Do ya'll think this is ok to do?

[waterinthefuel]

My moms friend goes to goodwill, buys stuff cheap, and then sells it on ebay, pocketing the profits. To me that's just wrong. People donate to goodwill hoping to help someone less fortunate, not to help someone whos financially very stable make a side business out of buying donated stuff and selling it. My mom says its ok because goodwill makes their money. Well, that's true, but these cheap items which could be bought by poor people are being bought by my moms friend and sold on ebay, sometimes for a hefty profit.

I just think it's wrong, what say you Iboats?

 

[204 Escape]

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

IMO, yes, I do !!!!

 

[Gary H NC]

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

I agree.....Although the economy is bad and maybe she needs the money i know there is some poor guy needing that 4 dollar coat or clothing thats is much more in need of help.

Heck of it is there are a couple new Goodwill stores near me and you see some pretty nice cars of people in there shopping..

 

[waterinthefuel]

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

When I say hefty profits I mean she might make 20-30 dollars on something and that's a lot. But to me, it's still wrong.

She doesn't need the money. She's a retired school principal just looking for something to do with all her newly discovered free time.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

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

She is violating the "spirit" of Goodwill.

That's not what it's for, if she want's to buy and sell she should be going
to yard sale's.

 

[KeyWestSkipper]

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

I think it's wrong because what enables her to exploit that scheme is the fact everyone else is 'not' exploiting it. I could do that, and so could you. We could all try to get in on that. But once word gets around that anything, or anything nice, given to Goodwill was likely to be resold for cash then people would stop donating to Goodwill and that'd hurt donations.

Reminds me of that boat ad in the Craigslist thread where the guy thought he had donated a boat to a deserving family only to see the recipient try to flip it for cash in under 24 hours. It's negotiating in bad faith.

 

[Adjuster]

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

I would need to know what Goodwills 'business model' is??? Are they helping the needy with money obtained from selling the donated items? Or helping the needy by offering the donated items for sale inexpensively. If Goodwills money comes from the sale of the items then I see no problem with what she is doing. Goodwill doesn't care who buys the items they just need them sold.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

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

Is this their home page ?
http://www.goodwill.org/about-us/our-mission/
Look at their revenue and their retail sales, and their mission statement.

Does it matter who pays the price Goodwill asks for its clothing. Seems like sales of donated items generate their operating income.

I am not convinced it is only the needy who buy from the Goodwill shops.
Only a guess, but I reckon Goodwill would love to have another 1 million women like your Mums friend buying from them.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[truckermatt]

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

i tried doing the exact same thing years ago... i scored a couple of good finds, but in the end it was too much time for no gain.... i am suprised she is doing so well.

But in theory, when someone buys something at goodwill, they use that money to help people... so thats all they really want.

 

[Fish-a-Palooza]

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

Of course it's OK. What I like most about the Goodwill (and other thrift stores) is you can always find brand new, never worn, never used, brand name items, for pennies on the dollar, if you're willing to take the time to look. But what I really find amazing is most people would never set foot inside one. I know of several struggling single moms who I've made the suggestion of shopping at a thrift store to make ends meet right after they started complaining about having no money due to the high cost of everything. The response I get is always the same, which is, not just "No", but "HECK NO!" They wouldn't be caught dead in one. It's a similar reaction when I mention clipping coupons for food items.

If you can turn around and sell it for a profit I say good for you. They made their money, now make some yourself and welcome to the United States. There are plenty of Thrift stores that are only in it for the profit, is it OK to purchase and sell in those?

You must really have a problem with Casino's, Payday loan places, and furniture rental companies.

 

[Tim Frank]

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

I think it's wrong because what enables her to exploit that scheme is the fact everyone else is 'not' exploiting it. I could do that, and so could you. We could all try to get in on that. But once word gets around that anything, or anything nice, given to Goodwill was likely to be resold for cash then people would stop donating to Goodwill and that'd hurt donations.

Very well said.
"Flipping" charity goods?
It's certainly not illegal, it is the morality that we are debating.

 

[ezmobee]

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

I would need to know what Goodwills 'business model' is??? Are they helping the needy with money obtained from selling the donated items? Or helping the needy by offering the donated items for sale inexpensively. If Goodwills money comes from the sale of the items then I see no problem with what she is doing. Goodwill doesn't care who buys the items they just need them sold.

I came here to say this. For example, if the goal of the Salvation Army thrift store in my town was to sell affordable items to the less fortunate.....they wouldn't have located the store way out in the suburbs.

 

[Tim Frank]

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

I came here to say this. For example, if the goal of the Salvation Army thrift store in my town was to sell affordable items to the less fortunate.....they wouldn't have located the store way out in the suburbs.

Good point.
Not an easy question really....
The best answer would probably be to pick up the phone and call the Goodwill and ask them if they have a problem with the practice.
If they don't, it doesn't really make any difference what we think.

 

[avenger79]

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

actually I'll take the other side of the coin. I think she is doing a great thing. The Goodwill's mission is to help those less fortunate. They do this in two ways. With the money made from selling products and through teaching people how to run a retail business and make sales.
By her making numerous purchases they are certainly getting some cash to use and the people are learning about restocknig inventory etc.

 

[JB]

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

I see the primary mission of Goodwill is the employment of many otherwise unemployable people in the processing and sale of donations.

I see the donations as a "natural resource" that Goodwill is harvesting and selling for profit and to make jobs for many who would otherwise be wards of society. I don't think it matters at all who buys the stuff or why.

The stuff I donate to Goodwill would otherwise benefit nobody, unless I wanted to go through the hassles of eBaying or CLing.

I applaud the lady for finding a way to have those items produce a second transaction for profit. She obviously has too much enterprenurial spirit to ever be "needy".

 

[tashasdaddy]

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

prices at Goodwill stores here are expensive, could not do it here.

 

[mike64]

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

I don't see a thing wrong with this either. I don't understand the argument that the system would collapse if everybody bought the stuff and resold it. It helps Goodwill sell more by expanding their customer base. I don't see why there's some moral issue with reselling the item at a profit instead of using it. Goodwill gets the money to help the needy just the same.

My wife has bought things at garage sales, cleaned them up and sold them on eBay for a profit. Is that wrong too, or is it ok because it was bought at a garage sale and not Goodwill?

The only thing that would be morally or ethically wrong would be if someone tried to misrepresent stuff as more valuable than it is and try to rip someone off. Like that guy who got the broken down boat for free, then turned around and tried to sell it as "runs great! Put her right in the water!"

 

[kei9th]

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

have any of you been to goodwill lately? the price for a dress shirt is almost the same as buying new clothes at the mall. good for your neighbor she's doing something with her time and not hurting anyone. i went to goodwill when i moved into my first apartment and there were no good deals to be had. i finally bought a couch from salvation army because i needed it to be delivered. i overpaid for the convenience.

 

[gonefishie]

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

I came here to say this. For example, if the goal of the Salvation Army thrift store in my town was to sell affordable items to the less fortunate.....they wouldn't have located the store way out in the suburbs.

I think they're in the burbs because they get better quality donated stuff and the shoppers don't have a problem going to them. Peoples are more likely to drive a short distance to drop off stuff vs. going to the city.

 

[jay_merrill]

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

I needed a TV stand for my little man's room. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one because, at 3 years old (now 4), he's pretty tough on furniture. I can afford to buy from a place other than a thrift store, but didn't - I bought one from the local Viet Nam Vets store and paid 7 dollars for it.

Am I wrong for doing this?

Ethically, this isn't something with an easy answer. I don't think I was wrong for supporting the store that I shopped at, but I do see your point.



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