An Ethical Dilema! Is Honesty the best policy?

[widgitmaster]

I have receintly ordered some expensive equipment from an online tool vendor, and with much supprise I found they had sent me two identical items valued at over $175 each!

So I checked the packing slip, my online orderform, and my credit card to see if they double charged me! Well, they did not, and its been over 48 hours sense the transaction took place!

Here is the dilema, several months ago they did the same thing with a different order with values under $100! When I realized it was their mistake, I dialed the 800 number and proceeded on a two hour hold & transfer phone shuffel!
After fianally speaking with someone reasonably intelligent, they agreed it was their mistake and issued a UPS pickup. Well I asked them why my honesty had no value, and they said that they would give me a credit on the shipping of that order, a mere $10 value!

Well as anyone can see, two hours of doing nothing but dealing with morons on the phone is not very productive, and a credit of $10 was insulting to say the least!

So I'm reluctant to report this oversight error of theirs again!

What would you do?

[Rekd]

Reminds me of the time I was at the gun show buying cases of ammo, and the girl behind the counter, that repeatedly kept taking other people's orders before mine who showed up well after me, gave me a couple extra cases of .45's and 9mm on accident. Being the ethical person I am, I told my wife to grab the stuff and walk out quickly and quietly, refusing the offer of the use of a hand truck to cart the stuff out to the car.

[posix]

So what did you expect, a $100 credit for returning a $100 item? You either keep the "offending" item and have your "credit" or be a "good person" - in a biblical sense - and return the item without expecting any credit for it whatsoever. A UPS pickup is good enough for me.

And if the item in question is of use to you - make use of it, otherwise give it to someone who might have some use for it but can't afford it.

Either way, their company insurance covers it so don't you worry about it.


P.S. you're meant to be asking your spouse for advice on thise one, not some people thousands of miles away who you'll never meet anyway! just some friendly advice for you.

[biomed_eng]

Keep it! They made their mistake once with you already. They must have huge errors with everybody if this happened to you twice already. You did the right thing the first time, if they keep on sending you stuff that you did not order, you will eventually become their shipping QC department.

You should not be placed under ethical scrutiny because of their continuous incompetence.

Besides, it's probably not even worth their phone service rep and stock boy's time to restock the item that they bought for $40.

.

[Geof]

This is an interesting legal situation and I believe if you check into it it you will find the following: If I ship something to you that you have not ordered you are under no legal obligation to do anything. Furthermore anything that is addressed correctly to you becomes your property once it has been delivered.

But you have phrased the question as; "An Ethical Dilema! Is Honesty the best policy?". There is no dilemma; honesty is the best policy...always. (Well maybe when you spend more than you should on tooling concealing it from SWMBO might be considered a grey area and squeek through but I don't recommend it )

Do you really need to ask? Look at the quality you put into your products and the prices you charge. Is this the behaviour of an unethical person? And regarding the 'insulting' credit on a previous occasion...are you implying that honesty is something that should be bought?

[widgitmaster]

Actually I'm not married, that's how I can afford $175 toys!

[ViperTX]

Honesty is always the best policy, it should be part of whom you are and shouldn't be a dilema.

Send an email or snail mail notifying them of the mistake this will be 'due diligence' on your part.

[mrservo]

I can't see any delima here? You received an item of substantial value
that you did not pay for. To be honest, best to just send them a quick
email or call/letter and let them know. Just don't spend hours on the phone
or waste your time.

"Well I asked them why my honesty had no value, and they said that they would give me a credit on the shipping of that order, a mere $10 value"

I don't know what to say to this, other than i would neither expect nor
ask for any kind of reward for informing them of their mistake. Being honest
should not be conditional on some monetary kickback. Just my opinion.

[Godflesh]

Asking the question on this forum implies to me you would like to return it, and your stating the previous experience tells me you would like the community to validate that the company should be better about these situations.

Return it.
The company should be better about these things.

Unsolicited Merchandise:
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/merch.htm

But--I am not sure incorrect order fullfilment falls under this law. If I recall you might be required to return the extra item if they request it, at thier expense.

[InspirationTool]

This one is pretty clear cut for me.

You should make an effort, albeit small, to let them pick the package up. 2 hours on the phone is a large effort and should not be done. You should not expect payment.

Send them a short e-mail... "you sent me two, I've taped the package back up, please send UPS to pick it up. If it is not picked up in 15 days, I will assume I can keep it."

Or spend 5 minutes on the phone. Press 0 for the operator.

My $.02.

-Jeff

[widgitmaster]

I have called them, and they didn't know anything about it!
They have issued a UPS pickup!

[widgitmaster]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool This one is pretty clear cut for me. You should make an effort, albeit small, to let them pick the package up. 2 hours on the phone is a large effort and should not be done. You should not expect payment. Send them a short e-mail... "you sent me two, I've taped the package back up, please send UPS to pick it up. If it is not picked up in 15 days, I will assume I can keep it." Or spend 5 minutes on the phone. Press 0 for the operator. My $.02. -Jeff

Jeff,
I have mentioned the UPS pickup to the Pack-N-Ship guy three times!
Keep the 3/8" lead screw, it's not worth the aggrivation!
Eric