Ethical dilemma

[Homer]

I was shopping at the local Gander Mtn. tonight and found a two piece G. Loomis WJR 741 walleye rod with a $118 price tag. Recognizing a bargain (they list for $209), I snatched it. Looking at my receipt now, the rod scanned as 5' 4 GL2 spinning rod. Either it was accidentally mis-labeled at the store, or an unscruplous employee was setting himself up for quite a bargain.

Knowing now that the rod was mis-marked, and not an unbelievable sale, do I: 1) Return it and point out their error, or 2) Keep it and celebrate my good fortune. Suggestions?

[800proX]

take it back, tell some newbie employee the 2 piece and say "look it was broken" and he will find a matching one for over 200 and give you the $$$$.

JUST KIDDING - that is a hard one to call, but just the fact that you ar considering it shows your worth. whatever call you make i am sure it will be the right one.

jeff

[Juls_WI]

Seems to me your conscience is bothering you already, if you have to ask a bunch of strangers what you should do. Take it back and show them the mistake. You'll enjoy the rod more if your conscience is clear. You just might give yourself some good Karma too, and the fishing Gods will repay you with big fish..;-)

Just my take on the situation...

Juls

[Mac]

Probably should deal with the manager in case he needs to know he has a "in store" problem. Who knows, he might reward you for your honesty, but don't be disappointed if he doesn't.

[The Terminator]

If you have kids (or imagine you did) faced with this situation, what would you tell them to do?

Tony

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

Homer,

This old saying may seem trite or out of fashion these days, but I still try to prescribe to it -- Honesty is the best policy. It helps a person get up in the morning with a clear conscience and guilt free feeling. What you do, of course, will be your decision. Your heading says it all, but if you make what you feel is the right decision it will no longer be a ethical dilemma for you. Good luck in your decision and I hope you make the right one.

Remember to keep your eyes open and your feet dry.

S.v.m

[PWaldow123]

Seems to me you have already made the right decision

[SUPERTROLLER]

I had a similar situation this winter. I found a berkley Lightning rod Roach series marked at 19.99. Brought it up to register and it didn't ring up on UPC code. They did price check and teenage employee found a second one marked wrong so they sold it for 19.99. I gave them a chance to change it but I didn't switch price tag or do anything unscrupulous so I feel okay about the whole deal. It's not your fault it was mismarked. Be happy with your bargain and let sleeping dogs lay. Who knows what kind of hornets nest you'll stir up if you go back.

[D189]

Homey:
It's been said that "Behind every principal their's a price".
Sounds like you're trying to decide what your price is.
Set it high my friend, very high.
D189

[River_eye]

First of all, a lot of stores would give you the rod for the price marked anyways, simply because it was their mistake. One rod makes no difference to them.

Second of all, if I bought it from a small shop, where somone will suffer directly, then I'd definately straighten the matter out.

Here, you are dealing with a corporation, one with no conscience, and almost no corporations are ethical. You don't owe this thing we call a corporation any moral regard.

River eye

[fishfinder]

Reminds me of the workmate who put a GL togther with a nice reel at the back counter of Gander then had it spooled up with 6ib. Back counter clerk puts a nice big tag on poll for a buck somthing for fishing line and sends him to front counter for check out. And yes you guessed it, a buck somthing for the whole works. Well a week later the perch where on a hot bite and he was on them, sets baited GL down on seat to grab another poll with fish on and yes you guessed it again, the fish gods got revenge and pulled the rod over. My advice. Take the rod back and buy 2 ST.Croix with the proceeds. That should satisfy the fish gods and if not you will still have one good rod left.

[Mike]

Leave it to River Eye to use the size of the corporation to determine morality. Now we really know where he is coming from. If is big business it's OK to screw them, but if it's small business or an individual, make sure you straighten it out. The right thing is the right thing, no matter if you are dealling with your next door neighbor or Exxon.

Homer, like other posts have said, I applaude you for listening to your consience. Gander Mounain is good people, and I am sure they will take care of you.

Mike

[vetspet(ind)]

well river eye we get back to my original dilemma which i sort of gave up on you before...you do not have a true moral standard...there is but one moral truth here...what is right or wrong...it has nothing at all to do with the company...be it large or small..it has to do with the person who knows the truth and then what response that person will do once he/she knows the truth....thats it..very simple...no personal standards nor societal standards are going to fit...only moral truth..and there is an absolute moral truth in this case...you know it but chose to rationalize breaking that golden rule by your disdain for large corporations saying none are moral...sounds like nazi germany and the jews to me...like we spoke before...doesn't this example of how your moral standards fail you click at all?...your answer tells it all....sort of like saying if i have 10 children and you have but one child which family has the greater loss if one of the children should die....your answer would indicate the family with less children....i would say each child is equally important to the world, family and self...because my moral standards are biblically based...steve

[Ness]

Most people don't realize this but take it from someone who works in retail every day, if an item is priced or scanned for a certain amount than the buyer has the right to buy that item for that amount even if it's the wrong price and lower than what it should be. Also if something has two prices on it and one's lower, you are entitled to that item for the lower price. Otherwise, if you get up to the counter and they say sorry that's the wrong price than you were being misled and that's against the law. I suggest that you call the store and point out the error in case the other rods are the same. They'll be happy to correct their mistake and will thank you for the opportunity to do so and you won't be asked to return the rod, or to pay more.
State inspectors regularly come into stores and check the scanned and listed prices for errors. Stores are allowed only so many errors in a check and then they are fined. Enjoy the rod :-)

[John N]

Juls and D189 know the score. Good fishing, John.

[Salmeye]

If you keep the rod for the price you paid, there can only be negative things that can happen. If you take the rod back, the worst that can happen is they will charge you full price, which you were going to do anyways. Plus you won't feel guilty everytime you pick up the rod. Chances are they will give you the rod for what you paid, but if they don't, your not out anything, as you had already made the decision to pay full price. Every decision in life has consequences, I don't see any good things happening out of you "getting away" with something. Take it back, you'll feel better about yourself. It is simple ethics.

[CANEYE]

Write the store manager a letter explaining the situation with a copy of the bill. He'll likely send you a feel good letter back thanking you for your honesty and tell you to keep the rod. Taggers make mistakes all the time, so do clerks who should have caught the problem. You are doing the store a favour by doing this. I would not go back to the store with a mis tagged item.

[FROGMAN]

The "Fish Gods" only smile on you if you sacrifice the rod overboard! LOL Just kidding too!

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[Juls_WI]

Hey there Keith!

I heard about your mishap at Detroit. Glad to know I'm not the only one who does that..;-) Doh!

Juls

[EAGLE EYES]

Homer, very similiar situations have happened to probably everyone here. I guess if you feel guilty about just give a to a local charity, what you feel the price difference should have been. Or just maybe it was last years model, and the store was clearing them out? Nobody wants to feel guilty inside, so giving to a charity will rid of all your guilt. ;-)

[Hans]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-18-01 AT 07:13AM (CST)[p]My principles are worth more than this "bargain".

I'd take it back, and let the store make the call.

All this business about "legal rights to lowest marked price" strikes me as whitewash to cover the underlying ethical question. My Mom taught me better. I think "The Terminator" asked the right question - "What would you tell your kid to do?"

Hans

[Cangl]

Take Caneyes advice, having worked sporting retail it was a
deliberate mark down by a less than honest employee. Store management can be notified by phone or mail confrontations are the least effective way to deal with a theif. Keep that hook baited, and management may catch may catch them. The loss is substantial but wholesale it was maybee 60% of the retail price Most loss prevention people know its worth the loss just to catch one theif. Keep the rod it's the law.

Inform store manager.

[The Great Guide]

If it were me I would take it back. End of story.

TGG

[Walleye Jason]

Most large retail stores have a policy, if its price tag is affixed, then that is the price.

If it would make you feel better. Call the store and find out what thier policy is. If they say, that the marked price is good, then your conscince should be clear.

Tell them about your bargin, see what they say?


Why didnt you ask about the rod when you bought it? Did your conscinse get the best of you after you pulled away from the store?

[Ernie]

I had something similar happen with me last summer, but was out of the store and had the Minnkota Auto Pilot mounted on the boat before I realized it - I had requested and paid for a Power Drive, but the sales guy loaded an Auto Pilot in my truck. This was a $200+ difference. I went back to the store and explained the situation. At first, the sales person was not very customer-friendly. They noticed their inventory problem the next day, but without me coming back, they would not have resolved it.
I went directly to the owner. He recognized me and that I spend quite a bit with them annually. I also did not want to ruin a relationship because they are quite helpful in a number of areas (plus they are a service center for the marine electronics). I made up the difference to their cost, about $120. I consider it an investment in an ongoing relationship. I believe I get a little better service now, plus I probably do more business with them. (The auto Pilot is also a nice feature that I use quite a bit).


This is how I was raised and this is how I am raising my children.

[WaLlEyE cRaZZZZy]

My dad has the same thing happen to him at a different store the rod had a lower price tag for $60 instead of the $120 real price well it scanned in and came up at a $120 he told them to look at the price tag they said that it was there mistake and he got the rod for the posted price of $60 most stores have the same policy if its maked with the wrong price you'll get it for the cheaper price just like if an Item goes on sale a week after you bought it you can go back to alot of stores complain and get a discount for the differance they aren't going to take the rod away and make you pay full price. they will thank you for your honesty and send you on your way with your karma in tact and a heck of a deal on a rod.

[Scott Richardson]

Sounds like you are troubled. Can't imagine you will enjoy catching a fish on it until you straighten it out. Theirs was an honest mistake. Is yours?.

[Jailbird]

The same thing happened to me while I was on probation. I went back to the store and tried to get it right. The girl misunderstood me... I did not want to return it.....I wanted to give them more money. They did not believe me as I had a previous record for theft. You guessed it..back in the slammer. And they kept the rod and my money. Forget about it and go fishing. You are opening up a can of worms.

[River_eye]

Above all else, if he can't help losing sleep over the matter, then he should return it.

I'm just stating my opinion on the matter, some may disaggree.

I don't think you can look at this as him screwing the store. That would imply that he purposefully or knowingly swindled sombody. The real situation is that the store screwed themselves, and our friend feels bad for benefiting from it.

Also, I didn't say that it depends on the size of the store, I said that it may depend on the structure of the store. The structure of a corporation is much different from that of a sole propriatorship or partnership. Just ask if you need me to explain the differences.

In the eyes of a corporation, the first and most important thing is making profits, not good will towards men. They spend billions of dollars on psychologically manipulating advertizing, trying to make you feel like you aren't happy with what you have, and that they have exactly what you need to fill the void. It's funny how one moment, you didn't know a product existed, but after you see the advertisement, you can't live without it.



River eye

[River_eye]

But that's your argument all the time. There is one truth, and one truth only. From previous interaction with you, I realize that you like to sort everything out into different boxes or categories. This goes in this box, and that's the way it is. You even do this with people. You have decided my response to a situation without even consulting me about it. I think this situation is very similar to the one with Cisco, where you took what little information you did have about the guy and decided what political category he fell into.

The only real universal definition of truth is if somthing is consistant to the way things are in the world, then it is the truth.

This definition is very easy to manipulate as you have demonstrated.

You are right in that, only the person making the moral decision knows the real truth. The problem is, this truth can easily change from person to person.

River eye

[River_eye]

You are right.

River eye

[EyeJacker]

The question you must ask yourself is "What would Bill Clinton do"
Jack

[EyeJacker]

The question you must ask yourself is "What would Bill Clinton do" :D
Jack

[walleyed]

I would suggest you start driving cab on weekends.

[ddt]

HOMER
This is your call,all the BS you get here
is just that. You have to live with
yourself.Do what makes you feel good.

[MIFISH]

If you want to preach your religion go to Dialapriest.com The rod was mismarked, He wins they loose....Who cares about the moral implications???? It's all business as usual, if he feels guilty, have him call me I'll take the rods off his hands for exactly what he paid for them and I won't miss a minute of sleep.

[Mike]

River Eye - I am not saying that I think big corporations always do good things for society, I just don't believe in situational ethics. It is very easy to disregard our consience because we have found a way to justify doing something we know is wrong.

Mike

[Jiggereye]

No brainer, take it back and see what they say, either way the golden rule is still the golden rule. Lawrence

[Jailbird]

I can't man.......got no license

[mnjimcarp]

GRASSHOPPER, it is the rule of the walleye gods to be fair and honest at all times. please, do not wander from the basic principle that says - go forth and fish with a clear conscience and you will bear the fruits of your good deads. go on grasshopper...go on.

[Dennis Walters]

WWJD?

[Homer]

Because the store is 50 minutes away, and I'm leaving town on business tomorrow, I opted to write a letter. I explained what happened, and offered to return the rod upon my return if the store manager thought that it was appropriate. Look for a post in a week or so with the final outcome.

Thanks for all of the responses!

[bulldog]

chances are they will let you have it anyway for marking it wrong and thatk you for your honesty. you'll feel a whole lot better and still have gotten a great sale.

[Paul Peterson]

I Believe they will give you the benefit of the doubt anyway. If they marked it wrong it is their fault, and they will see that. They will not ask anything from you except repeat business. Cabelas is very forgiving on things they take back. As well as Gander Mountain if they wan't business they can't afford a mistake on their part like that. If i were you I would bring it back show them their mistake. Which will cost you nothing and show them that they have made a common error which humans make.

[Jamey]

To make yourself feel better, call them and let them know the problem. They can't ask you to pay the money back, they have to sell it to you for what the tag said. It's their loss. Look at it this way, if you were buying a new truck and the dealer didn't charge you for something would you point it out? Probably not. Gander mountain will not go out of business because of this incident (probably the only one), and who knows, it could have been marked right, with a wrong description in the computer.