Thousands of free bullets = moral dilemma?

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In order to compare final online prices of cast bullets, I filled out several order forms-- each for a couple thousand shipped bullets. I bought from one of them and received my merch in less than a week.

A month later, I receive a very heavy box from a vendor I didn't buy from containing many, many semi-wad cutters. It included a printout of the online order form-- the box for the payment info was blank.

So, I've got their bullets, and they don't have my payment info. There's no moral dilemma on my end because I know what I'm going to do about it.

But, since it actually came up, I was wondering what YOU would do in a similar situation?
 
I ordered a single item a few months back and received a package of 20 items instead of just one. I called the company and let them know what happened and asked what they wanted me to do with THEIR merchandise.

They decided it was simpler to leave things as they were than to try to have me ship the additional items back. NOW they're mine.

I didn't give them the option of having me pay for the additional merchandise because I didn't need it. If it had been something I actually needed 20 of, I might have given them that option.
 
+1 on what johnksa said. Call them and ask them what they want you to do. If they say shop them back, ask them to send you the money for shipping since it was there shipping error.
 
excellent point. I could at least allow for the possibility that they just give it to me since that's one of several legitimate solutions.
this thread rocks now!
 
I ordered a number of items from Nordic for a Benelli shotgun. I received a box containing one of their AR22 kits... about $175 value more than my order was worth and something I could have easily sold.
I called them, and they sent a return shipping label, the parts I ordered... AND included in the box, every part they make for that Benelli as well.

As you can imagine, I recommend Nordic quite highly.

C
 
According to USPS regs - if someone sends you something you did not order and then tries to bill you (remember the old book of the month club?), you are under no obligation to pay or return

Whether you do or not is your choice
 
Thousands of free bullets does not = a moral dilemma.

While its true that you have no legal obligation to return it or even to contact the vendor I believe you DO have a moral obligation to inform the vendor of their mistake and ask what they wish to do regarding the mistake. If they want it shipped back politely remind them that it was their mistake and you will not pay for return shipping.

I've had it happen to me in the past and I've asked about the mistake. I was sent a pre-paid shipping label for the return of the products. I then sent them back as soon as I got the label. There were a lot of products I would have loved to have kept too and by law I could have. Of course it wouldn't have felt right and me feeling right about what I do is more important than simply being lawful.

What you choose to do is up to you but I'd suggest you look deep within and maybe seek some unearthly guidance before you actually act on that choice. My guess is that you already know what you should do if you had to come ask this here.
 
The problem with calling this "unsolicited" is that he made an enquiry and they could say they made a good faith mistake and will pay for shipping back. I dont see then saying that you own them as moral or legal.

Chances of the company going after you is probably zero but my reputation and integrity is worth a whole lot more than a box of bullets. They would go back.
 
01SVTvert said:
The problem with calling this "unsolicited" is that he made an enquiry and they could say they made a good faith mistake and will pay for shipping back. I dont see then saying that you own them as moral or legal.

Chances of the company going after you is probably zero but my reputation and integrity is worth a whole lot more than a box of bullets. They would go back.
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This is my thought. Truly unsolicited mail is wholly different legally and especially morally from a good faith unilateral mistake.
 
The problem with calling this "unsolicited" is that he made an enquiry...
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I agree. I don't believe this could be reasonably defined as unsolicited mail in the intended sense of the law.

He filled out the form, he entered his address--I assume to get the correct shipping amount, he just didn't include any payment data since he was just price comparing. There's nothing wrong with that, I've done it myself--although many websites will let you enter only your ZIP to calculate shipping.

But it does take it out of the realm of someone sending out packages to random addressees in an attempt to place them under obligation to pay for a product they really had no interest in at all.

Still, if their system had worked properly, the shipment would never have been made. I still think it's their mistake, and it wouldn't be reasonable for them to expect the OP to bear the expense of returning the bullets. But I also don't think the bullets belong to the OP from a legal, and certainly not from a moral, standpoint.
 
When I do right, that always seems to come back to me. If I do wrong, the opposite is almost always true. I will not, however, make a super effort to make their mistake right. If they put out a UPS "call tag" and have the package picked up from my front porch, I'll do that. If they expect me to re-box the items, drive the 20 mile round trip to town and ship it on my dime back to them, that's garbage and I won't do it.

Flash
 
I remember when I lived in a Frat house in college, a local concrete vendor tried to strong-arm us into buying product. A truck showed up and unstacked several packages of quick-crete, claiming someone in the house had ordered it. Nobody had. We wouldn't pay the bill and they threatened to sue, etc.

Luckily, an alum from our house was an attorney and made them go away very, very quickly. The quick-crete sat out in the rain and became hard. They were made to come pick it up.
 
I remember when I lived in a Frat house in college, a local concrete vendor tried to strong-arm us into buying product. A truck showed up and unstacked several packages of quick-crete, claiming someone in the house had ordered it. Nobody had. We wouldn't pay the bill and they threatened to sue, etc.
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Frat house. Concrete. No one claiming responsibility. Yea... I wouldn't suspect the college kids, at all..... :rolleyes:


As for the OP-
I'd call.

My most recent personal example:
Earlier in the year, I ordered 3 boxes of .430" 265 gr FTX bullets from Midway, along with a few other items. When the shipment arrived, there were 3 boxes of the FTX bullets and a box of .430" 265 gr Interlocks (which was supposed to be out of stock), my other items, and one of the .338" Hornady tapered ("chatter-free") expanders for RCBS dies.

When I called, they asked if I would ship the extras back, if they sent me a label. I agreed, but reminded them that they would have paid for these bullets twice, by the time they were shipped back. I offered to send the expander back on my dime, if they would let me keep the 265 gr Interlocks (that's what I wanted, to begin with ;)). They quickly agreed, and I spent a whopping $1.58 on postage and a 6"x9" padded envelope for the expander.

I could have just kept everything, but I felt much better about the situation after letting them make the decision.
 
I think if you call them and tell them about their mistake ,then the ball is in their court. I can guarantee you ,they won't make a dicision on a moral basis. It will be a simple business decision. Are they better off paying to have it returned or just giving you the bullets? Your moral obligation will be met at this point,IMO. If they comp you the bullets, enjoy!
 
The law is "Unsolicited mail is a gift". What you do with it is entirely up to you.
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That is completely different than a simple shipping error.
The only right thing to do is call and advise of the error.
But, do watch for a billing or charge to your card.
 
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