Honesty's the best policy ...

[Ron Smith ... Richmond, VA]

I wondered into my local HD big orange toy store today and had an interesting experience I'd like to share. I looked around and found a DeWalt Heavy Duty Jig Saw DW318K at a pretty good price, so I tossed the box in my cart. It comes in a nice black case and I'd been needing one for small jobs anyway (never have too many tools). The box was wrapped in cardboard and plastic wrap, so I didn't bother looking too closely. When I got home and unwrapped it in the shop, there wasn't one case, but two in the package! I wrestled with my conscience for about a minute, loaded it back up and took it back to the store. When I got to the return counter, I explained to the lady what had happened. I suggested she look at the inventory closely. When she took the Manager to the aisle, there were five more double packages priced as one piece. The stock person had checked and marked the new shipment incorrectly. Luckily for them I was the first person that day to buy one. They immediately opened each package and priced them individually. The Manager gave me a 25% off coupon for my next purchase! I'm sure I can find something soon. Just wanted to share ... it made me feel good and I'm sure my Mom was watching somewhere.

[Todd Burch]

Good for you! Todd.

[Mike Mastin]

I always sleep better knowing I did the right thing and not taking advantage of someone or a situation.

[Phil Phelps]

....Steve Jenkins was purchasing a whole lot 'o wenge a couple of months ago. That stuff is like gold. He went to pay for it and the guy had charged him half of what it sold. The bill should have been $1600. Steve showed the owner the mistake and, I think he could still hear the butt chewin' out in the parking lott, the boss was givin' the clerk. Steve wondered how many customers this guy undercharged. :eek:

[Joe Suelter]

Atta boy, Ron. Honesty does pay off in the long run. Good for you.

[Jim Baker]

It's nice to know there are still many good people in the world.

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

There are so many people today TRYING to take advantage of the large retailers, it is good to hear that there are honest folks among us. (But then again, aren't all Woodworkers good, honest people?) I had a similar experience at our local HD about a year ago. I had a bunch of sheet goods, some 1X pine and an assortment of other stuff on one of the big 4 wheel carts. It was a Friday, and I was in a bit of a hurry to beat the after work rush, so I didn't pay much attention to the final Total. I just wrote the check, and headed for the truck to load and go. I had also purchased a new Cordless Drill, and upon checking the receipt, I realized that the young lady that rang my sale didn't charge me for it. I took the receipt and the drill back into the store, and told her about the mistake. She promptly INSISTED that she had scanned the drill, but I explained to her that she didn't, and showed her the receipt to prove my point. She insisted I was mistaken, and told me to "just go". I didn't know if she was playing me, mad at the management, or just didn't care. After this exchange went back and forth about 5 times, I asked to see the manager. I explained to him the dilemma, and I asked politely for the young clerk not to be punished. He promptly asked to see the receipt and drill, and he insisted that I be rewarded for my honesty. I still cannot believe it, but I left there that Friday with a new drill, compliments of Home Depot. If it were a cheapy, I could understand, but it retailed for over $200.00..........it was a good one! I insisted that I didn't feel right about this, and he explained that he had seen me in his store a lot of times, and he somehow knew he would get his money from me eventually. Talk about customer service! He assured me that the clerk would not be punished, and the Drill cost would not be held from her check..............she is still there.................and the Manager has asked me more than once how I like the drill! Crazy Story.........................but every word the truth?

[John Miliunas]

Good for you, Ron! The funniest thing is, those retail folks just can't hardly believe it when someone is actually trying to be honest. I picked up a couple pieces of copper pipe last summer at one of the lumber yards, on the way home from work. I needed the two pieces cut in half, which also made it easier to transport. Well, there were these two older fella's in there tending to the counter. One took upon the task of cutting the tubes, while the other rung me up. I didn't pay attention to the total, just paid the guy and took off. I later looked at the receipt and noted that they only charged me for one. I went back there the next day, receipt in hand, but the two gentlemen weren't there. Finally, a younger guy came over and asked if he could help me. I pulled out the receipt and told him "there was a problem with it". I could see, by the look in his eyes, he was thinking, "Oh crap! What's this guy gonna' be PO'd about?!" Instead, I told him what happened and had stopped back in to *pay* for the other stick of copper. He 'bout fell over! He honestly, did NOT know how to even go about doing it. He said, "Jeeeeez, I've never had this happen before! 'Ya know, if this was my place, I'd just say thanks and let you be on your way!" It actually took him longer to figure out how to do the "stealth" sale than it did for me to get the material, have it cut and rung up the day before! His last words to me were, "Man, you've just restored my faith in humanity!" Made me feel good, too. :D

[Ian MacDonald]

As someone once told me and I've come to believe:

It's not how you behave when someone's watching that's important, it's how you behave when no one is watching that really matters.

It sure makes you feel good in any case.

Regards,

-- Ian

[Jim Izat]

Good on you Ron. I've always been a firm believer in the what goes around comes around theory of life. While most tend to concentrate on what happens when you do wrong, I believe that this theory probably works most consistantly when one puts good out there.

Jim Izat

[Steve Jenkins]

Good job Ron. The wenge that Phil mentioned was written up as 4/4 but was actually 8/4. Steve

[John Wadsworth]

A character in one of the Dick Francis mystery stories said it pretty succinctly:

"Deal with honour. Sleep at night."

[Jason Roehl]

I've got several stories of a similar type of thing where, in my honesty, I was facing having to pay for an expensive mistake, but because I was honest, my "debtors" let it go. Very humbling when that happens, but also rewarding.

Jason

[J.D.Redwine]

Looks like you had a karma pop quiz.

[Bob Janka]

Originally posted by Kevin Gersty
... (But then again, aren't all Woodworkers good, honest people?) ...


Perhaps honesty is enhanced because the wood won't let us lie.

Either we DID do a good job of preparation, joinery, and finishing or we DIDN'T. We each know where the flaws are in our projects. We also know that any other wood-worker will probably be able to find those flaws in a matter of time. This probably attracts people who favor honesty.

Just my $0.02

Cheers,
Bob

[Cam.Hedrick]

I must say you guys are all terriffic!! Glad to know ya!! :)
I pulled away from the teller window at our bank a few years ago (12) and then for some reason....God said so maybe...I stopped to count the money. I had $200 more than I had cashed a check for!!!:confused: I turned around parked and went inside. The teller counted her drawer, the manager counted her drawer, and then they said hold on to the money and they'd call me in the morning. Well, they called and said they had not come up short and to keep the money!:D I threw them a pizza party lunch with the money!!!
Then next month there was a misterious(SP) $200 deposit into our checking account....another $200 mistake I think....the bank said no, it was their way of thanking us for being honest!!!!:)
Boy, if only they had taken the money back...no headaches and pestering phone calls!!
Turned out the $200 made the difference in what we had to have for the down payment on our first house the next month, talk about a blessing...or do you think the bank new they'd get a return on their investment?;)
Honestly is the best policy...it also means repeat customers!!!

[Mike Hanna]

Though my experience wasn't as an expensive item,
the responce was the same. I bought two K-Body
clamps at the big box store and when I checked out the
cashier just charged me for one clamp. When I called her
attention to her error she didn't seem to grateful but
I felt better about it.

[Gary Bindel]

I had gotten a HD credit card to get the 10% discount on the first purchase + 90 days no interest(was buying $1500 worth of stuff). Made a $100 payment at the store on the card. A year later, the check still had not been cashed. I went to the customer service desk with the receipt and told them that they had not cashed the check yet and asked them what to do. The clerk looked at me as if I was from Mars. She finally, went and got the manager. He said I should call the regional HQ. The regional HQ said to just forget about it. The weird thing about the whole experience was that all of the people I talked to acted resentful that I was presenting them with a problem to deal with rather than an opportunity to increase their bottom line. At least I felt better knowing I had tried to do the right thing.

[Ron McNeil]

Way to Go Ron, You did the right thing and it's good to know that there are honest people outthere.:p

[Dan Bussiere]

Ron,
Good for you!
Integrity = Doing the right thing when no one is watching!
Dan

[Lee Schierer]

Originally posted by Gary Bindel
The weird thing about the whole experience was that all of the people I talked to acted resentful that I was presenting them with a problem to deal with rather than an opportunity to increase their bottom line.

I went to the bank a couple of years ago to cash a pay check and take care of some bills. I gave the clerk, my check, a deposit slip, a loan payment and an electric bill. I said to her pay the bills, deposit this amount and give me the difference in cash.

She did her thing behind the counter and pretty soon was counting out money into my hand. I hadn't really added it all up, so I didn't really know what I should have gooten in cash (LOML does most of the banking). I got home and gave LOML the receipts for her records and some cash since she wanted to go grocery shopping the next day. Well, I had quite a bit of cash left. We got curious and counted it out. What had happened was the clerk had marked the bills paid and added the amount to my check, deposited what I wanted and gave me the difference.

When I went back to the bank the next day as soon as they opened, went to the counter to the same clerk and tried explaining what had happend. Next thing I knew the manager was there and was getting belligerant that they don't make mistakes. I said hold on just a minute, here I was reporting their error and they were treating me like a crimminal. Came real close to leaving the bank with the money and my receipts.

[Bartee Lamar]

Some of us like to call that "rigorous honesty" ...........

There IS only ONE way to live.

There is a consistent undercurrent on this forum of people who understand how to live life. I keep coming back.

[Doug Littlejohn]

Glad to hear there are still honest and honerable folks out there. My latest story along these lines also has to do with HD. I had gone there getting several different items. Went to the register, paid and left. When I went to get in my carseat, I noticed I had a BBQ basting brush stuffed in my back pocket. I had completely forgotten the thing. No I have to go back and have them ring one up for me to pay for.

Funny thing is, I never ever had any thought to just take it or say, "oh well", but instead that I had to go back and pay for one.

Thanks for sharing

[Michael Madden]

Ron, and all,
A very recent experience shows why we need to be honest. We bought a few things from a local mom and pop hardware store last October. Paid with check. Doing check reconciliations for tax purposes noticed that the check to the hardware store had never cleared. Saw the owner in another meeting and mentioned it to him. He related that they had been robbed in October and all checks and cash were taken from the safe. They had no idea what checks were there. We wrote another on the spot and you could not believe the gratitude they expressed. The robbery had really set them back. I want that store to be there when I need it.

Mike

[Thomas Prondzinski]

Its amazing how you try to be honest and people don't understand that there honest people left in the world

[Bob Janka]

Folks,

I post a reply to this thread and a few days later get to experience it for myself.

I stopped in at an auto parts store to see if they had any finer grits for my pen-turning. Sure enough, I found a 5-pack of sanding block sheets: 320(2), 400, 600, & 800. I took those and some spreaders to the cashier and gave her a $5 bill expecting 15 cents change. She handed me a $5 and a $10. I looked at her funny and did not reach for the money. She was flustered for a second and then realized she meant to give 15 cents, NOT 15 dollars!

She was very grateful that I did NOT take the $15 dollars. This process made me feel real good. I made both our days. :)

Cheers,
Bob Janka