I have an ethical dilemma

[Greyscale]

I won an old 3.2 MP HP digital camera for Goodwill Auctions, so I would have something that I could use to post quick snapshots to the web. It was supposed to be delivered today.

But what came in the box from fed ex instead was a super-clean black Vivitar (Cosina) 220/SL M42 screw-mount SLR, complete with a nice (but slow) 55mm lens. It's so clean, it still has the protective plastic on the camera bottom.

Coincidentally, I happen to collect vintage M42 screw-mount cameras, preferably in black.

I have a little devil on my shoulder, whispering in my ear "keep it, keep it, it's the shipper's fault".

So far, the shoulder angel :angel: is silent. Maybe he is on vacation?

 

[coelacanth]

I'll try to send a pigeon to your angel... 😀

 

[eric rose]

Well you already know the answer. Contact them and see what they want to do. Chances are they will just call it a wash and your path to heaven is still clear lol.

 

[FrankS]

Just email goodwill and tell them the mistake. They may say to just keep it. Then you can enjoy it with no guilty feelings.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Probably 'worth' less than the digicam. Contact 'em and see.

Cheers,

R.

 

[coelacanth]

If the camera you received was already bought by someone else, then that person is waiting for it to show up right now. If it was sitting in the stock pile and just sent to you by mistake, they might just let you keep it. I'd contact them either way and see what they say. You might be able to keep it, maybe not. Either way, you don't have to feel the guilt every time you shoot with the camera. :angel:

 

[RayPA]

These types of decisions are easier to make when you keep them to yourself. 😛

The only scenario where it's a really bummer is if it's a mix up in shipping and someone else won the auction for the SLR. THAT would suck for for the other person who is expecting a clean SLR and ends up with a low megapixel camera. Anyway, you'll probably hear about it soon enough it that is the case.
You might want to check to see if there was an auction for the SLR. Otherwise, it's fortuitous for both you and the camera, and it was obviously meant to be.

Good luck sleeping at night. 😛



/

 

[sevo]

Well, ask them. If they did not sell it to someone else, they probably won't care one way or the other, the more so as the shipping there and back won't be covered by the price on either camera given usual Goodwill rates on these undesirables.

But if they did sell that Vivitar, the other buyer will complain - in which case you'll have to return it in a rather humiliating fashion (either playing the idiot that can't distinguish between a HP digital and M42 SLR or risking prosecution for fraud)...

 

[Greyscale]

Oh, I'm sure that I'll end up doing the right thing. Especially if I ever want to use the Goodwill Auction site again.

But that doesn't mean that I have to like it. 😉

 

[former member]

If they are going to pay the return postage and incidental cost to the Post Office, and refund your money- You would not be out anything.

I suspect the cost to Goodwill of returning the camera is not worth it for them. They will be getting off lucky to not have an irate buyer shipped an old film camera instead of a digital camera.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

If it came to you, it's a signal!

If you should clear all this, wait for another signal! 🙂

Yes, I'm kidding...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[alexnotalex]

Donate it back to Goodwill?
You'll feel doubly good.

 

[alexnotalex]

Donate it back to Goodwill?
You'll feel doubly good.

Then buy it back the next day for a triple-whammy of love!

 

[Greyscale]

The angel showed up and convinced me to send them an email.

Stupid angel.😛

 

[Keith]

Ages ago I bought a genuine hood for the 50mm F1.4 Canon I had ... in the mail instead I received a hood for a 35mm f2. When I contacted the seller he said that he had put the wrong hood in the mail by mistake and sent me the correct one telling me to keep the 35mm rather than send it back. Amazingly I had a 35mm f2 Canon and a hood for that had been next on my shopping list!

 

[jesse1dog]

Can't really see that there was a problem!
A mistake was made - not yours.
You have informed Goodwil.
They have the problem of wrong goods in the wrong place.
How do they propose to fix the situation?
It's their problem not yours.
Wait and see how they respond.
If you have no good reply in 24 hours, re email.
By good I mean - not at your expense.
After all you paid for goods you have not yet got, and for all they know have goods that you do not want. If you had seen the SLR on their site would you have bid on it in the first place - probably not because that wasn't what you were after.
Keep us all posted on what happens.
jesse

 

[Damaso]

Keep it. If you feel badly feel free to donate the difference to Goodwill and take the write off

 

[btgc]

I've learned that snatching penny today may turn into loosing pounds tomorrow. That's your choice, obviously. We are on this planet to learn choices and consequences.

 

[oftheherd]

I think you made the correct choice. Let us know how it turns out. As much as you might want that camera, you will always feel worse keeping it without letting Goodwill know. At least I hope you would.

 

[wgerrard]

If Goodwill wants it back bad enough, they can email you a UPS/FedEx/USPS prepaid shipping label that you can slap on the box.

Like others, though, my guess is they won't want it back unless they sold it to someone else. I don't recall seeing anything at a Goodwill site that cost enough to merit paying shipping to get it back.