If Newegg/Amazon/etc accidentally sent you something you didn't order, WWYD?

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_Rick_

_Rick_

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2012
3,952
70
91
I ordered two dérailleur hangers from my bike's OEM (some 30 euro with shipping).
They sent the hangers when I couldn't get them from UPS, so shipment got returned.
I asked them to ship it again (they did it for free) to my work address. A few days later I receive a notification that a shipment has arrived for me.
The guy at the postbox at the office asked me whether I'd want a trolley or something to move the package. Considering I only expected an envelope, this was a strange request.

Lo and behold they sent me a bike, worth around 2500-3500 euro.
I immediately contacted them, asking them what I should do about it.
Some of my colleagues found this slightly peculiar.

Luckily the guys at the mail dept. did the UPS-pick up for me, so no extra hassle besides taking a photo and helping them figure out what they've sent me. The invoice on the packaging was for two dérailleur hangers...

Must've been a mix-up when sending the stuff out again.

Keeping the bike never crossed my mind. It's not mine.
I guess with lower value items I might be more morally flexible, but I try to treat people the way I expect them to treat me, so I would at the very least send out a quick mail, asking what's up with the unexpected item.
 
Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,047
1,676
126
When I got my first Nokia in the 90s, my carrier sent me an invoice that seemed strangely low. I checked and it turns out there was a deposit into the account that I didn't make. I called them and after much pushing from me they gave me the account number, but it wasn't mine. I informed them of that and they claimed they look into it but never called me back. I called again months later but still no progress so I just gave up and kept it.

Similarly, I bought a rowing machine which arrived dented. It worked fine but I didn't want the small aesthetic defect so I called them. They sent me the new piece (worth several hundred bux) and were to send me the courier info to return the dented one. They never did even after two more calls from me. So I just kept it.

OTOH, after I returned my 2nd defective Nexus 7 (screen lift) and got a new 3rd one, I signed in on the third one with a different account. They gave me the Google Play credit again and I just kept it.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Chiropteran said:
I'd calculate the cost to return it, with my time valued at $400/hr, and estimating the number of emails and phone calls required. If my time is worth 50% of the value of the item, or greater, I'll just keep it.

If my time is worth less than 50% of the value of the item, I'll also keep it, because an item that valuable shouldn't be trusted in the wrong hands.
Click to expand...

I love folks that put their own value on their time when most wouldn't even think their whole life was worth the hourly rate.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Getting something unsolicited vs getting something misshipped are two different things. One would be liable to return the item if it was simply an error.

You shouldn't have to bear any 'costs', getting a return label doesn't require any phone calls either...shoot in an email and be done with that. Worst case leave it outside your door for pickup if you can't be inconvienced to drop it at the 100's of drop boxes or any business with daily pickup and/or you don't have daily pickup at your own place of work.
 
S

Soundmanred

Lifer
Oct 26, 2006
10,780
6
81
Contact them. If they want it back, have them send a prepaid label or schedule a pickup. If not, keep it.
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Call their CS and see what they say. They'll either send me a link with prepaid label or tell me to keep it. It's not that fucking hard.
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,835
37
91
T_Yamamoto said:
Fuck best buy. Their shit is overpriced.
Click to expand...

well they have people to pay...etc when comparing to online, however this is why BB...and likely all electronic retail stores will be gone forever over the next decade or so. A passing memory like so many other things thought of so fondly in our past. We'll be like "hey, remember back in the day when you could handle electronics in a store?"
Audio stuff is one of the main things i really appreciate from a retail store, being able to hear how a setup sounds and comparing, things like that, plus some things are too big and/or too expensive that i wouldn't want dropped off on my front porch to sit there all day
 
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alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Soundmanred said:
Contact them. If they want it back, have them send a prepaid label or schedule a pickup. If not, keep it.
Click to expand...

The problem is our resident losers fell the 10-15mins of their time is equal to getting a $200 gift card as well.
 
B

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
I'd return it. They've provided me with enough good service for me to feel some loyalty.
 
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N

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Bateluer said:
I'd contact them and inquire about it, but I would not pay myself to ship it back.
Click to expand...
same.

I wouldn't mind dropping it off at FedEx/UPS/USPS, because none of that would be terribly inconvenient for me (post office is a couple blocks from my house and there's a FedEx store in the lobby of my office building), but I would not pay out of pocket to ship it back.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
T_Yamamoto said:
Oh. In that case that would be convenient but I'd rather go to the CompUSA than BB
Click to expand...

/facepalm. Down here they are all TigerDirects and most have closed down.

B&M is here to stay as people are willing to pay more to have it now.
 
coldmeat

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,231
139
106
alkemyst said:
/facepalm. Down here they are all TigerDirects and most have closed down.

B&M is here to stay as people are willing to pay more to have it now.
Click to expand...

Everything is on display as well, so you can see/use it before buying.
 
Destiny

Destiny

Platinum Member
Jul 6, 2010
2,270
1
0
If Amazon/NewEgg provides me a shipping label - I'll send it back... I'm sure some of us here got our packages sent or accepted by the wrong person before...
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
coldmeat said:
Everything is on display as well, so you can see/use it before buying.
Click to expand...

IMHO this should always be done, even if you don't use the B&M merchant. Too many people use, abuse, return because they didn't do there due diligance. In the beginning most online merchants weren't charging re-stocking fees.

I always did a ton of research prior when buying sight unscene. Now this makes my legitimate returns a cost.
 
GagHalfrunt

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,997
126
It's amazing how law-and-order this place is when it comes to people whining about getting traffic tickets, but what a bunch of scumbags people turn into when they get a chance for free stuff.

Of course you contact the company and arrange for them to get the item back at their expense. If they ship a label and arrange a pickup, they get the item.
 
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