The Big Cat

I know, what a stick in the mud I am sitting here more excited for the actual touchdowns.

Now he has double murder to look forward to.

Seriously?

I don't. Because unlike this situation, that's intentionally taking something without paying for it.

It's your subtle editorializing that annoys me. Interesting take. I use my credit card for all purchases. Why not? I pay the balance in full every month, and since it's a SW card, I get anywhere from 2-5 free flights a year as a result. As such, though, I'm on my online portal every day tracking purchases, balances, etc. If fraud occurs, I'll catch it early, but given all the different vendors who will have obtained my info, it'd be nearly impossible for me to determine where said fraud originated.

I got defensive because you've accused of me stealing and being dishonest--neither of which are remotely accurate. You've made it clear what you think my responsibility is in the transaction, but you haven't mentioned much about the merchant's responsibility or to what extent their responsibility is mine. Precisely why I responded the way I did to the info Avenger shared. I'm not in the habit of doing other people's jobs for them.

So...the guy watched my card get declined numerous times. And then he pulls out the swiper, which as you say, already presents a layer of risk for cards that are known to work. You'd think they would have hustled to get this authorization right away...

All my payments are automatic. The electric bill would have been the first payment at our new place, hence why I was watching it to make sure all was gravy, so I could get it straight and move on with life. I do auto-debit for everything, including my mortgage/tax escrow/home insurance. I pay everything in-full, on time. As for your ST's, I would have done the exact same thing if I didn't have them in-hand. We prep for home deliveries. It helps us count our blessings.

Ha, nice story, but only tangentially analogous. Did you have the ST's in hand? I called the electric company three months ago because I wasn't charged, then three weeks later got dinged with a $25 penalty because the payment was never made.

Presumably it's the store losing out. But again, the store itself is a SuperValu store: Look, I don't mean to keep getting defensive with you, but we didn't steal. We did nothing sneaky. I gave the guy a perfectly valid credit card on which I carry no balance. We intended to pay. My friends have already wired me their portion because the plan was to pay. Those same friends, who are now temporarily out the money they paid me until this is finalized don't care. They say wait. They say don't call. So I'm not inconveniencing them and by calling the store, I'm doing the store's job for them. So back to the grey area I mentioned last night: as far as you're concerned, I'm either a thief because they didn't carry out their responsibilities in the transaction or I call and do that job for them??

Ha, finally the temporal insight I was looking for!! And Pooj: does it matter that my wife and volunteer at the local pantry on Saturdays?

+1

Do you and I view credit card usage differently than some people here?

Hell no. It's in PayPal purgatory.

Ugh. My wife got her wisdom teeth out in February. The oral surgeon then sent her a check for $1500. She called. They asked her to bring it back. She said no. Instead she tore it up. Monday: she got a bill for the $1500 she brought to their attention and ultimately waived. I'm already dealing with a layer of incompetence. Why give them an opportunity for a second?

It's not a "small time grocery store." It's in a rural area, but it's very much under the giant Jewel Osco umbrella. This is the equivalent of when I was in third grade, missed a question on a test but the teacher marked it correct. I told her, she took my test and downgraded me. I learned something that day. Yeah, it was my job to learn, but it was her job to evaluate me. I "paid." They watched me walk away with $540 I groceries, the rest is on them. I played my part in the transaction. I resent being accused of "weaseling" there was none of that. I "convinced" him because the thought never occurred to him. BUT If I "convinced" a Mac Genius to let me buy an iPhone with pogs, that's on him too, IMO.

No, LA I started the thread to find out how long manual swipes can take to process. All my friends say don't call, my wife says its not even an issue, call. You guys all say call. My coworker is confused as to why I'd call. Clearly there are two schools of thought. Ultimately the money will go to a mega grocery conglomerate who could care less. But to Poojers point, that same money could cost some mook his job, and that's the last thing I want.

Me saying I didn't wanna was facetious, bud.

Okay, there's a grey area between "ripping someone off" and going the extra mile to cover for a mistake from which you're benefiting. Said grey area is where I exist up until I pick up the phone.

Wow, don't forget your robe, Judge Wapner.

No, the reality that Gailey made our offensive personnel better than it should/would have been and better than it will probably be this year.

Also, at what point is this their responsibility? And am I right to discern you guys think it should have cleared by now? I don't think your scenario is analogous at all.

But the double charge would be a second error on their part, and I'd eventually get it fixed. Worst case scenario, I'm right back to where I started from: paying the 500+

Shoplift!? I'm not exaggerating when I say our attempts to check out of this (empty) grocery store at 9 pm on a Thursday lasted upwards of 20 minutes.