Have You Ever Benefited from System Errors?

Platinumtelecom on 04/02/2019 - 15:58
Last edited 04/02/2019 - 16:20

I have on several occasions benefited from either system error or human error saving me hundreds and sometime thousands of dollars.

The thing is, I was too afraid to share these on OzBargain, purely for the fact that this error would then be rectified, stopping me from benefiting from it.

Back in the old dick Smith days, they had a gift card sales, I purchased gifts cards for $1000 to buy a TV but then decided against it and cancelled the order before it was processed. I had to follow up customer service to get a refund which I obtained but then a couple of weeks later I receive the gift cards loaded.

There is another one too recent to share :-D

Poll Options expired

  • 6
    Yes I have and shared with everyone
  • 26
    Yes I have but was too afraid to share
  • 13
    No I am not that lucky
  • 3
    No I am too honest
General Discussion

Comments

  • GG57 on 04/02/2019 - 16:12

    By 'System Errors', do you include incorrect prices when items scanned at a check-out?
    I once had a five-pack of socks scan for $2. Couldn't believe it, and the check-out assistant just shook her head and took my money.

  • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 16:12
    +4

    There needs to be an option for: Yes, but wasn't able to share. I think that applies in a lot of cases, for example your Dick Smith one, where it's likely some kind of one-off human error, or some unknown combination of factors, that causes the error.

    • Platinumtelecom on 04/02/2019 - 16:15

      I guess there is a reason they went out of business :-D

      Agree I see what you mean.

      • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 16:20

        One of many many reasons no doubt haha…

    • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2019 - 16:27

      yeah i've had a few cases where i was at a pub or something and instead of paying 7 bucks for a beer, they've typed it in without the 0's and I've paid 7 cents instead. i love human error sometimes

  • akajin on 04/02/2019 - 16:13
    +1

    There is a system error for a specific route of Qantas flight that I know of which I have been using for a while.
    It is a domestic 2 leg flight and when you book using frequent flyer points you only pay for the 1 leg of the trip and the other one is free. (But you pay tax on both legs)
    This only works if you book through browser whereas if you use the app you need to pay for both legs.
    Never shared it as it is unlikely to benefit others (Route is too specific) and Qantas might catch on.

  • QW3RTY on 04/02/2019 - 16:22

    Not an system error, just a gaming of a system.

    A particular retailer would cut the prices of "Clearance" stock each week until all the stock is removed from the state.
    If somebody were to place a product in an unusual place in a receiving bay and leave the item for a period of time, a $800-$900 product would be discounted to $200-$300 in a matter of weeks following its listing on a the clearance list.

    • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 16:30
      +1

      This seems slightly more than unethical to me haha… it's like when you would hide a uni textbook so others couldn't check it out, except in this case doing it for financial advantage……

  • zond on 04/02/2019 - 16:38

    I got $200 few times in my life.

    Got "Bank error in your favour. Collect $200."
    ..
    ..
    ..
    ..

    Fake Monopoly game money though…

    • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2019 - 17:19

      Fake Monopoly game money though…

      I wonder if anyone plays monopoly for real money . That would be really cool and fun I reckon. Maybe the casinos should run it. Although it's a long commitment to get to the winner, maybe have something where it all gets settled up after couple of hours, regardless of whether all but 1 player is bankrupt, or not.

      • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 17:28
        +1

        I wonder if anyone plays monopoly for real money .

        I think it's called property investment…

        /s

        Snark aside, a lot of balancing would need to be put into the game before anyone would be willing to play it for actual real money I think.

      • FireRunner on 04/02/2019 - 18:25
        +1

        The robbers of the Great Train Robbery in 1963 had used the stolen money in monopoly set. Don't think the money used was keeps though.

  • Ryanek on 04/02/2019 - 16:38

    Greater Union once had an online code that sold heavily discounted tickets as part of a promotion. It stopped working when it eventually expired but a few months later it somehow started working again. I used it for several years before it stopped for good.

  • Seraphin7 on 04/02/2019 - 17:54
    +1

    I recently got a $3.40 coffee for $0.34 when the person operating the EFTPOS machine missed the last zero. Does that count?

  • cheapjunkie on 04/02/2019 - 18:02

    Once had a particular credit card that offered bonus points each month for a few months after meeting min spend each month. They missed one of the months and i complained and they credited it the following month. Fortunately for me they forgot about it and i got credited more at the end of each month for a further 3 months. So i got double what i was promised for my signup bonus.

  • madreece on 04/02/2019 - 18:35
    +1

    Cash back eftpos cards from a WD box promotion . Run by a bunch of idiots. After waiting for ages I called and got a nice girl who sent me my four $50 cards out straight away. About four weeks later I received another four.If they weren't such an incompetent bunch that organised the cashback I may have let them know.

  • Vittori on 04/02/2019 - 19:45
    +1

    Not system error but human error. A few years ago I once had the cashier put through my Surface Pro for $17x instead of $17x0, out of habit I said it was the wrong amount and realised that I'd jipped myself out of a 'bargain'. My ethics would've kicked in if I didn't though

  • Yabadabadoo on 04/02/2019 - 21:02

    Ozbargain is too big for system errors as they get smashed in no time and everyone loses. I think we need an Ozbargain Premium only for members that share popular deals or simular and cap the number of members. I have a great deal for Dominos to get 50% off every time you order with no code needed but cant share as it will get fixed :(

    • toristo on 04/02/2019 - 21:22
      +7

      You mean you don't have Premium membership already?

  • Clear on 04/02/2019 - 21:58

    There was a maccas self checkout glitch that had a specific item give you free honey. It was very tempting to share on OzBargain but knowing how toxic it gets with freebies I decided against it.

    • Blue Cat on 04/02/2019 - 22:04

      Sorry to burst your bubble but… honey is always free.

      • Clear on 04/02/2019 - 22:10

        Checked the app… you're right! Though it's funny that it was letting me customise my Frozen Coke to add free honey.

        • Blue Cat on 04/02/2019 - 22:14

          $1 Hamburger + Free Honey + Free Whipped Butter makes for a weird but tasty combination that can satisfy me for cheap!
          Though, now that we have $2 McDoubles that is irrelevant for me at the moment.

          • Clear on 04/02/2019 - 22:14
            +2

            @Blue Cat: $2 McDoubles with honey it is then!

  • Blue Cat on 04/02/2019 - 22:07

    I once was buying Kmart shoes that were on clearance for $7.50, but when I scanned it at the self checkout the price was $0.75…
    Didn't tell anyone or did anything special - just bought, paid and went on my merry way.
    The shoes lasted me about 8 months, so for less than 10c a month for shoes I really have no reason to complain.

  • miwahni on 05/02/2019 - 22:37

    Somehow two of my bank accounts were coded with the wrong interest rate out of the blue - one at 2.85% which should have been .55% and another was coded with the introductory bonus rate, five years after I opened it. Bank eventually caught on to the first one, after about 18 months, and sent me a letter advising that the rate was being reduced to the correct rate (at which time I promptly closed it - it was a legacy account that I'd been too lazy to go in and close) - but the other one with the introductory rate is still going strong.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 11:57

      which bank

  • BobD on 10/02/2019 - 08:23

    Back in the 2000s I signed up for some continuing financial planning advice. Fast forward a few years and the organisation contacted me saying there may have been some irregularities with the payments for the advice that I may not have received. I ignored it because I was OK with the advice that I received and still receiving. Some time later and when all forgotten I received a letter with advice that my account had been deposited with about $13k which included refunds for advice not received and interest on those moneys. I could never figure out how they came up with that amount but who was I to argue. I guess they didn't do good record keeping. I think that organisation is no longer in business.

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