The Courier-Journal’s Bob Hill thinks its OK to steal, at least from evil big box stores:
I WOULD not take advantage of someone in a smaller, user-friendly, product-knowledgeable store, but I rarely correct money-takers in a box store now if it’s to my advantage. I don’t consider it my fault — although minor sin might be another matter. It’s my only means of getting back at store indifference, especially with 10 impatient people in line behind me. Knowledge and service should matter more than a slightly lower price.My other rationalization comes from the times I’ve gotten home and learned I’d overpaid for things, or an item was missing. It all comes out in the wash.
Be honest: Do you find yourself more and more doing the same thing — especially in today’s impersonal checkout line? Please e-mail your deepest societal worries and moral concerns to bhill@courier-journal.com. Slug it “Bananas.” Some answers will be used in subsequent column.
Of course, Bob Hill, and anyone similarly aggrieved, has an option other than theft - address “store indifference” by taking your business to a “smaller, user-friendly, product-knowledgeable store.” Certainly Home Depot isn’t the only source of peat moss in greater Louisville. If you really believe that “knowledge and service should matter more than a slightly lower price,” then by all means take your business to stores that offer better service for more money. That’s the whole point of a competitive market - the customer gets to balance service, quality, convenience and price however he sees fit. Don’t take advantage of the low prices at Home Depot and Wal-Mart and complain about not getting the service you didn’t pay for. Certainly don’t intentionally rip Home Depot off and then justify ripping them off on the grounds that you didn’t get the service you didn’t pay for.
