Ethics question

[John Delmore]

Hi Phil:
The fact that you're uneasy with this situation speaks well of your
character.  It also answers your question:  Yes, it was wrong.  At least,
that's how I would feel if I were your buyer.  There may be extenuating
circumstances that you haven't told us.is there some factor that would make
this piano worth more to you than to a "normal" buyer?  The last one I
bought wasn't worth the price of hauling to the dump to anyone but me.  If
that's the case, you may be in the right, but it's still going to smell like
three-day-old fish or houseguests to anyone who gets wind of it.  As someone
else said, what's your reputation worth?  With that wonderful 20/20
hindsight, it's easy to say that you should have been upfront with the lady,
told her that you were also interested, and that you were advising her to
"lowball" the seller to try to get a better deal-but that you thought it was
worth the asking price.
 
What should you do now?  The deed is done.  If she ever asks, come clean.
If not, just let that sleeping dog lie.  There's no reason to make her feel
bad in her present situation to assuage your feelings of guilt.  But you
have learned the lesson.  And, as a "newbie", so have I, without having to
experience it personally-and for that, I thank you.
John
 
  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of PJR
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 7:35 PM
To: ilvey at sbcglobal.net; Pianotech List
Subject: Ethics question
 
I was asked to evaluate the condition of a used piano for a customer (buyer)
for a nominal fee.  It was a private sale.  When I went to see the piano, it
was one that I had been wanting for some time.  I wanted to buy it from the
seller.  Question: How, when and/or what must I do, ethically, to buy it
from the seller seeing that now I had a fiduciary relationship with the
customer who paid my fee?

What actually happened:

I wrote a positive report of the piano and recommended the buyer offer
several hundred dollars below the asking price.  She did so, but, the seller
rejected her offer.  The buyer  left the deal and bought another piano
elsewhere.  When I heard she bought another piano, without telling her,  I
offered the original seller his price and bought the piano.  Did I do wrong?
Should I have asked her permission?  Should I tell her now, especially since
she plans to  hire me to tune her new piano?  I have a queasy feeling about
the deal. Should I?    It could be a future, awkward situation.

Phil Ryan
Miami Beach




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