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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to make money from a charity shop purchase?

479 replies

Partnerprobs · 27/08/2021 11:29

Recently went to a charity shop and found a couple of items for sale that I liked and were in very good condition. A handbag and a book. Both were in a locked cabinet. I bought them for £25 in total and have sold them on eBay for £75 and £34 pounds, so I’ve made about £84 (less eBay fees which I haven’t seen yet)

My best friend was really shocked and said it’s like stealing and I should donate the money to the charity - this has surprised and unnerved me as I thought it was fine (as they were in the cabinet so had been picked as higher end items, and also they were more expensive than normal items)

I thought it was a lucky break and was looking forward to treating myself.

Aibu?

OP posts:
Lockheart · 27/08/2021 11:32

It's up to you OP. You're far from being the only one who does this.

BlackberrySky · 27/08/2021 11:34

Your friend is bonkers. You bought them legitimately and paid the price that was asked for. What you do with your purchases afterwards is none of their business.

Ughmaybenot · 27/08/2021 11:35

You can’t have liked them much seeing as you sold them both 😂
Tbh my initial reaction was that it was a bit dubious but actually you paid what they asked, so the charity got the money they wanted and you’ve made some for yourself too, which I can’t specifically find an issue with.

icedcoffees · 27/08/2021 11:35

It's absolutely fine.

You bought them legitimately - what do you do with them afterwards is entirely up to you!

Ninkanink · 27/08/2021 11:36

Of course you’re not being unreasonable.

Doomscrolling · 27/08/2021 11:37

Your friend is talking nonsense.

The charity got its asking price for the objects. Job done. People don’t shop in charity shops to give money to that charity - if that was their motive they’d make a financial donation rather than buy themselves stuff. They (we) shop their for bargains, to reduce our environmental footprint, to get items we might otherwise not afford.

You listed them online and did well out of it. Good for you, enjoy your spending money.

LittleBiscuit09 · 27/08/2021 11:37

Morally dubious.

Legally no.

Hankunamatata · 27/08/2021 11:37

Personally doesnt sit right with me but loads of people do it.

devildeepbluesea · 27/08/2021 11:37

I've done it myself plenty of times. It's not like I shoplifted the items, I paid the asking price.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 27/08/2021 11:37

You saw them and knew they were undervalued. Not stealing, but you could have let the shop manager know what they are selling for on line if you wanted to.
Whole businesses are built on doing this though, so it's not wrong.

Lockdownpudding · 27/08/2021 11:37

I think lots of people do this, don't they? The charity shop got their money, and you've made some as well. And somebody somewhere got rid of what they saw as clutter, so wins all round. Good for you!

JaninesEyePatch · 27/08/2021 11:37

Charity shop could have asked for more money for the items, they didn't 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's not like you took them from the shop without paying - they've still made money for their cause.

Doomscrolling · 27/08/2021 11:38

There! Not their in “shop their” - how embarrassing

blubberball · 27/08/2021 11:38

There's no issue here. The charity got what they asked for, and then you sold them on. Nothing wrong with that.

Petardos · 27/08/2021 11:38

The charity is loosing money by not pricing accordingly. Once the item is yours you can do wherever you want. However, people going to charities to resell afterwards is a bit questionable 🤨

Tryingtryingandtrying · 27/08/2021 11:38

@doomscrolling People donate to charity shops hoping they will sell their things and get the best price to support the charity.

GinIronic · 27/08/2021 11:39

You haven’t done anything wrong. The charity shop could have done this - and they chose not to.

RedHelenB · 27/08/2021 11:39

Why not half the profit for you and donate the other half to a charity?

twelvefiftynine · 27/08/2021 11:39

Charity shop doesn't care if you use the item or sell it. Tell your friend to do one.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 27/08/2021 11:40

What would happen if you came across a first edition Harry Potter book 1 priced for £2.50. Would you buy it and sell it for its true value or let the manager know?

GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 27/08/2021 11:41

Why on earth is it morally dubious? The charity shop has gained money for something which cost them nothing, the OP has made a bit of money, and the final purchaser of the item has gained an item that presumably makes them happy at a price they were satisfied with. Win/win/win, surely?

Lockheart · 27/08/2021 11:41

@Tryingtryingandtrying

You saw them and knew they were undervalued. Not stealing, but you could have let the shop manager know what they are selling for on line if you wanted to. Whole businesses are built on doing this though, so it's not wrong.
Lots of charity shops don't have the time or resources to expertly value each item and then list them for sale online. It would cost them more to do this than it would to just sell them in the shop for a cheaper price.

No point trying to sell a bag for £50 if it costs you that in staff time to check through all the donations, research what's valuable and then photograph and list everything separately. Better to price it at £25 and make 100% profit on that £25.

icedcoffees · 27/08/2021 11:42

[quote Tryingtryingandtrying]@doomscrolling People donate to charity shops hoping they will sell their things and get the best price to support the charity.[/quote]
But nobody goes into a charity shop (or any shop) and offers to pay more than the asking price!

If the charity wanted to make more money, they could have priced the item higher.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 27/08/2021 11:43

I don't mean sell it online, just that they have undervalued it and the online price is the evidence

tenredthings · 27/08/2021 11:43

Lots of people throw stuff in the trash which is disastrous for the environment. You recycled the products and both you and the charity shop made some money. Everyone wins