Money Moral Dilemma: Should I keep my free pair of shoes?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I ordered some shoes online, but realised they wouldn’t arrive in time for my holiday. I decided to buy another pair in store and cancelled my online order – I got a refund but the delivery still turned up. Should I ask the company if they want the shoes back?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

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romeroe

They get worse by the week... it's a "yes" from me.

elizabethhull

It's NOT a free pair of shoes. You can't have both the refund and the shoes, so yes, of course you should contact them. I'm surprised you even need to ask.

steveE2

Of course you should contact them.
Why didn't you refuse delivery knowing you already had a refund?

jackieblack

romeroe wrote: »

They get worse by the week... it's a "yes" from me.

elizabethhull wrote: »

It's NOT a free pair of shoes. You can't have both the refund and the shoes, so yes, of course you should contact them. I'm surprised you even need to ask.

steveE2 wrote: »

Of course you should contact them.
Why didn't you refuse delivery knowing you already had a refund?

All of the above.

lakesider52

Absolutely you should contact the company and tell them the shoes are available for collection or they can send you a pre-paid returns bag.

Newway

Yes I would contact them. I will probably return immediately If they offer free return postage. If not I will ring them and ask for a free return.

Many years ago a similar situation happened to me, I sign up a online contract phone, they send one, but I soon realize it is locked to the wrong network. I contacted them and they sent a new one. So I return the first one to their return center by post, with a cover letter.

Few days later the package was returned to me, but without the cover letter, clearly they have seen my letter... I wrote another letter and still was ignored.
In that occasion I stop and just kept the phone.

sammjiro

This is not a moral dilemma it is a legal one.

Simply theft is defined in law as (from memory) "Dishonesty appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other."

If you accept the package from the post, KNOWING that you have already obtained a refund, with the intent to keep the property, this is dishonest and therefore theft.

If you are unaware at the time your receive the package as to it's contents, when you become aware what the contents are and the fact that it has been sent to you in error, this is when the dishonesty test will apply if you do not make efforts to alert the owner (the business seller).

Basically, if you keep the shoes in either situation the criminal offence of theft is complete and you are liable for prosecution.

Mallinky

I complained of a missing clothing delivery (a week after expected delivery) and they promptly sent a replacement.

The original delivery was then discovered (a confused situation at my end!). I called them to apologise and return. They sounded pleasantly surprised and gave me 20% of my next order.

ykhan16

How is this even a moral dilemma? You spent your money, you got your shoes- what more do you want?


Its similar to if you had two pairs of shoes in your trolley at Asda but you only scanned one of them at the self service till- the term used is stealing.

Harsy

You should contact company and offer to return as it will show your honesty.