Is taking advantage of someone else's mistake considered theft, morally speaking?

Question

I found a pair of quality shoes on eBay, but the seller has misspelled the brand name of the shoes, so they're unlikely to show up in any direct search.

If I manage to win these shoes for, say, half what they're worth, am I any better than a thief? Or is it my moral obligation to not bid and instead to inform this fellow he's made an error?

And by "morals" I'm referring to a morality of life, not the Christian morality of death, so no Jesusy quotes to back up nonsense. Let's speak purely in well reasoned arguments based on the real world, thanks.

Answer 1

No, it is not wrong.

Everytime someone makes a mistake, someone else is going to benefit somehow. The person benefiting from the mistake might as well be you.

It is there responsibility to sell their wares in whatever way benefits them the most. Not your problem.

In fact, you could look at it as you being rewarded for finding the "diamond in the rough" It was harder for you to find the misspelled shoes than it would have been to find the properly spelled version of those shoes.

Answer 2

I just answered a question about internet lingo and also buy and sell and trade all the time. It's something that is considered a loss to the buyer and a gain to you. EVERYONE is always looking for a bargain. Do you tell the person selling a Picaso for $10 at a garage sale, would you still consider you a thief or a 'bargain hunter'? Over the summer I found a fur stole that I bought for $10. It was almost mint with inside pockets and very pretty. Did I steal? No.
Once, I wanted to sell something for 20,000 but missed a zero and sold it for 2,000. They got a 18k bargain. I'm sad, but it was MY fault.
Don't beat yourself up about it. They had plenty of time to find their mistake. Maybe it's a knock off that was spelled correctly....

Answer 3

Hmm, good question. I think I would feel guilty every time I wore the shoes, if I got them for much less than they were worth.

But then again, people might find the shoes by shopping via category, not only the brand name. Someone else could tell the seller about his error, or he could find it himself. Or perhaps they don't reach the reserve, so he has to repost, noticing his error later.

Bidding on the shoes solely because you think you could get them dirt cheap isn't the right thing to do.

Answer 4

The seller knows what brand they are and the seller is also quite capable of putting a reserve price on the auction. If you meet the reserve, there is clearly no theft, moral or otherwise.

Answer 5

Frankly mistakes do happen however people who are selling an item need to be responsible for their actions... including pricing, spelling and description. If they aren't taking the time to ensure that they've depicted their own product accurately then they should pay the price.

Answer 6

i would tell him about the error and negotiate a price that works for both of you, without taking advantage of a simple error.
if the shoe was on the other foot, you wouldnt want to be taken advantage of, i am sure.

Answer 7

Sure you're better than a thief, and it's his mistake... but it's up to your own views on morality for your decision... I'd probably get them then feel guilty, but you need to make your own ethical decisions.

Answer 8

There is a term "the cost of doing business" and it works both ways! Besides usually it's "buyer beware" so go for it!

Answer 9

it's completely fine for you to do this!...the seller should have spent the time to spell it right. go for it!