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A question of morals???

(15 Posts)
Katek Tue 13-Jan-15 10:45:38

This came up yesterday from admin on my local FB sales page. They had noticed that a site user was obtaining things free/lower price from sellers and then reselling the items at a higher price. Up until now there has been no site rule to cover this and they were wondering what users thought they should do. Responses ranged from 'once you've given it away it's nothing to do with you" through "maybe someone is trying to put food on the table" to "they shouldn't be making a profit from others generosity." The majority of people tended toward it being against the spirit of the site and that they would feel "ripped off" if it was their items. Just wondered what others thought.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 13-Jan-15 12:11:00

Happens on eBay I think. Can't see there is anything immoral in it. All businesses have profit loading. Same thing really.

Buyer be savvy, I would say.

rosequartz Tue 13-Jan-15 12:20:10

The same things happen at car boot sales.

What about the man on the Antiques Road Show who bought a box of stuff for 20p and in it was a Chinese box worth thousands.

Serendipity!
And caveat venditor!

J52 Tue 13-Jan-15 12:39:49

If people give away items or sell them at a cost they are happy with then that's it. If they want more for an item then they should sell at that price.

Personally, I always think an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, whether it be a second hand book or a Turner painting.

If I made a huge profit from a charity shop find I would share it with the charity. x

Katek Tue 13-Jan-15 13:16:43

Buy cheap, sell dear! Perhaps it's the fact that people can see it happening under their noses is what makes the difference?

Mishap Tue 13-Jan-15 13:49:33

I agree with Katek - buy cheap sell dear has a long history. I think there has been a bit of similar ripping off on Gumtree. Caveat emptor!

Lilygran Tue 13-Jan-15 14:45:17

Lot more worried about the big supermarket chains screwing the suppliers - milk, for example.

Ariadne Tue 13-Jan-15 15:11:01

I agree, Lilygran - a bottle of water costing more than a bottle of milk? Ludicrous.

vampirequeen Tue 13-Jan-15 17:03:26

It's business. The first seller must be happy with the price or they wouldn't accept it.

rosequartz Tue 13-Jan-15 17:05:00

Yes, Lilygran that is something that is making me very angry at the moment. Should we start a thread? Or march?

Oldgreymare Tue 13-Jan-15 17:08:09

Me too Lily and Rose. Start a thread Rose lets raise the profile!

rosequartz Tue 13-Jan-15 17:20:12

Started

rosequartz Tue 13-Jan-15 17:20:34

A thread, not marching just yet!

Eloethan Tue 13-Jan-15 19:18:01

Sellers on the internet decide what they want to sell an item for - if they are unsure what price they should be asking they should do some research.

Surely the whole capitalist system is based on making a profit - selling something for more than it cost you to buy or produce?

Having said that, I think if someone is aware that the item they are buying is worth a great deal more than the seller is asking, to me it seems not quite right to take advantage. I'm not sure I'd be principled enough not to be tempted, though (but I hope I would at lest give the original owner a proportion of the profit). I think, as J52 said, that would definitely be the right thing to do if buying from a charity shop.

I agree with Lilygran that the ridiculous price of milk is much more unfair.

FlicketyB Wed 14-Jan-15 15:19:29

If someone sells something, that is that. If the buyer knows how to get a better price for the item elsewhere well thgt is fair trade.

I freegle goods and was very put out when an item I gave to someone turned up at a local car boot sale. Other people had been after the item who clearly would have really been delighted to have it for free and use it.

I am now very wary about putting things on freegle unless they have no resale value, like the two partially used packs of pipe insulation I gave to someone this morning.