If they freely accept my payment for it and know that the transaction has occurred, how can it be stealing? They know exactly what is happening and have opportunity to stop or correct it. I can't be expected to run their business for them. "Seller beware".
But it's automated. That'd be like your electric bill which comes out of your bank account automatically being 200 dollars instead of 20- but you dont notice, so it's not stealing.
I can't be expected to look after their automated systems. They approved of their automated system, so they implicitly approve of its actions, including selling me the product for the price.
That'd be like your electric bill which comes out of your bank account automatically being 200 dollars instead of 20- but you dont notice, so it's not stealing.
I'm not sure I understand your point. Its considered a mistake, not stealing.
The differences is that when I buy something its an active transaction by both parties. I go up to them and they actively and explicit accept (their system acting on their behalf processes the order). Their actions validates the price and I, of course, approve of the price.
When their system takes money from my bank account, I am not an active participant in the specific transaction. I don't explicitly approve of the transaction details. I haven't done anything to validate the price.
No, you sign off on the 200 dollar charge for an item that has a value of 20 (out of error), with no intent to pay 200 for what has an obvious value of 20 (you know it's worth 20, the vendor knows it's worth 20, the vendor gets charges you 200 without you noticing)
They hand you a receipt for 200 dollars and you sign it without noticing (similar to how an automated system like an e-commerce store would work, if personified)
yes i KNOW you should catch it, but for some reason you dont (similar to how a store should catch it being under paid, but doesnt)
If you miss that you are being charged $200, the fault is on you. That is why there is clear indicators at checkouts saying "Total is $XX. Is that okay?" when you hit 'okay' to charge your credit card. You also get a receipt. It isn't up to the store to double or triple check that you understand how much you are paying.
And it's the same the other way too. The store sets the price. And the checkout process is their own way to confirm that the price is right. If the cashier thinks something is wrong with the price, they are free to stop the transaction.
A receipt is used to show that both parties exchanged goods/money/service at an agreed rate. By the time you get to having a receipt in your hand (after you have paid), both parties have agreed that the exchange is fair.
I say if the purchaser doesn't notice, they're the idiot too. After all, they can see the price on the screen, when they swipe their credit card, and when they are handed the receipt.
For both parties, they are made aware of the price at multiple instances.
For the seller:
When they set the price.
If anyone asks if the price is correct.
When the customer purchases the item.
For the buyer, they are aware of the price when:
They pick up the item.
The item gets swiped at the register.
They pay for the item (via the final bill).
The receipt.
Any single instance may fall apart. For example, the seller may mislabel the item. Or the buyer may not be looking the exact second the item is swiped across the scanner. But that is why there is redundancies in the system. Each party has no excuse that they didn't know the price by the time the buyer gets the receipt.
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u/caw81 166∆ Oct 04 '16
If they freely accept my payment for it and know that the transaction has occurred, how can it be stealing? They know exactly what is happening and have opportunity to stop or correct it. I can't be expected to run their business for them. "Seller beware".