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Original poster

Selling stuff from ‘Dump Runs’

124 replies

RealhousewifeofStoke · 22/05/2021 10:34

Interested in opinions after seeing drama unfold on a local FB selling page. Couple advertise ‘Dump Runs’ where they charge £20-30 to take a van load of household stuff to the local dump/recycling centre.
I’ve used them myself once just before a house move and it was hassle free and really was stuff only fit for the dump such as old tins of paint, garden stuff etc.
It’s now emerged that they sort through the stuff they collect and are selling some of it on so things like sofas for £30. Amongst the listings are more valuable items like Wedgwood pottery etc.
I don’t think they’re doing anything wrong. But many people do. My thinking is if you’re happy to dump it, you shouldn’t be annoyed. Be a different story if they claimed to be taking stuff to a charity shop and THEN selling it? They advertise the dump runs AND the stuff for sale on the same page.

OP posts:
Original poster
RealhousewifeofStoke · 22/05/2021 11:18

@CounsellorTroi

Technically they are doing something wrong. People are paying them to take the stuff to the dump. They aren’t selling it to them to them to sell on.
What’s the technicality though?
OP posts:
user1493494961 · 22/05/2021 11:21

Is it you doing the 'dump runs' Op?

Miljea · 22/05/2021 11:23

I can't see the problem. If I either dump something myself or pay someone else to do it for me, I think I've pretty clearly indicated I have no more interest in it.

If they then sell something on, so what?

It's the same with freecycle and carboots. I don't care if someone takes something from me then flogs it at a carboot. I often think people must have to sift through a lot of shizz to get saleable items! 😂

EverdeRose · 22/05/2021 11:26

As long as its not something that contains personal details of previous owners, such as a laptop or tablet, I think its fine and quite enterprising.

But I'd be a little worried if I'd thought something with personal data on was going to be sold when I thought it was just going to be dumped.

nimbuscloud · 22/05/2021 11:28

What makes you say they don’t have a licence?
Have you seen their licence??

CounsellorTroi · 22/05/2021 11:33

They’re paying them to take it away. Once it’s left their premises, they no longer own it.

Not necessarily. If you pay someone to take something to the dump you are entering into a contract with them to do just that. If they then sell it instead they are not adhering to the contract.

Tk5787338 · 22/05/2021 11:35

They’re going to the effort of sorting through and selling it so why not.

ThePlantsitter · 22/05/2021 11:39

Do they have a licence then OP?

Original poster
RealhousewifeofStoke · 22/05/2021 11:39

@user1493494961

Is it you doing the 'dump runs' Op?
Oh ffs I love MN sometimes Grin No it’s not me doing the dump runs but I was interested in and commented on one of the for sale posts of something they were selling and subsequently had 20 notifications from an irate woman who had issues with them selling it ( It wasn’t her item initially from what I can tell)
OP posts:
BiBabbles · 22/05/2021 11:39

No issue with that, in fact I've been looking into house clearance places that specifically discuss selling on and recycling where possible. We've had the local furniture charity come in already to say what they could and could not take and have sorted for the electronics for either recycling or passing on to those we know, but I don't really have the energy to figure that all out with the rest of it, especially the stuff that isn't ours (old housemates that left a decade ago, leaving us with a lot of their crap). I'm very happy if less of this ends up in the tip.

I'm cautious about checking for the waste license rather than relying on business cards as I've been burnt before. Once had a couple guys literally took a couple things in their truck and dumped the rest around the side of our tall side-front garden wall out of sight from where I could stand on the front door with my walking stick, I was really struggling to walk at that point and he took a bit of advantage of that. My spouse had to recollect it all, total pain, though I guess better than the dumps I hear much farther that as others said people get into a lot of trouble for.

Original poster
RealhousewifeofStoke · 22/05/2021 11:41

@nimbuscloud

What makes you say they don’t have a licence? Have you seen their licence??
Confused No. But I haven’t seen my GPs licence and the certificates my dentist has on the wall could be fake. Should I ask for the beautician to show me her licence next time she waxes my tache Confused
OP posts:
Original poster
RealhousewifeofStoke · 22/05/2021 11:42

@ThePlantsitter

Do they have a licence then OP?
I don’t know. But a few random MNers say they don’t. So that must be the case Confused
OP posts:
pantsville · 22/05/2021 11:50

Well, it’s hard to say. It depends really. Broadly speaking I wouldn’t like the idea of someone going through my rubbish - there could be a good reason a certain item is being thrown away rather than sold on and if I were paying someone specifically to dispose of it, then that’s what I would expect. I think it should be made clear to their customers what their intentions are so the customer has the opportunity to say no for whatever reason. That’s what they’re “technically” doing wrong. They’re saying they’ll take the stuff to the tip, rather than just saying they’re removing the stuff for you - which is more open ended in terms of what they do with the waste afterwards. Obviously if a lot of people aren’t happy then something is wrong isn’t it.

LadyWhistledownsQuill · 22/05/2021 11:54

I'd just be happy they're diverting stuff from landfill - so long as the other stuff isn't flytipped.

Last time I checked I thought zero waste and upcycling was meant to be fashionable!

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/05/2021 11:55

Of course they're not doing anything wrong. Very enterprising!

SleepingStandingUp · 22/05/2021 11:56

If they're selling the items on the same page as where they're advertising collections it seems like people should be able to do the maths. I'd rather stuff were repurposed where it can be than does I'm landfill. But then some people are utterly selfish and ignorant so no suprise over their reactions

Triphazard101 · 22/05/2021 11:58

Our local fb page had a guy offering "house clearance" . I was clearing a house for a relative that had died, so I got in touch .when he came round he was only interested in a few bits and pieces he could sell, and left most of the furniture and other items, because he said they were difficult to sell.well duh, I already knew that hence wanting someone to clear the house!

Meirou90 · 22/05/2021 12:17

If they took something from a little old lady worth thousands that she had no idea about, it would be a bit mean to not disclose. But apart from that, I don’t see a problem

TwoAndAnOnion · 22/05/2021 12:23

For the love of God!

Nope, if I could be bothered to sort my Wedgewood out and sell it I would, this is why we have traders to do dump runs. If they can make a buck on the side, all good. I presume these are the sort of people who moan about skip scavengers looking for metal etc?

TwoAndAnOnion · 22/05/2021 12:24

@Meirou90

If they took something from a little old lady worth thousands that she had no idea about, it would be a bit mean to not disclose. But apart from that, I don’t see a problem
But she's dumping it. She could have ordered a skip/put it in the bin anything. She doesnt want it. Do charity shops say 'Oi Joyce, you've dropped off a Faberge egg?' , no they run to the auction house with it.
DogInATent · 22/05/2021 12:27

'House clearance' or 'Dump run', it's the same business model. It's fine as long as they're licensed and paying trade rates to dispose of the remainder at the tip.

However, I'd be very surprised if they are properly licensed. For what they're doing they'd not just need the waste carrier's license but an authorized premises for sorting the waste. If they're issuing handwritten receipts they are almost certainly not properly licensed. There's a formal note they must issue to the person they collect the waste from.

But.. cash economy, black market.. we're all looking for a bargain and don't really care about these things, do we?

(assuming the remainder does go to the tip, and not just the side of a quiet lane somewhere)

ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere · 22/05/2021 12:31

GPs and dentists’ licences are checked by the local NHS trust which pays them so you don’t need to check them. Your beautician might be a chancer, so yes if she’s going to do anything more risky than a task wax it’s worth checking her credentials.

The reason you need to double check the credentials of any man with a van is that landfill licences are really expensive, so the temptation for them to cheat is high, and the householder can end up with a huge fine if you’re caught using them to illegally dump your stuff. The reason why random MNers are saying that these guys are probably criminals despite their laminated business cards is that thirty quid isn’t nearly enough to pay for a van full of rubbish into landfill.

VettiyaIruken · 22/05/2021 12:31

They should be honest and not say it's a dump run. They should make it clear that they will sort through and sell/recycle anything suitable.

LIZS · 22/05/2021 12:35

Our dump takes furniture etc to resell or recycle. Is this really any different?

Bythemillpond · 22/05/2021 12:38

It’s in the price. You know this isn’t going to all end up going to the dump as they would be losing money.
They have to make their money somewhere

Either it isn’t going to landfill and ending up at the side of a road or they are selling the stuff.
If people were so bothered why didn’t they put it up on Facebook market place and sell it themselves

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