What do you think of this?

[HandyMom]

Let's say you know someone who has a good, steady income and they have no trouble paying their bills, are not in debt, and so on. Financially doing fine. This same person goes to thrift stores and yard sales and and combs the place searching for items to buy cheap and turn a profit on by selling on Ebay. They buy cartloads of things they think are old or might make a profit. They are in the thrift stores almost every day.

Now, what about the person who does the same thing but they need the money to make ends meet and they don't have a job that pays them well enough to not have to do something to make extra money?

Also, does this in any way influence what charities you might donate to?

[melodys]

I think either case is fine. Rich or poor everyone has the right to run a cottage business and improve their situation. I would happily buy or sell to either as long as the business is honest and ethical. I see no ethical issues with the situation you present.

As far as what charity I would donate too, this would have no impact. I am donating to the charity, not the purchaser. This seems to be a win-win all around. The charity gets to sell the item, the small business person gets an income, the final purchaser saves time and gets what they wanted at much cheaper than retail.

[Grayce]

It doesn't bother me why someone is buying from a charity. A person who is buying stuff cheap to resell isn't doing anything that anyone else can't do.

Personally I donate to charities such as goodwill and salvation army because the money made off the items goes to support other programs. Places like value village just make a profit off the items. I am less inclined to donate my items to them.

[kittykatstrong]

Ya I really would not have a problem with it. I used to shop at G2, a place where you buy the pd. There were people in there from all walks of life and good for them.

[mamamia]

I can see both sides having a good argument, but the way I see it is that it really doesn't matter who buys the stuff because the end result is that the charity gets their money at the price they're willing to accept for it. Win-Win there, kwim?

When my husband lost his job, I sold at the flea market. I tried to find "goodies" from thrift stores too, but not much came my way. I didn't think it was at all wrong. Good for anybody who CAN do it though. It's "honest" work after all.

Theresa

[joyofsix]

Sounds enterprising to me. I've got no problem. The charity makes money either way. Here the local 'bargain basement' sells things to buy new things for people in need. It's us middle income folks wearing the hand me downs.

[Jeanna]

What ever people buy from charities for does not make any difference to me. That just means that the charity is making money to use for what ever they support. The USA was built on cottage industries and there have always been the well to do and the working class, so it really does not bother me which one is buying the items.

[nuisance26]

~I donate to and buy from the thrift stores because I hate to see things go to waste. In those scenarios above the things were finding a second life and I'm happy about that that.
Now if you had said 'on Freecycle' I have a different answer. I think of Freecycle members as 'friends'. I wouldn't ask for a friend's older dinette set just so I could sell it. I think that's tacky. It really bugs me when I see posts for stuff people only intend to sell, like antiques, electronics, jewelry and collectibles.~

[jamie79]

I see no issue here

[rainbowgc]

I agree - no issue, whoever donated it wanted to get rid of it and have the charity make money. Who buys it is not important.

[IntlMom]

Again, no issue......just enterprising in both scenarios.

[Greebo]

Let's say you know someone who has a good, steady income and they have no trouble paying their bills, are not in debt, and so on. Financially doing fine. This same person goes to thrift stores and yard sales and and combs the place searching for items to buy cheap and turn a profit on by selling on Ebay. They buy cartloads of things they think are old or might make a profit. They are in the thrift stores almost every day.

Now, what about the person who does the same thing but they need the money to make ends meet and they don't have a job that pays them well enough to not have to do something to make extra money?

Why would I think any differently about the practice because of their current life situation? The free, voluntary trade of goods between parties to mutual benefit of both is the cornerstone of true, moral capitalism, and the bedrock of human society since the first hunter traded with the first stone axe maker, trading meat for weapons.

Also, does this in any way influence what charities you might donate to?

Why would it? What does who or what I donate to have to do with thrift-store salvagers?

[nancycg56]

I don't have a problem with either scenario.

[homesteadmamma]

No problem here either.

[annymoll]

My sister does this all the time.(They have an antique mall with a used furniture area in the basement.)She recently bought a 1970 ish buffet for 15 bucks.She painted it black, then sold it for 200 bucks!You go girl!!!I think it is great, no matter what your financial status, and I am not sure what the difference would be.If I give you something and you can make a profit with it, feel free to do so.It is your gift.