I'd donate it. The rug would probably be so much more meaningful to a struggling family that can't afford the luxury of decorating. The bonus is you'll feel good about it.

I would donate it.

I was just faced with the same situation -though it was a piece of fabric. I donated it.

This is exactly how I ended up with a broken-in-transit Bosch Axxis washing machine ($1200) sitting in my basement.
Rest assured it has been written off as a loss by the retailer.
I'm keeping the washer for parts; the circuit board alone is $400 ;-)
Casey

You can donate or you can sell it, but sell it with the full disclosure of the damaged area. I see no ethical issue in doing either.

Years ago, my (at the time) 13-year-old daughter spilled a bottle of red fingernail polish on a brand new rug. I wish I'd had a back-up.

So I guess I'd roll it and store it standing up in the back corner of a closet for a while, until the new wears off your new rug.

THEN donate it. :)

This is not an ethics issue at all.

It is a replacement with no expectation of return (or attempt at return). For companies, it is often cheaper to send a second item instead of the bearing the cost of return, restock, reinspect, repair.

I would put it in the media room, bedroom, dining room etc.

Or regift it to someone who likes the story. Or post a photo, and I will take it :)

Don't throw it away. Donate it or sell it with full disclosure of the damage. Or you could store it if you have the room and could see it being used in the future by you or someone near to you (any children, nieces, or nephews nearing an age to move out?). It would be a terrible waste to throw away and certainly someone might use it. You could even put it up on CL or your local classifieds for free or up on Freecycle. (I've never used Freecycle, but I have heard of it.)

I vote for donate, although I agree that you are not required to. Consider Freecycle. I've used it with good results.

I ordered a throw from Disney for a boy's birthday. When it came the monogram was wonky. Disney quickly and promptly replaced the throw. They did not want the other one back and suggested that I donate it.

Donate it or re-purpose it. I had a similar issue recently. I'd ordered two large ribbed rugs for the interior entries by our office doors. (I'd had two smaller ones but wanted bigger). New ones arrived. One had ribbing that was totally wavy. It looked like the guy that made it was drunk. The other one would not flatten. After several weeks of use it still had bumps and buckles. When the online store sent an email asking for my review I indicated I didn't care for the product and would not order again. They called. I sent pictures and I just said they needed better quality control. I didn't ask for new rugs or a refund. But the store or vendor sent new rugs and said to just keep the old. They wanted to keep me as a customer (I'd place much more sizable orders from them multiple times before) and it would have cost more to get back the inferior product than it was worth.

I'm currently using the rugs in a different area. I feel a little guilty; however if I hadn't spoken up in the review I would have been using the ugly rugs, upset with myself for being a whimp and irritated to look at those rugs everyday and think that I paid for an inferior product. So, do what you want with it. You did nothing wrong, but if it makes you feel better, give it away.

I keep wanting to find another site as great as O. But in reality they have so many great selections and with all ordered there has never been a hitch. I love their rugs and may have become a "rug addict" hanging around their site. Your experience is another plus added to their customer service.

In your situation, I might consider hanging onto the rug. One never knows how it could be used. Even going to a carpet dealer and having it finished off as a runner or smaller rug. Now free, any cost could make another use worth such.

I can see so many places wehre it could be donated for a tax deduction....think of s church, a teen club, a local non profit that has a meeting room a Sr Citizen's center.
Your bad fortune to have a rug damaged could be a boon for so many and allow you to perform an act of charity at no cost to you.
Give it away....to someplace where you can take a tax deduction.
Linda C

I agree with melsouth and pharoah, I would keep it and use it later if the replacement rug was worn or stained. Or I would sell it on craigslist, someone will be thrilled to own it damage and all!

No ethics issue for me, I would keep it as people are mentioning, or donate it or even sell on CL it is up to you. Obviously they don't want the rug.

Be sure to keep it for awhile, in case the shipping company calls back. The one and only time I ordered from Pier Deux, the bench was damaged. The company left it on my front porch anyway. It was a major hassle calling PD and the freight company over and over again. And Visa. I finally got the money credited back to my card by PD. The thing sat in my garage for 3 months until the freight company came back to get it. They had to wait on a pick-up order for return.

In your case, it does sound like O isn't going to ask them to go back... but better safe than sorry.

To protect yourself from future charges, I'd keep the rug for a good six months in case the shipper finally contacts you.

If you don't hear from them, I'd sell it. Of course you can donate it to get a tax deduction, but it only effects your taxes if you donate a LOT of money throughout the year.

Thanks!

Overstock told me that the shipper has 10 days to pick it up and would contact me to do so...it's been 8 so far and nada.

My mom thinks she may use it in her vacation home. Only problem is it's 600 miles + a ferry ride away. But we'll roll it up and stick it in the corner of the guest room for now, I guess.

I had a similar situation with a framed print from art.com. The frame had come apart in the corner, which maybe I could have fixed, but it was damaged and I had paid a fair amount of money for it. Anyway, they replaced it and didn't want the broken one. So I gave it to a friend whose husband fixed the frame and hung it in his office.

If you wish to donate the rug, do so to an organization that will actually use it themselves. Donating items like this to Goodwill or Salvation Army or other thrift shops of their type often means the best stuff is bought for a few dollars by the people who work there. I have seen this time and again; the really nice, new items go directly into the homes of the managers of those places---or their friends' and families' homes. If you really want the money to benefit one of those type places, sell the rug and donate the money.

I agree you have no moral obligation to donate the money but I would, most likely, just because I wouldn't feel right about profiting from the situation. Giving the rug away to your mom is a good choice too, IMO.

I had the exact same thing happen with a lamp from there recently. The shade was damaged and I could tell even without removing it entirely from the box. Customer Service sent me a new one right away and said if it wasn't picked up by X date, then toss it. Had the not picked it up, I'd have looked for a new shade to match both and kept both. However, guess what? they showed up on day 9 and picked it up :(

Oh well, I still got the lamp I wanted for the price I wanted. And now my faith in customer service is renewed as well.

I'd either keep it, sell it, or donate it. If your mom loves it, then that's what I'd do.