1: You give it back though your GF will be verily pissed but are still morally wrong for thinking of keeping it in the first place.
2: You keep it and please your GF while living in total fear of retribution from the gad almitaghh at Apple.
Basically, you're fvcked either way!
Flip a coin or something <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
...and yes, before the righteous brigade reply "over simplification...morals...ethics...yadda yadda" , I don't care, i'd wait for Apple to either send a bill or a courier to pick it up. Wonder if Microsloth sent two copies of OfficeX would we hear the same replies?
1: You give it back though your GF will be verily pissed but are still morally wrong for thinking of keeping it in the first place.[/i]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Didn´t think of that. Your fcuked before you even started so why don´t just have the fun...
And if you are catholic then you just have to regret in a month time and you are ok again.
<strong>you guys telling him to keep it are a bunch of schmucks... its not yours... you don't need a lawyer to tell you what is right and what is wrong... (and the original poster seemed to be on the right track).</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree that if you receive something that you didn't pay for, you should give it back.
However, I also believe that you shouldn't have to pay too much for somebody else's mistakes. If Apple had sent me this extra iPod by accident, I'd let them know about it. I'd expect them to pay for the return shipping, and they really should pay to have someone pick the thing up at my house so I don't have to go out of my way to get it shipped.
I'd give up on trying to return the iPod if I ended up on hold for an hour between being shuffled from one customer support person to another who couldn't figure out what to do, who all had to have the same story repeated each time.
IMHO you should have written a vague letter asking for them to write you back on what to do. Talking to a CSR probably won't get you anywhere except them advising you to send it back (they can't make a decision like to "oh, just keep it on us!" Especially not if it was a CSR-related error. But if you write in, there's a chance Apple might not even reply, and if they do, their written reply would probably be less requiring of unnecessary action on your part.
I'm sure you are aware that what you posted is not binding in international law. Judging by the reference to Valentine's Day, it's safe to assume that this person is in the USA, not the UK. Therefore the law you quoted is meaningless to this instance. Actually, even if this situation was in the UK, this law wouldn't apply. This isn't an unsolicited good... read my post above again - there is a HUGE difference legally.</strong><hr></blockquote>
justmyluck, be very careful when dealing with Apple on this.
I just got charged $588 for a DVD-ROM drive that showed up to my house after I got my new PowerBook G4. Apple replaced my PowerBook G3 because they couldn't get me a working DVD drive so they replaced the machine. But they never cancelled the original dispatch so it showed up any way.
So I pulled off the label and sent it back. After all, it wasn't mine to keep, despite the fact it was their fault they sent it to me. I mean, how much could a DVD-ROM drive for a Pismo be worth? I'll tell you it's less than an iPod.
But I got a bill yesterday for more than the cost of the part in the mail saying that my credit card was already charged! I had to call up and wait for over 2 hours on the phone to get it somewhat cleared up. What happened was that Apple realized their 'mistake' and since the drive had not been received by them, they charged me. When it got back to them, they credited me, but only $468 or something. A woman from Apple is trying to figure out why the whole amount was not credited and is getting back to me on Tuesday.
Trust me that Apple does care and that they will do everything they can to either get the part back or they will charge you even more then the cost of the iPod if you actually bought it in the store.
It's not that they 'accidently' sent you two. It's that Apple never cancelled the original dispatch so even though it's 'not your fault', there's still someone at Apple waiting for an iPod to be received on their end and when they don't get it, you're going to pay for it.
It's kindof pathetic and sad that it takes a quote from an FTC website to show people that it is wrong to keep something that is not yours. What is wrong with people? It is completely irrelevant that Apple has lots of cash. If I have several thousand in the bank and some of it mistakenly lands in your account you get to keep it because I have more than you?
No. You don't.</strong><hr></blockquote>
This overly harsh. Legally, if someone gives you something you didn't ask for, you can keep it -- though being a decent human being, it's only natural not to actually live your life that way. Ethically you should offer to return the duplicate iPod -- you were due one, and they made a mistake and sent you two. While mistakes like that are part of the cost of doing business (the same way companies have to honor incorrect prices that they advertise, replace products that they break, etc.) it's not terribly nice to go out of your way to benefit from other's mistakes.
But let's keep it in perspective -- practically speaking the company probably won't want it back. Being a nice guy, I've called companies on occasion when they've made mistakes and sent me more than I ordered (duplicates, or wrong parts followed by replacements), and I've _never_ had the shipper ask for a return of a relatively inexpensive product. Quite simply, the customer is happy, which is the most important thing, and it's not worth the cost of people's time to deal with getting the unit returned in order to solve a problem that, from their point of view, doesn't exist. In product companies I've been at, we had a budget item to cover the cost of human error, so as long as they don't make too many mistakes, they're probably perfectly happy as things are. Most companies don't even have a procedure in place for accepting these kinds of returns, so you'll probably end up just confusing some customer support representative.
So be a good guy and call, by all means -- in similar situations I have, and I would do it again. If nothing else, you'll stop feeling guilty .
I personally would call Apple up and ask them what to do. You can rationalize all you want, but it's just like someone at the bank giving you an extra $50 and you keeping it. The bank won't come after you, but that teller will be fired when they can't balance their drawer.
Besides, can you ignore your conscience until the statute of limitations has expired (between 1 and 7 years most likely)?
Comments
1: You give it back though your GF will be verily pissed but are still morally wrong for thinking of keeping it in the first place.
2: You keep it and please your GF while living in total fear of retribution from the gad almitaghh at Apple.
Basically, you're fvcked either way!
Flip a coin or something <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
...and yes, before the righteous brigade reply "over simplification...morals...ethics...yadda yadda" , I don't care, i'd wait for Apple to either send a bill or a courier to pick it up. Wonder if Microsloth sent two copies of OfficeX would we hear the same replies?
Be true.
<strong>
1: You give it back though your GF will be verily pissed but are still morally wrong for thinking of keeping it in the first place.[/i]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Didn´t think of that. Your fcuked before you even started so why don´t just have the fun...
And if you are catholic then you just have to regret in a month time and you are ok again.
<strong>you guys telling him to keep it are a bunch of schmucks... its not yours... you don't need a lawyer to tell you what is right and what is wrong... (and the original poster seemed to be on the right track).</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree that if you receive something that you didn't pay for, you should give it back.
However, I also believe that you shouldn't have to pay too much for somebody else's mistakes. If Apple had sent me this extra iPod by accident, I'd let them know about it. I'd expect them to pay for the return shipping, and they really should pay to have someone pick the thing up at my house so I don't have to go out of my way to get it shipped.
I'd give up on trying to return the iPod if I ended up on hold for an hour between being shuffled from one customer support person to another who couldn't figure out what to do, who all had to have the same story repeated each time.
<strong>MiMAC,
I'm sure you are aware that what you posted is not binding in international law. Judging by the reference to Valentine's Day, it's safe to assume that this person is in the USA, not the UK. Therefore the law you quoted is meaningless to this instance. Actually, even if this situation was in the UK, this law wouldn't apply. This isn't an unsolicited good... read my post above again - there is a HUGE difference legally.</strong><hr></blockquote>
FYI, we have Valentines Day here too!
Did the iPod get sent back then??
I just got charged $588 for a DVD-ROM drive that showed up to my house after I got my new PowerBook G4. Apple replaced my PowerBook G3 because they couldn't get me a working DVD drive so they replaced the machine. But they never cancelled the original dispatch so it showed up any way.
So I pulled off the label and sent it back. After all, it wasn't mine to keep, despite the fact it was their fault they sent it to me. I mean, how much could a DVD-ROM drive for a Pismo be worth? I'll tell you it's less than an iPod.
But I got a bill yesterday for more than the cost of the part in the mail saying that my credit card was already charged! I had to call up and wait for over 2 hours on the phone to get it somewhat cleared up. What happened was that Apple realized their 'mistake' and since the drive had not been received by them, they charged me. When it got back to them, they credited me, but only $468 or something. A woman from Apple is trying to figure out why the whole amount was not credited and is getting back to me on Tuesday.
Trust me that Apple does care and that they will do everything they can to either get the part back or they will charge you even more then the cost of the iPod if you actually bought it in the store.
It's not that they 'accidently' sent you two. It's that Apple never cancelled the original dispatch so even though it's 'not your fault', there's still someone at Apple waiting for an iPod to be received on their end and when they don't get it, you're going to pay for it.
<strong>
Good info Sammy.
It's kindof pathetic and sad that it takes a quote from an FTC website to show people that it is wrong to keep something that is not yours. What is wrong with people? It is completely irrelevant that Apple has lots of cash. If I have several thousand in the bank and some of it mistakenly lands in your account you get to keep it because I have more than you?
No. You don't.</strong><hr></blockquote>
This overly harsh. Legally, if someone gives you something you didn't ask for, you can keep it -- though being a decent human being, it's only natural not to actually live your life that way. Ethically you should offer to return the duplicate iPod -- you were due one, and they made a mistake and sent you two. While mistakes like that are part of the cost of doing business (the same way companies have to honor incorrect prices that they advertise, replace products that they break, etc.) it's not terribly nice to go out of your way to benefit from other's mistakes.
But let's keep it in perspective -- practically speaking the company probably won't want it back. Being a nice guy, I've called companies on occasion when they've made mistakes and sent me more than I ordered (duplicates, or wrong parts followed by replacements), and I've _never_ had the shipper ask for a return of a relatively inexpensive product. Quite simply, the customer is happy, which is the most important thing, and it's not worth the cost of people's time to deal with getting the unit returned in order to solve a problem that, from their point of view, doesn't exist. In product companies I've been at, we had a budget item to cover the cost of human error, so as long as they don't make too many mistakes, they're probably perfectly happy as things are. Most companies don't even have a procedure in place for accepting these kinds of returns, so you'll probably end up just confusing some customer support representative.
So be a good guy and call, by all means -- in similar situations I have, and I would do it again. If nothing else, you'll stop feeling guilty .
Besides, can you ignore your conscience until the statute of limitations has expired (between 1 and 7 years most likely)?