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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I've done nothing wrong by making money on a charity

433 replies

Thealarmhasgoneoffagain · 18/10/2022 16:11

I bought a dress for £60 in a charity shop. I didn't think many people would recognise the brand as it's locally made but it would have cost about £300 I think and would probably be a ooak. I'm asuming the charity shop knew this though because of the high price.

I bought the dress for me but it doesn't fit. I didn't want to get a refund from a charity shop but at that price I can't redonate it either. So I put it on my local FB page askimg for offers. I said it was from the charity shop but I didn't put how much I paid. If anyone asked I would have told them.

Someone offered me £100 and I accepted. They collected it and messaged me afterwards to say how happy they were.

Before I could remove the post someone commented that they worked in the shop and it cost £50. Now I'm getting lots of abuse about being greedy and ripping off the charity. The lady who bought it has put angry faces on it. I also have a couple of things on there for free and people have made nasty comments on those. I've removed all my posts now.

I don't feel bad about making money on the dress as that was never my intention. £60 was much, much more than I would normally spend in a charity shop and tbh I don't want to donate the £40. It was a proper charity shop, not one run by little old ladies who price everything at 50p because they don't know any better.

The lady who bought it, offered £100 and never asked how much I paid and was happy until she found out I paid less. I do feel bad that she won't enjoy the dress though as it's a beautiful dress.

AIBU for keeping the £40?

OP posts:
Duckytee · 19/10/2022 20:31

I think your ageist attitude is more unreasonable than anything else.

SpookyWookyBoo · 19/10/2022 20:32

Queuesarasarah · 18/10/2022 17:10

Personally I’d sell it for the price I paid.

No you wouldn't.
People here polishing their halos is funny.
The op bought it fair and square.
The only problem I'd have would be the helper making remarks.
I'd complain about that

ReneBumsWombats · 19/10/2022 20:33

Duckytee · 19/10/2022 20:31

I think your ageist attitude is more unreasonable than anything else.

What?

Islandgirl68 · 19/10/2022 20:35

But why should she. The dress did not fit, she wanted to see if she could resell and get her money back, it is not her fault the buyer thought it was worth 100. She does not owe anyone. What if she had sold it on ebay and got 200. It is her dress to do what she wants with it. Some people make a living reselling. Better that than going to landfill.

ReneBumsWombats · 19/10/2022 20:40

£100 for a second hand dress worth £300 new, or even as is, is a frigging bargain.

Emotionalsupportviper · 19/10/2022 20:43

ReneBumsWombats · 19/10/2022 20:05

Don't consider, do it. It's appalling that customers could be attacked online and the charity won't want business damaged that way. You can make it clear you're not asking for heads to roll, but action needs to be taken to ensure it won't happen again, and the worker needs to be informed that what you did was absolutely fine.

I'm so curious, can you PM me a pic of the dress? It sounds gorgeous.

Seconded. The volunteer's moment was totally inappropriate.

As Wombats points out, you need to show that you aren't out for revenge - you just want the staff to be made very aware that this they don't make comments like this on social media,

Apart from anything else, it's none of their damn business!

Emotionalsupportviper · 19/10/2022 20:45

*comment - not moment.

(I bliddy proofread as well - obviously read what I thought I'd typed, not what I had actually typed)

munner · 19/10/2022 20:49

Do it, make a complaint. It is not there place to question your motives.

AnnieSnap · 19/10/2022 20:54

Duckytee · 19/10/2022 20:31

I think your ageist attitude is more unreasonable than anything else.

I didn’t notice that. Please clarify 🤷‍♀️

ReformedWaywardTeen · 19/10/2022 21:19

About 10 years back I volunteered in a Charity shop, and I would not have had an issue at all with you reselling. We knew full well who our resellers were and we used to keep bits back for them, they were regular buyers, always paid what we asked and we got rid of stock that would otherwise not sell.

The reason that silly charity shop woman has commented is because she's probably miffed she didn't buy it herself. In fact, if she's caused a nasty bullying incident I would be reporting her to the charity involved. You paid what they asked for, after that it's up to you as the buyer to do with it as you wish.

As for the lady who bought it, just block her. You asked for offers. You were upfront on its origin to you.

If anyone had of done that who volunteered in the shop I worked in they'd have been told their services were no longer necessary.

LoveMyCats1 · 19/10/2022 21:24

Make a complaint. You're a customer who is now getting hate mail. Awful of them.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 19/10/2022 21:28

You've not done anything wrong. Years ago I used to buy things from charity shops that were worth a lot more than they were selling them for and then resell at a profit.
The charity shops still get the money they asked for so no issue really.

SnackSizeRaisin · 19/10/2022 21:51

FarmGirl78 · 18/10/2022 17:46

You didn't want to get a refund because you knew you could sell it on at a higher price. Am I correct? I don't see why you couldn't have taken it back.

Taking it back for a refund would be worse for the charity shop. They'd then have to give the £60 back and wait to see if someone else bought it. Far better for the charity for the op not to ask for a refund and to do what she did.

LeilaRose777 · 19/10/2022 21:54

The shop got the money they wanted for it, not sure why anyone thinks they have the right to criticise you for selling it on again for the price you wanted.
My advice - next time put it on ebay and don't say anything about where it came from.

Ellflet · 19/10/2022 22:18

She said some one offered £100, not that she charged that amount. There is such a thing as "let the buyer beware", where the person buying the dress was at liberty to make that decision and or, do their own research. Loads of people go to charity shops, car boot sales in the hope of finding a treasure for pennies and selling it on for pounds.

Fluffmum · 19/10/2022 22:19

You should have sold it on eBay

Ineedcoffee2021 · 20/10/2022 01:08

A mate i used to work for used to buy and resell charity shop clothes for a profit, we put in the effort to go find it,, we too it out to sell, why shouldnt we profit?

You bought it, it didnt fit, your not obligated to only sell it for what you paid, if you can get more thats a bonus

supperlover · 20/10/2022 01:34

Nothing wrong with what you did, you're both a winner as charity shop gotvwhat they wanted for it and you sold it making no secret of fact that you'd bought it in a charity shop.

Original poster
Thealarmhasgoneoffagain · 20/10/2022 07:26

@Duckytee if that is aimed at me, please explain how anything I've said or done is agest.

OP posts:
Miffedandold · 20/10/2022 07:58

YANBU on this but many little old ladies know a thing or too OP

Gillume · 20/10/2022 08:05

YellowTreeHouse · 18/10/2022 16:25

YANBU and I would also make a complaint about the charity shop worker.

This exactly!

ReneBumsWombats · 20/10/2022 08:12

Miffedandold · 20/10/2022 07:58

YANBU on this but many little old ladies know a thing or too OP

What does that mean?

PeachyIsThinking · 20/10/2022 08:19

Fireballxl5 · 18/10/2022 16:17

OP charities don’t pay helpers, they don’t pay business rates and yet they run their shops like businesses. Their stock is mostly donations.
They are often competing with small businesses who have to pay wages and proper rates.
They made £60 without any costs to them.
And I can guarantee if you’d found a tear in that dress they wouldn’t have refunded your money.
Enjoy your £40.

That’s not entirely correct- many pay the manager who recruits and trains volunteers (which has costs in it is), if they don’t that has to be done a level above; there are also many overheads from shop fittings and electric through to insurances and the like.

PeachyIsThinking · 20/10/2022 08:23

I don’t think it was OK for the volunteer to do that- I’ve worked and volunteered for quite a few charities over the years and that would be a breach of social media rules. It caused you to receive bullying posts so you’d be justified in making a complaint (to the charity HQ / regional office).

If it were me I’d probably split the profit but I don’t think you did anything wrong, and had extra costs such as your time in advertising and selling it on- if you’d been a business you’d factor in the costs of finding the dress as well.

It will all be forgotten with the next Facebook marketplace kick off, and that’s never long.

ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner · 20/10/2022 08:32

I would report the volunteer because what you do with that dress after you have bought it is nothing to do with her and she shouldn't have commented. Definitely complain about her to the manager or head office, make sure you screen shot the post.

My friend does this all the time, buys stuff from charity shops and then sells it on through FB or Vinted, she makes a decent profit. You did nothing wrong.