Morality Question 2

[Omar 382]

If I'm at Wendy's, and I order the 99 cent cheeseburger, and give the guy at the drive-thru a dollar, and he hands me back three Baconators, three fries, and a Frosty, am I morally obliged to return the food since I got more than I paid for? What if I haven't eaten anything all day and am really hungry?

 

[Cedrique]

If you just ordered the cheeseburger and no drink and he hands you that I think as soon as you see the Frosty you are obligated to let him know he is giving you the wrong order. If you just ordered a cheeseburger and he gives you that bag of stuff and you somehow don't notice it until you have driven forward, then I would say to let it go. You're not doing anyone (including the owner of the Wendy's) any favors by bringing it back and telling them about the mistake. You would just be slowing the process down for all the other people in line at the drive thru. If the order was meant for someone else, they'll figure it out and fix it.

 

[Omar 382]

That's great moral advice, but it's a little late. I went back in to return the food, but I saw a customer with a Ravens jersey on and I slit his throat with a plastic knife. It took 30 minutes for you to reply, and it took 30 minutes for me to finally off the guy with the plastic fucking knife. This is one of those gray area moral dilemmas- I wanted to return the food but I heard sirens and decided to leave. I realize I've done Wendy's wrong by not returning the food, but I'll return it tomorrow when the whole situation cools down .

 

[Cedrique]

You obviously didn't understand my advice anyway. My point is that you were morally obligated to let the guy know he was giving you the wrong order because it should have been obvious when you saw he was giving you a frosty. I never said that if you failed in your moral obligation that you should bring the food back. Those are perishable items and are no good to them once you've had your hands on them. Once you leave with that food it's on you to make it right without disturbing the flow of business for Wendy's. Say some hail Mary's, maybe send them a check for the value of the free shit you got if that makes you feel better, but don't compound their mistake and your lapse in judgement even more by bringing the shit back and wasting the time of all the other customers.