A Harvard prof's $4 overcharge at a Chinese restaurant has led to a publicized email war between the former and the Chinese restaurant owner.
According to Boston.com, the Harvard prof $4 story started when Harvard Business School associate professor Ben Edelman was mistakenly "overcharged" $4 on a carry-out order from Sichuan Garden.
Edelman reportedly ordered $54.35 worth of food from Sichuan Garden when he realised later on that he was charged an extra of $4 out of his order, comprising four items. So instead he was asked to pay for a total of $57.35.
When he realised that he was made to pay a little extra or his food, Edelman right away took it to his hands to contact the owner of the Boston-area restaurant, Ran Duan.
In his online attack against Duan's restaurant, Edelman demanded for reimbursement and more aside from an apology to the $4 overcharge, reports FoxNews.
"Under Massachusetts law it turns out to be a serious violation to advertise one price and charge a different price. I urge you to cease this practice immediately. If you don't know how to update your web site, you could remove the web site altogether until you are able to correct the error," the Harvard prof wrote.
"In the interim, I suggest that Sichuan Garden refund me three times the amount of the overcharge. The tripling reflects the approach provided under the Massachusetts consumer protection statute, MGL 93a, wherein consumers broadly receive triple damages for certain intentional violations," Edelman added.
After receiving the Harvard prof's $4 overcharge-driven mail, Duan was very apologetic at first and even offered to pay the additional $4 Edelman paid for.
When the Chinese restaurant owner clarified that their website may have not been updated with the current menu prices and that he is to make necessary changes right away, Edelman did not back down and instead continued his online war by telling the other that he has already alerted the authorities regarding the issue.
"I have already referred this matter to applicable authorities in order to attempt to compel your restaurant to identify all consumers affected and to provide refunds to all of them, or in any event as provided by law," the summa cum laude graduate from Harvard College noted.
"I'm most familiar with the applicable Boston authorities, and less so with the Brookline counterparts, but at least in Boston this is taken seriously, and I understand that fines are common for price advertising violations."
Amid the controversy that was sparked by he Harvard prof's $4 overcharged order, Duan,who immigrated with his parents to the U.S. when he was only 3-years-old, told the media, "I personally respond to every complaint and try to handle every situation personally."
He then continued, "I have worked so hard to make my family proud and to elevate our business. It [the email exchange with Edelman] just broke my heart."
On the other hand, Edelman, who has a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University and a law degree from Harvard Law School, admitted that the food "was delicious" and that he is to weigh his legal options for now, CNBC has learned.
Apart from teaching, Edelman also operates a consulting practice where he is reportedly advising big clients like Microsoft, the New York Times and the NFL.
On Wednesday morning, Sichuan Garden's website was down.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
