners, and the loss prevention officer caught up with me at the car and escorted me back into the store where I paid for the items".

        • ashikk on 18/12/2017 - 09:57
          +1

          ^ this. Seen it happen a lot of times. Even a GP (I know, right!!) & his partnet that i knew did it, got caught and banned for 2 years, no police involved!!

      • YoursTruly on 18/12/2017 - 07:34

        Oh my goodness calm down you!

        Does everything have to have an underlying agenda?

        I think not

      • Suspect420 on 18/12/2017 - 10:47
        +2

        Exactly my thoughts.
        Read between the lines

      • 33725 on 18/12/2017 - 11:52
        +10

        OP is actually asking for tips for future "unintentionally"

        • telljoolz on 19/12/2017 - 10:27

          and potentially past occasions not realising.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2017 - 00:14
        +2

        Exactly, the issue was resolved the moment they went back …

        I’m sorry @WatchNerd but this is untrue, as the procedures set out in Corporate Security Document N137869F are triggered following their return as follows:

        1. Team member enters Code ‘DH’ into the integrated online monitoring systems, associating that entry with the original purchase transaction record.

        2. Identity details obtained via that transaction record, or alternatively CCTV facial recognition analysis which requires image transfer to central corporate systems (which contain image profile database of all client transactions going back five years). Provided that image can be matched to an associated card transaction during that five year epoque, identity is confirmed.

        3. All retained CCTV for transactions performed by that client is analysed for evidence of larceny.

        4. If any suspect transactions are identified a SWAT team is mobilised.

        When operating under ideal conditions, this process can result in the SWAT team overpowering the alleged thief before they return to their car.

        As you see the OP had good reason to be concerned, however the intercept period has elapsed so they’re safe and home. The issue was resolved the moment they left the site, not the moment they went back.

        Thank you.

    • dcep on 16/12/2017 - 13:41
      +4

      But but…

      Bank accidentally deposit money into an account, then the account holder left the country with the money, but later returned the money yet still get jail time for turning himself in.

      OP took items from store, left the store with the goods without paying, then later returned to pay up.

      I'm not saying OP should be punished for whether it's unintentional or conscience caught up with him later (no one can judge), but the action is similar to the story above.

      • Tiggrrrrr on 18/12/2017 - 14:55
        +1

        Not the same thing.
        If the sum of money is inordinately large. Then the account holder would be aware it is a mistake. Yet still took the money.

        The self serve checkouts have minimal space and are rushed. Forgetting to scan a tootbrush that is hidden under a bag of groceries is plausibly a mistake and unnoticed. The item was returned and paid for immediately. Not after using it on an overseas trip.

    • vid_ghost on 18/12/2017 - 13:47

      Self service checkouts are losing allot of money with people miss scanning things and picking cheaper vegies per KG when scanning a banana ext.. Its still cheaper for them then hiring more staff.

      Not everyone is steeling.. some people are just rushing and making mistakes.. it happens and coles, woolworths know this that's why they dont involve the police because they dont want a bad rap relating to self service. If people start getting arrested at the self service checkout watch the people avoid it like the plague

  • Clear on 16/12/2017 - 09:50
    +49

    Did scotty mess up his SEO and OzBargain is now showing as OzLegalAdvice in Google? I swear people create accounts every week to ask.

  • tomsco on 16/12/2017 - 09:58
    +1

    Suggestion: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ0hOKCSuns

  • Baysew on 16/12/2017 - 10:02
    +9

    I am worried that this could have happened unintentionally before

    Don't use self-serve in the future.

      • Baysew on 16/12/2017 - 10:06
        +18

        How does using self-serve "affecting their spending decisions"?

        • try2bhelpful on 16/12/2017 - 18:38
          +3

          Unless they are now buying things they would be too embarrassed to take to the checkout chick.

        • Name on 17/12/2017 - 21:14
          +1

          Maybe to buy that extra large zucchini? Makes no sense..

        • ozzpete on 18/12/2017 - 04:53
          +2

          @try2bhelpful:

          I always get embarrassed to buy the extra small man wrappers :/ but then I buy the extra extra large trajans with pleasure ribbing (to impress the checkout chick, and they just slip right off, in use :(

      • imurgod on 18/12/2017 - 10:24
        +4

        I don't know about affecting spending decisions, but remember when banks said electronic transactions are the next big thing and to a large degree, they are. Then there's that time you simply have to walk into a bank….. nobody to serve you, loooong queues as a result and excuses is what you get now.

        Self-serve checkouts kill those great little first jobs that kids take to learn how money is earned.

        Coles and Woolworths make insane profits, just like banks. Unless you only have a couple of items, I think self-serve checkouts is a bad idea.

        /rant over

        • Tiggrrrrr on 18/12/2017 - 15:01

          Not sure which bank you are going to, but I don't think I have waited for longer than 4 minutes in a bank queue recently. I've waited 6 minutes at an ATM.

          Yes, I time my wait in bank queues because I'm that guy that complains about the wait time …

        • imurgod on 19/12/2017 - 08:50

          @Tiggrrrrr: NAB. Might have to change banks then!

    • Mrbean007 on 17/12/2017 - 11:54
      +1

      You do realise we are getting charged for a service operator to be serving us through every one of the products we buy.

      Don't get me wrong i use a self serve now and then but most of the times stores are understaffed and no one to be seen then appears a old lady or man or a disabled has a full trolley just doesn't feel right.

      But then again this is the future where machines are taking over unfortunately. :(

      • Antikythera on 17/12/2017 - 17:00
        +5

        you mugs are still paying higher prices to pay for the staff member who serves me. I have worked enough register jobs in the past to make sure I only ever use a staffed register myself. why help colesworth kill more australian jobs?

      • tryagain on 17/12/2017 - 18:08
        +2

        I find my time is more valuable than having to wait longer, just to take advantage of someone else scanning a few items for me. A big shop is a different story though.

        • Tiggrrrrr on 18/12/2017 - 15:03
          +1

          But then there is waiting for 5 minutes each time for someone to clear the "Unknown Item in Bagging Area" error …

    • Symbiotic on 18/12/2017 - 16:14
      +1

      Wish that had been an option at Coles North Sydney last night. Had done a large shop and had to struggle through using the painful self-service machines. They're alright for a few items, but when you've got a trolley full they're an absolute nightmare.

      "Please place the item in the baggage area". I did. Had to get the assistant to override warnings at least 5 times.

      Spent over $150. For that much $ they'll pick your items and deliver them to your door for free. Surely if they can do that then keeping one checkout operator on duty per store is feasible. But that doesn't help them scrimp on the bottom line I guess.

  • Donaldhump on 16/12/2017 - 10:20
    +8

    Relax, you did the right and honest thing. You will never get in trouble for this.

  • hell0 on 16/12/2017 - 10:21
    +25

    No. Theft involves purposefully depriving a person/business of an item. You not only did it by accident, but then you came back on your own accord.

    The store manager would never take this further and in fact would be happy to have customers like you!
    A+

    NOTE: 95% of ozbragainers would not have returned and paid.

      • Benicio on 17/12/2017 - 19:24
        +1

        refuse them access to your bags - they have no right to do so, just having a "we will check your bags" sign displayed gives them no power over you.

        • AustriaBargain on 17/12/2017 - 20:20
          +5

          Mwahaha, you have no power over my bags Coles! That's how I imagine you at the checkout.

        • Pyrock on 19/12/2017 - 15:44

          Can confirm this. Used to work security for 3 years.
          They have no legal right to force you to allow them to check your possessions.
          The only way they can do this is if they arrest you. If this happens (and you haven't done anything wrong) then you are within your right to sue for wrongful citizens arrest.
          Also technically if at any point you feel like you have been arrested (ie held there against your will), then you have been arrested (although you may need some decent lawyers to argue this if they didn't do anything to make you reasonably think this).

          They are within their right to refuse you entry in the future if you refuse to let them check your bags, but they cannot force you to.
          Any security you see in any kind of retail or supermarket is pretty much 90% of the time only for prevention rather than anything else.

      • belongsinforums on 18/12/2017 - 00:45
        +3

        Really? I caught countless thefts and never was rewarded. In fact, I was encouraged to ignore it.

      • James Henstridge on 18/12/2017 - 01:26

        Given how frequently the machines act up, they need the staff there even without the threat of shoplifting. I've had multiple occasions where the machine gets confused about the weight of items in the bagging area, or has trouble dispensing the right change: you generally need that staff member to continue. But even then, that's one staff member handling about 10 machines.

      • Rohangiga on 18/12/2017 - 01:53

        I've literally never had that happen to me

      • mckaul on 18/12/2017 - 23:33

        Up until recently I worked for Coles and moved between 4 stores in my 7 years. Never have I experienced a policy in place that rewarded ACO staff like that.

  • Scab on 16/12/2017 - 10:24
    +70

    I went back into the store, within 5 minutes, and paid for the unscanned items.

    Reported to the mods.

    • Wiede on 18/12/2017 - 08:04
      +2

      I laughed way too hard on this

  • Peck on 16/12/2017 - 10:27
    +6

    CCTV may prove your guilt, but it will also prove your innocence. But I understand your guilty feelings. Try to relax and move on.

    • SlickMick on 17/12/2017 - 11:29
      +14

      I don't understand guilty feelings if he returned and paid. Sounds more like a humble brag to me.

    • ozzpete on 18/12/2017 - 05:00
      +1

      That is , assuming the CCTV is seeing what is scanned, and what is not scanned. ie, the cameras may not have good enough view of screen to see what scanned through and what didnt.
      Would be best if their system linked CCTV to what is coming up on each screen (like screen mirroring) with a matching feed for CCTV to what is on each screen.
      Thats probably not what they have now. Its a great idea for the future though, and should be fairly easy to implement. If you work at a supermarket, feel free to mention this as your original idea, for bonus points with bosses etc :)

  • Gotchas on 16/12/2017 - 10:30
    +14

    Purchased a 4 pack of drink but the scanner picked up one individual can.
    Took this to the front and the cashier laughed and rolled her eyes at my honesty
    With this attitude it's no surprise people cheat the system

    • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2017 - 11:24
      +77

      That's awful. Tell us the details so we can avoid that 4 pack of drink.

      • WatchNerd on 16/12/2017 - 12:41
        +1

        I get it already, thanks for the tip Peanut money.

      • auna on 20/12/2017 - 00:55

        Obviously Bandaburg Ginger Beer or similar.

    • mezje on 18/12/2017 - 14:07

      This kind of theft (not accusing you) imo is the most common in self serve. It is the hardest to see as the attendant could skim over, see a drink item on the screen, see some drinks in the bag and all is well. They don't have time to sit there and go through everything individually, in my experience they don't have time at all as people are incapable of looking away from their phones to look at which register is free.

      People are smart and will cheat the system given the chance. Wouldn't surprise me even with the increase in theft if costs were cut from removing 5-10 staff a day.

      Side note/story: My partner and I just split food by estimating the total and splitting the items when we get to the checkout (we only usually get 5-10 things). One time I just paid for meat, didn't grab a bag, went over to my partner who had just finished paying and put it in his bag. An attendant saw it and I explained the situation as I can see how it looked dodge. The whole time she treated me like I had killed her first born child, got security to stand with me while she checked the transaction history and didn't apologize when she was proven wrong. Really does make me think there is some incentive for catching thieves coz this chick was out for blood over $8 worth of burgers…

      • D6C1 on 19/12/2017 - 02:21

        tldr. Lol just kidding I did. I like burgers

  • chumlee on 16/12/2017 - 10:34
    +53

    Don't worry Ned Flanders. You're not going to hell for this

    • foxmulder on 16/12/2017 - 13:47
      +12

      Okly dokly.

    • Hunter14 on 18/12/2017 - 17:33
      +2

      Hens love roosters, geese love ganders. Everyone else loves Ned Flanders!

  • CyberMurning on 16/12/2017 - 10:53
    +3

    How about the opposite. I bought discounted item it has new price sticker with lower price on top old one, scan that but came with full. Didn't realise till 10 mins after. Come back and get refunded.

    • try2bhelpful on 16/12/2017 - 18:41

      Score, you get that for no cost. We got some free blueberries the other day from that. The best part is you could see the price card from the checkout so she couldn’t quibble. When we left the checkout lady was changing the price on the card.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2017 - 19:19

        only at coles, not woolies.

        • try2bhelpful on 16/12/2017 - 19:30

          hmmm, I presume you have argued it with Woolworths.

          https://help.woolworths.com.au/content/what-does-the-superma…

          We’ve got a lot of products in our supermarkets. Everything from oranges (yum) to dog leashes (woof). It’s important we keep track of what comes in and what goes out. We do this with a bit of help from the Scanning Code of Practice. This covers all scanned merchandise within the supermarket, including items that are registered using a PLU number (Price Look up Number).
          However the code does not cover:
          • Liquor and tobacco products.
          • Items with a shelf price of $50 or higher.
          • Where an operator error has occurred, for instance the wrong PLU number has been keyed in or the wrong product is identified by the checkout operator.

          Unless it was coming up as the wrong product I think they should pay.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2017 - 22:16

          @try2bhelpful: argue? a freebie would be a pleasant surprise. otherwise, i'm ok paying the correct price just not when they overcharge and it's a hassle to get back my money. that's one difference between coles and woolies from my experience.

        • SlickMick on 17/12/2017 - 11:40
          -1

          @try2bhelpful:

          I'm sure woolies deliberately try to trick you into paying more. There is often 2l cokes sitting above the 1l price tag. I have price sales tag refers to the item to the left, not directly above.

          I've lost count of how many times we've returned items due to this. I am interested in how much this is user error vs conspiracy :)

          I'm sure the hassle of returning something or getting a price fixed makes many just live with the loss. My wife will return anything "on principle".

          I like the "get it free" concept. It compensates you for the inconvenience they've caused.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/12/2017 - 15:53

          @SlickMick: We once got a 5 kg box of Omo Ultimate for nothing because it was priced wrongly on the shelf. We would've just been happy to pay the correct price, but this was a score.

        • ozzpete on 18/12/2017 - 05:18
          +1

          @SlickMick:
          I always check docket for being overcharged. I have a somewhat eidetic memory, so I can quickly read though prices anf see if I was charged the price advertised.
          When you think about it does not really sufficiently compensate consumers for the $$ they are robbed of by supermarkets overcharging. ie. If they have left a %50 off price label on a $10 item, for 2 extra days before removing it. They would likely have overcharged many more than 2 people (the value of that 1 free item to the person who notices being overcharged on docket). Ethically, they SHOULD really, attempt to track down every person who purchased that item and paid full price, and refund every one of those people $5 (%50) . Then if there is any people that cannot be tracked down for the supermarket to refund their illgotten gain, then that money should be donated to a local charity.
          Instead, what is happening is that the supermarket may have charged 50 people over 2 days, the full price of the item (which they have advertised as 50% off and must honour the advertised price, even if it is a mistake by then of not removing label from previous week).
          On a $10 item, that would be $5x50 = $250 illicit gains for the supermarket, then somebody might spot the discrepancy between advertised price and price on their docket, and how nice, the supernarket then gives that 1 item free. Which in this example leaves consumers $240 lost to supermarket not trading fairly.
          I always make sure that they are actually correcting the false advertising on label price and scanned price charged being different. Occasionally they refund, but seem to not care to do anything to correct the pricing error for future customers getting ripped off.
          The OP went back and paid, the supermarkets should seek us out to refund any amounts overcharged, and if they cannot refund what they owe us, donate it to charity.

        • D6C1 on 19/12/2017 - 02:24
          +2

          @ozzpete: tldr just kidding.. I did. I like charities

  • myusername on 16/12/2017 - 10:57
    +3

    fire and brimstone for you

    • SlickMick on 17/12/2017 - 11:41

      Well that depends on whether it was really an honest mistake and really went back and paid. God knows. :)

  • original15 on 16/12/2017 - 11:51
    +1

    Hey, can you send me your tin foil hat design templates?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2017 - 18:48
      +1

      someone giving away free tin foil hats? it'd get ozbargained with the number of anti self serve tin foil hatters on here.

      • ozzpete on 18/12/2017 - 05:25

        Im anti-selfserve due to it taking employment away from checkout workers, plus its dehumanizing the shopping experience.
        Also, aldi was my first self-serve experience (having to pack own bags) and with aldi i appreciated that I felt to be getting a discount for self serving and keeping the shops overheads down.
        Self-serve at coles, on the otherhand, helps keep the shops expenses down, but with no discount passed on to customers.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/12/2017 - 14:26

          those checkout chick jobs become checkout assistants and higher paying checkout technicians, delivery drivers, and order fulfillment officers.

    • ozzpete on 19/12/2017 - 12:17

      You could just google "oragami hat template" , use fool instead of paper. I bet there would he some very fancy oragami hat designs.
      Could get on tv if you wore a very fancy foil oragami hat to melbourne cup day :)

  • PJC on 16/12/2017 - 12:17
    +3

    OP if you were to post a bargain here, what do you suppose that might be?

  • nocure on 16/12/2017 - 12:23
    +2

    Self serve scanners have a weight checker which would have triggered.

    • WatchNerd on 16/12/2017 - 12:43
      +8

      Op doesn't want to know about that.
      They want to know about how heavily monitored the security cameras are.

    • SlickMick on 17/12/2017 - 11:43
      +2

      they don't do that anymore. They had to have more staff assisting "self" checkout than just manning the registers

    • realfancyman on 17/12/2017 - 16:40
      +4

      I think they were deactivated a while ago at low-risk stores due to the frustration they caused.

      • Munki on 18/12/2017 - 10:41
        +4

        UNEXPECTED ITEM IN THE BAGGAGE AREA

        • No on 18/12/2017 - 13:25
          +5

          Poor Schapelle Corby probably had a melt down the first time the machine yelled that at her.

        • Spooked on 19/12/2017 - 00:49

          @No:

          Hahaha

          I see what you did there

    • lechuck123 on 18/12/2017 - 12:26
      +2

      Woolies don't have it turned on (unless you're in a particularly high theft area). Coles seem to have it turned on nationwide.

      • rodinthink on 18/12/2017 - 22:35

        The things that surprise me is that in every woolies store I went to , there are always EAS (Electronic article surveillance) .
        But coles sometimes don't have it. Are they doing this intentionally to bait the kleptomaniac?

  • ihbh on 16/12/2017 - 12:45
    +1

    Could the store/police review CCTV footage from the past?

    How recognizable are you?

    To avoid this possibility, why don't you put on a disguise every time you go shopping? ;-)

    • Scab on 16/12/2017 - 13:25
      +1

      If I were him I'd change sexes and get gender reassignment surgery.

      They're pretty good at it these days, and combined with hormone replacement therapy you can live a happy and productive life.

      • SlickMick on 17/12/2017 - 11:45

        Can you be productive as an alternate gender? I'm impressed with how far science has come if that is true.

  • Roddy001 on 16/12/2017 - 12:54
    +12

    You'll probably find the police have already created a profile of you. Also while you were at work they've bugged your house with surveillance. Only option now is to move to NZ

    • poboy on 16/12/2017 - 14:04
      +6

      Or, disfigure your face with a spanner. Once you get into it, it doesn't take that long.

    • DryScissors on 18/12/2017 - 17:06

      Rather do the jail time

  • djkelly69 on 16/12/2017 - 13:10
    +2

    Theft, like most crimes, involves an element of intent. Taking your post at face value, you obviously had no intent to steal the items, as further evidenced by going back to pay for them.

    Relax.

  • John Kimble on 16/12/2017 - 13:21
    +4

    Marge didn't have intent either.

  • Scab on 16/12/2017 - 13:22
    +4

    Could the store/police review CCTV footage from the past?

    Yes, wouldn't surprise me if they're planning to raid your place.

    If I were you I'd set up a heap of Xiaomi cameras around the perimeter.

    Don't forget the ceiling, they always absail from the roof.

    And remember, it wasn't you, it was the one-armed guy.

  • follow on 16/12/2017 - 13:25
    +1

    dont worry about. at best they'll call your parents and you may get grounded. but just cop it on the chin champ

    • Scab on 16/12/2017 - 13:33
      +2

      They won't hit him.

      • follow on 16/12/2017 - 14:19

        i beg you to differ

  • vinni9284 on 16/12/2017 - 13:57
    +5

    PS: I am waiting for all the negs here :-)

    Answer: Use a manned checkout and you will have nothing to worry about in future.

    You are doing them a favour by DIY so they wont employ and save money to their greedy coffers and now you can't sleep at night by a mistake that you have corrected. Hence the post.

    Use a manned checkout, keep jobs local. Then your kids kids may still have a job in future :-)

    Edit: One neg and counting …. keep them coming lol!

    Cheers

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