Moral Dilemma Time…or not

Spiky Bugger · Tuesday at 9:09 PM

1–I really hate FedEx.
2–I ordered a $100 portable clothing rack, for our big closet, from Home Depot. It was $90, less military discount.
3–On delivery day, last Friday, it never showed. But FedEx said it was delivered to our garage. We don’t HAVE a garage. There IS underground parking which requires a key fob. AFAIK, they don’t have one and I don’t know whose parking space it would have been dropped off in.
4–I bitched and moaned accordingly. Home Deport called THAT missing order a “return,” and credited me the full price.
5-THEN Home Depot reordered my item, giving me the original price, less $20 for my trouble…to be delivered tomorrow (Wednesday). When tracking showed them close by, MrSue went to the lobby, sat on some big box that was there and FedEx never showed. MrMiniSue joined him. Then FedEx said today. So he, and MrMiniSue came back to our apartment. We sat here for hours, delivery window time expired which made map tracking unavailable. MrMiniSue went home, MrSue and I declared naptime.
6-While we were sleeping, FedEx, ignoring the instructions to call or text, delivered the Tues-Wed package this afternoon. This time it was placed in the lobby. MrSue said, “Wait! THIS is the new box. That one, the one I sat on this morning must be from last week!”
7-MrMiniSue absolutely believes I need to return the extra box or pay for it. I told him that Home Depot says it was RETURNED and the packing, transportation and bookkeeping details would be trauma-inducing. I’d rather just have TWO clothing racks and pretend none of this ever happened. But now I’m just a thief. I generally TRY to be honest…but now…

What do YOU think?

(I also kinda wonder where that first box has been hanging out for several days.)

Larra · Tuesday at 10:43 PM

I actually had something similar happen a few years back, but with a smaller and much less expensive item - a music CD, to be specific. I had ordered it on eBay. It didn't show in a reasonable length of time, so I let them know. They asked for more time. I said ok. It still didn't show up. I let them know again, and they sent a second one, which did arrive.
Over a month after the initial order, the first one magically showed up. Who knows where it was all that time, definitely not at my home. I tried to contact the company to ask about returning one of them, and they said they were just some kind of secondary party that handles eBay sales for other people, and I should contact the original owner, or some such thing. Which I had no way to do. Honest! I would have returned it.
But returning a little bitty CD is a whole lot easier than a big clothing rack. I would say to give them a call and see if they have some easy, straight forward way for them to come and fetch this thing without any stress for you. If not, it's yours. And I disagree with MrMiniSue. You are not a thief, regardless of how this goes.

southernlady · Wednesday at 11:17 AM

Sounds like I would return it at Home Depot’s dime or sell it, especially if you don’t have room for a second one. If you do, keep it.

hilary1617 · Wednesday at 3:43 PM

I'd give them a call. They likely won't want it back or will make arrangements that are easy, in which case your conscience will be clear and you won't be burdened by having to otherwise dispose of the extra rack. I've had similar circumstances (albeit from Amazon) and they told me to keep the bulky item. If you are stuck with it, might be good to donate to freebox or a charity that deals with clothing.

JackieOnLine · Wednesday at 7:08 PM

Spiky Bugger said:
MrMiniSue absolutely believes I need to return the extra box or pay for it.

naw, I think you should keep it if you want it. or donate it, like Hilary says. I mean, call them if you want to.

Spiky Bugger · 2025-02-21T11:58:16-0500

Chris, at Home Depot Customer Service, said, “Merry Christmas! You may keep both clothing racks, no extra charges and you are NOT a thief.”

I already told MrMiniSue. I’m awaiting a smart ass response from him.

Thanks all for the input.