To think selling used clothes is unnecessary?

[Mummynotmama]

I understand selling the odd nice bit or bundles on eBay but people trying to sell EVERY old babygro, jumper etc for 50p or £1 on social media seems odd? Why not give a bag of clothes to charity shop or to friends who have younger children? Seems greedy to me

I used to sell cheap things when my eldest was young. I was just desperate for money. I sold quite a lot of my clothes when I was pregnant so that I could afford to buy things for the baby (also second hand). They didn’t sell for much but it all helped. I don’t do it now that I’m in a better financial situation because it’s a lot of effort. I’ve saved some things for my BIL/SIL and the rest go to the charity shop.

I was surprised when it was exposed that Cherie Blair did this.

I also know a few families who do this who very definitely (multiple holidays inc skiiing carribean/private school etc) do not need any extra money. They sell everything on eBay/ local sites. I have also thought it seems really mean, and undermines the whole charity/pass me downs etc.
Obviously the majority of people do it because they could do with the extra money.

I work for barnardos. We get paid for rags by weight. So we are grateful for anything x the heavier the better!

To be fair to the OP I’m on a few local selling groups where I know some of the members so I know they’re not hard up and they put what I consider to be far too much effort for a few £s. Like offering to deliver something across the city for which they’ll get £3. It’ll cost more to drive there. There was someone the other day who was offering for free a pouch of baby food that she’d opened and her baby didn’t like. To even arrange to be in for someone to collect that is a headache.

it seems really mean, and undermines the whole charity/pass me downs etc

what does this even mean?

How do you know people don't "need the extra money" for a start? Are they lottery winners, or do they have a job to pay the bills?

I know people who sell everything, make a few hundred pounds a year with the clothes, toys etc.. and put all the money on their kids bank account. It sounds like an excellent idea if you can afford not to spend the extra cash!

Others are able to buy good clothes for very little, everybody is happy, I cannot see why anyone could be upset by it? Jealousy maybe?

I also know a few families who do this who very definitely (multiple holidays inc skiiing carribean/private school etc) do not need any extra money.

Maybe they need extra money because they’re shelling out for private school and skiing holidays?

you do realise that a lot of people out there cant even afford to eat, let alone buy new things for their children without raising money from selling old stuff first

Yabu.

Why does it bother you so much?!

I sell my son's disability related stuff like sleeping bags and shoes on Facebook sites. I make little money on it but I hate to see it going to waste if it is in good condition and I want it to go to people who would get the most use out of it.

I think it is more environmentally friendly to sell it, as that way someone definitely wants that item and it will get a second use. They can then donate it or textile recycle it when they are finished.

However, if you give a bag to a charity shop a lot of it may well get binned or 'ragged' when it is still useable. Not enough space, wrong season, not enough volunteers....

Door to door collection bags are not always for registered charities. Even some 'charity' shops are not always entirely clear about what they are supporting . Not talking about Oxfam or other big names, but I have found some of the smaller, local shops to be a bit vague about their charitable work.

Small businesses may need the hours and turnover to qualify for financial assistance.

Oh lord, you do know we have thousands using food banks and selling a few clothes may help feed a child, anyway waste not want not.

Hmm, so a pile of baby clothes unused and cluttering up the place. Advertise for a few quid. Someone collects. You're a few quid up.

If it's free time spent where you'd be earning nothing and get to sit in a warm house doing your normal routine, why not? It's not really necessarily a case of 'need'.

I do this. I don't have a charity shop that nearby now and so it's much more convenient if someone will come to my house and collect it! All the 50ps and £1s go in the children's piggy banks

When you see that a pack of 3 babygrows cost more than £15 from Next, I am still unsure why trying to earn a couple of pounds by selling yours can be considered "greedy"

I did it on maternity leave simply for something to do when at home with a baby and it meant I got out to walk to the post office regularly. Lots of items just covered costs but often got bought by people in rural areas who probably didn't have lots of local cheap or charity shops. Made about £200 a year plus put loads of other things on Freecycle.

Once I went back to work it was easier to take a sack to the charity shop every so often and only sell items that would yield more than time taken.

Well it’s their stuff and they can do what they want with it.

I used to sell a lot of ds1s old clothes. Yes some of it only sold for a couple of quid but it all added up.

Sometimes I’d sell a huge load of stuff and make £60, that would buy his new coat, shoes and an outfit.

I haven’t got the time these days but you can a bit of money back.

I agree, OP. Some of the things people put on facebook selling sites I can't believe people aren't ashamed to ask for money for it. Surely advertising to the world that you are so hard up you can't afford to send a bag of kids clothing to the charity shop or freecycling it but have to go to the trouble of taking photos to sell it instead is pretty shaming.

FFS when you need money to feed your children there's no shame to anything. It maybe selling something or getting a referral to the foodbank you do the best you can when things are tough

When I sell for a ridiculously low amount instead of giving away for free / to charity is to make sure it goes to someone who actually wants it and intends to use it.

yabu! I've sold lots of baby clothes on facebook! about 50 little vests for £5, loads of sleepsuits for £5, I don't ask for much, but when you think of all the money spent on 50 vests when a packet can cost about £6, its not unreasonable for me to ask for a little money back?

the money I get back usually doesn't even cover the price of a new packet of vests/sleepsuits.

simply put, people need the money. you can't just give everything away for free.

When I sell for a ridiculously low amount instead of giving away for free / to charity is to make sure it goes to someone who actually wants it and intends to use it.

Exactly. You have less chance of risking people nabbing it for free and selling it on a a car boot or similar!

When I sell for a ridiculously low amount instead of giving away for free / to charity is to make sure it goes to someone who actually wants it and intends to use it.

Exactly. You have less chance of risking people nabbing it for free and selling it on a a car boot or similar!

@missmayhemsmum

I agree, OP. Some of the things people put on facebook selling sites I can't believe people aren't ashamed to ask for money for it. Surely advertising to the world that you are so hard up you can't afford to send a bag of kids clothing to the charity shop or freecycling it but have to go to the trouble of taking photos to sell it instead is pretty shaming.

Wow, what a horrible post. Did you actually read that before you hit the 'post message' button? How snide and judgemental and rude.

Weirdly, you are saying very similar things to the OP, and sound very like her. Same attitude and posting style and everything. Funny that!