Do ya'll think this is ok to do?

[rjlipscomb]

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

This is an interesting subject.

If Goodwill (including all other charitable outlet stores) intended to only furnish clothing/furniture/etc. to the poor and less fortunate, then why outlet stores conveniently located to everyone. I understand selling the items provides income for the receiving, cleaning, storing and merchandising costs. It just seems reasonable that they mark-up the items a little more so as to provide a source of funding for all of their other programs. Hence, if someone buys and resells they are still contributing to the needs of the less fortunate. We just somehow assumed that the donated items went right to the needy. In reality, the less fortunate probably receive a little more from our donated items. My wife is a huge supporter of Goodwill. And, we shop at the local Salvation Army for antique type furniture and miscellaneous items. This is the heart of Capitalism.

 

[FBPirate95]

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

Around here it's probably about 75% of the people shopping in Goodwill and thrift stores don't need to and only about 25% are in there because of financial circumstances. My family personally shops in these stores to purchase work clothes, kids play clothes, and other odds and ends that we wouldn't want to spend a lot of money for it. Do we need to do that financially? Absolutely not. But its just a matter of economics. Should I spend top dollar on something that is going to rapidly wear out or that I only need for a short period of time? No. It just makes better sense to buy something used. I have even purchased things from Goodwill and used them for a little while, and if it stays in good shape, actually donate it back for them to make more money off of.

As for your mom's friend. I don't see that she is doing something immoral. The fact is she is taking her time to find saleable items, to "advertise" them on ebay, and to ship them to her customer. Goodwill has the same opportunity to sell things at a higher price or use online resources for sale. Remember something is only worth as much as what someone will pay for it. If you sell something to someone for less than what another person would buy it for, its your loss.

As with any business, you look for ways to keep your operating costs down. This may be cutting employees, improving efficiencey, or looking for the lowest cost raw materials. That is all your mom's friend has done. She has found a low cost "wholesaler" in which she purchases from and is able to "retail" it for a profit. That's no different than any store you buy items from.

Now if she is profiting enough from her online business and not reporting or paying taxes on her profit, then that in my opinion, is where she would be wrong.

 

[salty87]

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

i don't know about all goodwills but here there's a program for alcohol dependent people. they stay at the goodwill 'dorm' and work in the warehouse while getting counseling and a place to stay away from their addictions.

again, the support of the retail store is key. whether people keep what they buy or flip it, goodwill needs to keep the cash register ringing.

in the financial sector they call this arbitrage. buy something on 1 market and sell it on another for a profit. take advantage of pricing discrepancies.

 

[JRJ]

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

Like most people, we have given a lot of stuff to The Goodwill and we were glad to have it picked up and out of our hair. Never really thought about someone buying and re-selling our donations, but I really don't care. I didn't want to be bothered with a yard sale and look at how many people are enjoying our discards.

 

[itsaboattime]

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

I go to Goodwill and buy work clothes. I get them cheap and I save money. I also look for items I can resell on ebay.

You also have to understand that the Goodwill store near here also sells on ebay.

I pay what Goodwill is asking so they get their end of the deal. When I resell it I get my end of the deal.

If Goodwill wanted to only donate, not sell, the items that are donated to them then they shouldn't have a store open to the public.

 

[Tig]

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

Goodwill's mission is "helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work."
If you buy there, you support this.

 

[QC]

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

Exactly ^^^^^^ There is no way in heck suggesting that anybody with cash should stay away from their store helps them. I applaud actively discussing the morality of anything and everything, but coming to a conclusion that ultimately may hurt the charity is odd

 

[WizeOne]

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

Ooh! I better hold my tongue!!

 

[DavidW2009]

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

imho, Don't judge this lady who is reselling on ebay. We don't know the whole story.

Goodwill, again imho, is just a business that pretends to be a charity.

Also, there are many things at these Goodwill stores that poor people don't buy anyway. Mens suits and books, to name a couple.

 

[eaglejim]

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

Well I for one don't consider myself poor and I shop at Goodwill they do have some good/great deals there and as far as doing the business thing my daughter does buy stuff from there and resales them to people online and I can't see nothing wrong with it they are a supplier and I don't think Goodwill cares just as long as they move the goods because moving the goods means making the money.

 

[lowkee]

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

I think reselling items in Goodwill defeats 1/2 the benefit of the charity. Sure, the sale helps people, but the item for a decent price also does. For anyone to give "It meets the mission statement" as a reason to stop looking to do better is short sighted.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I recently bought nearly an entirely new wardrobe at a local salvation army, all very nice, name brand stuff. I saved myself at least 800, maybe 1,000 dollars in clothing expenses. I bought it to save money for myself, but had the bonus of benefiting both the SA and myself with a little environmentally kudos in there somewhere. Did reselling cross my mind while shopping? Yes, as there were some Armani suits in there. But who am I helping by doing that? If it would resell on ebay, it will help someone in need much more than the few extra bucks would help me.

After all, appearance matters in business. Allowing that nice Armani suit to be purchased by someone who needs it just might help them tip the scales in their favor enough to move them into a better job, which helps many more people, myself included, indirectly.

As an aside, is the ebay re-seller even paying self-employment taxes on that income? How about sales tax? I doubt it.

 

[salty87]

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

After all, appearance matters in business. Allowing that nice Armani suit to be purchased by someone who needs it just might help them tip the scales in their favor enough to move them into a better job, which helps many more people, myself included, indirectly.

As an aside, is the ebay re-seller even paying self-employment taxes on that income? How about sales tax? I doubt it.

you're splitting hairs. GW needs that stuff to sell no matter who buys it. if the mission was to only sell to poor people, they'd check your W2 at the door.

maybe the poor(er) person (let's face it, a REALLY poor person needs food not Armani) couldn't get a day off from work or a ride to the GW store. maybe buying it online off ebay is more convenient for them. who knows. we can all agree that a sale is a sale.

not paying taxes is another issue entirely.

 

[Skiuseme]

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

Nothing has been said on what she does with the money. If she is using the money to go out to Dinner, Buying goods or services, or otherwise employing people I think this is just fine.

Remember the Steak that she bought at the restaurant employes the farmer, the butcher, the salesman, the server, the cook, the dishwasher, and many others.


I think it is good for her that she's willing to use her time to be a productive member of soceity.

 

[QC]

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

Another thing to consider is what happens with the things that don't sell anyway? They have to make room for new inventory, so I am guessing items that aren't moving make their way to some other seller who may or may not sell them on eBay etc. They could end up in the dump for all we know . . .

 

[lowkee]

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

you're splitting hairs. GW needs that stuff to sell no matter who buys it. if the mission was to only sell to poor people, they'd check your W2 at the door.

I don't recall seeing "To sell to bottom feeders" in their mission statement. Does anyone really believe the stuff this lady sells on ebay for $30 profit would not sell for $3 at a Goodwill? Sure, some stuff likely does not sell, but it sure isn't the stuff she is buying up. Checking W2's at the door is logistically silly and isn't an argument.

maybe the poor(er) person (let's face it, a REALLY poor person needs food not Armani) couldn't get a day off from work or a ride to the GW store. maybe buying it online off ebay is more convenient for them. who knows. we can all agree that a sale is a sale.

So this lady is doing the poor a favor by selling them the same clothing she paid $3 for for $30 plus $10 shipping per item? Again, silly. We can all agree a bottom feeder is a bottom feeder. Comparing something to itself proves nothing.

Nothing has been said on what she does with the money. If she is using the money to go out to Dinner, Buying goods or services, or otherwise employing people I think this is just fine.

Remember the Steak that she bought at the restaurant [employs] the farmer, the butcher, the salesman, the server, the cook, the dishwasher, and many others.

Trickle-down economics has never worked. Letting those with the means buy at wholesale and sell to those without the means at retail is flawed logic.

I think it is good for her that she's willing to use her time to be a productive member of society.

What is she producing?

Another thing to consider is what happens with the things that don't sell anyway? They have to make room for new inventory, so I am guessing items that aren't moving make their way to some other seller who may or may not sell them on eBay etc. They could end up in the dump for all we know . . .

As noted above, the items this lady buys are not items nobody wants. She is buying the most sought after items (otherwise she would not profit from it). She is simply moving the savings from those who could use its' pockets to her own. Leaving those without the means without the goods, too.

The items never end up in the dump, btw. The clothing which does not sell at retail stores goes to an outlet store and sold by the pound. If it still does not sell, it is donated to a difference cause (likely shipped out of country).

I think a fair analogy is this:

What is the difference buying out cheap clothing and selling for retail and going to a food pantry, taking all the best food and selling it? After all, the slop is still left, so what are the poor people complaining about? Would you still argue "A sale is a sale" then? The difference is, food is tougher to resell. If it was easy to resell, those same bottom feeders would be going there, too.

Alas, greedy people will always find a reason to justify greed. Some even consider it productive and for the greater good.

 

[bassman284]

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

Another thing to consider is what happens with the things that don't sell anyway? They have to make room for new inventory, so I am guessing items that aren't moving make their way to some other seller who may or may not sell them on eBay etc. They could end up in the dump for all we know . . .

Around here unsold or unsellable clothing is cut up by folks workinig for Goodwill and sold to businesses as bags o' rags. The factory I work in buys a lot of them to use for oil spill cleanups, paint, etc.

 

[ezmobee]

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

lowkee, while I think you have a valid point, and certainly less fortunate people buying the merchandise is the IDEAL scenario.....it's not like this lady is being given "first crack" at the available merchandise or something like that. Everyone has equal opportunity to purchase the available products. I certainly wouldn't classify what she's doing as "wrong".

 

[salty87]

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

I think a fair analogy is this:

What is the difference buying out cheap clothing and selling for retail and going to a food pantry, taking all the best food and selling it? After all, the slop is still left, so what are the poor people complaining about? Would you still argue "A sale is a sale" then? The difference is, food is tougher to resell. If it was easy to resell, those same bottom feeders would be going there, too.

food pantries don't sell food.

 

[Tig]

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

Also, there are many things at these Goodwill stores that poor people don't buy anyway. Mens suits and books, to name a couple.

Au contraire.. One man's junk is another man's treasure. Thrift stores are the place to go when you need a sweet costume.
My son picked up a wicked faux leopard fur coat with matching hat for an engineering grad event last year.
I even have some decorative books I picked up. Heidi and Swiss Family Robinson. I may never read them but they look nice on the shelf.

edit: oh, sorry. I see that you qualified that with "poor people". That doesn't fit my examples. But the examples do support your thoughts that there are markets other than poor people.

 

[WizeOne]

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

What I think the lady in question should do, is when she spots and item that she thinks she can sell for more money (items at prices, I might add, that Goodwill saw fit to place on the retail shelf) she should go to the management and say "I think you should ask $XXX more for that item because that is what I think I could get on ebay". Then of course, she should walk away empty handed.

Better yet, maybe she should buy it, sell it on ebay and take the profit back to Goodwill.

Yeah! That's what she should do!!! Give me a BFB!!!!!

Goodwill is in the bidna to receive donated goods and sell them at what they think their market will bear. Once sold, they have achieved their goal and can use the money for all of their goodwill purposes. What the H*** difference does it make what somebody does with the merchandise that was offered to any taker at the price they specified, huh????