give me yr opinion on ethical problem

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 12:57 PM

So, on Mar. 6 I ordered a book from Amazon Marketplace (you know, the individual sellers through Amazon, not Amazon itself). By the end of March, it still hadn't come, so I emailed the seller, who responded, Oh, I sent it out 2 weeks ago. Hmm. After another week or two, the expected delivery date expired, I emailed the seller--no response. So I asked, and received, a refund from Amazon.

We're talking a whole $5.88 here, folks.

After I received the refund, I got the book. Postmarked 2 days AFTER the refund was processed.

So do I refund the refund? Send the book back? Am I obligated to, since the Seller actually mailed the book after he paid me back my money?

Spexxvet · 04-27-2007, 01:01 PM

Either the money or the book does not belong to you.

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 01:06 PM

Well, I tend to agree, and I haven't opened the book yet.

On the other hand, the Seller 1) lied to me; and 2) sent me the book on his own, knowing he had already forfeited the price.

Pie · 04-27-2007, 01:11 PM

I had a reseller send me the wrong product. When I called him on it, he sent me the right one, and asked me to keep the wrong one. It would cost him more to process the return (also a ~$5 product).

Try calling up the seller and asking him what he'd prefer. He may want you to keep the item as a token of good will and possible future business.

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 01:12 PM

ooh, cute pennies!

BigV · 04-27-2007, 01:30 PM

SonofV lost his wallet. School id, his allowance (t'weren't much, but it was all his money), a couple of pictures and cards etc. Last seen at the grocery store a mile from the house and a mile from the school.

Crap.

Two days later, he was summoned to the office at school. Here's your wallet, son. With the pictures, id, cards *and* money.

Obligation is such a strong word. What do you think you *should* do?

Why haven't you done it yet?

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 01:33 PM

I think I should refund the refund.

It feels right, but it feels wrong, too, since I was lied to.

Perry Winkle · 04-27-2007, 01:47 PM

I'd say the seller is either incompetent or a fraud. I would keep the refund and keep the book. Let Amazon clean its own house. They are the ones who need to deal with this behavior and get their $5.88 back from the seller.

Either way the seller needs to learn a lesson. If he isn't penalized then you're doing a wrong by making things "right." And if he gets double penalized, well, that's his fault. Fucking-up is bad for a reason.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-27-2007, 02:12 PM

I'm with grant in that the seller screwed up and had a chance to make amends when you contacted them. But they still ignored you until you got a refund from Amazon then they sent the book knowing what happened, with no apology or apparent remorse for your inconvenience.
Keep both.

SteveDallas · 04-27-2007, 02:54 PM

I wouldn't bother returning either the payment or the book under these circumstances.

Clodfobble · 04-27-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Let Amazon clean its own house. They are the ones who need to deal with this behavior and get their $5.88 back from the seller.

I personally suspect that the whole reason the book was sent after all is because Amazon already brought a beatdown on the seller. Amazon's reputation as an honest business is worth far more than $5.88, and no doubt this bookseller's relationship with Amazon is worth more to them than the book too.

BigV · 04-27-2007, 05:16 PM

Hmmm..

Forget Amazon and this other faceless bookseller for a minute. Naturally, being the self centered person that I am, I ask myself if I should keep both the book and the money. For me. I'd know. I may keep both, if I felt that it was fair to do so. The standard to which I hold Amazon, some stranger and myself may vary or overlap, but I can only affect my own behavior. And I cannot escape the consequences of that behavior (although in this case they do seem minor, either way).

To thine own self, be true.

That sounds pretty smart to me.

Aliantha · 04-27-2007, 11:44 PM

If Amazon gave you the refund after before the guy sent the book, then he probably IS a fraud in which case you should probably let Amazon know what's happened and see what they say.

I would send the cheque back to Amazon if I were in your place.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-28-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

To thine own self, be true.

You'll never make the cut as a minion.

Beestie · 04-28-2007, 05:48 PM

Damnit. Note to self. Can't count on BigV to help out with my plan for world domination. [/Plankton]

04-27-2007, 12:57 PM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	give me yr opinion on ethical problem So, on Mar. 6 I ordered a book from Amazon Marketplace (you know, the individual sellers through Amazon, not Amazon itself). By the end of March, it still hadn't come, so I emailed the seller, who responded, Oh, I sent it out 2 weeks ago. Hmm. After another week or two, the expected delivery date expired, I emailed the seller--no response. So I asked, and received, a refund from Amazon. We're talking a whole $5.88 here, folks. After I received the refund, I got the book. Postmarked 2 days AFTER the refund was processed. So do I refund the refund? Send the book back? Am I obligated to, since the Seller actually mailed the book after he paid me back my money? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 01:01 PM	#2
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Either the money or the book does not belong to you. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

04-27-2007, 01:06 PM	#3
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Well, I tend to agree, and I haven't opened the book yet. On the other hand, the Seller 1) lied to me; and 2) sent me the book on his own, knowing he had already forfeited the price. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 01:11 PM	#4
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	I had a reseller send me the wrong product. When I called him on it, he sent me the right one, and asked me to keep the wrong one. It would cost him more to process the return (also a ~$5 product). Try calling up the seller and asking him what he'd prefer. He may want you to keep the item as a token of good will and possible future business. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

04-27-2007, 01:12 PM	#5
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	ooh, cute pennies! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 01:30 PM	#6
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	SonofV lost his wallet. School id, his allowance (t'weren't much, but it was all his money), a couple of pictures and cards etc. Last seen at the grocery store a mile from the house and a mile from the school. Crap. Two days later, he was summoned to the office at school. Here's your wallet, son. With the pictures, id, cards and money. Obligation is such a strong word. What do you think you should do? Why haven't you done it yet? __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

04-27-2007, 01:33 PM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I think I should refund the refund. It feels right, but it feels wrong, too, since I was lied to. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 01:47 PM	#8
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	I'd say the seller is either incompetent or a fraud. I would keep the refund and keep the book. Let Amazon clean its own house. They are the ones who need to deal with this behavior and get their $5.88 back from the seller. Either way the seller needs to learn a lesson. If he isn't penalized then you're doing a wrong by making things "right." And if he gets double penalized, well, that's his fault. Fucking-up is bad for a reason.

04-27-2007, 02:12 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I'm with grant in that the seller screwed up and had a chance to make amends when you contacted them. But they still ignored you until you got a refund from Amazon then they sent the book knowing what happened, with no apology or apparent remorse for your inconvenience. Keep both. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-27-2007, 02:54 PM	#10
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I wouldn't bother returning either the payment or the book under these circumstances.

04-27-2007, 05:16 PM	#12
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Hmmm.. Forget Amazon and this other faceless bookseller for a minute. Naturally, being the self centered person that I am, I ask myself if I should keep both the book and the money. For me. I'd know. I may keep both, if I felt that it was fair to do so. The standard to which I hold Amazon, some stranger and myself may vary or overlap, but I can only affect my own behavior. And I cannot escape the consequences of that behavior (although in this case they do seem minor, either way). To thine own self, be true. That sounds pretty smart to me. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

04-27-2007, 11:44 PM	#13
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	If Amazon gave you the refund after before the guy sent the book, then he probably IS a fraud in which case you should probably let Amazon know what's happened and see what they say. I would send the cheque back to Amazon if I were in your place. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

04-28-2007, 05:48 PM	#15
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Damnit. Note to self. Can't count on BigV to help out with my plan for world domination. [/Plankton] __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

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