Moral Dilemma - UPDATED! I tried to be nice.....the fight begins anew.

[shiner]

So I'm shopping for a new double wall oven and find one that will fit the opening in my cabinet. The list price on the manufacturer website is $1059. I have checked several places locally and the cheapest I've found it is $900. I decided to stop in one of the smaller local merchants to see what their price is. This is a place that had been in business here for close to 50 years and is a family owned business. They don't have the oven I want but can order it. I ask the guy how much their price is and he says $498. I ask him twice if he's talking about the double oven model in white and both times he says yes and even shows me a picture of it in their catalog. I have him write me up a quote with the model number and price and tell him I will be back tomorrow. When I got home I called the other store run by the same family and ask for a quote on this particular model. Their price? $908. Sooooo here I am armed with a quote that is obviously wrong but is in my favor. I'm struggling with what to do about it because I really like this family owned place, but business is business and if I can get a deal why shouldn't I take it? I feel like one of the hot deals trolls who jumps on an obviously mispriced video card that should be $300 but is on a website for $89. Honestly though I did ask the guy twice if that was the correct model and price, both times he said yes and even showed me a picture.

The cold hard calculating part of me says just go buy the thing and make them honor the quote. The softer side of me says to at least give him one more chance to look up the price again and perhaps find his error. My GF thinks I'm going to cost the guy his job and that I should just tell him what the other store quoted me. Opinions?

 

[Yossarian]

The most you should do is ask him to check the price again. You're an idiot if you tell him the price at other stores.

 

[chiwawa626]

hmm, it sounds like something i would definatly take advantage of, but then when i think about it if its a small family business then that would suck, but if it was a big evil corperation place then it would be ok

 

[Mill]

I would buy the item at the price I knew was correct.

 

[b0mbrman]

I'd not buy it and just pay him the difference (908 - 498 = $410)

But then again, I'm morally superior...

[Edit] I wouldn't tell him what other stores are charging regardless but you should give him the chance to look it up again...

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
hmm, it sounds like something i would definatly take advantage of, but then when i think about it if its a small family business then that would suck, but if it was a big evil corperation place then it would be ok

It's a family business but by no means is it small. Until the last 5-6 years it was THE place locally to get your appliances. Once all the Home Depot's, Lowe's, etc... moved in their business declined some. They are still the major supplier of appliances to contractors around here so it isn't like they are hurting for $.

 

[rudeguy]

I was a manager at a major appliance store here in mich...and I can tell you that the salesman probably just misquoted you...no matter what you wont get the oven under what the store pays for it. Go back to where you got the low quote from and talk with them and explain that leagally (if you got the quote in writing) they are obligated, but that you dont want to screw them, just to get the best price. I bet you get it no more than 10% above cost

 

[shiner]

Just got back from the store. I asked the guy the price again, had him show me the oven in the catalog again, and after he gave me the same $498 price I bought the oven. Wrote him a check, signed the receipt with the price and model number on it, then came back to work. When I got back to work I had a message from the salesman asking me to call him. I did and he of course told me he gave me the wrong price. My response was "Well I have a signed receipt for what you sold it to me for." He told me he was going to cancel my order and I told him he was not going to. He said something I didn't understand then hung up. I've tried calling back several times now but I get no answer. Let the games begin.....

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Just got back from the store. I asked the guy the price again, had him show me the oven in the catalog again, and after he gave me the same $498 price I bought the oven. Wrote him a check, signed the receipt with the price and model number on it, then came back to work. When I got back to work I had a message from the salesman asking me to call him. I did and he of course told me he gave me the wrong price. My response was "Well I have a signed receipt for what you sold it to me for." He told me he was going to cancel my order and I told him he was not going to. He said something I didn't understand then hung up. I've tried calling back several times now but I get no answer. Let the games begin.....

heh. this should be interesting. Keep us updated!

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Just got back from the store. I asked the guy the price again, had him show me the oven in the catalog again, and after he gave me the same $498 price I bought the oven. Wrote him a check, signed the receipt with the price and model number on it, then came back to work. When I got back to work I had a message from the salesman asking me to call him. I did and he of course told me he gave me the wrong price. My response was "Well I have a signed receipt for what you sold it to me for." He told me he was going to cancel my order and I told him he was not going to. He said something I didn't understand then hung up. I've tried calling back several times now but I get no answer. Let the games begin.....

You could always make one of the big stores price match the quote, now that you have it in writing

 

[shiner]

Just talked to the Better Business Bureau......they told me the law is on my side...especially because he had several opportunities to look at the price before I made the purchase. Trying to call the store back now?..

 

[rudder]

Maybe the got a shipment of stolen ovens. Then the decision would be simple, go with the $498 model. Then there is no moral dilemma, because that family owned business is probably still making some money off the oven.

 

[shiner]

Just talked to the Attorney General's office....they say I am in the right on this. Still can't get the store to answer....going to go by there after work if I continue to be unable to get them on the phone.

 

[kranky]

You knew the price was wrong, you were willing to let the guy requote you earlier in the day, but now that you wrote a check you want to go to war?

Is it worth the aggravation? The price was wrong and you knew it. Why not take your check back, let the manager know you'll be shopping elsewhere and why, and move on?

You may be legally in the right, but if you were willing to let them requote you three hours ago, why fight about it now?

 

[DurocShark]

Price match the quote at CC or something!!!! Let the guy think he won, who cares? You still get it at $498.

Of course, if you can't get anybody to PM it, THEN fight for it!

 

[Red Dawn]

It could be that you are legally right but morally wrong. I guess that would depend on whose morals you adhere too. The Manager realized he screwed up and fears that he will catch hell for it so I think it would be safe to assume that is why he's not answering your calls.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: kranky
You knew the price was wrong, you were willing to let the guy requote you earlier in the day, but now that you wrote a check you want to go to war?

Is it worth the aggravation? The price was wrong and you knew it. Why not take your check back, let the manager know you'll be shopping elsewhere and why, and move on?

You may be legally in the right, but if you were willing to let them requote you three hours ago, why fight about it now?

He had several opportunites to correct the price. I asked him several times if he was sure of that price and model number.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It could be that you are legally right but morally wrong. I guess that would depend on whose morals you adhere too. The Manager realized he screwed up and fears that he will catch hell for it so I think it would be safe to assume that is why he's not answering your calls.

I think this is one of those rare instances where I follow the Bill Clinton model of morality.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It could be that you are legally right but morally wrong. I guess that would depend on whose morals you adhere too. The Manager realized he screwed up and fears that he will catch hell for it so I think it would be safe to assume that is why he's not answering your calls.

I think this is one of those rare instances where I follow the Bill Clinton model of morality.

Hey as long as you benefit to hell with the store and the Mananger who possibly could lose his job over his mistake.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It could be that you are legally right but morally wrong. I guess that would depend on whose morals you adhere too. The Manager realized he screwed up and fears that he will catch hell for it so I think it would be safe to assume that is why he's not answering your calls.

I think this is one of those rare instances where I follow the Bill Clinton model of morality.

Hey as long as you benefit to hell with the store and the Mananger who possibly could lose his job over his mistake.

Like I said....the Bill Clinton model of morality.

Actually what I have decided to do if I can get them on the phone is offer to split the difference in the price with them. That way I still get my deal and they still make since I'm pretty sure what he did is give me their price for the oven.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It could be that you are legally right but morally wrong. I guess that would depend on whose morals you adhere too. The Manager realized he screwed up and fears that he will catch hell for it so I think it would be safe to assume that is why he's not answering your calls.

I think this is one of those rare instances where I follow the Bill Clinton model of morality.

It's wrong and you know it. Yes, what you're doing is legal, but it's unethical. Put yourself in the owner's shoes. Let it go man.

 

[yellowperil]

I don't see anything morally wrong with buying an incorrectly marked item (though it rarely if ever happens to me). I mean for everyday commercial transactions we follow the principle of caveat emptor, basically to encourage consumers to do their research before buying. I don't see why that same principle shouldn't be applied to sellers to make sure they keep their inventory and prices up to date.

 

[Jzero]

If you have the time and inclination stick it to them. You gave him three chances to get it right, and even sat on it for 24 hours. I feel bad for the salesman, but he had ample time to double-check. Once he's got your money in his hand, THEN he goes and checks?

I'd be too lazy to fight it. I'd definitely ream them out and take my money elsewhere, and later think back that I should have stuck them for the $400.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: yellowperil
I don't see anything morally wrong with buying an incorrectly marked item (though it rarely if ever happens to me). I mean for everyday commercial transactions we follow the principle of caveat emtor, basically to encourage consumers to do their research before buying. I don't see why that same principle shouldn't be applied to sellers to make sure they keep their inventory and prices up to date.

Yep...that's my whole point. I'm sure they wouldn't bother to tell me if they made a mistake in their favor.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: kranky
You knew the price was wrong, you were willing to let the guy requote you earlier in the day, but now that you wrote a check you want to go to war?

Is it worth the aggravation? The price was wrong and you knew it. Why not take your check back, let the manager know you'll be shopping elsewhere and why, and move on?

You may be legally in the right, but if you were willing to let them requote you three hours ago, why fight about it now?

He had several opportunites to correct the price. I asked him several times if he was sure of that price and model number.

I understand that. I'm just unclear why, within the span of a couple hours, you have changed your approach so drastically. It's not as if they were delivering it to your house and demanding another $600 to take it off the truck.