What Is The Most Honest Thing(s) You Have Ever Done?

Bappy on 01/11/2018 - 15:56
Last edited 01/11/2018 - 16:07

I am curious to know What is the most honest thing(s) my fellow OZBargainers' have ever done?

I'll start first with my recent experience: Couple of weeks ago the Coles checkout lady somehow missed that my gift card was declined and still let me go (approx $60 worth of grocery). I was fully confused, so double checked the receipt and it said I paid via Cash! So walked back to the information desk and went through all the hassles and paid the due amount after waiting for approx 20 mins.

Surprisingly this happened to me few times (I wonder why…) and I know I only did what was only right/normal thing to do… I also once returned mobile phone/wallet but that's another story.

Please Note: I have no other intentions but curiosity, as I am sure we 'bargain hunters' might have some negative reputations of finding bargains/deals by any means which might or might not be fully honest. So sharing this might give us temporary inner peace?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

General Discussion

Comments

    • HighAndDry on 01/11/2018 - 16:53
      +22

      Not a bargain. Your mum's $50 worth of karma only netted you $20 returned. I'd complain to the karma-police.

      • Michael15286 on 03/11/2018 - 03:36
        +1

        That's because you didn't take into account the karmic exchange rates and associated appreciation/depreciation of karmic assets over the time period.

  • Donaldhump on 01/11/2018 - 16:44
    +48

    someone left their change at a restaurant by mistake, so i took it and attempted to find them, but couldnt locate them. i have kept it ever since hoping to see them again one day, but its been 16 and a half years now.

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 01/11/2018 - 17:07
      +3

      Well done mate. love it.

    • GaryQ on 02/11/2018 - 10:05
      +6

      You have become the change you wanted to see

    • h4zey on 02/11/2018 - 15:49
      +3

      I hope you find him one day, let us know how it goes.

    • SlickMick on 02/11/2018 - 22:38
      +4

      the waitress must have been impressed seeing you steal her tip

    • realfancyman on 03/11/2018 - 02:30
      +1

      Umm yeah, think it's mine… Bank transfer good?

  • bobbified on 01/11/2018 - 17:05
    +4

    I landed in Sydney on a Virgin flight. After everyone in front had stood up and got off, I leaned forward to pink up my laptop bag and picked up a wallet from under the seat in front of me. It was literally stuffed with cash that I couldn't even close it properly. I can only assume that person was flying up to buy something.

    No idea who's it could've been so handed it to the gate agent on the way out with the seat number that I found it under.

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 01/11/2018 - 17:11
      +7

      Quality, had a few like this and a few where I had had lost something and regained it. I don't call it karma, just the right thing to do mate:)

  • cassidy02 on 01/11/2018 - 17:42
    +13

    Found a handbag hanging off a trolley at a shopping centre. Took it inside with me - no security or centre management around to drop it in to, so took the phone out of it so I could answer when it inevitably rang. Told her where I was in the shops and waited for her, didn't touch a thing. She was so happy she gave me a big hug and $20 to buy myself something. Warm and fuzzy feeling for the win.

  • try2bhelpful on 01/11/2018 - 17:43
    +13
    • Found an iphone - tracked down the owner and gave it back to her. (It had been raining so not sure how well it was working)
    • Found a phone that someone had left at the supermarket - handed it to the information desk.
    • Handed in a number of wallets/bags etc to police that I've found.
    • highlighted when change wrong to cashier
    • my best effort was returning a memory card to a person who had lost it. I picked it up and decided if I couldn't find the owner that I would use it for pictures. Got a program online that allowed me to check the memory card and found out it was full of someone's emails. Managed to decipher the owners emails and sent him a message I had his card. He had dropped his phone and it had snapped open, he didn't realise he had lost the card. I met him and handed it across.
  • RandomNinja on 01/11/2018 - 18:02
    +20

    Nearly 20 years ago, I was waiting in line behind an elderly lady making a withdrawal at an ATM and the machine was responding very slowly. After waiting a few minutes, she walked away from the machine confused about why the cash didn't come out. As I walked up to the machine the ATM spat out $400, grabbed the cash and ran after the lady to give it to her.

    Then went back to the ATM to take the last $50 out of my account QQ

  • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2018 - 18:42
    +9

    I actually declare all cash payments received.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2018 - 18:45
    +5

    Reminded a lady that she ā€œmay have forgotten somethingā€ when she walked away from the ATM in front of me, leaving a wad of $50s in the dispenser (possibly $500+).

  • VegemiteKid on 01/11/2018 - 19:08
    +5

    Bought a new 42ā€ tv. Didnā€™t look at the receipt. Drove to Collection bay only to be handed a 55ā€ tv because ā€œthatā€™s what was on the receiptā€

    Storeman told me to take it for that reason. I may have except it wouldnā€™t have fitted on the wall I was buying it for. Insisted it got changed over, only for the check out chick to be so confused she tried to charge me extra for a smaller tv!!

  • firedragon on 01/11/2018 - 19:56
    +2

    Found an Opal card on the train. It had a mobile number on the back, so I rang it. Found the owner on the same train and returned it. I know the feeling of finding you've lost your card and the person who found it is using it… :(

    • Thrawn on 01/11/2018 - 21:44

      if you can check the usage of lost Opal card, you can lock it out and transfer the value to a new card

      • firedragon on 02/11/2018 - 08:15
        +1

        That's true, but I couldn't reverse the transactions that the person already took.

      • ldt on 04/11/2018 - 09:19
        +1

        Lost my opal card about a year ago. Went on the app and locked it about 10 minutes after I locked it.
        Went back on the app the next day and someone was still using it to travel all over Sydney.
        Sent an email asking Opal to lock it as it hadnā€™t worked. The next day someone was still using it. Wiped about $20 off my card in the end.

  • Mike3285 on 01/11/2018 - 20:27
    +10

    Was leaving Uni with a mate I use to drive with. Found a wallet on the floor right next to my car with $700 or so in it. The 'mate' thought it would be good if we split the money left inside the wallet and kept giving sob story on how he lost his wallet with some money and tried to keep convincing me.

    I decided to hold onto the wallet and got home to try and find a contact detail.Ended up contacting the place he worked for (business card) and met up with him to return it and he said the money was for an anniversary gift. He kept thanking me and kept offering money, wouldn't stop till I took it. (Was about $200).

    • h4zey on 02/11/2018 - 15:45
      +7

      how about your mate or is it ex-mate

    • Antikythera on 03/11/2018 - 23:49
      +3

      did you split the $200 reward with your mate ?

  • Flanders on 01/11/2018 - 21:56
    +22

    What Is The Most Honest Thing(s) You Have Ever Done?

    I have a strong ethical policy of not saying (especially to strangers). I might mention stuff just as general convo with friends or family .
    If you do something good, and a motivation is to tell someone about it, it certainly takes away from the good deed, in an ethical and philosophical sense .

    Do good, don't tell anyone, don't accept a reward if offered (especially important) . Some people will be shocked/surprised, but in such a nice way, kind of like reassuring them of confidence that there are good people around in this world. If they really insist on rewarding you or keep saying "thankyou thankyou thankyou so much…" ask them to go do something good for someone else and accept nothing in return

    • John Kimble on 01/11/2018 - 22:07
      +29

      Username checks out

    • Nick939 on 02/11/2018 - 13:22
      +4

      I understand the thought process behind keeping it to yourself but I wouldnā€™t call it an ethical issue or that it takes away from the good deed. Sure some people talk about it to get some sort of ā€œsocial rewardā€ but I think thatā€™s a low price to pay (if at all) to promote a more honest world as a whole.

    • try2bhelpful on 02/11/2018 - 13:31
      +9

      I can see you thinking but I don't, necessarily, agree. If you grow up in a world where all you hear is negative behaviour from others you may normalise behaviour that is not helpful to everyone else. With people saying how they returned wallets, phones etc then it is being highlighted that people do these things, even if they go out of their way to do them. Yes, there is a certain amount of "brag" involved. I would never seek a reward because I just want to help someone out (sounds corny I know but it is true). People reading this who find something might think "Ozbargainers are the stingiest people I know, but they think it is a good idea to return property to owners, it must be a good idea". (I am being a touch facetious with this).

      • Flanders on 02/11/2018 - 18:41

        I somewhat agree with you, and respect your opinion.

        Yes, there is a certain amount of "brag" involved.

        This "brag" involved does take away from the good, at least ro some extent IMO.
        I believe Motivation and intent is rather important.
        For example, if someone accidentally did some good deed, or if someone did a good deed for their own benefit, it does take away from the 'goodness' of that deed, at least to some extent, IMO.

        • try2bhelpful on 02/11/2018 - 18:55
          +2

          Yeah, I can see your point but I see the difference between expecting a reward and feeling proud about doing a good deed for someone else. There is also a difference between expecting the person involved to be excessively grateful and posting this, effectively anonymously, on a forum like this. No body is obligated to congratulate you for doing the good deed, and if it inspires someone else then it is worth it. I suppose the difference is I'm more concerned with the outcome than the motivation in relation to posting here.

    • vj187 on 02/11/2018 - 17:06
      +10

      So Flanders you're saying you would accept nothing at all, nothing at all?

      • Flanders on 02/11/2018 - 18:24
        -1

        So Flanders you're saying you would accept nothing at all, nothing at all?

        I accept a "thank you" , absolutely nothing ever, at all, no matter what. Even when I have had nothing or very very little myself, and was offered $20 by some school senior, and they insisted, still refused any 'reward' for returning his mobile phone he had left on train.
        Usually look for a contact like mum/dad or wait for someone to call the found phone Might be harder these days, depending on screen lock.

      • idonotknowwhy on 04/11/2018 - 12:46
        +2

        LOL! I read it in his voice and everything!

  • altomic on 01/11/2018 - 22:11
    +22

    Found a wallet with ~$400 in it at Richmond station. Also contained no credit cards, only a debit card, centrelink health care card, a cancelled drivers licence. Got home and drive 30 minutes to the address listed on the healthcare card. Knocked on the door and a crying woman answered the door. She asked if I had her wallet, I handed it to to get and she looked so relieved as it was her rent money.

    • gaz3342 on 02/11/2018 - 09:32
      +2

      That must have felt good.

      In an ideal world she would have been a model and rewarded you with sexual favours but I guess the karma was good enough.

      • altomic on 02/11/2018 - 14:49
        +1

        she offered me a beer - but it was domestic.

        I was actually heading on a 2 week holiday to NZ the next week. $400 would have been choice. but it was not my money

        not my stuff, don't take it. (if it is obviously named or obviously "belongs" to someone. hardrubbish collection is an exception)

      • Tg147 on 03/11/2018 - 14:50

        gaz3342
        You probably watch alot of porn!!!

  • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2018 - 01:59

    Genuine mistake by the restaurant but I told them the truth, but I could have lied. They gave me change of $10 but I gave them $20 but I could have told them I gave them a $50, which I have done before and they count the till.

    • Nick939 on 02/11/2018 - 13:26
      +9

      I think you missed the point of this thread, your scenario shows no ā€˜honestyā€™ at all.

      • try2bhelpful on 02/11/2018 - 13:36

        I presume they are being facetious.

        • mickotron on 06/11/2018 - 09:43

          Presume or assume?

          • try2bhelpful on 06/11/2018 - 09:54

            @mickotron: "Assume is a verb that means to suppose, to take for granted, to take upon, to don, or to undertake. In the shared meaning of ā€œto suppose,ā€ presume is usually used when you suppose based on probability, while assume is used when you suppose without any evidence."

            Based on this definition I will presume you are correct.

  • blwnhr on 02/11/2018 - 08:22
    +9

    Found a purse on the street a couple of weeks ago. Walked to the police station, waited 45 minutes to speak to someone, they opened it (I hadn't, not my business). Belonged to a pensioner, plenty of ID in there, plus almost $500 cash. Police said "lucky someone like you found it". Good karma chalked up for the week.

    • A fish on 03/11/2018 - 19:23
      -2

      He meant lucky for him, now he gets to keep it

  • aretsa9 on 02/11/2018 - 09:46
    +6
    • I once cashed a cash cheque for $5000 at a bank. The teller gave me both the money and the cheque. I gave the cheque back to her and she frowned and glared at me. I still felt good about it though.
    • At a company dinner for 30, everyone left and inadvertently nobody settled a huge bill. We had been the only customers on the night. Went back to settle bill the next day when we realised what had happened. Restaurant owner was ecstatic as he had only a phone contact and we were new customers.
    • Aerith-Waifu on 02/11/2018 - 14:54

      Is the teller cute? Wink wink lol

    • purplelady on 06/11/2018 - 10:17

      is this what was on the news years ago?

  • ozbjunkie on 02/11/2018 - 09:46
    +11

    I've woken up drunk people sleeping on the street and walked them home. Sometime they don't know where they live… Smfh.

    Definitely saved one from a bashing in a bad suburb too, bunch of lads across the road eyeing him off,I wake him up going "mate you don't wanna sleep here, you might not wake up".

    Handed in wallets, returned phones, personal organisers, stuff I didn't want anyway! (Jk)

    I have had a friend lose 200 bucks on cash in a supermarket, got handed in to the checkout. That was a warm surprise, he only realised after he had filled up his trolley, what a lovely stranger.

    I have had 2 homeless polish blokes help guard me at a train station in the middle of the night for buying them a hot coffee and giving them a couple cigarettes - the main train station was where all the junkies would hang out overnight as it was the only public heated building in town.

  • mhasan on 02/11/2018 - 10:00

    Told my wife that I'm interested in someone else. hahahaha.. she still thinks I was joking that day hahaha win win..

    • h4zey on 02/11/2018 - 15:43

      elaborate please

  • Lastchancetosee on 02/11/2018 - 10:09
    +6

    Thanks for a very heartening post and answers. Refreshing after so many complaints. šŸ˜Š

  • Ughhh on 02/11/2018 - 10:19
    +1

    I've noticed how some users here talk about being HONEST, karma and all that. Then in another thread admit they steal from supermarkets because they felt entitled to. Too funny. Stealing is stealing whether it's from a homeless person or a multimillion company.

    • HighAndDry on 02/11/2018 - 10:52
      +2

      Stealing is stealing whether it's from a homeless person or a multimillion company.

      Ethically it absolutely is. But psychologically it's completely different - we're evolved to empathise with other people, not with faceless corporations. That's literally part of why "faceless" is a pejorative and has negative connotations.

      • cameldownunder on 02/11/2018 - 15:30

        I don't empathise with homeless people.

      • SlickMick on 02/11/2018 - 22:59
        +1

        meh if a person lost something I'd return it and hope that would be reciprocated.

        Totally different scenario to woolies charging me $8 for a banana caramel pie they had clearly marked as $3. They didn't run after me to correct the error, so why should I go to the effort of correcting mistakes in my favour?
        they rip me as much as they can (those sale labels are NOT directly beneath the discounted product), and if something falls in my favour occasionally, they're still ahead in the long run

        as for stealing, apparently I witnessed someone walking out with an unpaid bag or groceries yesterday. the friend I was with discussed with the self-checkout supervisor after they gave up chasing him. (I saw nothing). Apparently that is acceptable also - within the allowable limits of "not worth chasing"!!??

        • Ughhh on 03/11/2018 - 11:17

          Totally different scenario to woolies charging me $8 for a banana caramel pie they had clearly marked as $3. They didn't run after me to correct the error, so why should I go to the effort of correcting mistakes in my favour?

          I doubt it was intentional and malicious. I don't expect the checkout person to remember the sale prices of everything. Them overcharging is actually a good thing, because that means you get the item for free.

          • SlickMick on 03/11/2018 - 16:32

            @Ughhh: I'm pretty sure it was. It seems to me that they have a business model of putting reduced prices near products they have no intention of giving at the reduction, knowing that some won't make a scene at the checkout or bother returning the item.

            When was the last time you returned something? I haven't gotten anything for free this decade.

            • Ughhh on 03/11/2018 - 17:58

              @SlickMick: They must only be targeting you then. What did you do? :o

              I got some $4 Colgate toothbrushes for free. Free lettuce. I just show the receipt to the staff, lady checks them bam free stuff.

        • Mrbean007 on 03/11/2018 - 12:13

          They signed an agreement not to chase anything happens to them there responsible as soon as there out of the boundaries.

          I witnessed a mate nearly getting stabbed with a scissor over a couple of Mars bars Wich we found out later the person was on ice or something as stated not worth the risk.

          Back on topic found a phone at Bondi was about to leave then it started ringing went and told them to meet up gave the kid the phone no thank u or anything his friend thanked me though.

    • KBZ on 02/11/2018 - 14:10

      It's like ozbargainers are all the same people.

    • Smashed Avo on 03/11/2018 - 15:00

      Robin Hood.

    • Aneurism on 03/11/2018 - 23:59

      Humans can be fickle and hypocritical. Especially under the guise of anonymity.

  • skillet on 02/11/2018 - 11:35
    +1

    Not lying to myself that I will win at the casino.

    • try2bhelpful on 02/11/2018 - 11:41

      I don't bet at the Casino, so in my case it is the Tattslotto draws.

  • antonthenet on 02/11/2018 - 12:47

    I had a $100 Amazon gift card emailed to me as a gift. This was way before Amazon was big in Australia. Told Amazon and the person who sent it that they made a mistake and they took it away.

    Didn't get anything for being honest which was annoying but oh well.

    • hogwarts on 02/11/2018 - 18:49
      +2

      You don't be honest to get something, you do it to feel good

      • John Kimble on 02/11/2018 - 19:18
        +3

        Well, technically it's not about you feeling good either. It's about doing the right thing.

        • hogwarts on 02/11/2018 - 20:47

          Yeah. I'm just saying that you don't get something out of being honest, you feel good after doing the right thing.

  • RedHab on 02/11/2018 - 13:19
    +6

    Hotel undercharged me by around $800. I told them I don't think it is correct, but they said it is.

    Once I got the printed receipt I could see they hadn't charged me for the entire stay, so I spoke to the manager. He went back and then charged me for the right amount. They were all annoyed at me, not even grateful.

    • try2bhelpful on 02/11/2018 - 13:22
      +7

      Yeah, that blows doesn't it.

      I saw a young woman offer this older guy her seat on the tram and he went off at her. I, presume, he thought she was attacking his manhood. My view is if someone does you a favour you should be grateful for it; you are quite entitled to turn down the offer but do it graciously.

      • HighAndDry on 02/11/2018 - 16:16
        -1

        I, presume, he thought she was attacking his manhood.

        • try2bhelpful on 03/11/2018 - 12:10
          +1

          Iā€™m interpreting based on what his actual words were, Iā€™m sure your crystal ball gives you a different interpretation.

    • ju2au on 04/11/2018 - 21:46

      The Staff are just employees. The fact that you were undercharged is irrelevant to them in the sense that it makes no impact to their lives; they don't get the extra money.

      However, the fact that you called them up and insisted that they charged the right amount caused extra work and annoyance which is a negative impact. Thus, there's no reason for the Staff to be grateful; they get nothing out of it except extra work.

  • komododragon on 02/11/2018 - 13:57
    1. I had 85000 deposited to my account by mistake. Called up the bank to sort it out.
    2. I was in ATM queue, when a girl withdrew $ 800 and run away, leaving the money on the ATM. Took the money to a police station.
    • h4zey on 02/11/2018 - 15:41

      you gave the cops a month supply of krispy kreme!!

    • ju2au on 04/11/2018 - 21:47

      The temptation to just put the money in the Wallet and forget about the Paperwork would have been very strong for the Police Office(s) involved.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 02/11/2018 - 14:51
    +17

    About 20 years ago I see a wallet flew off someone elseā€™s car and I quickly picked it up. It had more than $500 in there. This is the time when mobile cost $1 a min to ring. Anyway I found the details of the husband and called him up about his wifeā€™s lost wallet. He told me to call his wife which I did, cost me about $10 in mobile fees and After many rings she picked up and agreed to meet me at the shopping centre so she can get her wallet back. When we finally met the very first thing she asked me was: ā€where is the money?ā€ Which I kindly pointed out it was inside her wallet. She took the wallet and counted the money in front of me and took off.

    Some people does not have any manners……..

    • ozbjunkie on 04/11/2018 - 00:26

      Should have kept 10 bucks to be fair.

      And these sorts of stories make me feel like keeping the money separate just in case they're a total profanity when they rock up.

      Give no thanks, get no cash, "I guess someone must have got to it before me".

      Not sure if I'm serious, time will tell…

  • notpotatoman on 02/11/2018 - 15:36
    +2

    Someone left their wallet at my work. I looked at their driver's licence and saw they were my parents' next door neighbour! So went to visit my parents and drop the wallet off at the same time haha.

    • Xiaomi on 03/11/2018 - 00:03

      I would have left it there

  • h4zey on 02/11/2018 - 15:39
    +1

    done similar thing, return ipad, money, etc. Agree with the notion that some people are just hopeless at being grateful, but there are some good one. however at the end of the day, you do what you want to do not because of you expect certain reaction from them, having said that, if i know what sort of reaction i would get, there might be a good chance the item will end up in savos :)

  • DiscoJango on 02/11/2018 - 16:05
    +5

    . Handed back a wallet with over $500 cash in it
    . Handed gold watch back to lady it fell off (didn't notice she dropped it)
    . Handed back a phat purse to lady who dropped it (didn't notice she dropped it)
    . Told a buyer of a potential fault in a car I was selling. I hate when people just offload their lemon problem car onto some unsuspecting buyer.

  • kaleidoscope on 02/11/2018 - 16:18
    +1

    Returned the money found on street to rightful owner. The look on his face after that wasnā€™t something any amount of money can buy. Happened about 15 years ago.

    p.s. ofcourse i did verify before handing over if he was the person that lost it. (i.e. how much was it, in what notes, etc)

  • HeWhoKnows on 02/11/2018 - 16:39
    +1

    Hopefully most of us are honest in everything we do.

  • mysteryely on 02/11/2018 - 17:34
    +2

    Found someone's business credit card on the ground and there no was no one around so I cut it up before disposing in different bins so that it wouldn't end up with fraudulent transactions. Is that honest?

    • No ONE on 02/11/2018 - 18:03

      someone could still use the numbers. I once called the bank to cancel the card.

    • KBZ on 02/11/2018 - 18:03

      Weird flex but I'll allow it.

  • cmyk on 02/11/2018 - 17:40

    Found a wad of cash sitting at the ATM (previous person forgot to take their cash) , returned cash to bank and the employees were EXTREMELY surprised as they haven't experienced anything like that

    • Melong on 03/11/2018 - 08:47
      +1

      Weird that ā€œnot being a criminalā€ is sufficient to be considered honest these days, sad state of affairs

    • purplelady on 06/11/2018 - 10:38

      yeah, my friend did the same thing and the bank didn't take the money. Saying it's not their right to take it.

  • 2real4u on 02/11/2018 - 21:38
    +10

    I was one of the first aboard a recent Qantas flight.

    I let the flight attendant know asap that someone had left their iPad and case behind in the seat pocket.

    Turns out it was one of the Qantas supplied iPads for movies etc. that every seat had.

    My face went as red as the Qantas logo..

    • Autonomic on 02/11/2018 - 23:53
      +8

      Ma'am I think someone left their magazine here

    • DiscoJango on 03/11/2018 - 08:57

      thats called having a senior moment. dont worry, it happens to all of us!

  • darecool on 02/11/2018 - 21:48
    +1

    I have found a galaxy phone on the seat of the train, phone was unlocked and called the last number dialled to ask for the owner to call back to arrange for pickup in my office.

    Another time I found a rather expensive fitbit on the train seat again and gave it to the train officer, but not sure if it ever got to the lost and found or the officer just kept it.

    Found $10, $20, $50 notes and $2 coins a few times but there is no way to find the owner so I just gave it to select homeless people. I am superstitious and believe money found on the street should not be kept.

    Found a car key on the mailbox in my apartment complex, so decided to go to my carpark and try to beep every car and left a note on the car with my number. Owner called the next day and gave me $100 which I refused but he insisted.

    Once I exchanged foreign currency equivalent $10,000 to aud at commbank, the teller gave me the aud and switched to another teller serving me, but new teller did not collect the foreign currency. He was already thanking me and said goodbye until I told him how about the foreign money. He was shocked. I could have walked away with $10,000 profit

    Found a newly bought 1kg lamb shank in plastic sleeve in my apartment complex dropped on the ground, but decided not to touch it as it is not worth the food poisoning if it had been left there too long.

    Odd how I keep finding random stuffs…

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