Selling on freebies

[Badnewsoracle]

Currently de-cluttering so have joined several local "re-use, recycle" Facebook groups to get rid of stuff I can't be arsed to sell.

Recently a fight broke out because someone sold on an item they'd received off the page for free. It's not in this particular groups rules but admin agreed it was "not in the spirit of the group" (and has amended the rules).

The person who gave it away felt it was unfair because they had given it away with the intention of helping someone unable to afford the item (a running buggy). The person who sold it on argued they'd done work cleaning it up and making repairs and therefore 'deserved' the profit. They've been banned from the group.

I'm neither person but saw the argument unfold. I think I'm on the side of the seller - if they'd "upcycled" a piece of furniture I doubt anyone would think it wrong.

So:

AIBU - Free stuff should never be sold on, it's cheeky.

YANBU- it probably depends on the item, but it's fine.

Once an item is out of your hands, you don't get a say in what happens to it after.

I think it depends how you passed it on. If it was just freecycle and is partly an easy way of getting things out of the house, that's less of an issue.

If though it's more of a group and especially if someone asks for an item and "needs" it or says they can't afford it and you pass it on to try to help, that feels wrong.

Once you give something away you have no rights or control over what is done with it.

It was a freely offered item on a Facebook page that operates similarly to Freecycle. It was a requested item. The page rules are first comment gets the item, so no sob stories.

wasn't a requested item.

Look, I've been doing Freecycle for decades.

I've sold stuff,I'm sure people have sold my stuff but in between I've mostly greatful received toys, bike's, furniture , clothes even plants!.
I've also given and re free cycled load's.

If someone is taking stuff off Freecycle all the time to sell on and they have a business for it, then o agree it's a little Much but the odd item here and there? I can't get excited about it...the person doing it will hardly likely be a millionaire!

In that case op as it's more specific to help people out then yes that's cheeky but for normal Freecycle I'd say not.

It really pisses me off. Just recently a family member moved into a new house (she's not short for money) & I gave her 2 expensive large vases with flowers and lights in. She then tried to sell them on for £50 a few months later.

No, it's not specifically to help people out. It's very like Freecycle.

I'm just happy to get rid. If people want to spend the time and effort selling an item, thats fine. I cant be bothered so I give for free.

Why would that piss you off? She clearly didn't like / want them. It's not up to you, once you've given them to her.

It's our of your hands when it's passed on. You can't control things so best not to try.

That's how I feel.

Giving stuff away to total randoms always carries a risk that maybe they’re not in need and/or will sell it on. Once you give it away, it belongs to that person and it’s up to them what they do with it.