Hypothetical ethical question

supaidaaman

Senior member
Nov 17, 2005
375
0
0
Ive got a scenario that needs some input.

Lets say...my friend purchased something from a major retailer for around $200. He chose in-store pickup option when he bought the item online.

-Store then sends email saying you have "x" many days to pickup said item or it will be canceled.

-Friend then picks up item at the store, signs the receipt and receives a copy of it.

-Next day friend gets another email saying "you now have x many days to pick up your item before your order is canceled"

-Friend keeps getting the same message over the next few days and thinks this is weird...so he goes to check his order online. It still says waiting to be picked up.

-Fast forward to the cancellation date. He gets an email saying his order has been canceled and his card refunded.

-Next day credit card is refunded.


Soooooo.... Should my friend call them up and say "oops looks like there is some sort of user or computer error, here please take my money for this item." Or should he just ignore it, and be happy it got some free stuff.

Could this happen?:

Somewhere in a few months the company goes "oh crap, the computer glitched out, lets charge this guy for his item" and then my friend who has now spent that extra $200 on something else goes "oh crap" i wasn't planning on spending $400!!

Its quite a dilemma....If it was a small business my friend would definitely feel like shit, but since it is a big corp who has screwed him in the past...maybe he should take it as a magical gift from the stars.

...what should he do?


 

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
If he was smart, he would of picked it up multiple times and sold it. ;)
 
S

SlitheryDee

He shouldn't steal. Even if it was the company's error it's stealing to take the item without paying for it.
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
The honest thing... shoot after the first couple days of saying I had x number of days to pick it up I'd be calling saying hey I picked it up already stop bugging me.
 

Finalnight

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2003
1,891
1
76
Originally posted by: supaidaaman
Ive got a scenario that needs some input.

Lets say...my friend purchased something from a major retailer for around $200. He chose in-store pickup option when he bought the item online.

-Store then sends email saying you have "x" many days to pickup said item or it will be canceled.

-Friend then picks up item at the store, signs the receipt and receives a copy of it.

-Next day friend gets another email saying "you now have x many days to pick up your item before your order is canceled"

-Friend keeps getting the same message over the next few days and thinks this is weird...so he goes to check his order online. It still says waiting to be picked up.

-Fast forward to the cancellation date. He gets an email saying his order has been canceled and his card refunded.

-Next day credit card is refunded.


Soooooo.... Should my friend call them up and say "oops looks like there is some sort of user or computer error, here please take my money for this item." Or should he just ignore it, and be happy it got some free stuff.

Could this happen?:

Somewhere in a few months the company goes "oh crap, the computer glitched out, lets charge this guy for his item" and then my friend who has now spent that extra $200 on something else goes "oh crap" i wasn't planning on spending $400!!

Its quite a dilemma....If it was a small business my friend would definitely feel like shit, but since it is a big corp who has screwed him in the past...maybe he should take it as a magical gift from the stars.

...what should he do?

Every major retailer I worked for would call up after 7 days or so and say "We just wanted to make sure you were enjoying your product" or something along those lines, either you would get a "yes I am, thanks/having a problem, help" or "what product?". Same thing with repaired computers.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
You obviously know the answer to your question, you're just asking us to give your friend permission to steal because he thinks he deserves it. Your friend doesn't need our permission to steal.

The part about them figuring it out and billing him later has nothing to do with the ethical question; that's called karmic retribution. There is absolutely no chance it would ever happen though.

Small business vs big business is irrelevant.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
While I agree that it would be tempting to just keep the item, I'd still have to fix it and pay the proper amount. Besides, if he despises the company, not shopping there would be a better option then theft.
 

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
10
76
Conditional morals are not good. Not good at all. I like how your "hypothesis" is actually a direct logical question...
 

bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
4,504
2
0
The retailer may realize the mistake a month or so down the road and charge the card again. It is stealing, it is wrong, even if it's Walmart in question.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,940
10,839
147
"Your friend" should stop posting on AnandTech.
 

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,807
3
81
Originally posted by: TallBill
While I agree that it would be tempting to just keep the item, I'd still have to fix it and pay the proper amount. Besides, if he despises the company, not shopping there would be a better option then theft.
Agree 100% - Don't try to get all "Robin hood" stealing from the big company or whatever. Makes no difference.

You clearly know the right answer - Just pay for it. Who knows, maybe they won't care and just say meh in which case hurray. But if you're going to be dishonest and just hide and keep it, that's your call. But don't come to ATOT (or anywhere else) looking for validation for your decision.
 

supaidaaman

Senior member
Nov 17, 2005
375
0
0
My friend says hes going to give them a call tomorrow to see whats up. (im pretty sure thats what he was going to do in the first place)

Thanks for the input guys!

;)

:)