[Ciaran]

So a friend of mine who owed me some cash came by last night with a "deal" for me. He owes me about 400.00 which I know I won't see for a few years because the loan was to help out his family in a tough time. We've been friends for years and years, I know his wife and son very well. He won't skip out on the debt, and I am in no hurry to be paid back. Anyhoo... he comes by with an offer... he wants to sell me two of those Herman Miller Aeron chairs for the 400 he owes (or whatever portion I'll accept). While I didn't ask where the chairs came from, I assume they came from his employer (Very large entertainment company here in SoCal).

I am thinking that I'll take the deal because it will help out a friend, and I can either sell the chairs or use them for my own fat ass. I don't like the thought that the chairs may have come to me through less than legitimate channels, but it's not like he stole a crippled girls custome made tricycle.

What would you do? Keep the chairs? Sell the chairs? Tell friend that he better get me my money or I'll sell his kid on ebay to the gypsies?

 

[stosh]

So a friend of mine who owed me some cash came by last night with a "deal" for me. He owes me about 400.00 which I know I won't see for a few years because the loan was to help out his family in a tough time. We've been friends for years and years, I know his wife and son very well. He won't skip out on the debt, and I am in no hurry to be paid back. Anyhoo... he comes by with an offer... he wants to sell me two of those Herman Miller Aeron chairs for the 400 he owes (or whatever portion I'll accept). While I didn't ask where the chairs came from, I assume they came from his employer (Very large entertainment company here in SoCal).

I am thinking that I'll take the deal because it will help out a friend, and I can either sell the chairs or use them for my own fat ass. I don't like the thought that the chairs may have come to me through less than legitimate channels, but it's not like he stole a crippled girls custome made tricycle.

What would you do? Keep the chairs? Sell the chairs? Tell friend that he better get me my money or I'll sell his kid on ebay to the gypsies?

Stab him with your swords!!

Then take the chairs!!

Edit: Can you ask them where they came from?

 

[sam_little]

I'll give you $250 + shipping today for one of them. Ethics be damned, my back hurts and my underfunded government lab isn't about to purchase those any time soon. I had the pleasure of working in one for a few months several years ago. Back pain was gone!

 

[Tenchiro]

Those are nice ass cairs, I would keep em.

 

[Slugman]

So you are supporting your friends venture into possible criminal activity.... that is sad.



















Does he have any good laptops?

 

[urbaindk]

I like this gypsies idea myself.

I'm guessing he's trying to pawn the chairs off on you because he's already figured out that it's not that easy to sell furniture and get a decent price for it.

 

[Ciaran]

I've never used an Aeron chair before. I'm afraid that once I sit in it I'll never get up.

 

[stinkyboy]

I'll go $250 for one as well. See if you can find out what size they are (A, B, C) and make sure they are real Herman Millers.

 

[sam_little]

I'll go $250 for one as well. See if you can find out what size they are (A, B, C) and make sure they are real Herman Millers.

There you go. Between us you get $100 profit and your friend's children get a criminal for a role model.

 

[I Are Baboon]

I have no idea what a "Herman Miller Aeron" chair is, so I voted for cookies.

I've heard of Herman Maier. The Herminator!!

 

[Ciaran]

I should have posted this in the Buy and Sell forum!

I'll check with the wifie and see what she want's to do. That and if I sell them how the hell do I box up and ship those suckers?

IAB, I prefer the cookies myself.

 

[justsomeguy]

Interesting responses.

I wonder if they would be different if "chairs" was changed to "bikes" and if "Very large entertainment company here in SoCal" was changed to "local bike shop"?

 

[sam_little]

I have no idea what a "Herman Miller Aeron" chair is, so I voted for cookies.

I've heard of Herman Maier. The Herminator!!

 

[sam_little]

Interesting responses.

I wonder if they would be different if "chairs" was changed to "bikes" and if "Very large entertainment company here in SoCal" was changed to "local bike shop"?

Yes, they would.

 

[stinkyboy]

If some schmuck in Hollywood got downsized, I'll take his chair...

 

[Ciaran]

If some schmuck in Hollywood got downsized, I'll take his chair...

I'm just laughing thinking about some Hollywood schmuck running around this morning scratching his head wondering where the hell his chair is.

 

[xy9ine]

love these chairs. my wife has them @ work. makes our office depot specials seem really ghetto, though @ $800-1000 a piece they should be pretty nice. i'd take them & try not to think too hard about their possible dubious origins.

 

[sam_little]

I'm just laughing thinking about some Hollywood schmuck running around this morning scratching his head wondering where the hell his chair is.

HAH! You mean his intern running around. Ever seen "Swimming with Sharks?"

 

[DRB]

Just kick him in the nuts and call it even.

 

[JRB]

Who the hell buys Herman Miller chairs???

 

[stinkyboy]

Who the hell buys Herman Miller chairs???

Have you ever sat in an Aeron?

 

[JRB]

Have you ever sat in an Aeron?

Yes - I think for onesy orders HM is one of the most overpriced chairs around.

 

[I Are Baboon]

What's the nifty little cylindrical shaped pad under the seat? It looks like it's there to do legs leg extensions. You know, hammer your thighs while you work. FEEL THE BURN!!!!

 

[stinkyboy]

Yes - I think for onesy orders HM is one of the most overpriced chairs around.

Quiet, I'm trying to get one for $225!

 

[JRB]

Quiet, I'm trying to get one for $225!

That's if you buy them when they are not stolen.

 

[DroppinaNorco]

take the chairs. those things are soooo nice. possible most comfortable chairs ever put on this earth. plus ur helpin out a friend and you could easily sell those for a profit.

 

[Da Peach]

I'll give you $251! Look comfy, ow, may back...ever since the accident...and not to mention my sick mother...

 

[stinkyboy]

That's if you buy them when they are not stolen.

There's no confirmation that they are stolen. I try not to judge people!

 

[JRB]

There's no confirmation that they are stolen. I try not to judge people!

Sorry - I meant if you pay retail.

 

[justsomeguy]

Yes, they would.

I wouldn't be surprised by that although I fail to see the moral, or legal, difference.

 

[sam_little]

I wouldn't be surprised by that although I fail to see the moral, or legal, difference.

There is none, but double standards make the world go 'round... one of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong. One of these countries has nuclear weapons, one of these countries gets told that is wrong.

 

[Jeremy R]

I think the real question needed to be asked here is:

Ciaran, can I borrow $400?

I won't have any money to pay you back, but I do have 2 lounge chairs with rusty ratchets. A little WD40 and you are all set!!

 

[sanjuro]

The real question is what you do you think about stealing. If you worked at his place of business, would you steal the chairs if given the opportunity?

So accepting obviously stolen property is not much different, ethically, just without the risk.

 

[dhbuilder]

when i read the title
i thought this was going to be about capital punishment.

 

[Ciaran]

The real question is what you do you think about stealing. If you worked at his place of business, would you steal the chairs if given the opportunity?

So accepting obviously stolen property is not much different, ethically, just without the risk.

Would I steal the chairs? No. I even wagged my finger at him for risking his job over a couple of chairs. Dumb move IMO.

I may tell him to sell them on ebay himself and pay me with that money. Or maybe I'll sell em to Stinky and Sam Little...

On the one hand I want to keep the chairs or sell them on ebay for 400 bucks. On the other hand they are of dubious origin. But I can help out a friend in need, and can pay some of my own bills.

Sigh.... dang this morality thing!

 

[stinkyboy]

Would I steal the chairs? No. I even wagged my finger at him for risking his job over a couple of chairs. Dumb move IMO.

I may tell him to sell them on ebay himself and pay me with that money. Or maybe I'll sell em to Stinky and Sam Little...

On the one hand I want to keep the chairs or sell them on ebay for 400 bucks. On the other hand they are of dubious origin. But I can help out a friend in need, and can pay some of my own bills.

Sigh.... dang this morality thing!

Just don't get yourself in trouble trying to help a friend (again).

 

[Nobody]

Keep the chairs, try them out for a few days, sell one if you like them but still want the money, sell both if you just want this to be over and done with.

I got two of them for $100 when the company that owned them 'downsized' one of their locations and hired a liquidator to eliminate all of their 'assets' - totally above-the-boards, but the liquidator didn't care or want to know how valuable they were, just following orders, etc.

It happens. Crazy stuff, but technically 'morally upright'.

 

[BuddhaRoadkill]

Sigh.... dang this morality thing!

Private Property IS immoral. Problem solved. :evil:

 

[binary visions]

It's not morally correct, of course, but I'd probably take the chairs since they're worth more money than his debt.

But don't just unload them on eBay unless there are other chairs of the same type being sold regularly there. If his company notices the theft and someone gets the bright idea to check eBay, you'll be a target. Then, you have the fun options of taking the blame or turning your friend over. Obviously you shouldn't take the blame, but you don't really want to have to turn in your buddy.

If the money doesn't mean anything to you, keeping a chair might be a sweet option. But it sounds like you've got bills to pay so hanging onto a chair that's worth that much doesn't seem very financially responsible

 

[Toshi]

ask him point-blank how he got the chairs.