Pricing error leads to cheap gas

[gtalum]

Stealing has an implied risk; this does not.

Again, I'm comparing only the morality, not the legality. Morality is absolute. If something's wrong it's wrong. The fact that it's "only a little" wrong does not change the fact that it's wrong.

[vbhoutex]

No matter how many ways one twists this IT IS WRONG. Illegal? probably not. Morally wrong? DEFINITELY!! Using some of the arguments in this thread I could justify just about anything I wanted to. I have to stop now or some of what I want to say will be construed as personal attacks.

[Squarethecircle]

I have previously stated that it was wrong, yet not dishonest. Also, personal attacks are bad for you. Stealing with no consequence is not (unless you're a politician).

[Opal storm]

How is it stealing? There was a price on it and they paid it, yeah the price was wrong but that goes back on the owner. Yes it was an honest mistake, but this isn't a perfect world where people are going to call her about her mistake. It's like leaving money out on the streets and expecting people not to take it. Hopefully the owner learns her lesson not to be so careless. Either close completely at night or put on an attendant.

It's nasty business, plain and simple. But we have to have it so what can you do? Gas prices are killing the economy, people are going to take advantage of every break they can get.

[gtalum]

How is it stealing?

It's not stealing. I never said it was. It's dishonesty.

[artist]

I agree the right thing was to ask if there might be a mistake. If not then you can buy all you want with a free conscience.

[Opal storm]

How is it stealing?

It's not stealing. I never said it was. It's dishonesty.

Hey, they paid the price that was shown. That's pretty honest IMO.

[gtalum]

It's not stealing. I never said it was. It's dishonesty.

Hey, they paid the price that was shown. That's pretty honest IMO.

They bought even though they knew the price was a mistake. That's utterly dishonest.




*edited by southerngale to fix the quotes

[Opal storm]

They bought even though they knew the price was a mistake. That's utterly dishonest.

It doesn't matter, that's the owner's fault. All the customer's job is to pay the price, and they did.

[southerngale]

I agree with gtalum. I would have felt too guilty to take advantage of someone like that. They KNEW it was a mistake and they should have contacted the store owners. It wasn't illegal, but there's no doubt it was dishonest.

How do you do that to someone and NOT feel guilty?

I wouldn't want any of those people in my home!

[Opal storm]

Buying the gas was nothing personal towards the owner, it's the fact that gas prices are ridiculus these days. If you would've called the owner and told about the mistake then good for you, that's great. But I don't blame the people who didn't, after all...it IS a gas station and if you're tank is on empty do you really have a choice? Like I said before, I would've been right there with them pumping up and would'nt feel an ounce of guilt. Call me dishonest or a horrific criminal or whatever, but having paid 40-50 bucks a week to fill up my car for 8 years I would take advantage of that mistake in a heart beat.

[Squarethecircle]

I agree with gtalum. I would have felt too guilty to take advantage of someone like that. They KNEW it was a mistake and they should have contacted the store owners. It wasn't illegal, but there's no doubt it was dishonest.

How do you do that to someone and NOT feel guilty?

I wouldn't want any of those people in my home!

How many times do I have to say this? It may have been morally incorrect, BUT IT WAS NOT DISHONEST! You may look it up in the dictionary if you wish, but it only reaffirms my point.

[southerngale]

Buying the gas was nothing personal towards the owner, it's the fact that gas prices are ridiculus these days. If you would've called the owner and told about the mistake then good for you, that's great. But I don't blame the people who didn't, after all...it IS a gas station and if you're tank is on empty do you really have a choice? Like I said before, I would've been right there with them pumping up and would'nt feel an ounce of guilt. Call me dishonest or a horrific criminal or whatever, but having paid 40-50 bucks a week to fill up my car for 8 years I would take advantage of that mistake in a heart beat.

I understand gas prices are high, but it's not the gas store owner who made those prices so high. I just think it's wrong to take advantage of people like that and I wouldn't have the heart to do it. I realize that it doesn't bother some people though. I just couldn't do it. I would feel horrible, even if I saved a few bucks.

I think you do have a choice. You call the owners and let them know that they're getting screwed left and right due to their mistake... that way they can fix it, and consumers can pay the price that was intended, the price that was posted on the main sign.

But then again... since I was a kid, I could never cheat in games either. I would feel too guilty. lol

[southerngale]

I agree with gtalum. I would have felt too guilty to take advantage of someone like that. They KNEW it was a mistake and they should have contacted the store owners. It wasn't illegal, but there's no doubt it was dishonest.

How do you do that to someone and NOT feel guilty?

I wouldn't want any of those people in my home!

How many times do I have to say this? It may have been morally incorrect, BUT IT WAS NOT DISHONEST! You may look it up in the dictionary if you wish, but it only reaffirms my point.

You can say it until you're blue in the face, if you'd like. It wasn't the honest thing to do, and they all knew it. That makes it dishonest. They just cared more about getting a great deal than doing the right thing. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people that way.

[Squarethecircle]

YOU can say it until your face is blue and that doesn't mean it has an ounce of truth. Now, if there was some sort of sign on the station which said "Please report all malfunctions to the person manning the station" then that would be different. Dishonest is an incorrect term. Please, at least for my sake, could you stop using it?

[CajunMama]

I've had an employee give a customer an incorrect quote. Usually the job is worth twice as much. I have to give the customer the job at the quoted price because that is the price he was given/. Is the customer dishonest? No, this was the price i had advertised to him and that's why he was buying from me. I think you can relate my story and the gas story. As an owner, I just have to suck up the loss, move on and hope that it will never happen again.

[Opal storm]

I agree with gtalum. I would have felt too guilty to take advantage of someone like that. They KNEW it was a mistake and they should have contacted the store owners. It wasn't illegal, but there's no doubt it was dishonest.

How do you do that to someone and NOT feel guilty?

I wouldn't want any of those people in my home!

How many times do I have to say this? It may have been morally incorrect, BUT IT WAS NOT DISHONEST! You may look it up in the dictionary if you wish, but it only reaffirms my point.

You can say it until you're blue in the face, if you'd like. It wasn't the honest thing to do, and they all knew it. That makes it dishonest. They just cared more about getting a great deal than doing the right thing. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people that way.

And unfortunately, there are families that are struggling to keep their cars running with gas prices these days. If taking advantage of a small opprotunity like this means a little more food on the table for the family or a little more Christmas money to spend, than I can't argue against it. Dishonest? Maybe, but sometimes you have to do what's best for you. And how many times have I made mistakes and people taken advantage of it without telling me? It's a dog eat dog world.

[Regit]

Ok, just to settle to definition of dishonest:

From the Oxford Dictionary, the authoritative source for the English language.

dishonest-
adjective not honest, trustworthy, or sincere.

[southerngale]

:uarrow: YOU can say it until your face is blue and that doesn't mean it has an ounce of truth. Now, if there was some sort of sign on the station which said "Please report all malfunctions to the person manning the station" then that would be different. Dishonest is an incorrect term. Please, at least for my sake, could you stop using it?

Geez. How about you stop saying it wasn't dishonest for my sake?

You see it one way, and I see it another (the right way ).


Opalstorm, I know there are people struggling to keep gas in their cars. For all we know, the gas store owner is struggling. I'm just saying that it's wrong to take advantage of people like that. Just because other people do it, that doesn't make it right. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but that's fine with me. I'm glad I feel this way about it. I'd hate to think that I could do that and not have a guilty conscience.

It's not like I think they should go to jail or anything... and I think the owner will just have to suck it up and take the loss. It was the store's mistake... but they weren't advertising at that price since the main sign that advertises as you drive by showed the correct price... an obviously more reasonable price for today's gas prices. It was clearly an error on the store's part and although they have to pay the price for the error, that in no way makes those people who took advantage of the owners honest people.

[Squarethecircle]

:lol:

Ok, just to settle to definition of dishonest:

From the Oxford Dictionary, the authoritative source for the English language.

dishonest-
adjective not honest, trustworthy, or sincere.

Yep, just as I thought. They were perfectly honest (they even admitted what they did). The trustworthy one may appear to be a clincher, but it's not. Trustworthiness implies that there is something to be trusted on. Since they were offered with a wonderful price and took advantage of it, that only makes them opportunists. Perhaps if there was some sort of sign that said "For god sakes, report any kind of malfunction to the station!", then perhaps, but not in this case. They were perfectly sincere; they took all credit for their actions and the fact they may have been somewhat greedy makes no difference. Stop bending the English language around. May I suggest a better word, such as "greedy" or "malevolent"?

Also, Southerngale, arrogance will get you nowhere.