Dishonest? Hypothetical scenario follows to explore the point:
Let's see.. I go to a business knowing the price of a product. I request that a staff member sell me the product. The business representative rings up the products with the appropriate pricing, discounts, and coupons based on internal business procedures then requests payment for the items.
I don't recall there being a requirement that I tell a business representative the price their business charges for a product. I do not recall there being a requirement that I tell a business representative how to do their job. I do not work for the business. I have no responsibility to ensure the business works as it should. $#%& the business.
On eBay if someone sells a priceless silver necklace for $20, is it dishonest to buy the necklace even if you know the value of the item is higher than the seller requests for it? Millions of people purchasing antiques seem to think it is just fine to buy low and sell high. These antique seekers are often taking advantage of a seller's lack of knowledge.
I believe our entire stock market is based on buying low and selling high, but if someone sold their stocks low then it is immoral to buy them to sell later at a much higher price. Umm.. not so much.
Dishonest implies theft. I can't speak to the legality of it, but morally I feel that if you sell me something at a price that you set then you cannot feel wronged if I pay the price without questioning it.
Capitalism is a bitch.
Well I see where you are coming from but I'm not sure comparing the stock market to this scenario is a good analogy. First of all the buyer knew what the store policy was and it was dishonest not to say anything. Just because someone makes a mistake doesn't mean its ok to take advantage of them.
In the stock market its different because when someone goes in to the stock market they realize that they are taking a gamble and that there is risk involved. In other words they are fully away of what is going on. Now lets say some insider trading was going on, well that would be a closer analogy. Insider trading will also land you in jail by the way.
Now if I sold you a million dollar violin for a dollar that's not necessarily dishonest. Lets say I KNEW it was worth a million dollars but I just liked you or I was strapped for cash and needed to sell, that's not dishonest. Lets say I didn't know it was worth that much and you did and you didn't say anything thats dishonest.
The difference of course is that in one scenario the person is fully away of what is going on and in the other his lack of knowledge is being abused. Is it the sellers fault he got ripped off? Sure but that doesn't make it right, it's still dishonest. We are talking about honesty, not who's fault it was.
As it is, no one is going to get fired for making a mistake like selling Apple's laptops with the old education discount.