$175 for CRAP at Wal-Mart?

[underpants]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050822/ap_on_fe_st/manure_thieves

Wal-Mart Charges $175 for 'Stolen' Manure

BROWNSVILLE, Ore. - It could have happened to anyone: Charles Gastorf and his wife, Cheryl, forgot to pay the $10 tab for 10 bags of steer manure during a recent shopping trip to their local Wal-Mart.

The two say that in the confusion of shopping on that March day they simply forgot to add in the cost of the manure. When the Gastorfs explained their forgetfulness to Lebanon City Attorney Tom McHill, he dropped shoplifting charges against them.

That could have been the end of the story — except for the letter from the world's largest retailer that soon arrived in their mailbox, demanding $175 in civil damages.

The Gastorfs — who live in a manufactured home and are retired — spoke to an attorney, who told them that challenging the action in court could cost them several thousand dollars, much more than the $175 civil claim.

So the Gastorfs paid Wal-Mart the money.

[Double T]

1. The Gastorf's Should Not Have Paid The Civil Claim

Wal-Mart is SCUM.

[liberal N proud]

2. How do you FORGET to pay for something?

I am not defending Wal-Mart which seems to be this boards favorite company to bash.
The point here is, how do you forget to pay for something. I know that at Wal-Mart, things like fertilizer and mulch, the type of stuff they "FORGOT" to pay for are kept out in the parking lot. You go in and pay for it, take your receipt out to the parking lot where a Wal-Mart employee will meet you and help you load the merchandise.
Unless the Gastorf's helped themselves and then drove off there should have been a control point.
If they did help themselves and did not go in and pay for it that is SHOP LIFTING, I don't care who you are stealing from it is still stealing.