Post Office Refund?

• Author: Klosterman, Chuck
• Position: Ethical Dilemma - Brief article

A package I recently sent was guaranteed to be delivered the next day by noon but instead arrived at 12:03. Though I'm fully satisfied with the overnight delivery, I'm technically entitled to a full refund. Is it ethical to ask for my money back?--Ross Nizlek, Burlington, Vermont

YOU SHOULDN'T ask for a refund. Technically, the service did "fail." But there are many reasons someone might be 3 (or even 23) minutes late, and it's wrong to ignore those factors simply because the language of the rules is inflexible. Whenever people or organizations try to fulfill their professional...