Ethical dilemma

[thirtythree]

1. Bob buys an LCD television from me through craigslist. I help pack the television up and put it in the back of his truck. Bob tells me that he has cords to secure it, but I suggest that we just put it on its back. It later occurrs to me that it's probably meant to stand upright.
2. The screen cracks while Bob is driving it home.
3. Do I give Bob a full or partial refund, or no refund at all?


(P.S. I don't know that the LCD actually broke, just hypothesizing. Bob is probably unpacking it about now and is about to call me in anger demanding all his money back.)


On the one hand, Bob should have taken responsibility for the LCD after buying it. On the other hand, it was my suggestion that we just put it on its back. Either way, someone is out hundreds of dollars.

 

[Newbian]

Bob is up the creek without a paddle.

Also one should never show your home address to these people.

 

[spikespiegal]

My opinion is technically you are obligated to *nothing*.

Ethically, if it were me, I'd give the guy at least a partial refund.

 

[God Mode]

Hard to say. He probably took your advice in good faith since he didn't know how to safely transport an lcd tv.

 

[sandorski]

Ethics would say you are responsible, at least in part. Legally you are probably not responsible, but I could be wrong. If your Action lead to that consequence, then you are Responsible. In fact, I'd go as far to say that if you have to second guess in the first place, you have probably just admitted some guilt.

 

[speg]

Bob is responsible for everything once you hand it over. You are a jackass for recommending poor transportation method (if what you say is true). I don't think it will be broken for sure... did you pack it up good? I am entirely convinced laying it on its back is certain death.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: speg
I am entirely convinced laying it on its back is certain death.

Really?

It's in the original box with the original packing materials -- large styrofoam blocks at each corner.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Originally posted by: thirtythree

Originally posted by: speg
I am entirely convinced laying it on its back is certain death.

Really?

It's in the original box with the original packing materials -- large styrofoam blocks at each corner.

It's fine. Quit worrying.

Of course, if it isn't fine, you're in a dilly of a pickle. You, acting on your authority as a seller, convinced a buyer to transport his purchased item in an unsafe way that led to it being rendered unusable. At the very least, from a moral standpoint, you should feel obligated to refund the money.

 

[So]

http://www.google.com/search?q=transporting+LCDs

If he's careful, he'll be fine, if he breaks it, it's entirely his fault.

 

[Farang]

No refund. There is no reason why you are expected to come into the transaction with superior knowledge on how to transport LCD TVs. If you were a store it is different, since the worker at the store is expected to be an authority. This is a private party transaction and he obviously went into it knowing he was responsible for transportation, as such he should have found out how to safely transport an LCD TV. It is not your job to know how to transport an LCD TV.

 

[Throwmeabone]

If it was my suggestion that broke the TV, I would give the money back. However if it's in the original box it's probably fine.

 

[mugs]

Ethically I think at least a partial refund would be warranted only because he was going to transport it properly (unknowingly) until you suggested doing otherwise.

 

[DrawninwarD]

He's home by now.

Call him up and ask him if it works fine.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Newbian
Bob is up the creek without a paddle.

Also one should never show your home address to these people.

qft. if i meet at someones place, i take a brother or a friend, else i meet in public.

 

[God Mode]

If I were to buy an expensive item from craigslist like an lcd tv, I expect the seller to show me that it works. This usually involves being in their house. I'm not fucking spending hundreds of dollars on the word of some stranger.

 

[Hacp]

Keep your money. Bob was an idiot for buying from you. You'll get the bad rep and Bob will be out a few hundred bucks. Everyone is happy.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Morally, you should give him some money back.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: God Mode
If I were to buy an expensive item from craigslist like an lcd tv, I expect the seller to show me that it works. This usually involves being in their house. I'm not fucking spending hundreds of dollars on the word of some stranger.

He saw that it worked before I packed it up...

 

[quakefiend420]

do you guys have any idea what those go through in being freighted over here before we buy them?

lol, it'll be fine

 

[rudeguy]

You helped load it, so you are partially responsible. When I was selling electronics, our stock guys weren't allowed to tie anything down because they would be liable if the thing flew off the back of the truck. You telling him to put it on its back makes you liable for that.

The moral of the story: If you don't know what you are talking about, keep your piehole shut.

EDIT:
Sorry, didn't mean to sound that rude. But it does sound like its your fault.

 

[RedCOMET]

Hmm. depends. I would probably want to proof that it worked... done as in your case.

If you kept the original packaging, like most companies recommend, and packed it up all nice and proper, and the buyer can confirm that, then i think the buyer should be the way to be responsible for how he/she transports it to the new location.
If the box has shipping/ handling instructions on it, like keep up right, etc and the buyer decides to ignore them, then thats his fault and not yours. All you can do is tell them how you got it home ( if it wasn't professionally delivered) but that
should not be construed as a best shipping practice.

I don't think you owe this guy anything if he doesn't know how to transport properly packaged items. If his truck isn't the right size to move the tv in the manner that it needs to be transported in (ie upright in this case) then he shouldn't be transporting, or trying to get money out of you for his screw up.

Good luck.

 

[Tweak155]

I've transported at LEAST 4 LCD tv's this way (didn't even pay attention to face up or face down) (and at least 3 of those back again) and none had problems. People try to scare you, its how they make things seem valuable or worth putting extra money into.

Screen sizes:

2 x 47"
1 x 52"
1 x 55"

All fine. The 52" was a 45 minute trip too and 70mph on the freeway.

 

[angminas]

If the TV broke, I think you both have some responsibility. You did recommend a shipping technique and you did help him enact that technique. Maybe you can get away with not paying, but it would be more mature to meet him in the middle somehow. The decent standard isn't what you can get away with, but what you would want someone to do to you.

 

[finite automaton]

It's fine

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: God Mode
If I were to buy an expensive item from craigslist like an lcd tv, I expect the seller to show me that it works. This usually involves being in their house. I'm not fucking spending hundreds of dollars on the word of some stranger.

I recently bought a Wll off of CL. When I got the initial email back from them I googled the email address and found a DBA statement in the local paper. I had their names and address.
When we spoke on the phone he told me he didn't want strangers knowing where they lived so he'd bring it to my house. I didn't tell him I already knew where he lived.
He brought it over, hooked it up for testing and I paid him.