Honesty, best policy?

[GeneF]

When DW and I got back from our trip, I tried to reconcile our bank statement.  I use our debit card for 99.9% of our transactions.

I noticed that one debit at a restaurant in St. Augustine did not appear.  It was over 30 days and I felt that it should have been posted.  The debit was for $47.81.

I called the restaurant and explained the problem to a very nice lady.  She checked her records and evidently, our NEW waitress that night had swiped our card, but not pressed the button for the transaction to occur.  (Not sure of the correct procedure.)

The lady was impressed that I was inquiring about this transaction and my honesty.  I guess I could have just ignored that I had not been billed.

This lady asked me if we would be returning to the restaurant.  I said we would but not until next Feb or March.

She said that she would like to send me a gift certificate for being honest.

I figured it would be for a t-shirt that they sold there.

I got the gift certificate and it was for fifty dollars.  That was quite a nice surprise since it was more than I had spent there originally.

I guess honesty did pay in this situation.

Anyone else have any stories where honesty paid?

[AustinBoston]

I believe honesty always pays with a clear conscience, regardless of whether there are other dividends.

Austin

[brainpause]

I believe honesty always pays with a clear conscience, regardless of whether there are other dividends.

Austin

Exactly.

Just this past week, I paid for some crown molding at Home Depot that I didn't pay for at a previous trip. You see, they charge by the foot, and I thought I had 15 foot pieces (x 5). I got home and realized they were truly 16 feet. So, on my next trip a week or two later to get more crown molding, I told the lady to charge me for five more feet than I actually had, because of my error. She told me to "Nevermind," but I told her that I'd feel better.

I didn't get a gift certificate, but I did get a clear conscience.

Larry

[brainpause]

Oh...another story from recent days. On February 1st, we moved our practice to another hospital. In the move, we took a crash cart, likely worth THOUSANDS of dollars because of the drugs and equipment loaded on them. It was unintentional; we just didn't realize it wasn't ours, but the hospital's. I took it back on Wednesday, and now I feel better.

Larry

[Kelly]

Totally agree with what AB said.  I heard someone say once you should live like you have nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to lose.  Works for me.

Now try teaching that to young kids when other people don't share your views.  We were shopping a while back and DD picked up a plastic coin from the floor at the dollar store.  We were almost to the mall doors when she showed it to me.  We had a little chat about how that was stealing as we headed back to the dollar store to return the coin.   She gives it to the clerk (and it was h a r d for her to do) ... the clerk tells her "Oh ~ that's okay", tells her to keep it and proceeds to give a coin to her sister!!  NO NO NO ... jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

Then we had another chat about how stealing is stealing and how mama didn't agree with the man in the store.

[GeneF]

Kelly

I loved your story.

DW and DD had a similar experience at a local florist shop.

When the two of them came out of the shop, DW noticed that DD had a handful of the small cards you put with flowers.

DW explained that it was not right to take them and what they were for and then brought DD back into the store.  DD apologized for taking them.

This was many years ago and the florist shop is still there.  Occassionaly this topic will come up with the florist.  She has said the she really felt bad about taking the cards back and would have soon just ignored the whole thing but she knew what dw was trying to do.

One more note, as a teacher of 30 years, it always amazed me how different students would react to a discussion on ethical behavior.  Parenting seemed to play a big role in their attitudes.

[tlhdoc]

Gene were you wearing your coconut bra when you were in the restaurant?  I bet that is why she gave you the gift certificate.  She thought you were cute and wanted you to come back.

[GeneF]

"Gene were you wearing your coconut bra when you were in the restaurant? I bet that is why she gave you the gift certificate. She thought you were cute and wanted you to come back."


LOL, Tracy

Believe it or not I still have it.  I was looking for some fishing stuff today and it was in a creel.  Haven't seen it in a couple of years.

[tlhdoc]

Believe it or not I still have it. I was looking for some fishing stuff today and it was in a creel. Haven't seen it in a couple of years.

Humm so when you and the guys go on your fishing trips, do you ...:eek: never mind.

[chasd60]

Ok a hypothetical question
 
DW: Honey does my butt look big in these jeans?
DH: ?
Honesty the best policy if her butt does look big?

[kimrb266]

Many years ago, I purchased something from a retail store and wrote them a check for the transaction.  When going throught my bank statement, I noticed that the amount posted wasn't the same as my check.  I went to our bank and told them of the error and she told me to forget about it and enjoy the extra money.  I didn't think it was fair not paying for something when I should have so I told the teller to correct the error.  Evidently, the accountant who handles their books mis-keyed the amount and the error ocurred.  
 
What comes around goes around.

[SherryandFamily]

I have worked in a bank for a little over 30 years.

When a teller makes a mistake and gives a client too much money, we can usually trace it back and correct the error.

Just the same, I can't tell you how much it means when someone calls and tells us about the error.  Not only does it save us a lot of time and research, but depending on the amount of money, and whether or not we can find the error, it could save that teller's job!

My grandmother always told me that if you take something that doesn't belong to you, you will lose something that does.  I have always lived by that, and I will go back to a store if I get a nickel too much change!

Sherry

[AustinBoston]

Ok a hypothetical question
 
DW: Honey does my butt look big in these jeans?
DH: ?
Honesty the best policy if her butt does look big?

Circumstances mean everything here.  If she's trying on the jeans in the store, the honest answer is "Maybe you should try a differend style."

If she's already bought them, the honest answer is "I love your buns...they're hot!"

If she's just pulled them out of storage and is looking though what to throw out and what to keep, then the honest answer is "You deserve newer jeans than those."

And if you are too clueless to know the difference, then you get what you deserve. :yikes:

Austin

[dthurk]

Humm so when you and the guys go on your fishing trips, do you ...:eek: never mind.

This is beginning to sound like the COTOC trivia thread.  Gene, I might have to change my opinion of you.

[GeneF]

"Originally Posted by tlhdoc
Humm so when you and the guys go on your fishing trips, do you ... never mind. "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This is beginning to sound like the COTOC trivia thread. Gene, I might have to change my opinion of you."


Dave and Tracy

If you really want to know, fishing trip is June 12 to June 18.  Lake Frances and then Lake Umbagog.  C'mon up if inquiring minds really want to know. or you can ask me in NJ in July.