"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:Pagan said:I wonder if buying the rack from a national chain, using it for the
move, then returning it, would create a bunch of hassle.
Ethical much?
Not sure what your question truly is, but since you use the word "ethical",
it may be you question whether my suggestion is somehow dishonest.
Many stores allow you to return purchases with no questions asked, except
maybe to inquire whether it's defective, missing parts, and such. They
figure you didn't like what you bought, and since they'd really like to have
you come in and buy something else, they offer liberal return policies.
As for my suggestion, one can simply buy the rack, try it out, and return it
if it's not wanted. However, if the buyer likes the rack enough to keep it,
that's certainly within his rights. It may be he likes hauling bikes up and
down a car roof, reduced gas mileage, and is overjoyed at the possibility of
forgetting the bikes are up there when going through a parking garage or a
drive through fast food joint, thus loosing the bikes, rack, and perhaps a
chunk of car.
Does moving change the ethical question? Not really. Being in the
military, you can't count on much, but you most certainly can count on being
moved every two to three years. It may be he wants to keep this rack so
when the time comes to move again, he can do as he plans to do this time.
If you have any leftover doubts, let me ease your mind with one final
thought. The big chain stores, as well as those producing their products,
are doing so because of money, and that's the bottom line. My bike rack,
which sits on the spare tire on the back of my SUV, is held on with two
bolts, but is finally secured with cheap nylon straps and plastic buckles.
This is fine for now, but in a couple years, the straps will fray and
weaken, and the buckles will get brittle with the exposure of the sun.
Eventually, the whole thing will come off, possibly on the freeway. This
may not sound like a big deal while your reading this, but your mind will
change if you happen to be behind me while we're all doing 80, and it
finally decides to give way.
You see, the manufacturer saved about $10 on this $100 item by using those
cheap straps. They'd rather have that $10 in their pocket than ensure you
don't end up kissing this thing when it fly's through your windshield,
possibly killing you, your family, and anybody else who's too close to you.
Strange enough, neither the packaging or the instructions made any mention
of checking the spare tire mount for rust, loose bolts, and whatnot. I
guess they didn't want to scare off their customers.
On the other hand, the guy at the small bike shop where I got this thing did
ask, and even helped me mount it securely and safely. Will a big chain
store do that? Unlikely. What they will do is take your money, check your
ID so they don't get screwed with a stolen credit card, and move on to the
next guy.
While two wrongs don't make a right, dealing with big business on their
level (money and only money) is the only practical way of trying to come out
even.
Pagan
