Ethics Scenario #81: Amazing Grace Thrift Shop

81. Viola, Betty, and Fran are volunteers at the Amazing Grace Thrift Shop in Haroldson. They enjoy their work there, because they support the mission of the organization, and spend time gossiping and trading shopping coupons. Everyone who works there is real nice. One of the best things about the Shop is they are the first staff people to assess the suitability of the material donations, in the form of clothing and household goods, and their job is to eye-ball the donations, throwing in the trash bin what is too worn or nonrepairable, and sorting the rest. Fran keeps a box by her side as she sorts the donations, deciding if there is anything new coming in that she wants for herself. When she finishes, she takes her box to the cash register, pays the usual cost for each item, and takes the box out to her car. Then she returns to the Shop to continue with her other volunteer duties.

a. Is Fran’s behavior ethical?