The Ethics of eBaying

So I've been an avid eBayer since 2002. I buy as much as I sell. To date, I've sold stuff around our house worth over $4000 in total. Usually, it's to upgrade my electronics hobby. I've sold my digital cameras to help toward the purchase of a newer better model. I've sold all parts and accessories related to my Apple computers. It also helps that Mike is a brand name whore. All our purchases are highly sought and wanted by other fanatic eBayers.

The last item I had up for bid was my old 12 inch iBook. A very nice local couple bought it from me and paid me cash as we met at a parking lot of the bank they use. They were extremely happy with the purchase. I had all the original manuals, accessories, discs, peripherals and box. What I didn't realize was that I had included in the set of discs, the OS 10.3 Panther discs which I had bought separately worth over $100. I was looking for them to upgrade my dad's new Powerbook.

I emailed the couple and asked whether the Panther discs were in the box. They were indeed. I asked to "borrow" the discs explaining my situation with my dad's notebook. I offered to pay for their postage and packaging. The husband drove out with his daughter to hand deliver the discs himself. Now, originally, I would have kept the discs, stating it wasn't part of the deal and turn around to sell them on eBay for another $100 or so but I admire their honesty and generosity so much that I have decided to return the discs to the nice couple as part of their installation package.

Now, you ask...why would you do that if those discs are worth extra money for me? I like to reward positive behavior. I figure if there is enough goodness being exchanged in the world (heck, even if it's just in eBay's world) we might find ourselves living in a much more peaceful place. I'd like to believe that people can change if given enough leeway to reflect and respond. The conscious is a powerful tool. It can make you do things your business oriented mind would normally tell you not to.