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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make money out of the christmas rush?

41 replies

SinCity · 13/10/2008 14:42

I'm considering buying a few nintendo wiis and DS's whilst they're still in stock and then selling them on ebay in december.

I know its 'morally wrong' but if people are prepared to pay it, is it wrong to take advantage?

OP posts:

hifi · 13/10/2008 16:32

thanks

FreeCodwitheverypacketofchips · 13/10/2008 16:35

I wouldn't do it because it's not a safe investment. I'd also feel bad about it. but this is someone who took two free radios back to Argos the other day because it was a website glitch

They never did send me any vouchers for being honest

AbbaFan · 13/10/2008 18:06

They have actually sold out for the last 2 years.

Nintendo didn't hold them back, they simply could not make the consoles quick enough.

MrsSnape · 13/10/2008 18:12

The nintendo DS has been like gold dust every christmas since it came out. I suspect the new coloured ones will be hard to get hold of this year.

Wii Fit will probably be a safe investment if you can actually get hold of them to start with!

I bought Mario Kart a few weeks ago for christmas as I was told I wouldn't be able to find it anywhere from December onwards.

My mum paid almost £400 for a second hand wii last year.

soultaken · 13/10/2008 18:13

YABU - it's greedy to buy more than you need FGS.

Leave some for other people who do their xmas shopping out of their xmas bonus. Not everyone has got the money to buy beforehand, especially if they save with xmas clubs etc.

Have a thought for other people

squilly · 14/10/2008 10:46

YANBU at all. You are trying to beat the credit crunch for you and your family and you can see a way in which you can make money.

And you're taking a risk. It's only the same as buying shares. The value of what you buy could go up or down, depending on market forces. The price you pay for potentially having egg on your face is that you could make a healthy profit. The two sides of the coin!

You'll always get someone who thinks it's immoral, but something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And limited supplies mean that people won't always get what they want at Christmas anyway.

While any of us can afford to buy games consoles there'll be other people who can't. We don't give a monkeys about them when we're paying normal retail prices. The parents who pay over the odds don't give a monkeys about anyone else when they pay over the retail odds. It's just market forces...supply and demand.

YASo NBU. They call it good business sense where I come from. Good luck with your venture.

Simplysally · 14/10/2008 10:51

I wouldn't but I hate buying big presents anyway in case they change their mind nearer the time, I then have to rush out to get the Barbie Pegasus head or whatever it is that year . I won't pay more than the shop price for a product anyway let alone one starting at £180 .

expatinscotland · 14/10/2008 11:01

no moral problems with whether or not it's greedy, just think you may be stuck with some very expensive equipment you can't get rid of, much less make a profit on, because people are not going mad this year - retail sales are down, down, down as it is.

people either don't have it to spend, are chosing not to do so, or if they had they bought the gear long ago (or now) so as to avoid price gougers.

last year, no credit crunch. hence, the big profits.

i've seen a lot more stuff failing to sell at all on Ebay.

CryptKeeperOprocta · 14/10/2008 11:02

Be careful- Nintendo have announced a new version of the DS coming soon, which has cameras and things built in. People may want to wait for that.

stretchmarkSCREAM · 14/10/2008 11:10

Do people really spend hundreds of £'s on their kids at xmas?? Why?? Really, not having a dig!
We have never spent more than £160 on dd1 and dd2 between them! Are we cheap!

MorrisZapp · 14/10/2008 14:11

No moral issue here either. I used to buy cheap but saleable stuff from TK Maxx and ebay it for a profit - I didn't always make a profit but when I did I must admit it felt good to get 'free money' just by being a canny shopper!

Only reason I don't do it now is lack of time. If you reckon you can make a profit then do it.

FimboGotAxed · 14/10/2008 14:15

I think Ipod Shuffles will go quickly too.

I got dd a green one but realised she wanted a purple one so took it back to JL to exchange. They only had 1 green left, well they have 2 now.

Someone tried to sell an overinflated DS on here a couple of years ago and were shot down in flames.

IllegallyBrunette · 14/10/2008 14:19

Oh please tell me I am not going to have trouble getting a DS again ??

Dd1 has an old one and it is on it's way out so I prmoised her a new one. She wants green.

I won't have the money for a good few weeks yet. Will they have all gone by then do u think ?

HappyMummyOfOne · 14/10/2008 18:39

Morally, I dont agree with trying to cash in on xmas toys but its upto you.

However wii's can be purchased anywhere so I cant see a rush for them. By the time the ebay and paypal fees are deducted I cant see there being much profit to be made, if any. Add on to this that if you dont sell them or you get a paypal chargeback you'll be worse off anyway.

Flamesparrow · 14/10/2008 18:48

I think it is a crappy thing to do.

Making money out of children's christmas wants?

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 14/10/2008 18:50

Last year someone tried to sell 2 Wiis on here to "pay for her trip." She was slated big time.

It is not something I would ever do.

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