Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sister selling my childhood stuff

42 replies

marzipancustard · 11/10/2015 04:40

My mum is moving from our childhood home & my sister & I have helped her clear out everything and get it ready for selling.

I've noticed my sister listing some things that were mine from when we were younger on fb selling sites. Until today nothing too important but just seen she's listed my old Polaroid camera that I thought was long gone! I'm quite shocked she's selling it without mentioning it to me as it's definitely mine she never had a Polaroid & I have a lot of Polaroid pics taken when I was younger that were stuck on the walls of my old bedroom.

Kind of annoyed as 1 - it's mine and I'd quite like to keep it & 2 - we are skint and if it was being sold we would want the cash!

AIBU?

OP posts:
poppyseedbagel · 11/10/2015 04:43

Is she selling on behalf of your mum? Is it possible your mum gave her stuff to sell for her, without knowing who owned what? If sister is selling with full knowledge it is your stuff and she is keeping the money, then YANBU.

Original poster
marzipancustard · 11/10/2015 04:49

Not selling for Mum this is just for herself!

OP posts:
YellowDinosaur · 11/10/2015 04:59

Why have you sat by passively watching while she sells your things? The first time she listed something of mine I'd have said something like 'oy sis, that's mine!'

Senpai · 11/10/2015 05:12

Call her on it, and report it to facebook as a stolen item so that it gets taken down.

aurynne · 11/10/2015 05:13

Surely giving your sister a call and letting her know it's your things she is selling is much faster and more effective than sitting down and writing this post on MN?

Original poster
marzipancustard · 11/10/2015 05:21

aurynne it's just after 5 in the morning here so not sure she'd appreciate a call. My point is that she knows it's my stuff - and is selling it regardless. I just wanted some opinions on whether it's unreasonable for me to be annoyed before I speak to her about it. Surely that's what this forum is for? By the same token you could tell almost every other poster it's quicker to speak to whoever they're irritated by, rather than posting on AIBU?

OP posts:
sykadelic · 11/10/2015 06:08

aurynne's point OP was probably more that you were wasting time posting here when in the time it took you to post it could be sold out from under you.

Yes she is TOTALLY wrong to be selling your things. I think perhaps you should go over to hers or wherever she is and collect all your things to make sure she cuts it out.

Admittedly though, she may not remember it was yours and instead just remember it. My older sister was convinced that something of mine was half hers (I had 2 sets of something). I know for 10000% certainty it wasn't, because the person who gave me the item was very specific about why there were 2 sets of them and instead of remotely entertaining DSis I told her exactly why I knew she was wrong and that was the end of it (and I ensured I moved them with me!)

YakTriangle · 11/10/2015 06:20

'I had a look at some of the things you're selling, and I noticed that some of it belongs to me. I'd like them back now, thank you.'

Bohemond · 11/10/2015 06:27

If you've both helped her clear out why does your sister have your things in the first place?

LondonKitty · 11/10/2015 06:42

Sisters! Mine dumped my childhood stuff in a bin during a clear out once while I was away. Yes, she knew I wanted it... Angry

Wink
Iggly · 11/10/2015 07:01

Just tell her! I would!

tigermoth · 11/10/2015 07:13

YANBU to be cross but it would be interesting to know her side of the story. Interesting because it might say a lot about her general attitude towards you and your mum's possessions and that's useful for you to know.

When you talk to her, I'd hide my anger to begin with and simply tell her you have seen the Polaroid camera on a fb selling site. tbh I can't see how she could justify this but let her try - I guess there is a chance she was intending to give you the money from the sale?

Then you can lay it on the line with her, and tell her you don't want her selling your stuff without permission.

And I'd make sure you and your sister do future clear outs together, you immediately take away all that is yours and you keep tabs on all your mums stuff that is to be sold?

Crazypetlady · 11/10/2015 09:10

I didn't realize people could police whether the O.P chooses to post here before or after messaging her sister. She clearly wanted opinions before she kicked off at her sister.

I would comment on the pictures O,P something like
Hi dsister there must have been some confusion when we were sorting as these are mine would you take this down please?
You could message her but the comment will hopefully deter others.

RebootYourEngine · 11/10/2015 09:44

I would comment on the fb posts so that people are put off from buying them.

scarlets · 11/10/2015 09:46

Maybe post something like, "I think this camera was mine - nice too see it again! Happy for it to be sold though, the money will be useful" This implies that you want the proceeds.

Then suggest (privately) that you go through the sellable items together and work out who owned what. Turn it around - say that it's not fair for her to have the hassle of listing your things when she won't benefit financially.

She's obviously not being deceitful, in fairness. She'd have used eBay or Gumtree if she didn't want you to see.

hedgehogsdontbite · 11/10/2015 09:50

Maybe your sister assumed that if you wanted it you'd have taken it with you when you moved out.

Floppy5885 · 11/10/2015 09:53

Speak to your sister then post

YANAgurl1973 · 11/10/2015 09:57

"Happy for it to be sold,the money would be useful". You need to add " I'm skint" or the sister will assume the money will be useful TO HER. Def speak to your sister op.

ThatsDissapointing · 11/10/2015 10:18

She might have seen it as general unwanted stuff that nobody was doing anything with rather than 'your' stuff. It's a bit cheeky of her though.

It's easy for her to end the listing for the camera so I would simply ask her to end it. I would also ask her to run things by you before selling them if they belong to you or your Mum. You could also ask for a cut of anything that was your mums. Maybe suggest you get a third and she gets two thirds to cover her tone and expenses.

DoreenLethal · 11/10/2015 10:19

'I didn't know you had stashed all my old stuff sis - I have been looking for these for ages. Sale is off folks'.

nagynolonger · 11/10/2015 10:23

You must speak to her. Tell her that the things were yours if you want them. She may think you left the stuff behind so you don't want it. The thing is we all grow up with the stuff in our parents home and have some attachment to it. She may have used your camera and thinks of it as a family item.

When we cleared out our parental home who had the slightly battered board games caused some trouble. We all remembered playing them. I think most were bought for me or the next sister down but the younger 3 siblings also played them. Not a big deal really but it is strange how little things can cause upset.

Tallyloolah · 11/10/2015 10:24

Don't tolerate it, comment on any FB Sale post she puts up saying you want it back, and if she persists, I would add a comment to the effect of 'STOLEN ITEM DO NOT PURCHASE. Pm me now.'

Tallyloolah · 11/10/2015 10:24

Don't tolerate it, comment on any FB Sale post she puts up saying you want it back, and if she persists, I would add a comment to the effect of 'STOLEN ITEM DO NOT PURCHASE. Pm me now.'

EternalDalmatian · 11/10/2015 10:26

Surely she should speak to her sister before commenting 'stolen item' and the like?

Perhaps she just doesn't realise that you remember it or how important it is?

Bunbaker · 11/10/2015 10:27

"Maybe your sister assumed that if you wanted it you'd have taken it with you when you moved out."

This

Just ask her to de-list your things and then go and collect them from her.