My friend worked for a major food chain for 43 years. Today when he came back from Walmart he was upset. When I asked why, he told me they were raising the prices without actually raising the prices by lessening the product in the can. It’s legal, but what is legal may not necessarily be honest. It is true we must look at the label to see the weight, but sometimes as in the case of fast food, they will have false bottoms on cups whether it is soup, beans or drinks. And if you have noticed lately a large burger looks more like a medium sized burger; french fries are lessened as well. This is how companies raise prices. They know the customer will be angry with a price increase so they use the back door method of raising the price by giving less.
We see this same problem with cars. Once you were able to get a spare, a true spare tire. Now, along with a hefty price in cars or trucks, they give you a tire which would fit a bicycle more than a car. It is legal, but is it ethical to treat the customer this way? It is a way of getting more money from the customer.
I went to the eye doctor; unknown to me, I had pink eye. She prescribed a medication. When I called the pharmacy, they told me the price was two hundred dollars without insurance and seven dollars with insurance.
No matter which way one slices or dices any of these stories, and I am sure you can add to the number. It may be legal but not ethical.
God does not like false weights and balances.
“A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight.” (Proverbs 11:1)
“Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.” (Proverbs 20:23)
“Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?” (Micah 6:11)
God blesses honesty. So long as there is no extortion, bribery or deceit. Always be honest in your dealings with your fellowman.
“When I was a boy working in my father’s store we weighed many items at the time of purchase: beans, sugar, etc. One day my father observed that I was trying to guess the exact amount before putting the bag on the scales. Later he suggested, “Son, don’t do it that way. Seldom if ever will you guess it exactly. Half the time you will have too little and half the time you will have too much. When you have too much and have to take out some, the customer will say to himself, “You tightwad, why didn’t you leave it in there?” Be sure you don’t have enough and then take the scoop and keep pouring until you bring it to the mark. That way you create the impression the customer gets everything coming to him. We want that reputation.”
The reputation for honesty is no empty echo in the community; it sounds and sounds and sounds, and the people listen. Though your reputation is not necessarily what you are, only what people think you are, still it is to be sought.
Business can’t thrive where honesty is questioned. Integrity is the absolute essential of every worthwhile endeavor.
Indeed, honesty is more than the best policy, it is the manifestation of you – the real you.
“Feathering your own nest at the expense of dishonestly plucking the feathers of others turns soft feathers into prickly thorns that will pierce you.” ~ Leroy Brownlow
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Eileen Light