Moral Dilemma question...

[Mark_H]

Hey guys, just wanted HAI's great wisdom on this. Note: This isn't a big deal AT ALL, but I'm still curious what the consensus would be.

I sold a Snapper Lawn Mower on CL about a week ago. I used the mower last summer several times with no issues. Last week I went out to mow for the 1st time and the pull start seized up after the 1st pull. Being extremely lazy and knowing old school Snapper lawn mowers are popular I threw it on CL as-is with a seized pull start for $40 bucks. I got a half dozen emails begging to come pick it up. The 1st guy lives close luckily and he came and got it.

Today he emails me and says he can't get the pull start loose and "would like to return it for a refund".

Now I tell myself that if I was in his shoes I'd throw it on CL as-is, mark it as a lesson learned and get my $40 back out of it. I don't think I'm responsible or liable for the fact he can't fix it.

What do you guys think? Do I give his $$ back and re-sell it or is it not place to have to take on that responsibility? If not, do I respond to his email...what would you all say or do?

Thanks for all the insight you guys have.
Mark

[cybergreencivic]

If you had " as-is with a seized pull start for $40 bucks" i wouldn't refund anything, and im one to work with someone when selling something, but not reading a listing carefully is his own fault, not yours. You could maybe at most give him some name/numbers of other interested parties in the mower to see if he wants to sell it to them.

[Brandon]

What are you planning to do?


You were up front and honest about what you were selling. He can pound sand.

[303Mike]

You listed it as is. That is his problem now. If he didnt read the post all the way then he is a dumb shit! Send him a copy of the listing as posted and tell him it was sold as is and not your problem.

[jackmode9316]

Agreed with everyone else. "As is" is exactly that. Besides its not like it was his last 40 bucks or anything.

[Mark_H]

Thanks for all the quick responses guys. Yes, it was 100% clearly sold as-is. I just emailed him back and remembered I had 1 guy that wanted it REALLY bad:

Hi XXXX,
Damn, too bad it wasn't a simple fix as most of those pull cord issues are. Anyway, the mower was sold as-is and I really had no intention of offering a refund on an item clearly stated as-is. I would suggest throwing it back on Craigslist, I had about a dozen emails on it. Or, I was able to dig up one guy that wanted it really badly. Shoot him an email and see if he still wants it. I assume he's a small engine repair man or something. His email: xxxxxxx@xxxxx.com
Thanks and good luck.
Mark

[Weston-work]

If you had " as-is with a seized pull start for $40 bucks" i wouldn't refund anything, and im one to work with someone when selling something, but not reading a listing carefully is his own fault, not yours. You could maybe at most give him some name/numbers of other interested parties in the mower to see if he wants to sell it to them.

:werd: As long as he bought it knowing that it had this issue, then it's his problem now. It's not fair of the buyer to want Mark to refund his money and then have to go to the trouble of selling it again, all because of this buyer's mistake or inability to fix the problem that Mark had previously disclosed.

[Mark_H]

:werd: As long as he bought it knowing that it had this issue, then it's his problem now. It's not fair of the buyer to want Mark to refund his money and then have to go to the trouble of selling it again, all because of this buyer's mistake or inability to fix the problem that Mark had previously disclosed.

Werd and werd. I went ahead and forwarded him another potential buyers info. And yes, it was 100% stated as-is with a locked up pull start. Those old Snappers are super popular and this one was essentially in perfect physical condition with a 3.5hp Briggs and Stratton engine.
Thanks fellas.

[Jer]

What a tard. Tell him to get bent.

[Evil_SpeedRacer]

I agree with everyone else, as is means that he can go kick rocks. Why should you be responsible for his inadequate mechanical skills?

[asianjkim]

Just tell him to STFU and deal with it. If you said it was "as-is" thats his fault. He shouldn't buy something he's not positive on. Its like trying to buy a pair of shoes and wear them and try returning it.

[Pang]

Send him this link. What a retard. I hate buyers like that. Know what you're getting into before buying!

[Deceptakhan]

I saw the ad, and saw the part where it clearly states that the pull is unoperable and sold as is. Its like selling a engine thats bad and then the guy brings it back cause he doesn't know how to rebuild it knowing full well that it was bad. Like he was hoping it was a easy fix, and since its not, he wants his monies along with the time he wasted. You did more than you had to, at this point its not a moral issue.

[Eric]

+1 on seeing the AD. Like Carl said, he clearly just thought it was going to be an easy fix and when it turned out to be over his head, he does this.

[DrJones]

I agree with a lot of the logic posted so far, but disagree with the conclusion.

You asked what you should "morally" do. What everyone responded with was your legal obligation.

Yes, you said as is, and legally you don't really have any reason to take it back.

However, this might make me a pussy, but I would take it back. It seems like it wasn't hard to sell, and it's not like it cost you anything (other than time).

In today's society, too often do people simply consider the legal and formal components of decision making. They never consider the people component.

If you took it back, there is a good chance that this guy would be very happy about that. Yes, he might of made a mistake or bad decision, but that doesn't mean he has to get screwed. What if you were in that postion. Even knowing you made the mistake, wouldn't you like the opportunity to give it back.

I'd take it back for the refund. Not because I'm obligated to, but because I think morally, if people treated other people like people every once in a while, the world would be a better place to live in.

[Deceptakhan]

+ one to Dr. Jones. He always makes me stop and think, there are so few people that do that in this world. Thanks.

[Weston]

I agree with a lot of the logic posted so far, but disagree with the conclusion.

You asked what you should "morally" do. What everyone responded with was your legal obligation.

Yes, you said as is, and legally you don't really have any reason to take it back.

However, this might make me a pussy, but I would take it back. It seems like it wasn't hard to sell, and it's not like it cost you anything (other than time).

In today's society, too often do people simply consider the legal and formal components of decision making. They never consider the people component.

If you took it back, there is a good chance that this guy would be very happy about that. Yes, he might of made a mistake or bad decision, but that doesn't mean he has to get screwed. What if you were in that postion. Even knowing you made the mistake, wouldn't you like the opportunity to give it back.

I'd take it back for the refund. Not because I'm obligated to, but because I think morally, if people treated other people like people every once in a while, the world would be a better place to live in.


Yes, it would be super extra nice of him to take it back, but he was upfront and honest about it's condition, so I don't see anything immoral there. Personally, I would put in a reasonable amount of effort to help the guy, rather than just saying "tough luck", and Mark did that by putting him in touch with another buyer. Taking it back and giving the guy a refund is just needlessly re-involving Mark and making him pay for the buyer's mistake, when the buyer is capable of solving the problem himself.

I'm all for morals, but they don't require you to let other people walk on you... just be honest and go the extra mile for people when appropriate. Help people, but don't pay for all of their mistakes for them, or they'll just keep doing it.

[Brandon]

:werd:

Nothing immoral at all. Mark already went the extra mile by giving the guy some contacts. I wouldn't have asked for a refund if I made the same mistake.

[ryanman]

I agree with a lot of the logic posted so far, but disagree with the conclusion.

You asked what you should "morally" do. What everyone responded with was your legal obligation.

Yes, you said as is, and legally you don't really have any reason to take it back.

However, this might make me a pussy, but I would take it back. It seems like it wasn't hard to sell, and it's not like it cost you anything (other than time).

In today's society, too often do people simply consider the legal and formal components of decision making. They never consider the people component.

If you took it back, there is a good chance that this guy would be very happy about that. Yes, he might of made a mistake or bad decision, but that doesn't mean he has to get screwed. What if you were in that postion. Even knowing you made the mistake, wouldn't you like the opportunity to give it back.

I'd take it back for the refund. Not because I'm obligated to, but because I think morally, if people treated other people like people every once in a while, the world would be a better place to live in.
Did you not read the part where it says "THE PULL STARTER IS SCREWED UP" and "SOLD AS IS"?

[DrJones]

Did you not read the part where it says "THE PULL STARTER IS SCREWED UP" and "SOLD AS IS"?

Did you not read the part where I said I agree that legally he doesn't have any legal reason to take it back?

I don't think he has to take it back at all. I'm simply stating that in the same situation I wouldn't mind doing so, just as a good neighbor.

I know that random acts of kindness at your own expense for the benefit of others isn't high on the list of values of people today (just like honesty) but it's still worth spreading around.

[jackmode9316]

I know that random acts of kindness at your own expense for the benefit of others isn't high on the list of values of people today (just like honesty) but it's still worth spreading around.

Who were you targeting with that one?:spit:

[Brandon]

Who were you targeting with that one?:spit:

I lol'd as well.

[ryanman]

STFU homos.

[yapann]

Haha have you both (seller and buyer) your lesson learned? :)

Ask the buyer to make you both agree there is no additional damage now. According to that the thing is not worth the same price anymore and refunding like ~$20/30 will be 100% of the thing now - the market's rule goes for all parts.


Then sell the thing for symbolic $20 to some goldhandy able to run it. Don't forget to make proper statement this time :p

ps:
You can also make a bow to the person again, and refund $10 (which will be 100%) getting thing back and reseling it again for %20 to better goldhandy :p and repeatively collect $1000s untill some really goldhandy have it reapired and feel happy winer.
<kidding:)>


+ one to Dr. Jones. He always makes me stop and think, there are so few people that do that in this world. Thanks.
agreed with both my hands.