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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For selling for a profit?

147 replies

anannoyinglylongusername · 15/12/2016 18:41

I managed to get hold of one those really in demand toys for Xmas. I got it for a friend I knew was looking for one but she managed to get one the same time.

I looked at what they are selling for and I put it onto a local selling sight for what I paid +25.

I got really slammed for it on page which people saying I was taking advantage of desperate parents.

My first thought was to be irritated as I don't think anyone needs to be desperate for a toy - but then I had second thoughts and took it down.

Wibu to try and sell it on for a profit?

OP posts:
DontTouchTheMoustache · 16/12/2016 23:45

Incidentally if you hadn't made this Christmas miracle happen I would totally of been on the side of listing it on eBay and making a profit. As a child I managed to survive many Christmases without getting exactly what I want. Parents will only ever pay what they can afford and if they pay more than that then that's up to them but you aren't forcing anyone to do anything.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 16/12/2016 23:47

My daughter was absolutely desperate for a Hatchimal. I went to Orlando the last three weeks and was sure I would get one there but it was even crazier 😬

She met Santa in Magic Kingdom and he promised her one. Her face!!

So I've spent over double on an eBay one. Bastards.

(Then DD2 said she was excited about hers too 😳... so had to buy a second stupidly priced one.)

I would never ever do this to people. It's cruel. Basically you can pay to alleviate your child's potential disappointment... Confused

JustGettingStarted · 16/12/2016 23:50

YANBU

You didn't buy it just to sell it at a profit. You bought it for a friend, found out it wasn't needed, and now you're selling it at the going rate.

Keletubbie · 16/12/2016 23:54

Use your extra £25 to buy a nice bottle of plonk and a bag of ice to soothe the butthurt of the parents stupid enough to pay over the odds so their special snowflakes get exactly what they want.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 16/12/2016 23:55

MaryPoppins I think that's something you would need to take up with Santa...

hilbil21 · 16/12/2016 23:55

OP she said phone was dying and she would answer your message as soon as she could Xmas Smile

ohtheholidays · 17/12/2016 00:15

Yes I think YABVU!

I've had to pay a small fortune to get one of those toys and before anyone starts yes I did have to,it's for our DD who is 9 she's a very poorly little girl and has been since she was born and she's disabled and the only thing she has asked for is one of those toys .

Myself and my DH and some friends have all looked for one for our DD,I even looked at places that were miles and miles from where we live to get her one and we've been looking for weeks.I'd signed up to special sights to get stock notifications,we'd tried everything but in the end the only way we've managed to get one is by paying well over what any shop was selling them for.

For some parents it's not about spoiling a child or worrying that our child will have a tantrum if they don't get the one thing they asked for,for some of us it's trying to keep the magic of Christmas alive and letting our little DD think that Father Christmas has listened to her wish and he's made it come true.

Life is bloody brutal as it is for our DD,if her believing that Father Christmas made her the one thing she wanted eases some of the pain she faces daily then why wouldn't we do what we could do get that toy for her.

Sophieontoastie · 17/12/2016 01:39

Use your extra £25 to buy a nice bottle of plonk and a bag of ice to soothe the butthurt of the parents stupid enough to pay over the odds so their special snowflakes get exactly what they want

Exactly this! If my DC wanted something desperately, I would admittedly pay for it anyway even if it meant paying a silly amount because the item was limited stock.

But I know that's my choice to go out and spend that much, it's not someone exploiting me. Myself or DC don't need the item, it's not a necessity but it's something I'd like them to have so therefore will pay for it.

Honestly OP, enjoy your extra cash. The only fools here are people spending over the odds to please their little darlings not judging them because I'd do it to but will judge me if they complain of exploitation

Sophieontoastie · 17/12/2016 01:40

*them

Grilledaubergines · 17/12/2016 01:43

YABU but then it isn't in my nature to be greedy.

ItWentInMyEye · 17/12/2016 01:49

YABU. You don't need it, you didn't need the money you spent on it at the time so why ask for more? Because you got to the shop before other people who also got the alert? That doesn't make you entitled to inflating the price of an already difficult to obtain toy. Just mean.

Cagliostro · 17/12/2016 01:52

Its a toy not insulin.
This!

ProfessorBranestawm · 17/12/2016 01:54

Makes me sad that pester power and media manipulation is so strong that people are paying such crazy amounts for a toy.

Sophieontoastie · 17/12/2016 02:01

YABU. You don't need it, you didn't need the money you spent on it at the time so why ask for more? Because you got to the shop before other people who also got the alert? That doesn't make you entitled to inflating the price of an already difficult to obtain toy. Just mean.

Asking someone to pay a bit more for something they don't bloody need isn't mean. Raising prices of medication is mean. Charging for charity is mean

Asking parents to put their hand deeper in their pockets for a 100% 'want not need' item is not mean

OlennasWimple · 17/12/2016 02:13

Last time I looked we were living in a capitalist country... I don't agree with deliberately stockpiling popular toys, but if the OP finds herself with a "spare" I don't have any problem with her selling it for more than cost.

kerryob · 17/12/2016 02:21

It's all about supply & demand, toys industry seem to do this every year to drum up a frenzy for one toy or another and stocks run low.

I can see I why people are saying it's unfair but I wouldn't feel guilty about making a profit on essentially a bit of plastic. Its not an essential it's just business

GirlOverboard · 17/12/2016 04:42

YANBU. Sell it at RRP and there's a good chance your buyer will sell it on themselves for a profit. Much better to keep that profit for yourself.

Isadora2007 · 17/12/2016 09:24

Earl. Hardly a cow as I can't help it that you weren't organised and are now paying over the odds instead of just saying "you can get it when it's back in stock". That's your choice entirely.
Also I sold it a few weeks ago so it wasn't mine you bought.

OP there was another lady here keen for one?
Monkey face that's really bad if you've gone now and aren't needing the toy. Poor show.

MotherFuckingChainsaw · 17/12/2016 10:00

Monkey said her phone battery was dying

Cherrysoup · 17/12/2016 10:08

Personally, I would sell it for whatever anyone would pay. If that's double the RRP, then so be it. Supply and demand. I was given a bottle of posh perfume recently, straight on eBay, I don't want it and it cost the giver nothing as she works for the company and gets a lot free. Win, win.

If it's a very desirable item, all the better the profit. I can't believe people saying how terrible it is when these toys are so sought after: tough, you too could have put stock alerts on a website.

Hoppinggreen · 17/12/2016 10:24

I made a bit of money from Mogs last year - do you think I made Santa cry?
I also gave one free of charge to a mner who was struggling so hopefully that's restored my karma.
We are talking about a bloody toy not life saving medicine, I would sell them for as much as I could get. Nobody needs a hatchimal or whatever and anyone who thinks that Christmas will be ruined without one needs to have a good look at themselves.

Nicknameofawesome · 17/12/2016 10:31

I would chuck it on eBay with a reserve of the price you paid plus fees so you don't loose any money. People can bid then and it's up to them.

Original poster
anannoyinglylongusername · 17/12/2016 10:50

Monkey?? been waiting or address now since last message Thursday..

OP posts:
YelloDraw · 17/12/2016 10:53

LOL at 'forcing people to pay more'. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything, unless you have a psychopathic 6 year old who has a gun to your head.

OP, chuck it on EBay, let the bidding commence and enjoy your profit.

SVJAA · 17/12/2016 10:56

Fair play OP for offering it to a PP at cost, but I don't think you did anything wrong listing @ cost + £25. The words used to describe people who want a specific toy "need" "forced to pay more" "desperately in need" make me laugh. Nobody is desperately in need of a toy or forced to pay more for it. It's a bit pathetic really.