I would notify the seller that they had way under valued their pinball machine. Then I would tell the person what I thought it was worth and what I was willing to pay. Negotiate a sale from that footing. Even if I did not end up with the machine I feel it would be the right thing to do.

The seller could find a reasonable value within a short amount of time. The seller would probably be happy with their asking price. Those things are true. However, to me it comes down to taking advantage of another person. Regardless of what the reason is, be it ignorance, haste or perhaps grief. That is something I am not willing to do. I believe in doing onto others as I hope they’ll do onto me.

Maybe I would get a universal karma rebate! Like the seller being a donation match if I needed a kidney! Or maybe he’s selling the house also and remembers how I did him on the pinball deal and knocks 20k off the price of the property.

Even if those FairyTale /Hollywood scenarios didn’t take place it would not change the way I would behave.
To me it’s not really about the seller. It is about doing what I feel is right.

I wish it did as well. I think we have to settle for simply being amazing people in the world we have. Perhaps one day the others will come around, but in the meantime I know what team I want to be on.

The business perspective is definitely different. In the given scenario a person is opening up their home/property offering others the opportunity to deal with them personally. It is not like dealing with Walmart where they have something miss-priced or ordered too many of a certain item.

One can justify or rationalize taking advantage in many ways.
We have all been scammed, shammed and done dirty by some of the people we have dealt with.
It is a poor excuse to use that as a reason to take advantage of another person.

This begs the moral philosophical question.

Can a person really be happy if they do not understand all of the aspects of a deal?

Some say yes arguing that ignorance is bliss.
Others counter that the definition of happy includes understanding the deal.

Again in this scenario this is a person to person transaction.

What do you do when the seller asks, "What do you think it is worth?"

Do you lie to them?

Maybe you try to skirt the issue like a shady used car salesman.
A lie of omission is still a lie.

If so what is the next step?
Perhaps waiting until night and trying to move the machine out of the garage quietly....

As long as someone is happy they cannot be considered to be taken advantage of?
The justification being as long as the seller doesn't know, then it's okay.
I disagree with that measure of consideration and that argument.

I have to agree with the DarkKnight68 on this one.
It is not about the seller at all.
It is about the buyer and how they feel about their actions towards the seller.

SchuylerLane,
What do you think now that you have seen some lively debate?
I'm in the minority of those who have posted, what's your take?