honesty, or not?

UNM · April 2013

Twice while on holiday this week, I had cause to ponder how honest people are (or not).

Suppose you are serving in a cafe and a customer who owed you $$.50 hands over two $$ dollar notes and a fifty cent piece. Would you draw their attention to the fact, or try to pocket the extra note?

How about if they drop some money on the floor after ordering a takeaway coffee?

Does the amount of the note make any difference? $5/10/20/50/100

shape_shifter · April 2013

People giving too much used to happen a lot when I worked in the supermarkets, I started working in supermarkets when people were more trusting and we used to have money on us for our breaks, just saying in that someone could actually pocket the money and pretend it was theirs, these days no one is supposed to keep anything on them besides their locker key, anyway I would never even consider not giving them back their money. The same with seeing someone drop money, it's their money not mine no matter how much it is.

Koffee_Kosmo · April 2013

This happens often in my line of work - finding money, wallets, jewels and ID paperwork ect Always hand it in and note it in the contact book It's not worth it to pocket e.g. $20 and loose a $50,000.00 account for dishonesty KK

UNM · April 2013

Interesting initial replies. Kinda confirms my suspicions. Now if it was a situation where a bill is for, say $50.50 and they are presented with $55.50, it might well be reasonable to assume the $5 was a tip, but I would think MOST would still try to give it back just to confirm that was the case. Unlike KKs case, they would not be at risk of losing a large account, only the small chance of repeat business. Got to say, it was dumb of me to drop a $100 bill and then overpay somebody else by $50, but not at all surprising they gave it back and saved me much consternation later. Oh and I can highly recommend Barwon Orange cafe in Barwon Heads. Not just for the honesty of their staff, but for the excellent Mahalia coffee they serve and great food too. Daughter and I had very nice short blacks, surprisingly well balanced and low acidity (East Timorese single origin).

Lacehim · April 2013

Honesty is always the best policy. Then you don't have to worry, and you usually get a good buzz from doing the right thing. I know I do.

I saw a woman on the news tonight who had 2 million dollars put into her account by mistake, and she just got 18 years in jail, because she didn't report it, and went on a spending spree! So if you don't do the right thing, there are severe penalties! Needless to say the centrelink worker (I think it was centrelink the kids were screaming) that sent 2 million dollars by mistake seems to have got off scott free. Put the date in by mistake, but you would have thought centrelink would have a payment limit eh? A loop hole the needs closing asap me thinks. I think giving a woman 18 years in jail is a bit tough, they put temptation right into her account! Fair enough she made the wrong choice, but centrelink should have taken the brunt of the blame.

derrilex · April 2013

on 1365763807:

Got to say, it was dumb of me to drop a $100 bill and then overpay somebody else by $50, but not at all surprising they gave it back and saved me much consternation later.

Geez UNM, dropping money, over paying..... sounds like you need a holiday mate :D I find honesty is not only the best policy but generally the only policy with just about everything with a few diplomatic exclusions that might earn one a bruised nutsack :-X

Brett H · April 2013

What sh!t's me is that someone can get less time for murder! To think that a human life is worth less than 2 million dollars is sickening. Yeah, yeah, in other countries and all that.... But I agree, the bulk of the blame should be apportioned to Centerlink, not a clearly vulnerable damaged person!

LaSanMarcoMelb · April 2013

A good example UNM, by the staff giving your money back, any one of us would take your glowing recommendation and spend our hard earned money at their cafe on next visit to Barwon heads.

Jonty · April 2013

There are a lot of honest people out there and it is always great to hear positive ones as it restores faith. Agree with LSM, next time in Barwon Heads I'll drop in their for a latte! On a personal level my OH had $200 fall out of pocket when shopping in the local Coles supermarket as she decided to shop without her purse. Completed the shop, through the check out and then the moment.... No cash... Her heart dropped & then the euphoria when the front of store manager was waiting for person to come through the register who had lost their money! The money had been handed in by a pensioner.

Kelsey · April 2013

And then there's people who 'steal', but in a different way. I had a contractor I'd brought on board to do something fairly simple, but it would've taken me about 15 hours to figure out. For someone with the right skills it'd be about an hour's work tops. The base of the work was there, all that needed to happen was two connect two separate things that already exist in a very basic way. This guy overstated his skills to the point where he didn't even understand the basics of what I'd already done, let alone what I needed him to do. I found screenshots from his worklog where he was hunting through forums to try and find the default admin URL for the system I was working in. Something that should be like breathing to anyone with even the slightest level of competence in this system. He wound up costing me several days when I'm on a tight deadline and more than a few hours of my own time to try and sort the mess out. Not to mention the stress and aggravation I felt having to deal with it.

LaSanMarcoMelb · April 2013

I had a plumber do a job that was no more than an hours work, he took 3 visits, didn't connect to where I wanted, used PVC pipes that he found under my house and charged $100 more than he quoted. Unfortunately I was at work and my wife paid the bugger. It was only a small job but I had pointed out to him that in the near future I will be extending my house and would need a plumber.... He's cost himself a couple of grand in the end by doing the dodgy by me this time around

hiphipharar · April 2013

I think it was author Robert Barrett who said that if you are being ripped off and can't avoid it, then rather than complain, make it it was a great price The theory is that it robs any satisfaction from the rip-off merchant because of the realisation he didn't rip you off enough. I haven't put that to the test.