*Almost* had the new PHB, darnit

[Anubis the Doomseer]

It isn't against the law but it certainly is unethical.

You knew that the book isn't supposed to be sold. You knew that they made a mistake. You profited from their violation of an agreement with the publisher.

Illegal - no, the police have more pressing business rounding up chronic jaywalkers and public nose-pickers, but there is a certain amount of dishonesty at work.

I think this release date is stupid, especially since I'm certain that someone can probably find all three books on Kazaa already - all it would take is a set of the book bought in the Netherlands (or the copies a couple of ENworlders have already read) and a scanner. The idea of worldwide simultaneous release dates is to cut down on piracy, but it backfires when the street date is artificially pushed later than it should be.

Until Hasbro sees that this isn't really worth all the effort and just release the damn books I'll just be waiting for the status of my Amazon.ca order to change...

- patient Ma'at

 

[The It's Man]

(...)I'm certain that someone can probably find all three books on Kazaa already - all it would take is a set of the book bought in the Netherlands (or the copies a couple of ENworlders have already read) and a scanner. (...)

Ah, we wouln't do that - it gives away the power we have on these boards untill the official release

 

[Mark]

Well, let's consider what alignment...

Here we go...

 

[SneakyB]

...So BVB is obviously lawful good, willing to sacrifice for the good of the store, and because he doesn't want to disrupt the proper order of things. ...

COMPLETELY tongue-in-cheek here, guys, but in this case

LAWFUL GOOD = LAWFUL STUPID

As I said, completely tongue-in-cheek, no harm or offense intended

Dan

 

[DM_Matt]

I don't see how law or ethics is involved here either, and I'm quite the law-and-order sort of guy.

For you, there is clearly no law, rule, or any sort of externally-ordered compulsion to act.

Regarding ethics, there is nothing unethical about rectifying someone elses error. The bookstore violated an agreement with the publisher by accident, but whence comes to obligation to rectify a mistake tha tyou did not make. As a purchaser, you paid the amount of money that they asked, and recieved your product. Your obligation does not go beyond that.

Finally, if this was an FLGS, maybe the idea that you dont want thme in trouble might fly, but rmeember, this is Barnes and Noble we're talking about here. Hasbro isn't going to stop sending them books.

The only person who might get in trouble is the guy who made the mistake. Is it a nice, altruistic thing to do to help him out of a jam? Sure. But on the other hand, you are also helping him to avoid the consequences of his error and causing harm to yourself, who has not done anytihng wrong.

I could see how one might say that theey would choose to do this, but its a BIG stretch to call this morally mandated.

 

[BVB]

Thank you, Ranger W. ... I think. +

Considering the other responses here, I shall reconsider at least twice more before posting similar decisions. I'm sorta sorry now I even opened this particular topic.

At least the addage has been proven: No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[Gellion]

I would have said.

NO ITS MINE NOW AND YOU CANT HAVE IT BACK BWAAAA BWAAAAAAAA BWWWAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Metalsmith]

I guess I'm just evil.

I would have confused the issue. "I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about. I lost a book of checks a few weeks ago and closed the account." Verfiy the name and address on the checks but be off by a few digits. Hang up.

When they call back. "Hello! Captn Morgans house of Chains, How can I help you?"

Tell them they must have misdialed.

--Repeat as necessary--

 

[Welverin]

Yeah, they gave me a 10-percent-off coupon for my next visit. But, darn it! I was soooo close! Now I've got to wait another two weeks to finish reading about the changes in the bard class.

Why didn't you finish reading it? It's not like it would made any difference to them.

 

[Pielorinho]

They probably thought to themselves, "Crap! Can't believe we did that! Well, call back anyone who bought one. Offer them just a refund first, but if they get tetchy, offer them a 10% off coupon. If they still don't cooperate, offer them a free copy of the book when it comes out, and as a last resort, offer them a $50 gift certificate. It'll still be cheaper than paying the contract penalties for releasing the book early."

Daniel