Ethical Question
Dec 27, 2014 6:23:26 GMT -5
Post by mtdman on Dec 27, 2014 6:23:26 GMT -5
So a couple weeks ago I ordered something for myself that I've been wanting and waiting for. The shop had a code that saved me about $125 off the regular prices, and I waited for the Christmas code to order this thing for a while.
The item I wanted was a newer version of an older product, and an upgrade over that older product. And it also cost about $100 more than the older product.
When i got it in the mail, the shop sent me the older product not the newer improved version. So I called the shop up, asked to have it replaced. I was told they would send me a shipping label, and after I sent it back to them to call themwith the tracking # and they would send the replacement item, presumably the correct item this time.
I waited 4 days, no label. In the meantime I did a little research, found out that this place was routinely shipping the old product instead of the new one because they were out of the new one and probably won't have the new one in again. In the meantime, they were advertising the new product, shipping the old product instead, presumably hoping no one would notice the difference. Never mind the fact that the new product price was $100 more than the old product.
So I again call, this time tell them I just want to return it and get my $$ back. I'm told they will email me a shipping label, and to send it back for a refund.
Wait another 2 days. I get an email from the shop, a receipt for another order of the item, this time for $0 cost and $0 shipping. 2 days after that, the 2nd item shows up. Same thing this time, older product. But no charge, no shipping. And still no label to send back the first item.
So now I've got 2 of them. One I paid for, one I did not. Basically they sent me another one after I said I wanted a return for a refund, free of charge. And I've still not gotten the return label.
So now I'm not sure what to do. I've paid for one, and the other one they sent me free. I kinda want to just wait and see how long I can go before they figure it out. I'm pretty sure they sent me a 2nd free item and they aren't going to figure it out.
Meantime, I don't need nor want 2 of these, especially since it wasn't the item I wanted anyway. But I don't want to call them again and disturb the natural process of them figuring or not figuring out they sent me a free item.
So I'm tempted to do nothing, see if they figure it out. If not, keep both of them, and sell them on ebay and make a profit. I have paid for one so I own one of them free and clear. The other one I did not ask for, but they did send it to me by accident, I think. And part of me feels like I should keep it anyway because they charged me full price of an older, cheaper version that I didn't want in the first place. They are still advertising the item as the newer version, and sending out the older version in its place. IMO that's shitty and fraudulent, and part of me feels like they deserve it if I keep the 2nd free one for falsely advertising and selling the older item as the new item.
But part of me feels guilty and that I should send the 2nd one back since I didn't pay for it and it's obviously a mistake on their part. Even though i didn't ask for it.
So what's the ethical thing to do here? Keep the 2nd one that I didn't pay for, or send it back? If I send the free one back, I'm going to send them both back to get my $$ back. If I keep them both, I'm probably going to sell both to get my $$ back. Either way, I'll get my $$ back. I'm just not sure if I should send back the free one or keep it. If I didn't ask for it, but they sent it to me, am I obligated to send it back? Is it stealing? Or how do I know they didn't send the 2nd one to me to make up for the first screw up?
The item I wanted was a newer version of an older product, and an upgrade over that older product. And it also cost about $100 more than the older product.
When i got it in the mail, the shop sent me the older product not the newer improved version. So I called the shop up, asked to have it replaced. I was told they would send me a shipping label, and after I sent it back to them to call themwith the tracking # and they would send the replacement item, presumably the correct item this time.
I waited 4 days, no label. In the meantime I did a little research, found out that this place was routinely shipping the old product instead of the new one because they were out of the new one and probably won't have the new one in again. In the meantime, they were advertising the new product, shipping the old product instead, presumably hoping no one would notice the difference. Never mind the fact that the new product price was $100 more than the old product.
So I again call, this time tell them I just want to return it and get my $$ back. I'm told they will email me a shipping label, and to send it back for a refund.
Wait another 2 days. I get an email from the shop, a receipt for another order of the item, this time for $0 cost and $0 shipping. 2 days after that, the 2nd item shows up. Same thing this time, older product. But no charge, no shipping. And still no label to send back the first item.
So now I've got 2 of them. One I paid for, one I did not. Basically they sent me another one after I said I wanted a return for a refund, free of charge. And I've still not gotten the return label.
So now I'm not sure what to do. I've paid for one, and the other one they sent me free. I kinda want to just wait and see how long I can go before they figure it out. I'm pretty sure they sent me a 2nd free item and they aren't going to figure it out.
Meantime, I don't need nor want 2 of these, especially since it wasn't the item I wanted anyway. But I don't want to call them again and disturb the natural process of them figuring or not figuring out they sent me a free item.
So I'm tempted to do nothing, see if they figure it out. If not, keep both of them, and sell them on ebay and make a profit. I have paid for one so I own one of them free and clear. The other one I did not ask for, but they did send it to me by accident, I think. And part of me feels like I should keep it anyway because they charged me full price of an older, cheaper version that I didn't want in the first place. They are still advertising the item as the newer version, and sending out the older version in its place. IMO that's shitty and fraudulent, and part of me feels like they deserve it if I keep the 2nd free one for falsely advertising and selling the older item as the new item.
But part of me feels guilty and that I should send the 2nd one back since I didn't pay for it and it's obviously a mistake on their part. Even though i didn't ask for it.
So what's the ethical thing to do here? Keep the 2nd one that I didn't pay for, or send it back? If I send the free one back, I'm going to send them both back to get my $$ back. If I keep them both, I'm probably going to sell both to get my $$ back. Either way, I'll get my $$ back. I'm just not sure if I should send back the free one or keep it. If I didn't ask for it, but they sent it to me, am I obligated to send it back? Is it stealing? Or how do I know they didn't send the 2nd one to me to make up for the first screw up?