Opinions On Mislabeling

[Ratherbfishing]

If you knew it was mislabled, regardless of whether you could get away with it or not, you stole it.

[J Francho]

A lot of armchair ethics going on here. How would you know if it's mislabeled? You ask. When you ask, most places - especially DSG - give it to you for that. I just bought a $130 rain coat for $40 today. The whole rack was priced like this. It didn't ring up at $40, so I asked if it was a mistake. She said, "who knows?" and rang me out for $40.

[deaknh03]

With the way large corporations are screwing the common man, it's easy to justify doing something like buying something you know is mislabeled, but if you know it's mislabeled, it is still wrong. If you want to "get back" at the large companies, simply spend your money locally, that hurts them more than you cheating them out of $30 on a reel or something.

[K_Mac]

A lot of armchair ethics going on here. How would you know if it's mislabeled? You ask. When you ask, most places - especially DSG - give it to you for that. I just bought a $130 rain coat for $40 today. The whole rack was priced like this. It didn't ring up at $40, so I asked if it was a mistake. She said, "who knows?" and rang me out for $40.

Arm chair ethics? We were asked how we would respond to a mis-marked item. Since you asked when checking out, your actions speak for you. Asking is the key, though an indifferent employee who could care less about her employer is a good example of unethical behavior in my view. "Who knows?" is a lazy and irresponsible answer. OK I'm done now...

[OHIO]

Ethics are almost nonexistant in the world ,it truly is all about the money at all levels so don't crucify the kid too much.

So since most people don't have ethics, none of us should?

[BASSclary]

So since most people don't have ethics, none of us should?

I dont think that's what he's saying.

[NorcalBassin]

If I made that mistake in a store I was managing, I would honor my mistake without question... therefore, I would hope that whatever store I was in would do the same (if the price is anywhere within reason- I wouldn't expect a $500 NRX listed at $5 to be honored). However, when I worked retail when I was younger we were lead to believe that it was the law that you had to honor the price you had marked.

[tomustang]

^ It's still the case, look at ads/flyers these days, they all have fine print that states if a price is incorrect it won't be upheld due to typographical error. The price listed anywhere from the store is law, for legal reasons.

[OHIO]

I dont think that's what he's saying.

He basically said that most people don't have ethics, so don't be harsh on you for not having them either.

I think you know what you did was wrong, especially if you're asking for opinions on it.

[SirSnookalot]

Talking a game about ethics on a forum is lip service, reality is what counts. Wondering if confronted with opportunity would some that profess "ethics" would take advantage or not, no way to prove it so it's really a moot point.

As far as the attitude of employees at any retail store, it varies, some very helpful and good at what they do and others not so. That is for the company to deal with, they did the hiring. I've seen the identical attitude at MOM & Pop shops too, even by the owners.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Dicks has stuff clearanced routinely without being advertised. I and other got St Croix Premieres for $24. On the rack they were on sale but they rang-up 50% off the sale price employees dont even know they are clearanced till they scann it. I asked to make sure of the $24 price and the lady said what it rings-up is the price they will sell it for.

[OHIO]

Talking a game about ethics on a forum is lip service, reality is what counts. Wondering if confronted with opportunity would some that profess "ethics" would take advantage or not, no way to prove it so it's really a moot point.

It's the same way with everything else on the internet. It's the internet.

[K_Mac]

Talking a game about ethics on a forum is lip service, reality is what counts. Wondering if confronted with opportunity would some that profess "ethics" would take advantage or not, no way to prove it so it's really a moot point.

As far as the attitude of employees at any retail store, it varies, some very helpful and good at what they do and others not so. That is for the company to deal with, they did the hiring. I've seen the identical attitude at MOM & Pop shops too, even by the owners.

SirSnook, is your point that since there is no way of confirming here if a person’s professed beliefs and actions regarding ethical behavior are the same, there is no value in the discussion? I think there is. I believe there is an objective standard of right and wrong. I will also confess I do not always meet that standard. Condemning the standard because I fail to meet it is a rationalization I won’t make.

I believe knowingly taking advantage of someone else’s mistake for financial gain is wrong. I believe an employee has an ethical obligation to represent his/her employer faithfully. I have not always met this standard, but am committed to doing my very best to do so. Whether anyone agrees with me, or believes me makes little difference. It is the interwebz after all.

[Grey Wolf]

Talk is cheap especially on the internet.

[SirSnookalot]

K_Mac,

I do believe there is value in discussion, what I don't believe is that some (not all) live up to the high level of integrity they profess.

I think the amount of money in question can be a huge motivating factor for some wanting to take advantage of an opportunity.

What if one buys a car at an agreed price,at time of delivery the purchaser notices options not ordered and paid for. Do you honestly think the purchaser is going tell the dealer I owe you a few thousand dollars. I submit that the majority would say nothing to the dealer. If some believe that buying a mis marked item is tantamount to theft, then cough up the few grand or tell them to give ya another car.

I'd take the deal on the car, dealers mistake

I'd take a deal on a stella mis marked as a stradic, store error

The customer is not the one that made the mistake, in business you have to live with the mistakes you or your employees make.

I certainly don't meet those standards.

[Glenn]

"Ethics" means doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking; or when the (sign, crowd, friend, employee, employer, etc) says it's ok to do it anyway.

If YOU feel it's wrong, then only YOU can control YOUR actions and do what YOU feel is right.

That, is integrity based on strong ethics.

[Grey Wolf]

Is it ethical to condemn anyone until we walk in their shoes ? We are all guilty of this , myself included.

[K_Mac]

SirSnook the car example is interesting. If I order a car, I will very carefully inspect it to make sure it is what I ordered. I would certainly ask about any extras not ordered. If a mistake had been made by the dealer, I would not expect to pay one dime more. I would expect the dealer to provide what was paid for; if the correct car needed to be acquired to save thousands of dollars for the dealer and he provided me proper transportation in the mean time, I would wait for the right vehicle. I have bought several vehicles from my dealer. I consider him an honest, hard working business man, and I would no more take advantage of him than I would you.

Gray Wolf, judgment is a completely different issue in my view. I do agree that it is easy to judge without knowing details and circumstances. Self-righteousness is not a very attractive characteristic. It is when ethics become situational that trouble starts. Doing the right thing is always the right thing.

[Sam]

I must admit that I have not come across a mislabled item in a long, long time.

If price was a factor I am sure I would notice anything that looked incorrect, either high or low.

Dumb me would probably ask for assistance and a price check.

I don't want to cheat anyone out of their small profit on a purchase.

[Fishing Rhino]

I recently bought a lightweight, long sleeved, fishing shirt from Dick's. They had a rack with a sign 20% off everything on this rack.

I found my size and the color I wanted, and took it to the cash register where I was told it wasn't on sale. I told them I didn't want it at the regular price, so they sent someone to check the rack, and I got it at 20% off.

They had the choice of selling it to me at the discount, or not selling the shirt.

There are instances where they will advertise something on sale, but if you don't pay attention, you'll get charged the regular price. Bass Pro Shops is notorious for that. If you see an item on sale in a flyer, or on their site, bring in the flyer, or print out the page and bring it with you. You won't get it at the sale price unless you bring it to their attention.

It has happened to me enough times that I believe it is standard operating procedure for them.

[Bassn Blvd]

Just because the door to the newspaper machine is broken (won't lock), doesn't mean the newspaper inside is free.

What would you do if your financial institution deposited someone elses 20k IRS check into your account by accident and you withdrew the money just moments later. Should you be made to pay it back? Do you think you might get charged with Grand Theft? Should you be allowed to keep the money and the bank be made to repay the 20k to the rightful owner?

What if I sold you a 1k rod and reel combo for 20 bucks that I stole but told you it wasn't hot. Do you think you too would be charged with theft/dealing in stole property? Of course you would/could.

Just because something is accidently mismarked or misrepresented, doesnt make it right to accept it. Sometimes it might not be illegal, but it certainly will more than likely be unethical.

But hey, perhaps WE ALL would sell our soul if we knew we wouldn't get caught.

[Fishing Rhino]

In at least some states vendors are required by law to charge the lower marked price. This prevents unscrupulous sellers from putting stuff out at a marked lower price only to charge the full price at the cash register. The customer who doesn't catch it then gets stuck paying more than he thought.

Now, you can say it's up to the customer to check his receipt, buyer beware and all that stuff. However, the onus is always put on the seller, not the buyer in cases like these. In some states the law stipulates that if a higher price is charged at the register than is shown on the floor, the seller must not only return the difference to the buyer, but they must also give the customer ten percent of the difference in the overcharge. That cannot be less than one dollar, nor more than five dollars. This applies in Michigan. In other states the laws will vary.

There is no way to determine if the items were deliberately marked lower on the floor to entice buyers, and then swindle unwary buyers at the cash register.

It's not unlike a contract. If there is an ambiguous clause in a contract, and the dispute is litigated, the court will usually if not always, rule against the person who drew up the contract.

I've been to Dicks when they have the any two packages of Yamamoto baits for ten dollars. They have two or three signs at the baits touting the sale. Then you get to the cash register and they say it doesn't apply to this or that particular Yamamoto bait. The sign quite clearly says all and there is no "does not include fill in the blank" on the sign.

The buyer has misrepresented nothing. It's on the seller to honor his published price, mistake or no.

There have been times I've misquoted a price (too low) to a customer. I sell it at that price even if I lose money on it. My word is more important to me than making a profit on a sale.

[Bass XL]

If you knew it was mislabled, regardless of whether you could get away with it or not, you stole it.

Not even remotely true.

[Bassn Blvd]

Not even remotely true.

Morally speaking, imo, it is. But that's is just me. I can understand how you like to take advantage of someone, even if it means selling yourself out.

[grimlin]

We all remember what Natural was doing now don't we?