Meijers in BLOINGBROOK, IL made a big boo boo

[cnorman18]

Nobody said anything about "going to jail". "Legal" and "ethical" are not synonyms. We were never talking about a violation of the law here--just personal moral standards, and calling a spade a spade.

"to me he was wrong not to tell the clerk that he knew the price was wrong. That's different than asking if the price is correct. He also was wrong to load up. But it's a little wrong, not a big one. Calling it theft makes it harder to label real theft."

"...a little wrong, not a big one." Precisely my point. It wasn't grand larceny, but that's not the same as saying, as some are attempting to do, that it was perfectly OK.

I think the term "theft" was used as shorthand because "getting something at an unfair price, though legally, because of an error on the part of the seller" is a bit clumsy--and "legal theft" has pretty much become the province of government.

 

[Wild Deuce]

a Jihadi slaughtering people at the mall would definitely be in violation of the absolute belief that all innocent human life is worth defending.

But that's a DIFFERENT absolute than the one I posited, ISN'T it? I didn't posit an absolute belief that all innocent human life is worth defending, DID I? I posted either a belief that VIOLENCE is always WRONG, or always RIGHT. If you have to change the premise of the argument, you conceded the other person's point.

I made my argument and I think it stands well as is. Your argument is a straw man argument because you are creating and defining something (an either/or view of violence) that was never stated. We weren't even discussing violence. No one here ever said that all violence is either always wrong or always right. I certainly never said at any point that someone that believes in absolutes will always decide one way in every situation. That would be silly.

I think you missed my point. Our exchange was about Situation Ethics and Relativism. The premise of these two is that the Individual is the final arbiter of what is right and what is wrong with little or no regard to Higher Moral Authority. That is why an individual can feel justified in taking advantage of a situation that he knows to be incorrect at another's expense.

The person that believes in Absolutes uses an external measure of what is right and wrong that is wholly independent of the present situation. That is why the police officer or civilian can find the justification to pull the trigger and take a human life ... or a German civilian in WWII the justification to lie and thereby save innocent Jews hiding in the attic ...

If you wish to view my response as a concession, please do so but also consider this:

If you have to change the premise of the argument, you conceded the other person's point.

What if the premise of your argument is wrong? I too could make a dozen incorrect assertions and challenge you to dispute them. I could then view it as a concession if you try to correct the fallacies. I was only pointing at the straw man you set up.

 

[KelVarnson]

Ok, one more analogy. You're at a garage sale, and they have a nice antique milsurp that you know is worth $500 and they have a $25 tag on it. Do you buy it? How much do you pay?

That's a poor analogy. The person having the garage sale might have bought the gun for $25, or even $10, as it is not a "new" item. The ammo, on the other hand, was new, and the manufacturer is depending on the profit margin they make on it in order to stay in business.

 

[KelVarnson]

At this point, the buyer could have chose to expend an inordinate amount of time and energy to correct the seller's mistake, by bringing in a manager...

"An inordinate amount of time and energy"? Oh please, it would have taken a couple of minutes to get a manager over. But it sounds like the OP didn't even try. That would have messed up his plan.

 

[kurtmax]

I don't see what is wrong with the OP's situation. He informed the employee of the mistake in pricing. The employee assured him the price of 0.99USD was correct and even went so far as to pack up a pallet for him.

At this point, regardless of the real value of the item, the store has decided they are selling it to you at the low price, even after you have warned them of the real value. Why not take advantage of a good deal?

I'm pretty sure a supervisor/manager noticed a pallet of ammunition being packed up for a customer as well. So more than one person approved of the price.

I would have cleaned out the store as well.

 

[Flyboy73]

been reading this thread and shaking my head. If i had the chance i would have bought it too at the price.

But come on calling him a thief. He did question about the price. Stores fault.

Did anyone consider maybe the Store was clearing the ammo out.

Like when walmart was chargeing $5 for 9mm. No said he was stealing.

If you don;t think its right thats your opinion. But calling him a thief IMO crosses the line.

Brion

 

[jamz]

You silly people.


Let's go through an exercise. You go into a big box store buy a $10.00 box of ammo, and it rings up as $1.00. Let's look at the potential steps:

1. You ask the cashier "Are you sure that is the price?"

2. You tell the cashier "I don't think that price is correct, it should be $10.00"

3. You ask for the manager on duty, and tell him that the price should be $10.00

4. Maybe you ask for the overall store manager and tell them that the price should be $10.00.

5. You may be unable to convince anybody of the price, and they may insist on whatever the computer rings up. You may be forced to leave without buying it at all.


Some people would pay the $1.00 before step 1, and some people would walk out of the store after chasing down the owners and trying to tell them that you should be paying more. Interestingly enough, wherever you chose to give up finally and pay the $1.00, or leave without it, those who give up faster are "thieves" and those who give up later or never are "moral absolutists".

 

[punchdrunk]

Doc, I had the same thing happen to me only it was two cans of baked beans. So yeah, we're about even on that sort of thing.

read with homer voice

Ummm Baked beans

 

[Misfire99]

Everybody that thinks this is a good thing is a low life thief. And I'm talking about you gaudio5. You did rip off the store. You use the ignorance of a young woman to justify your actions. I find you discusting.

 

[gaudio5]

i find you jelous misfire99 i also find you to be annoing thank god theres a block button

 

[Blackbeard]

1. You ask the cashier "Are you sure that is the price?"

2. You tell the cashier "I don't think that price is correct, it should be $10.00"

3. You ask for the manager on duty, and tell him that the price should be $10.00

4. Maybe you ask for the overall store manager and tell them that the price should be $10.00.

5. You may be unable to convince anybody of the price, and they may insist on whatever the computer rings up. You may be forced to leave without buying it at all.

There's also the sliding scale in the other direction, e.g.

0. You don't say anything and take your boxes for $.99

-1. You buy everything they have at that price

-2. You drive to other stores in the chain, hoping to clean them out too.

Like I said in an earlier post, somewhere between -2 and +5 is the ethical grey area.

 

[CDignition]

Lots of jealous folks in this thread... I can guarantee you they all would have done the same thing, if they were presented with a similar event. IF they tell you they wouldn't, they aren't being truthful..

 

[gaudio5]

cd i know im kinda getting a kick out of the jelousy

 

[Jdude]

I think I am going to go against the majority here. If a store posts a price on an item, and I agree with that price, I'll purchase said item. If that turns into a spectacular deal for me, I am happy.
By posting said price, even if in error, they have agreed to the sale at that value. On the other side, If I purchase an item and after the fact find it to cost more than I thought, even though said price was clearly labeled, I already agreed to that deal and the error is mine. I would eat said error.

Otoh, if the cashier gave me too much change in return I would return it. That is not part of the agreed upon deal and I feel that it is wrong.

In summary: By posting a price, in error or not, they have set what they expect on their end of a deal. If I accept their deal then I do not believe it is wrong.
Keeping incorrect change from our sample blind guy or wal-mart employee was not part of the agreed upon deal and is thusly wrong.

In my humble opinion.

 

[Master Blaster]

Remington Golden Bullets? I wouldn't give you .99 for them.

 

[mnrivrat]

Integrity: state of being complete or whole; uprightness; virtue; honesty; soundness ; unimpaired or unbrken state of anything

This thread has given me a look at THR that I hadn't seen before .

 

[NeoSpud]

Lots of jealous folks in this thread... I can guarantee you they all would have done the same thing, if they were presented with a similar event. IF they tell you they wouldn't, they aren't being truthful..

Sounds like you're projecting.

I've been in similar situations, and I didn't compromise my integrity by permitting it to be overcome by greed.

I do not claim to be more morally correct than others, and I do not pretend to be immune to temptation, but I am disappointed to see THRers celebrating a lapse of judgment.

For the sake of argument, though, let's entertain the possibility that I would've fallen at the deal that the OP was given. Let's pretend that, given the proper scenario, ALL of us would've failed to stop the clerk. Would it logically follow that we'd be happy at our deal? I know that I would regret it, feeling ashamed of my action; I can guarantee you that celebrating on THR would not follow.

I cannot claim that the majority of THRers would feel ashamed as I would, though I surely hope so. Despite your confidence that we would all fall for this deal, it does not follow that we are therefore jealous of it. Perhaps in the heat of the moment we'd let ourselves down, but we wouldn't feel too great about it afterwards.

 

[jerkface11]

So I take it some of you would send back a tax refund that was too big? Or if the gas pump decided you only had to pay $2 a gallon you'd demand to pay $3 like the sign says? He asked the sales girl if $.99 was the right price SHE SAID YES the computer agreed. At no time did management step up and say that something was wrong. There is no way the manager didn't notice someone buying a pallet of ammo. But if he didn't he shouldn't be there. Gaudio5 took advantage of their mistake but he did not steal and didn't do anything wrong.

 

[2RCO]

Gaudio5

So I guess integrity=jealousy.

Methinks maybe you feel a wee bit guilty otherwise you wouldn't have asked for the forum to be closed.

Would you have made this same purchase if it had been at a store owned by a friend or family member?

I'm not calling you a thief--I don't think what you did was stealing per se. It was a bit unethical.

I'm sure Meijer has screwed people in the past --But does this make it right?

jerkface11 --Although on principal I believe the tax argument is a bit different in that we all know the IRS is screwing us. I would return the money on too large a refund --They'll get it back plus penalties and interest and screw you more-- oh yeah and they'll wait 5 years so it really adds up and they can really screw you!

 

[NeoSpud]

So I take it some of you would send back a tax refund that was too big?

I'm not really sure how you'd know it was too big. Here's a more relevant example: a few years ago my neighbors paid me to water their plants while they were away for a week, and left my payment in an envelope by the door. I picked up the envelope only to find that they had paid me $20 more than we had previously agreed.

I returned the $20.

Once when I was in the 5th grade, I bought two candy bars at a concessions stand but was given incorrect change, as if I had only bought one. I didn't say anything about it, and afterwards felt ashamed for my inaction. The temptation way back then was too great, and I succumbed. However, I did feel ashamed, not because of the (insignificant) dollar value but because I had compromised my integrity.

Or if the gas pump decided you only had to pay $2 a gallon you'd demand to pay $3 like the sign says?

If I was in a hurry, probably not. But I wouldn't feel too great about it. If I wasn't in a rush, I'd check to see whether the pump was incorrect or that the sign was incorrect.

At no time did management step up and say that something was wrong.

I don't rely on an artificial authority for my moral compass.

There is no way the manager didn't notice someone buying a pallet of ammo. But if he didn't he shouldn't be there.

If the manager and the sales clerk both failed to notice, then that is regrettable. But Gaudio did notice, and continued to make the purchase knowing fully that he wasn't paying correctly. Furthermore, afterwards he doesn't seem to feel any remorse for it. That is truly disappointing.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

This is wrong, pure and simple. It is soooo wrong, it's deplorable.......







...........that it never happens here.

 

[gaudio5]

2rco.....read before you speak. i asked for it to be closed i dont feel guilty at all let me play this out for you ONE MORE TIME.

rings it up at .99 cents i ask if its right she says yes and then SHOWS ME THE SCANNER that says *rem gb 525pk .99* i say *wow thats a hell of a deal its normaly alot more, How much do you have in stock, OH **** boxes? ill take them all. HER....*let me get a manager to see if there is anymore in the back*......ME......*good deal*.........MANAGER.....*We have *** more boxes in the back do you want it?......ME....* yes i do*.........MANAGER.........*might be easier to put it all on a pallet we can load in your truck*.........ME....*well thank you very much*

BTW i tiped the 2 kids loading it for me $60 between the both of them i didnt need this deal, it fell in my lap

 

[KelVarnson]

So just NOW it's coming out that you got a manager involved? How come you didn't share that little detail sooner? That makes a big difference, IMHO.

 

[dogtown tom]

Wow! 97 posts before the manager shows up.

Unbelieveable.

 

[gaudio5]

cause it makes no diffrence at all i got a deal plain and simple its people on this fourm that think its so unholy of me to do so, quit being whiny people get on with your life the world isnt perfect im not depressed about this i dont feel guilty infact the only this i was upset about was the fact that my truck only got 9MPG with all that weight on it.