People make mistakes. You shouldn't have to pay for them. But keep in mind that a complaint doesn't need to become a confrontation, if you do it right

First, start by giving the person who made the error the benefit of the doubt. Most people aren't out to cheat you, they're just rushed or uninformed or distracted. These days, errors can be as simple as pushing one wrong button on a computer.

Take the "on sale" chopped deli ham I bought today. The sign said $1.79 a pound. I like to take a slice of this stuff and cut it into pieces to put in my (usually) daily salad.

So I asked for a pound. I identified exactly what I wanted—twice. "Chopped ham." I pointed to the "on sale" sign. "This stuff."

At the checkout counter, I did what I always do (and what I recommend that you do): watch the prices come up as each item is scanned. (Rotate the little display screen if it's not facing you.)

The price on the ham flashed $3.08.

"Hey!" I said to the cashier. "Did that ham just scan at $3.08?"

This is the first step, to double check that an error has actually been made. Like everyone else, I—and you—can make mistakes. So start with a question, not an accusation.

I was right. The scanned price was $3.08. The The cashier and I looked at the package. It was indeed chopped ham, 1.13 pounds worth. I explained about the sales price Yes, sales tax would hike the final total, but only a few cents, not nearly a buck.

I was polite and pleasant and so was she, as she hiked back to the deli and got a corrected price tag. (The deli lady had hit the wrong code button on the tag labeler.) The whole thing took three minutes and saved me $1.06. Was it worth the effort? Well, taking three minutes to save $1.06 is like being paid $21.20 an hour. (There are twenty three-minute segments in an hour. Multiply $1.06 by 20 and you get $21.20.)

When someone's goof looks like it'll cost you money, speak up. But remember, polite and non-judgemental is the way to start.