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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think people are taking the P1$$

133 replies

AliceMcK · 27/10/2020 09:16

Buying up stock from shops and selling it online at a huge markup?

Yesterday I saw Poundland’s LOL cushions being sold for £20 on fb marketplace. This person had a huge supply. So they have gone into Poundland bought a huge supply of £1 cushions and selling them for £20 each.

It really annoys be, especially when it’s things people want to buy their children.

I see it all the time when shops put things on sale, they get sold out quickly and the next thing you know it’s on eBay or marketplace at a ridiculous price parents are either forced to pay or have to disappoint their child because they can’t get what they have asked for.

OP posts:
Cocomarine · 27/10/2020 11:29

Can’t get excited over anyone stupid enough to spend £20 on tat 🤷🏻‍♀️

SunShinesStill · 27/10/2020 11:30

@AliceMcK We’re all grownups here, your allowed to say piss, for fucks sake 😂

SunShinesStill · 27/10/2020 11:30

*you’re

MaskingForIt · 27/10/2020 11:33

have to disappoint their child because they can’t get what they have asked for.

That’s life, isn’t it? Those who can do, and those who can’t dont.

It won’t hurt the little darlings not to get everything they want. If that ruins Christmas then your priorities need realigning.

Children are going hungry in this country, FGS. Not getting a piece of tar is hardly a big deal.

Good on people who have the nouse to spot an opportunity to make some money. It’s only the same as shops are doing.

Bluntness100 · 27/10/2020 11:35

I’m not sure to be honest, most things no one is so desperate foe they need to pay over the odds, there is usually other options or ways to manage. Kids Xmas toys being the exception.

I do dislike people rushing in and grabbing W hat others give away for free ans selling it on, when actually someone who genuinely couldn’t afford it would have liked or needed it. I find that unpleasant.

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/10/2020 11:36

like what ever the must have toy for Christmas etc,

It’s parents who buy into this, kids get blasted by adverts and show off kids at school. I always refused to buy the must have toy on this basis. It was usually tat that lasted weeks or kids only wanted it because ‘Dave’ got one rather than something they were into.

More fool the masses

DelvingintoInsanity · 27/10/2020 11:38

Yep, I totally get it. I bought a cushion in primark for a fiver a year ago, then decided I'd like to get a second one. Couldn't find another one in primark, but someone was selling them for thirty quid on amazon, the actual primark ones primark tags and all. Ridiculous. I didn't get a second one.

Newpuppymummy · 27/10/2020 11:39

Well I wouldn’t do it but I’m not desperate for money. If I was desperate for money maybe I would. If the person selling has got up early and gone to pound land to buy the things to make some money I can’t hate them for that.

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 11:40

YABU
How do you think your local retailers make a living?

There's a special place in hell for people stocking up on ESSENTIALS and selling them at inflated prices: baby formula or medicine. Big no.

Tat from poundland? Sounds like sensible idea to make some money. They take a risk anyway. Some have tried that with crap from Primark (was it last year?) who famously restocked at the last minute and no-one could flog anything anymore.

If you are really desperate for something for your kids, be organised and buy it first.

SalmonEile · 27/10/2020 11:41

@merryhouse I totally agree about ticket touts for concerts and events I wish people universally just refused to pay the ridiculous prices - I can understand why it happens, some artists you never get another chance to see - but it drives me nuts.

CoffeeDay · 27/10/2020 11:41

This is called retail arbitrage I think. Lots of videos on Youtube telling people how to do it. Not sure if it's entirely legal if you're reselling intellectual property items, but it doesn't harm anyone if there are willing buyers.

MintyMabel · 27/10/2020 11:52

It is actually profiteering, and it is actually illegal.

There is a huge difference between retailers buying in bulk and adding a reasonable profit, and a business (or individual) creating a demand and adding a massively unreasonable profit.

sst1234 · 27/10/2020 11:55

Why would you buy it though? The market exists because people will pay. If this was a case for food where hoarding was causing prices to go up, I would agree with you, but if you choose to spend £20 on crap, that’s up to you, can’t blame someone for wanting to make money from it.

WitchesSpelleas · 27/10/2020 12:12

If you buy items to sell on at a profit, you have a tax liability on the proceeds. It would be interesting to know if the seller has submitted a return to HMRC.

marchez · 27/10/2020 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whammyyammy · 27/10/2020 12:30

My OH done similar about 12 years ago when you could not get a Wii anywhere one Christmas.
He went into argos on the off chance, as our son really wanted one and they had 2 in stock, about £110 each. He bought both.

He advertised the other one on gumtree for offers around £750, a guy phoned immediately and came round within the hour, didn't haggle and paid the £750.

We didn't force him to buy it, he was happy with the price, his children got a Wii and we had a lot of extra £££ for Christmas.

Its called supply and demand

nevernotstruggling · 27/10/2020 12:37

I saw this recently with Lidl items marked up by 75%.

It's dishonest and awful. There should be regs around this.

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 12:37

creating a demand and adding a massively unreasonable profit. Hmm

define "unreasonable".

Selling cushions from more than you paid them is not profiteering. Corner shops are not illegal either, and they sell essential items. Have you seen the mark up?

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 12:39

@nevernotstruggling

I saw this recently with Lidl items marked up by 75%.

It's dishonest and awful. There should be regs around this.

why dishonest? Who is forcing you to buy them?

Some people spent time and money to research and travel to a shop. You decide to buy from them, and in many cases expect them to send them by post for your own convenience. Why should that be free?

nevernotstruggling · 27/10/2020 12:44

It's exploitative. The listings of course did jut read 'available in Lidl at £4.99.

BMW6 · 27/10/2020 12:45

I really can't see what you have an issue with. This is how retail works - you buy products that you think will sell, and mark up to make profits.
Things a

re only worth what people are prepared to pay - if people think those cushions are worth £20, then they will buy. If considered poor value, they won't buy.

Never watched The Apprentice OP where teams are tasked with choosing products to sell from retail warehouses, then decide what price to re-sell for to maximise profit thereby winning the task?

The risk is in buying products in bulk that may sell for tiny profits, or not sell at all.

It's not even morally wrong, let alone illegal. They may be only £1 on Poundland, but how much do you think Poundland paid for them?

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/10/2020 12:54

Do you think they pay tax on their profits or advise the benefits agency of their money making schemes?

Taymom · 27/10/2020 12:58

Remember that some of those are just making a living and SMALL businesses. I don't think it wrong. its their right.

TheyreComingToGetYouBarbara · 27/10/2020 13:00

There is a huge difference between retailers buying in bulk and adding a reasonable profit, and a business (or individual) creating a demand and adding a massively unreasonable profit.

Agreed! This isn't capitalism. It's not illegal, but it is a crappy thing to do. However, the solution is (as said) to just not buy things from them. If everyone stopped buying from them, it would eventually stop. Not happening, of course...

Devilesko · 27/10/2020 13:05

If people are daft enough to spend £20 on a cushion for their kids they deserve what they get, whatever the markup on sale.