NewEgg accidentally sends 5 Eee PCs instead of 1 (from the Reg)

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: mugs
I'd send them back. Even if you lack ethics, it's NEWEGG.

Newegg is a retailer. They are not the second-coming of Christ. Quit your fanboy BS.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: mugs
I don't believe the white van scam involves stolen speakers... the speakers just aren't as good as they're made out to be.

No idea what this is about...

---

There was no ambiguity in my mind about this situation. Everything was wrong - the story, the nervousness, body language, vague answers, trying to get back on topic "they're a good deal", etc.

The co-worker was not the least bit naive in any way.

But really, how many vans pull into office building parking lots with legitimate merchandise to sell out of the back? - unless it's hot dogs and hamburgers.

imo, trustworthiness != credibility. I would still have willingly loaned this co-worker ten bucks and expected to get it back.

And btw, he said later that he knew the stuff was hot. The rationalizations we humans commit are truly amazing.

It happens all the time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_van_speakers. Your friend didn't buy "hot" speakers (even though he thought he did). He bought BAD speakers.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I hope those people that picked "keep/sell them" are a bit more honest in their dealings in the FS/FT forums...

I guess it's possible that people who would otherwise never consider ripping off another person have no qualms about ripping off a big company , even if it is other customers that get shafted in the end.

Ripping off? If someone on the FS/FT forum decided to ship me 4 laptops instead of 1, I'll send them a card for Christmas and thank them for their generosity.

Since when did someone else's mistake turn into you being a thief? In the eyes of the law, you are not guilty of a single crime. That's all that matters.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: mugs
I'd send them back. Even if you lack ethics, it's NEWEGG.

Newegg is a retailer. They are not the second-coming of Christ. Quit your fanboy BS.

They're a better than average retailer. I'm obviously not the only person who thinks so. My opinion of the retailer wouldn't affect my decision though - if it was a retailer that I didn't like, I wouldn't have bought from them in the first place. I was appealing to other people's opinion of Newegg as a company, not my own.

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I would keep them, and consider them an early Christmas present from Newegg.

Yes, well you're an asshole.

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Ripping off? If someone on the FS/FT forum decided to ship me 4 laptops instead of 1, I'll send them a card for Christmas and thank them for their generosity.

Since when did someone else's mistake turn into you being a thief? In the eyes of the law, you are not guilty of a single crime. That's all that matters.

I'm sure you would have a different opinion if you were on the other side, and your mistake cost you $1600. Since when does someone else's mistake entitle you (morally) to $1600 worth of their merchandise? I'm not even convinced that it legally entitles you to the merchandise. I'm pretty sure that the mail fraud statute quoted above only applies to packages delivered via USPS.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Since when did someone else's mistake turn into you being a thief? In the eyes of the law, you are not guilty of a single crime. That's all that matters.

Nice rationalization there :roll:.

 

[maziwanka]

return them. you'd be mad as hell if you got the shaft from a company. treat a company with the same respect you expect to be treated with.

 

[Phokus]

Even if it was legal to keep it, i'd return it. Newegg is one of the good guys out there.

 

[NeweggSupport]

We do apologize for any inconvenience this has caused Nevertheless I would say the honest thing to do would be to return these items back

Thank you

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: mugs
Your friend didn't buy "hot" speakers (even though he thought he did). He bought BAD speakers.

I had no idea that it was this widespread. I don't think it was semi-legitimate though as I seem to remember recognizing the brands - it was ten years ago. Thinking about it more, I considered calling the police but didn't since I didn't want to get the co-worker in trouble. I'm pretty sure they were hot - wouldn't bet a million bucks on it but would bet a hundred.

I guess the point is that the co-worker bought them even though he thought they were hot.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I'd decline the $50 credit assuming they paid for shipping back.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm sure you would have a different opinion if you were on the other side, and your mistake cost you $1600. Since when does someone else's mistake entitle you (morally) to $1600 worth of their merchandise? I'm not even convinced that it legally entitles you to the merchandise. I'm pretty sure that the mail fraud statute quoted above only applies to packages delivered via USPS.

Here is all you need to know regarding the shipment of unordered items, brought to you by the FTC.

Q. Am I obligated to return or pay for merchandise I never ordered?

A. No. If you receive merchandise that you didn?t order, you have a legal right to keep it as a free gift.

Yes, if you're a choirboy like Mugs, you can certainly tell the retailer to pick up the unordered merchandise on their dime, but you're not required by law to.

Let's repeat that one more time for the after-lunch-crowd: in the eyes of the law, you have committed no crime by receiving and keeping unordered merchandise.

And to answer your question Mugs, if I was on the other side of the mistake, I will have learned an very important (and expensive) lesson that would likely make me change the way process orders. $1600? So what, you live and you learn. And I'm sure Newegg will make some changes regarding this mistake.

 

[imported_Imp]

How much do these things retail for individually?

For returning, I'm assuming, well over a couple hundred with no real obligation and only getting $50 seems like a spit in the face. "Morally" I'd return it, but the "reward" (even for just doing the right thing) seems a bit cheap.

Edit: Found link in thread. $400 a piece and you get $50 for giving them $1600 back... ok.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Since when did someone else's mistake turn into you being a thief? In the eyes of the law, you are not guilty of a single crime. That's all that matters.

Nice rationalization there :roll:.

You have a problem with people who live their lives by the letter of the law?

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
You have a problem with people who live their lives by the letter of the law?

I bet you were rooting for the DC judge that tried to sue the dry cleaners for millions for not honoring the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign in the window .

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: jpeyton
You have a problem with people who live their lives by the letter of the law?

I bet you were rooting for the DC judge that tried to sue the dry cleaners for millions for not honoring the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign in the window .

Actually I was rooting against him, and the law came down on my side in that case too.

 

[Pabster]

I'm frankly disgusted with the replies urging people to keep them. No big deal, right? What's $1600 to a company the size of Newegg...right?

I've added several to my DNT lists from this thread alone. Perhaps it is good to have discussions like this from time to time - it vents the rats out of the woodwork.

 

[Pantoot]

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm pretty sure that the mail fraud statute quoted above only applies to packages delivered via USPS.

The Supreme Court would disagree with you:

The court also observed that before 1994, when the reach of the mail fraud statute was limited to use of the United States Postal Service, the statute made no distinction between intrastate and interstate mailings. Id. at 25a. Because "Congress elected to use virtually identical language as that dealing with the use of the United States mail" when it broadened the statute to encompass private or commercial interstate carriers, id. at 26a, the court found it "obvious that Congress intended to prohibit the use of private and commercial interstate carriers to further fraudulent activity in the same way such use of the United States mail had long been prohibited," id. at 27a.

[Edit:]Once again, despite the law, it is morally and ethically no different than walking into a store and taking something or using a stolen credit card to order something online.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Pabster
I've added several to my DNT lists from this thread alone.

Oh noooooooess, not that!

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm sure you would have a different opinion if you were on the other side, and your mistake cost you $1600. Since when does someone else's mistake entitle you (morally) to $1600 worth of their merchandise? I'm not even convinced that it legally entitles you to the merchandise. I'm pretty sure that the mail fraud statute quoted above only applies to packages delivered via USPS.

Here is all you need to know regarding the shipment of unordered items, brought to you by the FTC.

Q. Am I obligated to return or pay for merchandise I never ordered?

A. No. If you receive merchandise that you didn?t order, you have a legal right to keep it as a free gift.

Yes, if you're a choirboy like Mugs, you can certainly tell the retailer to pick up the unordered merchandise on their dime, but you're not required by law to.

Let's repeat that one more time for the after-lunch-crowd: in the eyes of the law, you have committed no crime by receiving and keeping unordered merchandise.

And to answer your question Mugs, if I was on the other side of the mistake, I will have learned an very important (and expensive) lesson that would likely make me change the way process orders. $1600? So what, you live and you learn. And I'm sure Newegg will make some changes regarding this mistake.

From that same link:

Q. What should I do if the unordered merchandise I received was the result of an honest shipping error?

A. Write the seller and offer to return the merchandise, provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time (say 30 days) to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Tell the seller that you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or dispose of it after the specified time has passed.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Pantoot
[Edit:]Once again, despite the law, it is morally and ethically no different than walking into a store and taking something or using a stolen credit card to order something online.

There are a few key differences.

You're never physically on their property.

You never physically committed theft.

You never used a stolen credit card.

But yes, besides those differences, your assessment is 100% spot on!

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: allisolm
From that same link:

Q. What should I do if the unordered merchandise I received was the result of an honest shipping error?

A. Write the seller and offer to return the merchandise, provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give the seller a specific and reasonable amount of time (say 30 days) to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Tell the seller that you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or dispose of it after the specified time has passed.

It never says you are legally required to do any of that.

It does say you "you have a legal right to keep it as a free gift."

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Pantoot

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm pretty sure that the mail fraud statute quoted above only applies to packages delivered via USPS.

The Supreme Court would disagree with you:

The court also observed that before 1994, when the reach of the mail fraud statute was limited to use of the United States Postal Service, the statute made no distinction between intrastate and interstate mailings. Id. at 25a. Because "Congress elected to use virtually identical language as that dealing with the use of the United States mail" when it broadened the statute to encompass private or commercial interstate carriers, id. at 26a, the court found it "obvious that Congress intended to prohibit the use of private and commercial interstate carriers to further fraudulent activity in the same way such use of the United States mail had long been prohibited," id. at 27a.

[Edit:]Once again, despite the law, it is morally and ethically no different than walking into a store and taking something or using a stolen credit card to order something online.

I stand corrected. But I USED to be right (before 1994).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Since when did someone else's mistake turn into you being a thief? In the eyes of the law, you are not guilty of a single crime. That's all that matters.

Nice rationalization there :roll:.

You have a problem with people who live their lives by the letter of the law?

I HIGHLY doubt you live your life by the letter of the law in all circumstances. In this circumstance it happens to be convenient for you. But I'm sure you know as well as anyone that this situation is not what the law intended to prevent. Unfortunately there is no way for the law to adequately distinguish between a legitimate shipping mistake and a scam. If you understand the spirit of the law, that's where your morals kick in and you do the right thing. There is no moral ambiguity here - you simply lack morals.

 

[Tylanner]

I love Newegg, but I would NEVER go out of my way to appease a hugley profitable company....

I'd rather see them go out of business than to have to waste a single second of my life trying to fix their mistake.

You are all sheep!

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Tylanner
I love Newegg, but I would NEVER go out of my way to appease a hugley profitable company....

I'd rather see them go out of business than to have to waste a single second of my life trying to fix their mistake.

You are all sheep!

You better edit this quick before Pabster adds you to his DNT list! Then you won't be able to buy overpriced used merchandise from FS/FT!