To keep this or am I thief?

[hattyho]

So I ordered a purse online from a well known brand.
I paid £12 so cheap and cheerful.
The parcel arrived today and it was well packaged in a nice box and wrapped etc.
I opened it and it was a different purse (loved it ) and I checked online and it is selling on the site for £100
Moral dilemma ...keep or return ?
Would you tell them ?

Happens to me once in a while, I always chat or email the company. So far was always told to keep it, plus a few times received my original item as a bonus, once even a gift card for being honest.

I’d email or call them and tell them your order is incorrect.

The most likely scenario is they’ll let you keep the purse. But they might not and ask for you to return it.

It’s up to you.

I would tell them.

@stumpyteapot do you also open your neighbours letters if someone accidentally puts them in your mailbox?

I’m guessing it’s asos, the amount of times I’ve received the wrong item as the sticker on the packaging is completely different to the item ordered is ridiculous. With the huge amount of items they send out and have returned I’d be amazed if you informed them and sent it back that it wouldn’t get sent out to someone else as the cheaper item you ordered anyway so I would keep it.

stumpy No, you read the link and tell me why she has dishonestly appropriated it?

She ordered and paid in good faith.

Ho ho ho indeed OP.

Nicknacky, did you read the link I posted?

www.bbc.com/news/business-37048351

It's a common question. If you Google it, you'll find loads of links that will tell you it's illegal.

People here are being facitious and silly. Its not theft at all. The op put in a purchase to a company and exchanged money for an item. The paid money was agreed between customer and company. The company then sent a usually higher priced item which was the same sort of thing, ie both items were bags. So the company have made a deal to exchange money for an item and sent the wrong one but the transaction has still taken place as agreed by customer and company. This was not ops mistake. The op is not a theif if she keeps it. And in likelyhood both bags probably cost the same to produce in the same factory.

I would tell them, but they would have to arrange for collection etc if they wanted it back, as it's their mistake, I wouldn't be running round. The world is a nicer place when people are honest.

I would keep it. Probably morally wrong but meh.

MrDonut I know the law pretty well. It’s really really not theft.

I would keep it too. You've had a right result op!!

Op paid £12 for a purse

Does she believe she has the right to keep a more expensive purse sent to her in error ?

I think that would be for the courts to decide so possibility the dishonest aspect has been meet

Has she taken any steps to rectify or notify the company of the mistake ? - no

She has assumed rights if the more expensive purse by keeping it despite coming across it innocently

It's not theft. Theft would be being in a shop (say TK Maxx) and putting an expensive purse into a cheaper purse display box and knowingly letting the tag on the box be scanned. They sent a more expensive purse. Personally, my own morals would make me tell them but put NO effort in of my own- I'm not packaging it up, paying for postage that they'll return to me etc. They can arrange a courier to collect at my convenience. I don't judge you for keeping it, each to their own moral standard but you are not a thief either way.

MrDonut Read Martha’s excellent post.

It's crazy tho as both purses are the same colour too.

Nicknacky, then you’ll know from case law that ‘appropriation’ is treating something as if it were yours eg switching price stickers on cans in a shop.

That said, I’d still keep the purse

Did you read the link I posted? 🤷‍♀️

@MarthaArthur
If she paid £100 and got the £10 one, she'd be kicking up a huge fuss that the THIEVES sent her wrong item.
But when she paid 1/10 of the price it's somehow perfectly fine?

at all the posters who'd be honest because it's wrong........while being awkward as fuck about returning it

MN Moral crew? No - its called being honest really. Surely thats a way to live by?

OP - i would return it, but thats me. I know people who wouldnt and people who would. People will say its not their mistake. People will say those companies make SO much money anyway - so whats the harm. The truth is, someone somewhere has had to pay for it.

I’m loving people trying to argue with nickynacky and Martha, who clearly know what they’re talking about, using random internet links as evidence 🤣 don’t bother with law school kids! Google is your friend!

I would keep it, glad you have OP. You had some good luck

I think it’s genuinely interesting that some posters saying they’d return it also almost caveat by saying ‘the shop might reward you’...as if it’s not pure honesty driving them.

thunder That’s fraud and not the situation here.

Honestly, why are people comparing it to completely different scenarios?

Why are you talking about the other way around? If its the other way around the op can either decide to keep the cheaper one or ask for the more expensive one. Again its in the contract the op can keep the cheaper one or she can ask for it back. The company arent going to bang down her door to hand over the expensive one.