13 Virtues - Benjamin Franklin

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

via Flamebright

Overstock

I ordered a laptop from Overstock in November. As a new customer, I got a 12% discount. It was described as refurbished, and on clicking the Refurb link, refurbished was described as "new or like new." The laptop, which shall be referred to as Laptop Numero Uno, arrived. It was labeled "USED Equipment" and had been used hard, with dings and scratches. Oh, no, this will not do.

I call Overstock, discuss the meaning of "new or like new," and they give me return authorization. I ship Laptop Numero Uno back at their cost.

They ship me another laptop, which shall be referred to as Laptop Numero Duo. It's in much better condition, but still clearly labeled "USED Equipment". This is not a happy experience.

I find the same model at another vendor. Geeks.com explains that the laptop is used, the battery may not hold a charge, and they give it a 90 day warranty. It's also cheaper than Overstock, even after the discount. I decide that Overstock is being cheesy and not very honest, get a return authorization, and send Laptop Numero Duo back. I order the same laptop from geeks.com. It's now mid-December and now I'm cranky because I want my shiny new-to-me laptop, which does arrive, and is spiffy. Same "USED Equipment" sticker as Overstock, probably off lease.

Overstock's site shows that they received the returned laptop, Laptop Numero Duo. Time passes. No credit is issued to my credit card account. So I called the Big Red O last night, and they checked my account. They agree that credit should be issued, and explain that when I returned Laptop Numero Duo, no credit was issued becuse my account hadn't been charged for it. The charge was attached to Laptop Numero Uno. This strikes me as sloppy accounting, but not completely dishonest. They agree to credit my account for the full cost of the laptop.

After I get off the phone, I realize that I got that 12% discount. They are refunding the list price, and not subtracting the discount. Well, they're cheesy. I can give that $$ to charity. But a sudden and unfamiliar surge of scrupulousness hits me, and I call them back, suffer through the voicemail, and explain. The rep looks up the account and assures me that this is the policy, and I am due the refund on the listed price, even though I got a discount. Me: "Seriously?" (they're Utahns, so I didn't say "No Shit") Overstock Rep: "Seriously." (they're Utahns, so he didn't say "No Shit")

Now I get to feel happy because Overstock just gave me 90 bucks, free, and I get to feel self-righteously honest, cause I tried to give it back, and they wouldn't take it.

New blog set up on a perfectly spiffy used laptop, which is now a huge ass bargain.