Will a store honor a mispriced item? *updatein post 1*

[Geoff_M]

While what your friend did was wrong since he was an employee, I can't help but laugh when you say that people were ethically mistreating Sam's Club which is owned by perhaps the most unethical company of all time - Wal-Mart. I can't help but smile that finally they got the bad end of the deal.

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of pointing out bad behavior on the part of one party to justify the bad behavior of another.

I always count my change. Not just to make sure I recieved what was mine, but to ensure I did not receive what was not mine.

I don't always count my change, but once or twice a year I realize that a cashier has given me too much money back and I hand it back to them. They usually are flabbergasted that I would even do such a thing instead of simply taking the money and running. But I suppose it's a lot easier thing to do when you're dealing face-to-face with another human being instead of looking at a computer screen.

 

[MELSMICE]

Yes I ordered it, I wanted to see what would happen. So far I have tracked my order and it says payment status has finalized. However on the website the price has changed again. (3rd price since I have looked at the item)

There are some interesting thoughts on this thread. Morally and ethically I shouldn't have done it, but from a consumer standpoint it is an excellent deal. I agree that they will probably cancel my order and offer it to me at regular price. It is too expensive an item to loose the money, they would rather loose me as a customer.

I will keep you updated.

Don't let the "moral & ethics police" make you believe you did a terrible thing. We have all taken advantage of a great deal at some point in our lives.

Mistakes happen & the company should honor the price. It was their mistake. Lesson learned for them - they will most likely be more careful in the future.

BTW - I speak from experience with my own business. I mispriced an item I was selling for my business last year. I didn't realize it until I was placing the order. Luckily, I didn't lose money on the orders, however, I didn't make any either. I am sure someone realized my error, but no one brought it to my attention. It was my mistake. This fall when the same merchandise was ordered for additional people I was sure to make the price correction on my order forms.

Also, I have written a check for the wrong amount & had to pay finance charges on a credit card. My mistake, but you can rest assured I have never done that again.

I don't think the OP did anything wrong. She wanted to buy something. She put it in her "cart" and checked out. She paid what they asked for it. On the same token, I don't think legally they have to honour it but it's certainly worth a shot. I respect the companies that take ownership for their mistakes a lot more than those that don't.

It might not be a mistake. As someone else said, companies often offer things for free and you just have to pay the S&H. I do that with business cards online all the time. I've never paid for a single one and I use a lot of them. Sometimes companies do it so that while you're there getting your free whatever, you might look around and buy something else.

If they cash that cheque, I don't think you can do much about it. However, you could always stop payment if you realize your error. Regardless, it's your mistake and you should have to take ownership for it just like the company when they make mistakes.

Couldn't agree more with everything you've said.

 

[Geoff_M]

Don't let the "moral & ethics police" make you believe you did a terrible thing.

Funny how simply expressing your opinion makes you the "morality" police. No one has said what the OP did was a "terrible thing". People were commenting on the ethics of a store not "honoring" an obvious pricing error and I countered that I think ethnically it can be a two-way street.

BTW - I speak from experience with my own business. I mispriced an item I was selling for my business last year. I didn't realize it until I was placing the order. Luckily, I didn't lose money on the orders, however, I didn't make any either. I am sure someone realized my error, but no one brought it to my attention. It was my mistake. This fall when the same merchandise was ordered for additional people I was sure to make the price correction on my order forms.

It's a good thing that you went ahead and gave them the price. That certainly was a good PR move, no one's denying that. However, some people are of the opinion that you are, or should, be legally obligated to give the mistaken price... regardless of the setting or details. It also doesn't sound like your error was a gross error, which it what I was referring to. If you would have lost your shirt on the mistake, I think your generosity might have been a little different.

 

[KadysMom]

I cant wait to hear what happens

 

[SeeVee]

"Don't let the "moral & ethics police" make you believe you did a terrible thing. We have all taken advantage of a great deal at some point in our lives."

That is a pretty slick one if you are not paying attention.

You see, it attempts to put the blame on someone else while distancing oneself from their responsibility.

It is not the "moral and ethics police" that should guide your actions. It is your own concience. If you dont have a concience, dont blame it on someone else.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of pointing out bad behavior on the part of one party to justify the bad behavior of another.

If you go back and read my post, you will note that I said that what your friend did was wrong. I would not have done it myself. However, the evil part of me could not feel completely sorry for Sam's Club since that particularly company has done some herendous things to fellow human beings. So, I'm not justifying anyone's behaviour, just sneaking an evil smile from it.