I suppose the whole topic is a tough one. Just asking if it is unethical means that person already had inner thoughts suggesting that they thought it was. So therefore, they should not do it. (Of course, this is not about premarital sex or anything larger like that, which some people have much more important ethical and other controversial, life-questions about. This is about something simpler like freaking FF miles, which havent even got their own currency standards, yet!) Boy, have I opened up some cans of worms, eh?

Now I don't cheet on taxes or my wife, or buy 15k tractors to try to get cash back, and it ain't none of yer business about the premarital sex thang, but when talking about a few miles for things like this, I suppose it is up to the person and the store and the way they both do business on that particular day. There is a sort of self-discression inside us all, eh? Ever run a stop sign at 4am?... You know the one.

In my case, I find it kinda cool to have "discovered" this little diddy in my litle miles world and will keep it in the back of my mind if needed. they'll probably stop this little leak anyway, and so all the more power to 'em! But had HD said they would put the money back on my card, I would have not even worried about it and not posted my comments. So, when they handed me cash, I decided to think this:

I decided that if I ever DO have to return something there again that I never used (like extra tiles in boxes, etc.) and I happen to have used that particular card and happened to be in this kind of over-buy+ return situation again, I would probably ask for cash. Hey, if they could give it to me instead of a charge back, I would take it and whatever benefits come with it. One of them is time. I dont have to go to that non-bank ATM across the street and pay those stupid fees for that same cash. So as for returns and cash back, if they come up with a way to deduct miles for this, so be it. I am not going to tell them how but I sure hope nobody else here does. My goodness!

Therefore, I do not think I am being unethical and am not necessarily going out of my way to do this stuff, but who knows--maybe I one day will just to try it to see about that 15k in cash for my new tractor! thanks for the tip! I might even use it first and then not tell them and still try to get my money back! ha ha.

But it (the little miles thing for probably about 100-200 miles) is something neat to know about in case you have the desire for a quick few free miles and happen to be shopping...

AGAIN: do it if you feel you think it is OK, and do NOT do it if you feel it is not ok. We are only talking about miles in this case.

Hey, once I noticed a letter I got with a stamp on it that was not cancelled. I was able to peal it off and reuse it on a new letter that I had to mail out now, with no chance to visit the PO. How bad was I, really?

Is there a gray?...


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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!