Was This Ethical or Not?

[ChristineES]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

 

[.lava]

I think it is. Can't say i like it but nothing was done behind their back

.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

Not ethical but more likely a coincidence. A few weeks is not enough time to destroy a business, they were on the way out already, IMHO.

 

[bobhikes]

If it was done as you suppose I would say it is not ethical because the second store is hiding the fact of what they are doing. To be ethical one must be clear about what you are doing.

If the second store opened up and keep prices low until the store went out of business and then raised there rates to normal rates I would say it was ethical but the store then would probably go out of business because of mad customers.

 

[Koldo]

Not ethical but more likely a coincidence. A few weeks is not enough time to destroy a business, they were on the way out already, IMHO.

Good point. A few weeks is certainly not enough. They were probably nearly broken already before this new super cheap book store opened indeed.

 

[Skwim]

If it was done as you suppose I would say it is not ethical because the second store is hiding the fact of what they are doing. To be ethical one must be clear about what you are doing.

Obviously you're not in the Doing-Business game.

 

[bobhikes]

Obviously you're not in the Doing-Business game.

Personal ethics and business ethics are 2 different things.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

Sounds like plain ol capitalism.

Is it ethical? Who knows

 

[Quagmire]

Not even sure it it was legal.

 

[Quintessence]

Personal ethics and business ethics are 2 different things.

"Business ethics" has often struck me as an oxymoron. Seems to me they practically make a living at cheating out and slighting other people.

 

[freethinker44]

This is just capitalism played perfectly. There is nothing ethical about capitalism.

 

[Kerr]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

I dont think it would be ethical. But I think its more likely a coincidence.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

If it worked that quickly and effectively, then it was a shrewd business strategy.

 

[connermt]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

Why does it matter if it's ethical or not to the store owners now?
It's like complaining about the auto bailout in the US. It's over and done with - move on.
But to answer your question, if your claims are correct, I don't see it as ethical or unethical. I see it as a good (or bad, depending on your POV) business decision.

 

[gnomon]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

Selling books for about a dollar each and they only stayed open for a few weeks?

The ethics question here is where did they get the inventory. Selling at that low a retail price and to have any hope of covering the lease, taxes, payroll, maintenance, etc. I wonder how they even got the lease for the lot with that business plan.

Are you sure the first book store didn't take that lot to sell their inventory off?

I know of businesses in downtown Atlanta that sell cheap books as a side business. They sell them very cheap. They got the books for free. Know what I mean?

 

[ChristineES]

Why does it matter if it's ethical or not to the store owners now?
It's like complaining about the auto bailout in the US. It's over and done with - move on.
But to answer your question, if your claims are correct, I don't see it as ethical or unethical. I see it as a good (or bad, depending on your POV) business decision.

I just wanted to see what people thought of it. I was curious. You didn't have to answer, you know.

 

[Father Heathen]

Several years ago, at a mini-mall near my home, there was a book store. One day, in a empty store, a super cheap book store opened- selling cheap paperbacks for a dollar each. Within a few weeks, the first book store shut down. And a few days later, the cheap book store also closed down. And after all that, a different book store opened up. I was convinced that the new book store opened that cheap book store to put the other one out of business so they could open up their new book store. I was never sure of this but it was a suspicion of mine.

I am wondering, if it is true that the cheap store was only opened to put the other book store out of business- was that ethical. I just don't think it was ethical, myself- but I wonder what others think of it.

That's just capitalism at work.

 

[ChristineES]

That's just capitalism at work.

Then, if it is capitalism, then is capitalism unethical? I think that would be a whole other thread.

 

[Father Heathen]

Then, if it is capitalism, then is capitalism unethical? I think that would be a whole other thread.

In it's pure form, maximizing profit at the expense of all else, yes.

 

[Valjean]

If intentional, I'd call it unethical.

Not even sure it it was legal.

Apparently it is legal. Wall Mart does this, saturates new areas with stores and sales, then closes the extraneous stores and resuming normal pricing after most of the small businesses in the area have folded.
The US does this on an international scale, as well, under the aegis of "free trade."