Is it unreasonable to sell hand me downs?

[LuckyAquaExpert]

Would you feel it was cheeky to see your hand me downs on Vinted? It's weirdly making me feel sentimental/pissed off.

I'd rather have them back to pass on to someone else in need. I passed them on thinking I was helping

Exactly!

I'm sure your colleague would be very embarrassed to know that you've seen them, maybe mention in passing that you saw them ans thought they looked familiar?! I do think that it's rude but at the same time you did give them away so she can do as she pleases really. Maybe you could start selling them going forward? For me it's far too much hassle though. I definitely wouldn't give her anymore though, I'd pass them to a good cause instead if not selling them.

I used to resell charity shop clothing when I was out of work. Surely someone out of work qualifies as “in need”? And I needed the profit from those sales a damn sight more than I needed a new frock.

It’s all very well to play Lady Bountiful, wailing about how you just wanted the poor unfortunates to have a lovely dress. But the reality is most people who buy and resell charity shop clothing aren’t exactly dripping in diamonds. You claim to care about the needy, but you haven’t stopped to think that some of the people you are dismissing as “evil” and “scum” might well be in need themselves - and more in need of cash more than clothes.

IMO if the clothes have been used especially if they have passed through two of the OP's own children (but even if it was only one) it is unreasonable to expect the parent to remember which clothes came from which person/place.

I have piles and bags of outgrown clothes waiting to be sorted and either passed on, donated or sold. I can't remember where they individually came from - it was years ago. I don't even know any more which clothes I bought vs which came second hand.

It's different if it's like a family heirloom piece of furniture or something - but outgrown kids' clothes? They sell for like £2 max. Let it go.

Nah, I think making a profit from something someone has donated for others to wear is pretty low. I've heard of people having businesses from doing that. The clothes are cheap so people in need can buy them, not so others can make a business out of it. Also not sure re your comment about Lady Bountiful, the clothes are just ordinary clothes so I wouldn't sell them, but give them away. Would you rather I throw them in the bin?

No, the clothes are cheap so there is a high turnover of stock, so people keeping going in the charity shops and buying stuff.

I would hazard a guess that most people donate stuff to charity shops because they can't be arsed to go through the hassle of selling, or worse... they can't be arsed to take it to the tip... because a lot of stuff that gets donated is no good at all.

When you donate things, you cut ties to it and have no expectations about the sort of person who will get use out of it. I know several people who buy clothing there and use the fabric for other things. They are not "in need".

They're not. They're meant so people who can't afford new items can afford decent quality clothes etc. I used to work in a charity shop. In saying that now many shops may be more like shops to make a profit for their cause and why so many are selling at high prices, so their strategy appears to have changed. The smart ones sell lower to move their turnover, but originally the shops were so people had the opportunity to buy quality items at a very low price and I don't think the main aim has changed. Now add the fact you can buy new, cheap clothes so that changes things again.

Nah, I think making a profit from something someone has donated for others to wear is pretty low.

I think pretending you care about people who are short of money, but then policing what they do to help themselves, is pretty low. “I want to help people - but only the way I say.”

You can’t specify when you donate to a charity shop that you only want the items to be sold to people who will wear them themselves, or are in a particular position (i.e. “In need” rather just fond of a bargain, or perhaps wanting to reduce their consumption). That’s not how it works. The charity shop model is that they price an item at what they think it can fetch and the profit goes to charity. If you want to guarantee a donation will be worn, give it to a refuge; a homeless shelter; a church clothing bank.

The clothes are cheap so people in need can buy them, not so others can make a business out of it.

The clothes are cheap because they are second hand and they want to maximise their chances of selling them.

You want to feel all warm inside by donating to the poor people, but you really only care about yourself.

Strongly disagree.
There was a time when charity shops were beneficial to those less fortunate, while earning more for their charity.
Nowadays, they price their stock based on ebay prices for maximum profits.
I never give them anything, they're greedy, I'll always offer on free cycle or a local neighbour before a charity shop
The local charity shop is pennies in the differently of a new item.

You can sell whatever you wish. Whether others buy is another matter.

Cheeky

The smart ones sell lower to move their turnover, but originally the shops were so people had the opportunity to buy quality items at a very low price and I don't think the main aim has changed.

The main aim is and always has been to make money for the charity. People who want cheap clothes are their market.

You don't donate them for others to wear. You donate them for the charity shop to raise funds for their work...

I understand why you might feel a bit stung, but basically I think if you give stuff away, you don't get to control what gets done with it.

And these days for a lot of people, vinted/ebay is the logical place to offload clothes they don't want to keep.

I used to feel very much as you do, but now I just think the important thing is that the items are kept in circulation and kept in use. I don't have a problem with people selling on charity shop purchases either.

If you don't like what she did, then I just would quietly not donate any further stuff to her.

Yes, I agree some do seem to have changed in their original purpose

You do realise they are called charity shops because they are run by charities - who by definition help those less fortunate?

So, The British Heart Foundation runs shops and the money made from those shops goes towards helping research heart disease… Marie Currie it’s palliative end of life care… they shops are a fundraising arm for the beneficiaries if the charity.

Like all businesses they need to make money to cover running costs then any profit goes towards helping research the cause.

If you don’t like the cause, then don’t shop there. Their purpose isn’t merely to provide cheap clothes!

HTH

I don't shop there, I donate. HTH did you actually read anything?

Gifts ie new clothes bought for your child you can sell. Hand me downs (unless you also paid for them) should be passed on to someone else in need.

I remember being annoyed to see my sons wellington boots for sale after I gave them to a family member. Now she did need the money but I was still annoyed.

It blows my mind to realise that some people think the primary purpose of charity shops is to provide clothes to people in need. That was their customer base - not their purpose. Their purpose is to make money to fund their charity cause.

In fact, with the rise of Vinted and popularity of 2nd had clothing, a lot of them are changing their target market so they can make more money for their cause. Thats why you see them moving into more “hip” areas, refitting to look like vintage boutiques, and selling for a premium.

Exactly. Some people just love having a pop at charities for some reason.
Never mind all the corporate billionaires. Let’s knock organisations that are actively trying to help society 🙄🙄🙄

This. You don't sell for money what you were given for free (with some exceptions maybe).
I remember a book fair at work and someone was selling a booklet that I knew had come free with a newspaper. I thought that was really cheeky.

It's OK to criticise charity shops just like it's OK to criticise anything else.

We should also remember that in many counties/towns they get a discount on business rates and some areas are totally over-run with charity shops.

I think it depends. If you gave them no strings.. they can do what they like. If they gave the impression or asked for them because they were interested then and immediately sold them id be hurt

If it bothers you so much, list them on vinted and send her the links.

I feel that if you get something free, you pass it on free.