The i-Deals Incident

[Mirror Image]

I wouldn't complain. I'd find it totally ok if they cancelled. On the contrary, since they are free to cancel I'd feel better taking the opportunity. Quite a while ago I had a few such orders, but with the combined shipping fees of 6 USD per item and them sending it in one parcel I guess both sides were happy.

If they're free to cancel, then I'm free to leave them negative feedback and quite a lot of it.

[Opus106]

No, mine was the right analogy. In the United States, you go to the pump slide your card and begin to fill up. Most people who have credit cards don't go into the store unless they need something. If you just want gas, you don't have to talk to anybody.

My point being: you haven't received the product yet. And even if money was debited from your account, you'll receive a refund in the case of a cancellation. We realise that you are taking some legal points to the extreme. It's simply that some of us think that it isn't fair to do so in all cases.

[Sadko]

If they're free to cancel, then I'm free to leave them negative feedback and quite a lot of it.

After all there are still humans behind it, and why be so mean? If it is unintentional it can be a substantial loss for them. If I remember correctly even at the stock exchange obviously erroneous mistrades can be cancelled.

[TheGSMoeller]

Yesterday I was skeptical, but seeing those $1 specials for a second day I now believe its intentional.

[Mirror Image]

Re. ideals:

I've bought from this seller before. They often list items briefly for significantly less than other sellers--say $5 for an item others are selling for $10--but I've never seen $1 to $5 box sets before, or even new singles for a buck or two. Friday night I was culling some stuff from my cart (which had grown to dozens of items) when I spotted a "No longer available from the seller you chose but others have it starting at $1" message. I followed it up and discovered the same thing discussed here and on the purchases thread -- many items offered at very low prices.

Since it was widespread but not uniform, and since the reduced prices I saw ranged from $1 to $14, I supposed it was some kind of inventory reduction measure, with losses abated somewhat by $3 per item shipping charges on stuff that might be sent as bulk orders via media mail.

I ordered a couple of dozen items that I was interested in but would probably never buy at normal prices. I would have ordered more except that I accidentally put several into my cart instead of "one-click-buying" them, only to find that they suddenly were unavailable. I saw the same thing last night and this morning and ordered a few more. Then suddenly the ones in my cart went "unavailable" again, and I was a bit relieved because it stopped me from spending just because it was such a bargain. (Seriously, Friday night I saw HJ Lim's complete Beethoven sonata set for $1 and almost bought it, till I realized it would just waste precious shelf space!)

We'll see what happens. If the pricing is legitimate, I expect my orders will be filled. If it's an error or a malicious prank by a disgruntled employee, it would hardly be fair to force the seller to make good at the cost of hundreds or even thousands of dollars -- maybe tens of thousands, if they also sell pop music and the same thing happened with Lady Gaga discs!

But the problem, Dave, is with their system, I have nothing to do with other than I bought CDs for exceptionally low prices. Why would I be wrong to get what I rightfully paid for? I expect my orders to be filled or I'll simply contact Amazon and go all the way up the ladder in order to get what I bought. The pricing is obviously a mistake, but their business ethnics are on the line here. If they can't fulfill my orders, then, as a result, I will leave them negative feedback. You don't buy an item for said price and then be told you can't have for that price after the fact that it's been posted. That's poor business practices whether it's a mistake or not.

[Wakefield]

My point being: you haven't received the product yet. And even if money was debited from your account, you'll receive a refund in the case of a cancellation. We realise that you are taking some legal points to the extreme. It's simply that some of us think that it isn't fair to do so in all cases.

IMO, you're right.

I think MI is saying, as the old civil law maxim, ''nemo auditur propriam turpitudinem allegans'', which means: ''No one is heard when alleging their own wickedness; no one can be heard whose claim is based on his own disgraceful behaviour''. But he is forgetting that, more generally, contracts must be performed in good faith.   

[Mirror Image]

My point being: you haven't received the product yet. And even if money was debited from your account, you'll receive a refund in the case of a cancellation. We realise that you are taking some legal points to the extreme. It's simply that some of us think that it isn't fair to do so in all cases.

You may not think it's fair and that's your right. We'll just agree to disagree. A salesperson puts a big screen television in front of you for $40 and, then you go to buy it and then he say's "Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake. It's $4000." I'm sorry but people shouldn't be so careless. That television is mine for $40.

[The new erato]

It's only discs; of which most of us has too many.

[Opus106]

A salesperson puts a big screen television in front of you for $40 and, then you go to buy it and then he say's "Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake. It's $4000." I'm sorry but people shouldn't be so careless. That television is mine for $40.

Yes, one should be more careful before falling for that!

[Mirror Image]

It's only discs; of which most of us has too many.

Yes, I know, but I couldn't help myself. It's a CDCDCD thing, you know?

[Mirror Image]

Yes, one should be more careful before falling for that!

But he's the one who took a loss, not me.

[Karl Henning]

I wouldn't complain. I'd find it totally ok if they cancelled. On the contrary, since they are free to cancel I'd feel better taking the opportunity. Quite a while ago I had a few such orders, but with the combined shipping fees of 6 USD per item and them sending it in one parcel I guess both sides were happy.

Hear, hear.

[The new erato]

Yes, I know, but I couldn't help myself. It's a CDCDCD thing, you know?

Yes I know, but life's too short to be aggravated by other people's screwups. If you get them, consider yourself lucky, if not, you're not worse off than you were a couple of days ago.

[Mirror Image]

After all there are still humans behind it, and why be so mean? If it is unintentional it can be a substantial loss for them. If I remember correctly even at the stock exchange obviously erroneous mistrades can be cancelled.

I'm not being mean, I'm getting what I rightfully paid for. I put down the money to buy the recordings. They took the money. They should do their part and fulfill the orders. F*** the stock exchange. We're not talking about stocks, this seller's reputation is on the line here. When you're doing business on Amazon, there's always another MP seller waiting to do business with you, but I'm afraid that if these orders aren't shipped, I'll cease doing business with Amazon for good. I already have large CD collection and I'm happy with it, and I'm incredibly fortunate to own what I already have right now, but I saw this 'sale' and I took advantage of it like anyone else with a collector's mentality would do.

[Mirror Image]

Yes I know, but life's too short to be aggravated by other people's screwups. If you get them, consider yourself lucky, if not, you're not worse off than you were a couple of days ago.

Yes, I would be a lucky man with or without those CDs. As I said, I already have a collection I'm satisfied with, but, like I said, I took advantage of the sale and they'll be shipping my orders or I'll leave them negative feedback. It's that simple.

[Karl Henning]

Well, I was curious to give it a go, and for $1, I felt the risk::reward profile was right : )

[San Antone]

I'm not being mean, I'm getting what I rightfully paid for. I put down the money to buy the recordings. They took the money.

They won't take your money until they ship the CDs.  If they have not shipped them, then you have not paid for them, and if they choose to cancel n order to rectify a software error, it is fully within their rights to do so.  What would be unethical (imo) would be for you to lodge a dozen negative comments  about their business practices over this incident.

[flyingdutchman]

I'm sorry, but we all know that it's probably a mistake and perhaps not on the part of the retailer.  Have you ever thought that it could be a glitch in Amazon's system?  Or that there's another possible explanation?  Before you leave negative feedback think about other possible scenarios. 

And I also think you're being petty in this.

[Mirror Image]

I don't understand why Amazon would have the glitch when it's the MP seller who enters in the prices that they want to sell the CDs for. That wouldn't make any sense, especially since no other MP seller have had these supposed "glitches." I remember a time many summers ago, when Naxos of America (aka Classical Music Superstore) were selling Naxos and Chandos CDs for $1-$2 and this didn't come out to be some kind failure in their pricing system. My philosophy as a customer is if you renege my order, then you will receive negative feedback. They need to do a better job of maintaining their inventory and pricing their products accordingly. I did what anyone else who collects classical recordings would have done. I don't think I'm in the wrong for wanting to get what I paid for and feeling that the seller has a responsibility every time they list something on Amazon.

[Mirror Image]

Well, I was curious to give it a go, and for $1, I felt the risk::reward profile was right : )

Absolutely, Karl. I bought many CDs last night that I've been skeptical of, but for a $1 I figured it was worth a shot. Good on ya, mate!