Was at the combini this morning and saw they were selling Magic the Gathering cards.
I don’t know much about it, but my brother from overseas is really into it and likes the collectible Japanese cards. I quickly shot him a note and asked if he was interested and he basically said “yea, that would be great”.
The counter had three items, a small box that was open with individual packs inside, and then a stack of wrapped sealed boxes. The price said 300 something yen, which I assumed was for a single pack, not the box, but again, I don’t know anything about this stuff. In addition, there was a row of what looked liked individually wrapped promotional cards? I don’t know. I grabbed them and brought them with me.
The guy scanned the box and it was 300 something yen. I was a bit surprised, but just figured oh, it must just be the box price. He went to scan the promo cards but there was nothing to scan, so him and I both walked over to the display, he looked at it for a minute then called over another employee.
At this stage, I have to admit that my Japanese is pretty … utilitarian. I can get by, but I’m not reading handwritten signboards. Anyway, the two employees chat for a second and one says something like, “Oh those are given when you buy a certain number of packs, if he buys 3 boxes, he can get them” so the other employee nodded (both of whom were JP by the way). I grabbed another 2 boxes, paid around 1000 yen and left. When I told my brother, he was basically like, that’s an insane price, please buy more.
So after work, I stopped in the same store and went to buy a few other boxes, the employee rung them up (same thing, 300 something yen per box) but then hit x10.
It was at this stage I realized that the employee in the morning must’ve fucked up. I was pretty deer in the headlights but just quickly said “huh, I thought it was 300 yen?” and the guy was like “oh no lol its for each pack and a box is 10” so I apologized, put the stuff back, and left.
Anyway, I’m sitting here wondering if I should go back and explain the situation to them tomorrow. I’m a little embarrassed, but ultimately, it seems like it was their mistake.
For reasons that are too difficult to explain, I cannot under any circumstances avoid going to this combini. I have to go almost every day and have been for years. All the employees know me by face and we casually interact regularly (albeit with my broken ass Japanese).
It’s also worth noting that I’ve already opened one box, and I have no issue paying the full price for either that box, or all three.
I’ve read horror stories about being honest in situations like this, where the returning party can sometimes be punished or viewed negatively, but based on my quick google search and ChatGPT, it seems like crime requires intent? And that both employees, basically just made a mistake. Should I just forget about this and move on with my life or go back and try to charades my way through an explanation? (again, I will 100% be at that combini, basically every other day, for at least another few months).
by ow_lady