Ethical Question

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Mike_O

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An ethical question of sorts; I purchased 2 text books from Amazon recently. They were lost in the mail although I needed them rather quickly. Amazon sent two copies to replace the lost ones.

However, when I received the package, there were not 2 but 4 (2 copies of each book).

This may not factor into the moral question, but let it be said that these were part of a large collection of extremely expensive texts.

Anyway, am I obligated to send the 2 back? Is Amazon responsible for its error? Is it wrong to sell these books back (there is a store around here that takes back used text books for a fee; as I mentioned, this would help towards buying the next round, but it won’t be done if it’s not moral).

I appreciate the help.
 
Mike O:
An ethical question of sorts; I purchased 2 text books from Amazon recently. They were lost in the mail although I needed them rather quickly. Amazon sent two copies to replace the lost ones.

However, when I received the package, there were not 2 but 4 (2 copies of each book).

This may not factor into the moral question, but let it be said that these were part of a large collection of extremely expensive texts.

Anyway, am I obligated to send the 2 back? Is Amazon responsible for its error? Is it wrong to sell these books back (there is a store around here that takes back used text books for a fee; as I mentioned, this would help towards buying the next round, but it won’t be done if it’s not moral).

I appreciate the help./QUOT
Without a doubt you should return the two books. Amazon made sure that your order was filled even after the loss. Obviously there was a mix-up and they sent you a double order. You should keep what you paid for and return the rest. Because it was their error they need to pay for the return shipping if it applies.
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Mike O:
An ethical question of sorts; I purchased 2 text books from Amazon recently. They were lost in the mail although I needed them rather quickly. Amazon sent two copies to replace the lost ones.

However, when I received the package, there were not 2 but 4 (2 copies of each book).

This may not factor into the moral question, but let it be said that these were part of a large collection of extremely expensive texts.

Anyway, am I obligated to send the 2 back? Is Amazon responsible for its error? Is it wrong to sell these books back (there is a store around here that takes back used text books for a fee; as I mentioned, this would help towards buying the next round, but it won’t be done if it’s not moral).

I appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
I’ll have to agree with Mike. You need to return them.

What you might do is call Amazon and report the error. This would be done with the hope of having them pick of the tab for the shipping to return the books since it was their mistake.
 
I agree … you should return the extra books to Amazon. They were only responsible for their not shipping them to you on time but now you are responsible not to take advantage of their error. It seems that you already know that this is wrong, sure they won’t ever know if you sell them, but you will know in the end that it was being dishonest on your part.
 
Are they going to reimburse you for the shipping cost? I am no apologist but I would guess that while it may not be ethcal it is not a sin to not give them back and deabtably a sin to make money off the books. I personally might donate them if it were me but I certainly wouldn’t pay out of my pocket to return them or spoend any more effort. I would already be mad and consider it a gift for the inconvenience.
 
Contact Amazon and let them know. They may decide that letting you keep them is easier than the hassle and cost of returning them. If they tell you to go ahead and keep them, they will be yours to do with what you wish. Otherwise, they would probably mail you a prepaid address label so you can send them back.

It is tempting to keep the books to resell them, but there is a commandment about keeping something you know does not belong to you.

Arlene
 
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