I cannot tell a lie -- but I did!

I lied to a customer yesterday during a phone conversation. I didn't like doing it but felt I had to -- so I'm looking for a jury trial by forumites. Did I do right or wrong? Here is my case.

A fellow called me from Florida and here's what he had to tell me as best as I can recall:

You won't remember me but I have had your brochure since 1995 and I have called you twice. I want to get one of your khukuris but I haven't been able to save up the money. I'm 77 years old and my wife and I are not so well. We have a lot of medical bills -- but I still want to get a khukuri and here's why.

When I was in the Army in WWII some Gurkhas saved my life. That is something you can't forget. I always wanted to get a khukuri as sort of a sign of respect for those Gurkhas and a token of thanks. I know they won't know this but I will and this is something I really want to get done before I die.

My problem is I just don't have the money. I want the 15 inch Ang Khola but all I can afford is a blem. Do you have one? I called you twice before but you didn't have any. I hope you have one now.

As most of you know who are regulars in this forum my blems are all gone. You've got them. And I have only two 15 inch Ang Kholas left in stock, but I thought about this old warrior who was in the outback on the other side of the world, fighting to save our country and me and I decided to lie to him.

I said, "Yes, I do have one 15 inch Ang Khola blem and I'll send it to you tomorrow."

"Oh, that's great!" the old fellow said with a sigh of relief.

I said, "Well, as we say in Reno, you hit the jackpot today. And, this is a pretty good blem, too. If fact, you probably won't be able to see anything wrong with the knife but it's a blem, take it from me."

So, Yangdu is packing Joe's khukuri right now while I am confessing my sin.

Did I do right or wrong?

Uncle Bill

 
Cobalt

Cobalt

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 23, 1998
Messages
17,978
Lying to help instead of hurt is never wrong in my book, Bill.

He will never know what you did for him, but he will be happy nontheless.

I don't think there is a greater feeling than the one you get when you have helped someone. There is nothing like it.
 
I, for one, have never bought that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" crap. (I like better, from Hemmingway, "The road to hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs.")In fact, I think intentions define one's character at least as well as actions, though they are more difficult to discern.

Bill, once, again you have proven yourself as a man of good character. I don't think the karma police will be issuing any warrants for that untruth.

Just my opinion...

Clay

PS Bill, I am going to be ordering a BAS from you very soon -- as soon as a colleague of mine pays me for the SOCOM I sold him. Do you have any instock with horn handles?


------------------
Clay Fleischer
cdfleischer@yahoo.com

Knives are for usin' -- Pictures are for looking at...

 
Well, since you asked... You think of yourself as a Buddhist but don't claim to be a "good" one. I think of myself as a Yahwist (generic christian subcategory) but don't claim to be a "good" one. Maybe the following hint will transfer from one to the other of our faiths. It goes as follows:

"Do your daily prayer and meditation in the bathtub. Being naked and in hot water improves your listening skills marvelously."

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Russ S
 
Thanks for votes of confidence. I hope the good outweights the evil so the karma police won't be knocking at my door.

And, Rusty, thanks for advice but I'll stick to my own method for now.

Clay, I do have a couple of BAS in stock.

Uncle Bill
 
Just watch out for a flood of sad stories filling your e-mail....
smile.gif
...

YeK
 
Hi Uncle,you raise an interesting ethical question:To tell the truth when the truth will hurt or,to tell a lie when it helps?At the risk of skirting periously close to the idea that the ends justify the means,I think that the greater good was served here.
 
On reflection, you were most fortunate Uncle Bill. A knife whose spirit could not wait for it's owner to come for it in due time is obviously defective and a blem. It was good you were able to get it out of your stock before it's spirit went bad. Had it not gone out when it did it would have created very bad "vibrations" and might have caused havoc for you. The heart knows this though the eye may not see the defectiveness.

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Russ S
 
Thank you, John. I'm very pleased with this response. The karma police are being held at bay.

Uncle Bill
 
You seem to value our opinions, so I'll give you mine: Your only mistake is that you let your left hand know what your right hand was doing.

David Rock
 
You are right, David. I do value the opinions of forumites greatly. I have discovered the people who post here are the same people with whom I would be happy to associate with in my personal life. Yes, I put great stock in their opinions.

Jesus was teaching us the true value of giving when he said, "Let not thy left hand know what the right hand doeth" or words to that effect. But I don't think this applies in this particular case and here's why.

I didn't give that old vet anything except a chance to accomplish his mission. What I did was try to repay an old debt and I had to lie to get it done. I do not like to lie to customers or anybody for that matter but I did and I wanted the opinion of the forumites. Was I justified? I am not seeking glory but absolution.

It seems so far they believe that I was justified and I am thankful they feel this way.

Bill Martino


[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 26 March 1999).]
 
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