Mac Mini Dilemma

[abevilac]

My G5 tower is getting a bit long in the tooth and I jumped on a refurb mac mini a few weeks ago. After it arrived, the buzz about a forthcoming "new" mini started to grow. I had purchased ram and larger HD for the new mini but I haven't yet cracked it open; in fact, it was only plugged in once since I'm in the middle of a project w/ the other machine and I don't want to recreate it on the new one.

So, last week I put the mini up on Amazon MarketPlace for sale and this morning I got the email that it has a buyer. It was priced so that I didn't lose any money on the tax/shipping/Amazon commission.

Should I sell the mini? and wait and see what Apple has up its sleeve? I am making a big assumption that the ram [two 2GB sticks] and the HD will be useable in a new machine. What do you prognosticate?

[PizzaGod]

I'm not familiar with Amazon Marketplace, but you said it was for sale, set the price and you have a buyer willing to pay it. Offer made, deal accepted-wouldn't an honorable person follow through at this point? Is one lousy computer (you have another and I bet another you haven't mentioned) worth your integrity?

[deckeda]

Yeah abevilac, you've essentially made your decision. Regardless of whatever Apple does or doesn't do, you'll feel better. Or we'll think you will.

[abevilac]

Point taken. However, it's not unheard of to have an order canceled -- it's happened to me several times from well-known companies. I'll make the decision this morning and ship or not ship it today, but I just wanted some input.

[zeppo2]

Personally, I'd strive to be more scrupulous than some of those crap companies that don't honor their orders (yeah, I'm talking to you, buy.com).

[SDGuy]

It'd be very unethical NOT to sell it, just because you changed your mind.

You can go through all sorts of mental justifications in your head ("I've had orders canceled on me, therefore I have the right to cancel orders too..." ), but the bottom line is that once you listed it for sale, you made your commitment.

[RAMd®d]

Yes, you are not be legally obligated to sell it, but you went through the motions.

Still, if you decided that you want to keep it, I don't think you sacrifice any integrity as long as you politely explain that you've had a change of heart, and apologize.

If the seller had traveled across the country or made some huge sacrifice based on your sale, that would be a different story.

In fact, all that's happened is that you've received *notification* of an offer. You haven't accepted it yet, have you?

It's not like you Kindled the potential buyer.

[RAMd®d]

It'd be very unethical NOT to sell it, just because you changed your mind.

I disagree. What code of ethics is being violated? None.


Personally, I'd strive to be more scrupulous than some of those crap companies that don't honor their orders (yeah, I'm talking to you, buy.com).

Nothing unscrupulous about changing your mind before accepting an offer, or even after accepting an offer. I'd draw the line at accepting payment, then changing your mind and returning the money. But even then there could be a very valid reason for doing so.

There are valid reasons for a *company* not to honor an order. They are not automatically unscrupulous for doing so in many situations, number one being a pricing error.


but the bottom line is that once you listed it for sale, you made your commitment.

Not true. She merely posted an intention. Again, it's not criminal, immoral, unscrupulous to have a change of heart. I say, if you think you want to keep the mini, you have every right to, and can do so with honor and integrity intact.

A sincere apology may be in order, but no guilt need apply.

[PizzaGod]

RAMd®d wrote:
It'd be very unethical NOT to sell it, just because you changed your mind.

I disagree. What code of ethics is being violated? None.


Personally, I'd strive to be more scrupulous than some of those crap companies that don't honor their orders (yeah, I'm talking to you, buy.com).

Nothing unscrupulous about changing your mind before accepting an offer, or even after accepting an offer. I'd draw the line at accepting payment, then changing your mind and returning the money. But even then there could be a very valid reason for doing so.

There are valid reasons for a *company* not to honor an order. They are not automatically unscrupulous for doing so in many situations, number one being a pricing error.


but the bottom line is that once you listed it for sale, you made your commitment.

Not true. She merely posted an intention. Again, it's not criminal, immoral, unscrupulous to have a change of heart. I say, if you think you want to keep the mini, you have every right to, and can do so with honor and integrity intact.

A sincere apology may be in order, but no guilt need apply.

You probably think Lucy and the football is a hoot with a capital H too.

I don't know about your world, but in mine, you give your word and that's the end of it. Rationalizations are fine, but that's all they are. I'm sure you could justify almost anything if you tried hard enough. Bottom line, it's a $500 piece of equipment. If it's that big a deal, seller should follow through and then replace it. Sheesh, complicate things much here?

[RAMd®d]

You probably think Lucy and the football is a hoot with a capital H too.

There's no need for your sophomoric bullshit just because we disagree.

It's disingenuous to make up scenarios of what I believe just because you don't like what I say.

The only rationalization is the one you're creating to support an imagined obligation. You're just imagining there is. No "word" was given. It was listed for sale. The end. There is no contract made, legal, moral or otherwise. You choose to believe that for whatever reason, but you are wrong. There is no universal morality to be applied here, but you're trying to do so. Big deal.


Sheesh, complicate things much here?

Grow up. I disagree with you, and I say so. Get over yourself.

There is nothing complicated about this. Something was listed for sale, an offer was made, the seller changed their mind. The end. Simple. Or at least is should be. It wasn't done with malice or ill will, that I can see.

If abe did this for a living, even as a side business, I *might* agree with you. It depends on the circumstances. Trying to complicate this with some supposed universal truth/morality is inappropriate. Your "but you promised!" rationalization is just that.

Bottom line is, the seller can certainly change their mind, and should not be browbeaten for doing so.

If you choose do disagree with me, I'm fine with that. But there's no need to be a little bitch about it.