Dealer invoice mistake
03-11-2021, 09:56 PM
#31
03-11-2021, 10:03 PM
#32
So basically the dealership is who noticed the discrepancy, and were calling in order for you to make it right. You had no option to feign ignorance and avoid settling up.
The SA made up the story about the extra 4k receipt to make it easy for you to own up. The time between that call and yours, he assumed you were going to try to get away with it, and was working with his management to decide how to handle.
The SA made up the story about the extra 4k receipt to make it easy for you to own up. The time between that call and yours, he assumed you were going to try to get away with it, and was working with his management to decide how to handle.
Last edited by dhirm5; 03-11-2021 at 10:04 PM.
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03-12-2021, 08:42 AM
#33
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I own a small retail business and make mistakes from time to time, like we all do. Sometimes I made the mistake of overcharging the customer, and then I immediately make that right. Most clients would never catch it, but it's the right thing to do. More often, I make the mistake against my store (furniture) and then I have to decide if I can absorb it or have to call them to discuss it. If its a $ 200 to $ 300 dollars on say a $ 4,000 order I don't bother, but I will let them know that I did do it in error and as such if they come to purchase a second piece (many do) that would be at the correct price. About 10% of those notified insist I charge them the correct amount, 85% are happy to take advantage of the mistake and the remaining 5% are actually gleeful over it. If the mistake is larger than that, and goes below my landed wholesale cost, then I ask them to pay the correct price. Most do on an ask.
Last Fall I had a client in Colorado who purchased $ 28,000 worth of furniture and sent me a check for it. I have a check scanner on my desk for my bank, ran it through the scanner like I do daily, and it was three months later when I was reconciling my bank account and saw a $ 28,000 shortage that month. Took me two hours to track it down to find out the scan didn't take for whatever reason. I emailed him and told him what happened and that I was going to re-scan his check 90 days later (thank goodness I archive the originals in a file) because I wanted him to know his bank account was going to take a $ 28,000 hit when I do. The response? Nothing. This from a client who must have sent me fifty emails about his purchase. He thought he was getting free furniture, not many people are so wealthy as to not notice an extra $ 28,000 not cashed from their bank account and he never did the right thing and tell me the check had not cleared. That's wrong and I know his integrity is questionable.
I think you have to let your conscience be your guide. If you are a parent, it's pretty hard to tell your kids to be decent and ethical while you are taking advantage of someone's human error. Anyone who is narcissistic is never going to right that wrong because their personality puts them first no matter what. Myself? I would call the dealer and pay it. That was the agreed upon deal, it clearly was an error and I would not have even thought twice about making it right. At the end of the day, a person's reputation and integrity are more important than the money.
Last Fall I had a client in Colorado who purchased $ 28,000 worth of furniture and sent me a check for it. I have a check scanner on my desk for my bank, ran it through the scanner like I do daily, and it was three months later when I was reconciling my bank account and saw a $ 28,000 shortage that month. Took me two hours to track it down to find out the scan didn't take for whatever reason. I emailed him and told him what happened and that I was going to re-scan his check 90 days later (thank goodness I archive the originals in a file) because I wanted him to know his bank account was going to take a $ 28,000 hit when I do. The response? Nothing. This from a client who must have sent me fifty emails about his purchase. He thought he was getting free furniture, not many people are so wealthy as to not notice an extra $ 28,000 not cashed from their bank account and he never did the right thing and tell me the check had not cleared. That's wrong and I know his integrity is questionable.
I think you have to let your conscience be your guide. If you are a parent, it's pretty hard to tell your kids to be decent and ethical while you are taking advantage of someone's human error. Anyone who is narcissistic is never going to right that wrong because their personality puts them first no matter what. Myself? I would call the dealer and pay it. That was the agreed upon deal, it clearly was an error and I would not have even thought twice about making it right. At the end of the day, a person's reputation and integrity are more important than the money.
Last edited by drcollie; 03-12-2021 at 08:45 AM.
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03-12-2021, 11:52 AM
#34
I would say depends on how your transaction went with the dealer. If they gave you what they promised without any games and without any additional dealer markups, I would return the money; if they tried any sleazy stuff then I would just ignore them. At this point, I doubt you are legally obligated to return the money, but if they were good to you it is the right thing to do.
03-12-2021, 01:34 PM
#36
Burning Brakes
Wow, this is wild...I'm an engineer/big spreadsheet guy so no way I'd miss a $4K discrepancy on either side...heck my final number was a couple bucks off what I expected so needed to figure out with my finance person! Crazy.