Purchased an Item at a Discount Price, Returned it for a Refund of the Full Price
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Oklahoma
I don't know how to explain my situation or where it falls in but its along the lines of retail.
I work as a 3rd party vendor for a retail store. The employees are nice and will help you out in need etc. They even offer their employee discount (even though against their policy) but theyre nice. 2 almost 3 months ago, I asked an employee to use their discount for a few items but it turns out that it didn't work out for me as it was unopened and unused. I went to a closer store to return the items and they gave me full price back AS store credit because I lost the receipt due to a hole in bag. I didnt want to ask the person that got the item for me to look up the receipt because it was paid in cash (which is almost impossible to look up) and its a discount product at that. Just like many retailers out there it is their policy and their decision whether they want to deny me of the return despite not having a having a receipt as long as it was unopened.
And the past day I get a text from another employee working there that they're "freaking out" because they used their discount for me. My assistant manager had a talk to MY manager today and he heard something that the person that used the discount on me should report me to his Human Resources and also to make things short the employee that gave me the discount, her manager and my assistant manager had a private discussion about this matter. Keep in mind, I didn't need it and I definitely didn't open it nor did I resell it on eBay or wherever so im thinking that they think I bought the item and selling it elsewhere. I definitely didn't steal this item whatsoever. I just received the item at discount price.
My question is other than an employee using their discount to make a purchase for me and me returning the unopened, unused item a couple weeks later what could the consequences be? Other than losing my position. This happened 2-3 months ago and is coming up now. Not sure how exactly. Supposedly my assistant manager overheard someone in a diff dept talking about it recently which this occurred a couple months ago. The items that i returned did not have any tracking number and it was at a different store on the other side of town. I will talk to my manager tomorrow as they do not know that I know about this situation (I dont think).
Advice, suggestions are greatly appreciated
Thanks
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
You mean, beside the employee who used their discount for you getting fired?
Now, please explain to me why, when you paid a discounted price, you thought it was okay to receive a full refund. You weren't entitled to a full refund - you were only entitled to receive a refund of what you paid, if that. In the book I read, taking money that does not belong to you is called stealing.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
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cbg
You mean, beside the employee who used their discount for you getting fired?
Now, please explain to me why, when you paid a discounted price, you thought it was okay to receive a full refund. You weren't entitled to a full refund - you were only entitled to receive a refund of what you paid, if that. In the book I read, taking money that does not belong to you is called stealing.
Im already stressing out enough for myself and the employee so if i can ask for supportive suggestions rather than getting drilled that would be appreciative. Yes but as I mentioned before it is merely impossible to find a receipt if it was paid in cash and also was I suppose to tell the person that refunded me the item that it was purchased as a discount? They gave me the full refund. It wasn't cash that i had gotten back, it was store credit only to be used at that store.
thanks
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
Either the store was able to track the item, in which case they know you returned it for cash, or your friend gave them your name, in which case they likely know whatever it is that your friend knows.
Without knowing how much you pocketed, it's difficult to say how this might turn out. If you got a 10% discount on $14 in merchandise, it's less likely that anybody's scrutinizing your actions than if you got a 20% discount on $600 in merchandise.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
It's actually quite easy to find the receipt. Stores regularly keep records of things purchased with employee discounts. That the staff doesn't know it doesn't mean it doesn't happen - especially in a day and age where everything is computerized.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
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CourtClerk
It's actually quite easy to find the receipt. Stores regularly keep records of things purchased with employee discounts. That the staff doesn't know it doesn't mean it doesn't happen - especially in a day and age where everything is computerized.
Thank you. With that being said, i was told that finding receipts on cash payments was difficult and the return has been done. Now i know for future reference. thanks
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
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pantherhunter
Im already stressing out enough for myself and the employee so if i can ask for supportive suggestions rather than getting drilled that would be appreciative. Yes but as I mentioned before it is merely impossible to find a receipt if it was paid in cash and also was I suppose to tell the person that refunded me the item that it was purchased as a discount? They gave me the full refund. It wasn't cash that i had gotten back, it was store credit only to be used at that store.
thanks
look, you committed retail fraud. You can be criminally prosecuted for this. Especially since the person that purchased it using their discount has been discovered, it is quite likely it will be discovered that you returned it for the full price.
I suggest you make up a nice little story that you had forgotten your friend purchased this using their discount and you want to repay the money you got that you did not deserve.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
So on one end, you were part of an organized theft by accepting a discount you were not entitled to. Then on the other end, you returned it for a fraudulent amount not reporting the discount you received. It appears you have committed 2 crimes. I would be brushing off that resume, even if you do not go to jail.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
I'll tell you this. When I worked in retail in the EARLY 90's, whenever an employee discount was used, they had to use their ID or employee number as the discount. The bookkeeper (the one in the back that you rarely see because she's counting money) collects copies of those receipts in a box or folder, separated by employee. They need only have an idea of the day the purchase was made, go through all of the receipts and there you have it.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
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pantherhunter
Im already stressing out enough for myself and the employee so if i can ask for supportive suggestions rather than getting drilled that would be appreciative. Yes but as I mentioned before it is merely impossible to find a receipt if it was paid in cash and also was I suppose to tell the person that refunded me the item that it was purchased as a discount? They gave me the full refund. It wasn't cash that i had gotten back, it was store credit only to be used at that store.
thanks
OF COURSE you were supposed to tell the person that refunded you the item that it was purchased at a discount? What's wrong with you that you couldn't figure that out for yourself?
Don't answer that. We all know why you didn't, and it wasn't because you "lost" your receipt and it wasn't out of any concern for the person who let you fraudulently use their discount. Do you really think we're too dim to figure out that this was intentional fraud and you're only stressing out now because you've either been or are on the verge of being caught?
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
the investigation may very well may have been triggered by an automated fraud detection script when the computer checked the no-reciept NIB return for matches in recent employee discount sales and recent shrink reports.
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
It's 2014. Anything can be tracked, it just could take time.
It sounds like there are some serious management issues at this location and the "security" department began to look into matters.
Real fast, whenever I worked in retail stores, vendors and 3rd party contractors acted as if they owned the place and didn't have to follow our rules. I used to tell them, follow the rules or I will make a call and have you removed from working in my store. Again, I wasn't known as "nice" in fact many vendors and associates thought I was an asshole (as do many on this forum). Then again, my shrink was very low, my team was productive and what do you know? I was promoted.
What kind of retailer was this?
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bam!
It's 2014. Anything can be tracked, it just could take time.
Well, apparently not everything. :rolleyes:
Re: Received Item As Discount Price, Returning at Full Price Because Not Needed
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Im already stressing out enough for myself and the employee so if i can ask for supportive suggestions rather than getting drilled that would be appreciative.
This isn't a support group, and we don't like people who commit retail fraud.
If you want supportive commentary, go to counseling. Here, you're going to get told the truth, and the truth is that you committed fraud and are very likely to lose your job over it.