Retailer Sends a Much More Expensive Item than Ordered

muglet on 20/10/2025 - 18:23
Last edited 20/10/2025 - 21:48

Say hypothetically you bought a refurbished item online from a big box seller…

The box arrives - as expected it is not the original box (it is a plain brown box) but clearly marked as the exact item you purchased with official printed labels etc etc stuck to it

Inside the box however is not the product you ordered, but a considerably more expensive product of a similar type, we're talking several multiples higher value. So either they have given a free upgrade due to stock issues (unlikely), or someone has packed the wrong item into the box, or stuck the wrong labels on

Would you say something or keep it?

I guess one could assume that as the box stickers and labels were correct, it would have been scanned as the correct item sent, so they would have no way to trace it?

Bear in mind this is not a small business but a large retailer so don't have to worry about affecting their bottom line.

Thanks

UPDATE

Thanks for the replies

I thought it was more interesting as a story, but it appears not, so for those who found it too vague…

I ordered a refurbished electrical item online from a large retailer who everyone knows
They sent me the correct box with correct labels etc, but inside the box was the wrong item. I ordered the base model but in the box was the top of the range item, which was a lot more expensive
So it appears someone in the refurb center put an item in the wrong box
My order has been marked complete
I was deciding whether to keep the item or not, but have decided to keep it for a few days, and then if I don't hear anything to start using it.
It is a large retailer, so whilst this will obviously affect them financially, they would not notice it. If it was a small business I would have no hesitation in telling them

General Discussion

closed Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 20/10/2025 - 18:28
    +4

    so they would have no way to trace it?

    I guess that's your real question…

    • RTX9090Ti on 21/10/2025 - 13:43

      TL;DR: Should OP notify the retailer that they sent the wrong item at much higher value as OP wants to keep it if retailer cannot trace it.

  • 87percent on 20/10/2025 - 18:28
    +6

    I think it would depend on the size of the business

    Major retailer? Nope..

    Local store? Probably

    • BigTed on 21/10/2025 - 11:56
      +1

      Why?
      Presumably you think that there is something wrong with accepting an incorrect and more expensive item.
      So, why does the size of the victim in any way change that?

      • witheredcouch on 21/10/2025 - 14:19

        I think it very much affects the decision. With certain big companies (EG: Harvey Norman), i frankly don't care if they lose some $. A small business on the other hand I would care about. It's not about how wrong it is, it is about how much it affects the victim and who that victim is.

        If we are to go strictly moral, then yeah, it is wrong to keep it, but life isn't that black and white.

  • MS Paint on 20/10/2025 - 18:30
    +3

    Why be hypothetical? There is an actual thread where this occurred but I CBF trying to find it.

    • Baysew on 20/10/2025 - 18:55
      +17

      So hypothetically say I found the actual thread, should I hypothetically post it here or not?

  • pegaxs on 20/10/2025 - 18:39
    +3

    Why the secrecy?? Why not just give us the example? If you dont want to name the retailer, dont, but this post is vague AF…

    • Gunnar on 20/10/2025 - 20:11
      +6

      Maybe they ordered a massage wand and got a hitachi instead of the cheaper alternative?

  • Ocker on 20/10/2025 - 18:40

    If there sent a considerably more expensive product than ordered/paid for then of course it will affect their bottom line.

    • topherboi on 21/10/2025 - 07:35
      -2

      If where sent?

  • SBOB on 20/10/2025 - 18:46
    +3

    Would you say something or keep it?

    Yes
    (Answer is as vague as your post :) )

  • NevC on 20/10/2025 - 19:18

    If you feel at all guilty, then just send it to me.

  • lovesabargain77 on 20/10/2025 - 19:21
    +7

    Did the refurbished product that you ordered come with any warranty?

    If so, then keep in mind that if you keep the wrong item and you have issues with it, you're not going to have a receipt for it.

    • original15 on 20/10/2025 - 19:24
      +2

      My thoughts too

  • markathome on 20/10/2025 - 19:43

    I may have kept it. In the years since Jeff hasn't popped by to collect it - though I expect him any day now. Assuming he does he may want to bring a wipe as I keep it in the toilet.

    I hope it isn't keeping him up at night - somehow I don't think it is. Would I do it again? Hopefully not. But when I upgraded - Jeff got my money for that one too. So maybe he didn't lose out completely? Plus I hear he's a fair bit of success in his work life too - so good karma I guess.

    • Lastchancetosee on 21/10/2025 - 08:28

      Am I missing something here? Makes no sense.

      • Muppet Detector on 21/10/2025 - 13:13
        +1

        I assumed that Jeff was the dude from Amazon. So that post referred to purchases they made on Amazon.

        Could be wrong though.

  • JIMB0 on 20/10/2025 - 20:24
    +8

    a large retailer

    You'll expend a lot of effort explaining the situation and finding someone who is interested in organising the return. Then you'll get no thanks for it, it will just boost their bottom line.

  • AustriaBargain on 20/10/2025 - 20:44
    +1

    Start the car.

  • El cheepo on 20/10/2025 - 20:56

    so they would have no way to trace it?

    Here is the real crux of the post.

    Are you gonna get called out for keeping it or is it a clean getaway?

    The answer.
    Yes.
    Vague for vague 😂

  • boomramada on 20/10/2025 - 21:21
    +1

    Inside the box however is not the product you ordered, but a considerably more expensive product of a similar type, we're talking several multiples higher value. So either they have given a free upgrade due to stock issues (unlikely), or someone has packed the wrong item into the box, or stuck the wrong labels on

    I order an expensive item, and company send me x2. And I kept the both and not a small retailer.

  • lovestorm catcher on 20/10/2025 - 21:46
    +9

    Bunnings once shipped me a wrong item. I gave them a call and asked someone to come and swap. They then delivered the correct item but didn't take the wrong item away. I rang them again and they said i could just keep the incorrect item (worth about 2-300).

  • Paul Atreides on 20/10/2025 - 22:09
    +2

    my vote is on a breville coffee machine

  • bluesky on 20/10/2025 - 22:37
    +3

    Even a refurbished item would likely have a period of warranty. Suppose you start to use the item and it has issues, won't you have problems getting them to honour the warranty, since the item is different from what you supposedly purchase? Something to consider.

    PS Oh, someone has already expressed the same opinion above

  • jv on 20/10/2025 - 23:02
    +4

    Retailer Sends a Much More Expensive Item than Ordered

    That's nice of them.

    I'd leave a good review…

  • DingoBilly on 20/10/2025 - 23:19
    +2

    Not sure why you'd return it. Easily take the upgrade and wouldn't think twice.

    There's people here putting in official complaints that they couldn't get a price error Sony XM6 for half price. People saying they'd return it are full of shit.

    • Dreamcast on 21/10/2025 - 06:07
      +13

      Is called being honest??

      I remember a deal on batteries here. Bought two packs and was sent four. I messaged the seller and was offered to either return them and they'd pay the postage or pay for them at 50% off. I ended forking over the over $$.

      Yes I didn't do the wrong thing, but I corrected an error. Am I hero? No. But keeps me honest.

      • ReaperX22 on 21/10/2025 - 08:14

        Wow. Someone actually down voted you for being honest. Here's an upvote.

    • GachaGamer on 21/10/2025 - 08:48
      +4

      That you think people willing to return it are full of shit, speaks more about your character, than them actually being full of shit.

      • ReaperX22 on 21/10/2025 - 09:34

        Hahahaha the way you worded that reminded me of Rush Hour when Jackie/Chris first getting to know each other/learning he can speak English. :P

    • Muppet Detector on 21/10/2025 - 13:21

      I don't think I'd return it, but I would contact the seller and tell them that I had it and I'll make it available for them to collect whenever they want to. If they wanted to pay me to post it back, I would probably do that when it was convenient for me if there wasn't too much drama involved.

      I doubt I'd pay any extra for something I never really wanted. Not paying to keep something cos it's convenient for them.

      Pretty sure this is covered by Finder's Keepers laws and/or stealing by finding laws/stealing by giving laws.

      Regardless of what my morals may be, I just find life less stressful when I don't break any laws.

      You can't go around keeping stuff that isn't yours, even if it was sent to you by mistake. That's just dodgy af and asking for trouble.

  • Stealtho on 21/10/2025 - 06:41

    Apple

  • jacross on 21/10/2025 - 07:46
    +2

    I would say something. I don't need handouts and so I can afford to place a great deal of stock in my character. Saying something would make me feel smugly superior and I would dress that up as virtue.

  • jonkvh on 21/10/2025 - 08:13
    +1

    Should at least try and let the Company know. Might be a new employee. Having worked in a warehouse, it's feedback all the same. Make's a difference plus, the staff won't get blamed for theft.

  • Naigrabzo on 21/10/2025 - 08:55

    Definitely.

  • Powershopz on 21/10/2025 - 09:32
    +1

    Depends on the value and what the item is. Most cases - just keep the item, say nothing, play dumb if they reach out to you, then swap for original item if need be.

    Headphones, Laptops - Keep
    Fridge, Sound System - Maybe say something
    Car - Definitely say something as you don't want to have to stuff around with changing all your details down the track

  • Ryanek on 21/10/2025 - 09:32
    +1

    Why be so vague? Damn man, this big box store don't care.

  • ReaperX22 on 21/10/2025 - 09:38
    +4

    Friend had a similar thing - model or two up/even size up from what he ordered (some all in one pressure cooker) - I advised him to notify the store, he did, they said he can keep it and said warranty would not be affected, he has this in writing now should warranty ever be required, regardless if the invoice doesn't quite match up.

    Often times stores will just tell you to keep it, or if its truly MUCH more expensive; they'll organise a courier to swap it for you/sort it out. It's just better to cover yourself IMO.

    The flip side - if you ordered the top-end model, and received the base model, you'd be up in arms, no? I recognise that the average consumer and a large retailer are not the same level and the loss definitely not equivalent, but the principle is the same.

    • miicah on 21/10/2025 - 10:06

      That's a bit different though, because if I ordered a specific sized kitchen appliance, I'd probably want the exact one I ordered. I've probably measured and/or made a space for that item.

  • wetsandwich on 21/10/2025 - 09:39
    +1

    Large company especially Amazon = keep it. They're wrecking everything and wiping out any remaining small businesses anyway.
    Smaller business = contact them.

    • Cluster on 21/10/2025 - 11:24

      Plot twist: Most items sold on Amazon are sold by Amazon on behalf of small businesses. Just because 'Amazon' sell it doesn't mean it's a big corporation that can shrug off a loss.

  • GordonD on 21/10/2025 - 09:45

    Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Or, in this case, even when they wouldn't know unless you told them.

    When something like this happened to me, I told them. And they didn't want to know. Because they were just employees. Their mistake didn't cost them anything personally. Telling them just created problems for them that they'd have to put on record, investigate and find out who to blame.

    • ReaperX22 on 21/10/2025 - 11:00
      +1

      I worked in retail for a bit - it's better to know IMO. If it's found that stock got mixed up/sent incorrectly, it can send warehouse workers/front desk retail people (if warehouse is the same space like I was) in a loop, wasting hours trying to figure it out tbh. One call that says 'ah yeah I've got this item but I ordered blah' can explain sooooo many domino effect issues haha.

  • xuqi on 21/10/2025 - 10:50
    +1

    What happens when it break down and you need warranty support? Feign ignorance?

  • hasher22 on 21/10/2025 - 11:12

    Keep it since it's from a large, assuming corporate owned business which they only sell to please shareholders.

  • Cluster on 21/10/2025 - 11:29
    +1

    I would let them know about the mistake. If the retailer agrees to pay for postage back to them I would return it. Chances are the retailer will just tell you to keep the item.

    Look at this situation from a different point of view: if you sent someone the wrong item would you want them to let you know? Of course. Some people on this thread state 'don't return the item if the retailer is rich'. Does it really make a difference? It shouldn't.

  • pinchies on 21/10/2025 - 11:29

    Happy Snapping. Enjoy the Sony A9 III!

  • erasimos on 21/10/2025 - 12:47

    Does your invoice have a serial no. and does it match?

    As people have suggested, if the invoice doesn't match the item you might have issues if anything goes wrong.
    If the invoice is generic ie 65' samsung and you receive a q90 when you ordered a q60 maybe not an issue but if it states the model or serial no. and it doesn't match it will be difficult.

    In that case send them the serial of the product and say hey I don't think it matches the invoice and see if they will reissue the invoice.

  • michaelTito on 21/10/2025 - 13:58

    Don’t worry OP just keep it and use it. TGG mistakenly refunded $6000 worth of stuff I bought from them a couple of years. Never asked for the money back. I kept my mouth shut. Everyone’s happy.

  • yamahamoto on 21/10/2025 - 13:59

    Whilst keeping it is tempting imagine the product breaks down shortly. What do you do then?

  • Moderatorscrimshaw on 21/10/2025 - 14:20

    Thread closed, OP banned as ghost account

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