Do ya'll think this is ok to do?

[lowkee]

Re: Do ya'll think this is ok to do?

I can't help but be curious about what you do for a living? I like simple definitions of things, but I fail to see how anybody could ever live up to this standard . . .

I'll answer the second part first. For morality, I don't see it as any different than perfection. They are both abstracts which some people reach for as lifelong quests. Neither are truly attainable, but just because you can't be perfect, do you purposefully mess up? Why would anyone choose to be less moral when given the option?

As for my career, I'm a web developer. It is a field which has plenty of moral choices in it. I have refused plenty of easy money on moral grounds, but have also taken work I wasn't keen on in order to pay bills (in a "I can't pay my bills" sense, not an "I want a new Escalade" sense).

I claim no saintliness (a word?), hence my full disclosure about buying clothing for myself (even though I can afford outlet prices) at a local Salvation Army store. To do that and try and make excuses for it or claim ignorance of a more moral path would be dishonest. Did my buying clothing from there do some good? Yes, of course. Did I truly need the clothing? Yes, my work shirts literally have holes and tears in them. Even with all of the moral points, I knew leaving those items for someone less wealthy was still better, which made my choice immoral. I could have even limited my shopping to clothing 30 days or older (the SA tags the 'donated' date on each item) in order to not race someone to a good deal, but again, I didn't.

But by your definition, aren't the yard sales you describe immoral? I am not trying to pick a fight, but I still don't see how anything (not just anyone) could be considered moral? It reminds me of Phoebe's pursuit of an unselfish deed . . . impossible. I personally don't believe in altruism. Everything we do is for some sort of personal gain, so maybe that would explain my confusion . . .

Without giving it too much thought, I don't see how a yard sale could be immoral unless you are misrepresenting what you are selling. You bought the items and are selling them at a loss in order to make up part of the cost of the initial investment, yet you are making the item available to those who may otherwise not be able to buy new. Sounds pretty neutral to me. It isn't charity, but I don't see anything immoral in the act of selling your possessions rather than giving them away (assuming they aren't stolen).

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Do ya'll think this is ok to do?

I've never had much to do with retail but I do understand that Goodwill, or any other store, wants to move their product quickly, the longer it sits on the floor, the more it costs the retailer.

I've only been to one Goodwill store, and that was just a couple of times, but I noticed that there are lots of items there for sale that could hardly be classified as necessary or even useful for ones survival. Stuff like jewelry, knic knacks, fine china, etc. It seems to me like GW caters to people with disposable incomes too.

The OP never specified what kind of items his mom's friend is selling but in my observations, the largest profits are made off of what are considered luxury type items, not the essentials.

Also as was previously mentioned, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the profits that person is making are being somewhat over estimated. Especially when one takes into account the amount of time and expense involved. There's shopping, preparation, photographing, packaging, listing the item, maybe having to relist it, replying to queries, and then there's shipping it. I'm sure some items don't even sell.


So with all due respect to those who disagree, to my mind, what this person is doing is perfectly ok and I'm pretty certain that the GW organization thinks so too!