Moral Issues - Part 1

I think I’ve learned just about all I’m going to learn from my mistakes in 2005. In any case, it is nearly the end of January, so as of today, my thoughts are firmly planted in the year of The World Cup.

That said, in keeping with the theme of themes, this week I will pose some important and enigmatic moral questions of our time. I hope to get some input.

Issue #1: Moral Duty With Respect to Hair Products

Situation:

Being a novice hair dyer but looking for a change, I purchased the $30 hair dye and highlight kit by L’Oreal.

The kit was called “French Éclair” and the pouty-lipped beauty on the box promised hair that would scream sophistication, fun, and cream-filled pastries.

The base colour was to be an intense chocolate brown and the highlights would be golden.

D and I drank a few beers* and then set to work on my hair.

About one hour later, I rinsed the highlight goop from my hair to reveal a head of fluorescent-orange hair. I was Ronald McDonald.

I salvaged whatever brown base dye was still left in the bottle and slapped it all over my head in an effort to tame the orange highlights. It kind of worked and the result was a head of uniformly auburn hair.

Upset by the trauma of clown hair, and incensed that I had purchased the most expensive dye known to woman, only to have it ruin my hair, I demanded my money back from Shoppers Drug Mart.

After many calls back and forth with the lovely Makeup Expert:

Her: I’m not sure we can give you your money back, since you already opened the product and used it.
Me: Yes, but that’s the point, it didn’t work
Her: Yes, but you used it. I’m only authorized to take back unopened products.
Me: Look, what would you do if someone bought a chocolate bar and when the customer took a bite it was rotten and moldy?
Her: I would refund the money.
Me: So then?
Her: [blank stare]

I did get my money refunded in the end. But here is where the moral dilemma comes in.

It is now just over a week later, and I now really like my hair.

[* I am certain that the beer had nothing to do with what ensued. The instructions were read thoroughly.]

Moral Question:

Do I now have a moral obligation to return the money since I am, in fact, satisfied with the product outcome?

My thoughts:

No.

While I may be happy with the outcome, this was not the outcome that was bargained for. I still do not have what was promised to me: i.e. golden highlights.

I don’t think that refunds on hair dye should be made on purely subjective factors like “do I like it” or “does it make me look sexy.”

The fact that I like my now auburn hair is irrelevant.

In the realm of hair dye, the only relevant basis upon which to refund or not refund hair dye is how closely, from an objective perspective, does the dye do what is promised.

Here, L’Oreal failed to deliver what was promised and so I deserve a refund. I do not need to give the money back.

Please feel free to agree or disagree.