Is this fair
By teenal
@teenal (1400)
Dublin, Ireland
December 14, 2006 6:00pm CST
Im very into recycling and frequently give and get items on free to take websites. Ive noticed latley that some items on the recycling sites are given away and then are appearing on other sites for sale a day or two later. I know people can do what they like with items they collect but for some reason this really annoys me. I saw a sofa I really wanted and was pipped at the post for it and two days later I spot the same sofa on sale for €200.00 on another site. This happened me with a cofee table a few weeks back as well. I would be less likley to give an item to someone who only wanted it to sell it. Id much prefer if the items I advertise for free were taken by someone who needed them. Am I being unreasonable or does anyone else think ther is somethin wrong with selling goods you got for free.
2 people like this
14 responses
@WebGal (48)
• United States
15 Dec 06
When you post something to be given away, you could say that the recipient must sign a contract that they will not resell the item for profit, and violation of the terms will result in a penalty of €500.00 or whatever. This might catch on with other people who regularly use the free donation sites and watch out for items they've seen from other people. Even better if you can mark your freely donated items "GIVEN FOR FREE, DO NOT RESELL" as a way of identifying items that have been donated. What do others think? Could this work, maybe not for everything, but at least to somewhat decrease the profiteering?
@WebGal (48)
• United States
16 Dec 06
Yes, you raise a good point. But it might work for some items - furniture or large items that your friends/guests are not going to pick up and look at all over. The marking could be placed somewhere that's normally out of sight - the back or bottom of the item. Sure, it would be nicer for the recipient to get something that looks new and unmarked, but maybe it's enough just to get the item for free.
I don't know; it's a hard question, and there may not be any good answers. I'd like there to be a way to stop the profiteering and get donated items into the hands of people who will actually use them.
@tamra2 (259)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I use the freecycle site a lot and this is something that does happen. I don't like it either. Whenever I offer something, I try to make sure it goes to someone that actually needs it, but I have seen items I gave away up for sale on Ebay or Live Deal. I always make a note of the user name for the person I give stuff to, and if I later see my item for sale then I make sure to never give another item to that person. Still does not stop the problem, but it makes me feel better!
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
18 Dec 06
hi Teenal - where is this happening? I am really curious as I do this (donate items). While strictly there is nothing wrong with this, it does go against what it is all about. i too would have a problem with giving away clothes if I knew someone was profiting out of it. If I wanted to do this I would hand them into a swopshop or on ebay.
@teenal (1400)
• Dublin, Ireland
18 Dec 06
I saw a sofa on dublin waste for free and then on donedeal.ie and gumtree for sale two days later. It was exactly what I was looking for and was pipped at he post. I was tempted to buy it from the person who got it as it was unusual and exactly what im after but I couldnt bring myself to give €200.00 over to someone for something I know they got for nothing.
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
15 Dec 06
Yes, it is very unfair and you are not being unreasonable. I too have seen that happen here in Ireland, and it probably happens in other countries too. As a giver (I don't need to take - have too much) I have had emails from people complaining about this type of activity. I now do a check on a prospective taker and if I feel they don't actually need the item, then I will give it to the next in line. My daughter has now set up a new site, where people have to option to give, sell, swap or ask for items. It has only been up an running for a few weeks but so far it is doing quite well. I don't know if I am allowed to put the website address here, so I best not. If you would like the address, please feel free to contact me. I have lots of stuff to give away for free.
@Alexanderrp (163)
• United States
15 Dec 06
Well, that can go 2 ways. If you REALLY need the extra money, to pay the rent, you could possibly do that. My dad does something simlilar, though. He goes to places like, Goodwill, And, St. Vincent Depaul (Both Thrift shops for the poor that sells items for really cheap.) When he goes there, he buys different glassware, then sells it on ebay for a profit.
2 days ago, he sold a perfume bottle that he got for $0.25, for $118.60 . That's what he is out doing when he is not selling furniture.
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
15 Dec 06
If the person giving the item doesnt mind it being sold then I think its ok. but if the person is giving the item to someone who they think really needs these items, then I believe its wrong. Some people on the free sites use the site to find items such as scrap metals, those items are always sold for scrap. so I just think that the people need to make others aware of what they plan to do with the items.
@vipul20044 (5793)
• India
15 Dec 06
Well you know it is hard to distinguish between one who is needy and one who is not
You never know
All that matters i must say is that, you do give things to people for the sake of donating to the needy and thats what matters the most
DOnt be offended people will fool around but atleast you did a good job on your part
Be proud of yourself for that
@scarymary (124)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I find it kinda tacky, it's kinda like receiving a gift and then handing it to someone else while the intial giver is still sitting there. If you're going to do something like that [because there is a ton of reasons for giving something up, not just being greedy], I would at least do it through another source or give it some time.
