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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is scummy?

56 replies

xiaoxo · 13/09/2022 13:15

Resellers, more so the ones you see on TikTok.

There is a woman who regularly attends carboot sales, picks up plushies and teddies for 10p-£1 and then resells them on ebay for extortionate prices. She found one for £1 and she’s reselling it for £300!! Because it’s “rare”.

Something about attending these carboot sales and with the intent of reselling feels awfully scummy to me, as far as i know the profited money doesn’t go to charity either, she just keeps it to herself.

Her comments are flooded with cheering on and positivity, “what a fab steal” or “so jealous well done!” and it doesn’t sit right with me at all. I know once she buys it it’s hers, but i sometimes feel for the owners who unknowingly are being somewhat “scammed” out of the money that could of potentially been theres, she never tells them their worth! Alot of the time sellers at car boot sales are short of cash themselves.

AIBU?

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 13/09/2022 13:16

It’s capitalism. She’s not stopping anyone else from buying stuff and selling it for more than she paid.

Skinnermarink · 13/09/2022 13:19

I’d love to know what car boot has these rare and expensive items. The last one I went to was all My Little Ponies stained with nail varnish and dolls with their arms fallen off.
if you’re selling something at a car boot though, it’s up to you to think about what it’s worth. I accidentally sold a brand new Radley purse for £1 when I did one- that was my own fault, I suspect it was bunged on EBay by the gimlet-eyed lady who snatched it up.

Youdoyoutoday · 13/09/2022 13:19

It only annoys me because I'm too lazy to do it myself!! Why can't I just have cash float in to my lap? 🙄

MissMaple82 · 13/09/2022 13:19

My best friends dad once did this to us many years ago, he bought my Teddy for about 10p from our car boot sale, knoeing that it was actually a collectors item (he dealt in antiques) and he sold it on for a couple hundred. It's definitely bad if you know the people closely that you're buying from. Still bothers me to this day

YellowTreeHouse · 13/09/2022 13:20

YABU. It’s not scummy and she’s not doing anything wrong.

Anyone has the ability to do it; she’s just being savvy.

10HailMarys · 13/09/2022 13:20

Something about attending these carboot sales and with the intent of reselling feels awfully scummy to me

Er ... why? How do you think antique dealers or vintage clothes outlets or second-hand bookshops make a profit? They buy up things and sell them on. This is what this woman is doing.

luxxlisbon · 13/09/2022 13:20

Person sells good or service for profit.
Shocking.

YellowTreeHouse · 13/09/2022 13:20

Also, the sellers are not being scammed. If they can’t be bothered to research their items to see if any of them are worth anything that’s their own lookout.

HamHand · 13/09/2022 13:20

Nope. She’s paying what’s asked and obviously puts in the time and effort. Nowt scummy there. I’m a vintage clothes seller. This kind of thread crops up more than you’d think and I really can’t work out why it gets people het up. Reselling isn’t easy to do successfully, it’s a lot of time, effort and expertise.

Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2022 13:22

Not scummy or scammy

35965a · 13/09/2022 13:23

Not scummy at all, she’s making money like every other business does. Good for her.

MessyBunPersonified · 13/09/2022 13:25

Shes paying the asking price so the ael

MessyBunPersonified · 13/09/2022 13:25

Seller is happy.

shes making a profit so shes happy.

Its perfectly fine.

ShaneTwane · 13/09/2022 13:28

Why on earth should she donate her money to charity?!

Many people have bona fide businesses reselling items found at car boot sales.

Do you go mad at bargain hunt as well? Its the exact same thing.

bodie1890 · 13/09/2022 13:28

YellowTreeHouse · 13/09/2022 13:20

Also, the sellers are not being scammed. If they can’t be bothered to research their items to see if any of them are worth anything that’s their own lookout.

This.

It's not a scam and it has been happening since before any of us were even born.

People buy things and sell them at a profit according to demand.

The buyer wasn't in the right place at the right time to get the item at a cheap price - they either didn't do their research, or they don't want to trawl around car boot sales, or whatever.

It's supply and demand and it's fine. It's not a scam.

x2boys · 13/09/2022 13:29

I don't think its scummy either good for her
Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow?
They often had people who had paid a couple of quid for a trinket, and it worth ££££,s

girlfriend44 · 13/09/2022 13:29

It's up to her
Happens all the time. People scout charity shops all the time. I actually bought something from the pound shop once and sold it on for abit more.

Sunnyqueen · 13/09/2022 13:29

It's not scummy it's a fair deal. If you are not willing to research your own shit before you sell it on to find out how much its worth that's on you. Carbooters know that buyers and sellers use car boots to find stock. Often it's the dealers who are first in to wizz round and snatch up all the finds. It's easier to sell a load of stuff cheap all at once than individually list items online and wait, sometimes a long time for them to sell. Depends what you want to do.

My3dahliasarebloominlovely · 13/09/2022 13:30

MissMaple82 · 13/09/2022 13:19

My best friends dad once did this to us many years ago, he bought my Teddy for about 10p from our car boot sale, knoeing that it was actually a collectors item (he dealt in antiques) and he sold it on for a couple hundred. It's definitely bad if you know the people closely that you're buying from. Still bothers me to this day

Ouch! A definite scumbag there! He should have had a quiet word with your parents to remove it from the table so you could keep it/sell it properly!

Twawmyarse · 13/09/2022 13:32

Don't you understand how ridiculous you're being?

Everything is "sold on" for a profit. How much do you think it costs supermarkets etc to provide a loaf of bread or for primark to make clothes? Peanuts compared to what we pay for them.

She is simply using her knowledge of what might be popular and sell on for a profit to make a few quid. It's her time she's using. The people at the car boots don't give a shit - they want rid of the stuff. I have often sold things for next to nothing at car boots or donated to charity as I can't be arsed photographing and listing things on eBay.

You sound envious, maybe you wish you'd thought of it ?

Twawmyarse · 13/09/2022 13:35

I accidentally sold a brand new Radley purse for £1 when I did one- that was my own fault, I suspect it was bunged on EBay by the gimlet-eyed lady who snatched it up.

To be honest, I wouldn't use a radley purse even if you offered me £1 to take it off your hands! It's whatever floats your boat isn't it? Maybe she just liked it and wanted it for herself?

MumsHairnet · 13/09/2022 13:36

But if she didn’t buy the item at the car boot for £1 then the seller would sell the item for £1 to the next person who came along ( who might just want to play with it or might recognise the potential value and try and sell it on) either way seller got the £1 they were looking for and didn’t have to trail item home again. Woman paid out the £1 and hoped to sell it on, it might not sell so she’s risked the £1. She may invest time in going round the car boots and not seeing items she can make a bit of money on. Do you think the woman is duty bound to carry out a public service going round all the local car boot sales and telling stall holders when they are not charging enough for their items?

Obki · 13/09/2022 13:44

I really can’t see anything wrong with what she is doing.

I do something similar at my local market, pick up designer items or rare / discontinued items and sell for double or triple the price on eBay.

Skinnermarink · 13/09/2022 13:45

Twawmyarse · 13/09/2022 13:35

I accidentally sold a brand new Radley purse for £1 when I did one- that was my own fault, I suspect it was bunged on EBay by the gimlet-eyed lady who snatched it up.

To be honest, I wouldn't use a radley purse even if you offered me £1 to take it off your hands! It's whatever floats your boat isn't it? Maybe she just liked it and wanted it for herself?

Well that’s why I was selling it, because I didn’t like it 🤣 but they are definitely worth more than £1 to lots of people.

NuffSaidSam · 13/09/2022 13:46

YABU