What would you do? (Ethical question)

[ThirstyMonkey]

Isn't it funny that morality and legality are on opposite sides of the line in the sand? lol

I'm a lawyer, and while I completely get where you're coming from with your observation. I don;t think the law in this regard is on the opposite end of morality. It's true that in most jurisdictions that you're under no obligation to pay for an unsolicited product mailed to you. The reason for this, however, is because there have been unethical merchants who would send items and attempt to bill the recipient. The law developed to protect the recipient in these instances. Obviously, this is not what MF was doing in this case.

In any event, as has been universally noted, the right thing is to contact the merchant and make arrangements for the return of the product.

 

[CraigTB]

Its funny. Im not saying this about you, but a lot of older people tend to think one of the negative traits of our younger generations is a sense of entitlement. I think youve defined 'sense of entitlement' pretty well there.

in case you missed it, I was quoting someone who justified screwing MF because "look around, we're all on the bottom of the totem pole in this country".

My point was that maybe I'd feel more like screwing MF if I felt like I was getting screwed 24/7 by big corporations. But I don't.

Or maybe to put too fine a point on it - I can announce that stealing bread is wrong and how I wouldn't steal any bread. But I'm kidding myself if I pretend that all doesn't depend on the fact that I already have access to enough food.

 

[chuck norriss]

Or, go DOUBLE evil! Return one for a refund >

WIN

 

[asands]

It's amazing so many people on this particular thread have had an instance of double shipping from a retailer. It seems a lot of folks have had the opportunity to test their moral compass in similar situations.

 

[troy mcclure]

If I were you I would return...if you were me you would ebay it.

 

[MatticusMania]

in case you missed it, I was quoting someone who justified screwing MF because "look around, we're all on the bottom of the totem pole in this country".

My point was that maybe I'd feel more like screwing MF if I felt like I was getting screwed 24/7 by big corporations. But I don't.

Or maybe to put too fine a point on it - I can announce that stealing bread is wrong and how I wouldn't steal any bread. But I'm kidding myself if I pretend that all doesn't depend on the fact that I already have access to enough food.

Like I said in the post quoted... it wasnt directed at you.
Just because one cannot afford food, however, does not entitle one to pilfering. I can see, and understand, the reason why one would, though.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

If one has already made the decision to be honest in his dealings, he doesn't have to re-make that decision every time a question of ethics arises.

 

[David Jayne]

If MF emailed OP and asked for it back, I'd say give it back, but if they don't even have the organizational skills to realize its missing, poo poo on them.

Still wrong.

*snipped




This is fine IMO, you told them their mistake, they didn't believe you. Fine, moneys yours.


....sweet.

Wrong again. He should have torn up the check.

 

[onosson]

That may be a natural balance of the universe, but its not Karma.

I was pretty amazed at the quantity of Hindus we have on TalkBass!

 

[cracked_machine]

I would chuckle at the irony of the companies name...

But if you're going to do something unethical/illegal, the first mistake is to tell someone else about it!

 

[onosson]

Like I said in the post quoted... it wasnt directed at you.
Just because one cannot afford food, however, does not entitle one to pilfering. I can see, and understand, the reason why one would, though.

To be fair, I think food is in an entirely different category than bass amps when it comes to this - a very small and exclusive category.

 

[MatticusMania]

To be fair, I think food is in an entirely different category than bass amps when it comes to this - a very small and exclusive category.

Well, we all need to eat to survive, and Id not raise an issue over a beggar stealing a loaf of bread. In fact, if I saw someone stealing a loaf of bread Id probably offer to pay for it, and buy them some peanut butter and jelly as well. And then Id suggest to the manager of the store that perhaps something can be worked out where the beggar can do a few odds and ends in exchange for some goods.

Certainly stealing out of necessity is more ethical, in a sense, than stealing because one can get away with it. But, as the adage goes, give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

 

[JimmyM]

If one has already made the decision to be honest in his dealings, he doesn't have to re-make that decision every time a question of ethics arises.

Blammo! For the win!

 

[mowburger]

Still wrong.

Wrong again. He should have torn up the check.

+1


Your right, I imagined the money going into my account twice. And I couldn't do that. At that point cashing the check is wrong.

...What if it was cash tho.....hmmmmmmm......burn it?

 

[GregC]

Also: I've noticed that every single argument to send it back is based on superstition and fairytales, so keep in mind when reading my response, I gave that all up when my mommy told me Santa wasn't real

Right and wrong = fairy tale? I don't think so.

Why? So you can single out people with different moral opinions than yourself?

Refusing to deal with someone isn't the same thing as singling them out. And when that "moral opinion" is that it's perfectly OK to keep things that don't belong to you, well, I'd be stupid to take the risk of doing business with that person short of using an airtight contract.

 

[onosson]

Well, we all need to eat to survive, and Id not raise an issue over a beggar stealing a loaf of bread. In fact, if I saw someone stealing a loaf of bread Id probably offer to pay for it, and buy them some peanut butter and jelly as well. And then Id suggest to the manager of the store that perhaps something can be worked out where the beggar can do a few odds and ends in exchange for some goods.

I'm just laughing imagining this with bass gear replacing food ... You see someone stealing a PF500, maybe you pay for it, throw in a couple packs of strings and a strap too? Talk to the manager and see if he can teach some bass lessons in exchange...

Edit: I know you didn't mean it that way at all, the image just popped into my head and I had to laugh!

 

[onosson]

If one has already made the decision to be honest in his dealings, he doesn't have to re-make that decision every time a question of ethics arises.

But everyone has their price ... perhaps the OP's price is a PF500!

 

[MatticusMania]

I'm just laughing imagining this with bass gear replacing food ... You see someone stealing a PF500, maybe you pay for it, throw in a couple packs of strings and a strap too? Talk to the manager and see if he can teach some bass lessons in exchange...

Edit: I know you didn't mean it that way at all, the image just popped into my head and I had to laugh!

It is actually quite the funny thought when put that way.

 

[onosson]

One of the few things I feel no guilt about appropriating in this way, without paying for it first, is leftover parking meter time.

 

[MatticusMania]

One of the few things I feel no guilt about appropriating in this way, without paying for it first, is leftover parking meter time.

Well thats because no one should ever have to pay to park along a curb. Thats just unconscious knowledge!