Can We Call It Stealing If We Pay the Asking Price?

On April 11, at around 9 a.m., cars flooded the Kangaroo Express gas station in Wilmington, NC to fill up on 35 cent/gallon gasoline. An employee entered .35 instead of $3.35 into the computer system. This human error cost the gas station over $1000 by the time the mix up was noticed. Customers crowded the pumps, taking advantage of the "cheapest gas in town" until 6 p.m., when the gas station realized the mistake.

Many bloggers are taking about this story; in today's economy, we know that it would be nearly impossible to pay a mere .35 for a gallon of gas. But hey, if you pay the asking price, why should you complain, right? Bloggers have commented on the ethics of this issue. What do you think? Can we call this stealing if pay the amount entered, but omit the fact that there may be a glitch in the system?

For more information, check out this link: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080411/ARTICLE/669960132/0/FRONTPAGE