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AIBU?

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Original poster

I feel guilty for doing this, it feels wrong. Is it?

50 replies

MrsSnape · 11/12/2008 09:34

My ex (children's dad) owns an online game media site. It's quite popular and so game companies send him brand new games for free in return for him reviewing them for the website.

He can't do them all on his own so he gives some games to other people to review...so in exchange for them reviewing the game, they get to keep it.

I'm one of those people. Now a while ago he gave us an xbox 360 game, I reviewed it...the kids played on it...got bored of it...and so it was left gathering dust. Until I decided to stick it on ebay with a load of other stuff I was selling and I got ALOT more than I was expecting for it. The money went towards the kid's christmas presents.

Since them, I have stuck a few more of these games on ebay and made a decent bit of money (all of which will go on christmas or to pay off our holiday).

Now, last week I went one step further and told him I'd review as many games as he wants me to (with the sole intention of sticking them all on ebay ). One game he gave us is BRAND new, just out, very popular and selling for great money on ebay. Ex doesn't know I'm selling all the games but doesn't want them back so does it matter?

Am I being really out of order here? I'm trying to justify it by remembering that EX is a twat usually, doesn't help us with ANYTHING, doesn't want the kids half the time so in a way, this is him benefitting the kids, only he doesn't know

Be honest, is it bad? should I stop doing it? It's not as if I'm pissing the money up the wall on beer and clothes for myself...

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsSnape · 11/12/2008 09:35

Oh, and I am still reviewing the games, not just getting them and selling them.

OP posts:
mankymummy · 11/12/2008 09:35

what on earth is wrong with it?

its your property under the agreement, its up to you to choose what to do with it.

spend some of the money on beer and clothes !!!!!

tiredemma · 11/12/2008 09:36

If he doesnt want them back then I cant see why its a problem.

(how much for Call of duty????!!)

SuperSillyus · 11/12/2008 09:37

Well if it was me, to keep myself right I wouldn't sell the games new on ebay, I would play them, review them honestly then sell them

pamelat · 11/12/2008 09:37

I think that as long as you are reviewing them then thats fine?

I would check that that they have already been released? You arent reviewing them pre release?????

muggglewump · 11/12/2008 09:39

So long as you are rewviewing them then it's fine. They are yours to do what you want with after that.

VinegarSantaGropedMyTits · 11/12/2008 09:40

I think if you are just getting them to sell then that is a bit dishonet imo

If you are selling them because the kids no longer play with them and its been a while then that is different

I think you just need to be honest with him and tell him you sell the games if the kids get fed up, he may not be bothered, after all they are yours to keep once you have tested them

But to get the games with the sole intention of selling them on is not right imo

KristinaM · 11/12/2008 09:40

so can i check - these games are payment ( in kind) for the work you do for him, which is reviewing the games - is that right? so they are your to do as you wish

its exactly the same as if he paid you in cash on a hourly rate. what you do with the money you earn is your business

i assume the games are not sample copies, not to be resold?

bellabelly · 11/12/2008 09:40

If they have already been rleased then I think that's fine.If they are pre-release games then maybe he could get into trouble over it if it was traced back to him?

unavailable · 11/12/2008 09:40

Do you get paid for reviewing them?

pamelat · 11/12/2008 09:41

pre release would explain lots of £ for them too.

Penthesileia · 11/12/2008 09:42

I doubt he's doing it entirely out of the goodness of his trusting heart, TBH. Presumably, he makes money from the site (through advertising and from the games companies who must pay him to post reviews of their games). And he is not actually paying you in cash for your service/work (which, as I've already presumed, on the contrary, he is getting paid for). You could see the games in lieu of payment, thus they are your 'salary' and you are entitled to do as you see fit with it.

Even if he runs the site entirely not-for-profit and doesn't get a bean (doubtful, I'd guess), he's still not asking for them back, thus they are your property and you can do with them as you wish.

mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 09:44

No it's not at all unreasonable, you are being compleatly selfless and spending the money on your children. The games are given to you in return for your review, what you then do with them is up to you. I'd like to do something like that, we are film buffs so maybe film reviews for us.
I wouldn't tell your ex though, it's none of his buissiness what you do with the games and you don't want him to stop giving them to you. I hope you and your children have a wonderfull christmas,(on him).

Original poster
MrsSnape · 11/12/2008 09:45

I don't get paid, I've done it for about 5 years now. When we were together I benefited from the money that the site makes. But now I just do it as a favour...or if there is a particular game that the kids want, I ask him if he can get it and say I'll review it so the kids can have it.

We do get pre-release games but I don't sell them until I know they're officially released.

I don't have Call of Duty unfortunately he does though but he reviewed that himself lol

OP posts:
Nighbynight · 11/12/2008 09:46

morally it's OK if you are giving him good reviews.

Not sure on what terms the companies are sending him the games though, is there a clause preventing re-sale? if yes, then I would just keep quiet.

Penthesileia · 11/12/2008 09:47

Would you be asking this if the games only made a few pounds on Ebay? I doubt it. You're only anxious because you are (clearly) a good person and not a profiteer. But you are not responsible for the law of the marketplace and the fact that people are willing to pay silly money for stuff on Ebay! Enjoy it while you can - and have a lovely Christmas!

27 · 11/12/2008 09:47

Is sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

WinkyWinkola · 11/12/2008 09:50

Not wrong in the least. You don't want 'em. Get rid of them.

claw3 · 11/12/2008 09:53

Nothing wrong with what you are doing or what you decide to spend the money on.

lisad123 · 11/12/2008 09:53

sounds fine to me. He doesnt pay you to review, so doing him a favour. Your payment is the games and what you do with them is up to you, what else couold you do with them?? leave them there gathering dust while the kids do without?
Stop worrying, your doing nothing wrong and sounds like your resourseful too

Original poster
MrsSnape · 11/12/2008 09:57

Thanks and some of the games are too grown up for the kids anyway so it's not like I'm taking away games that they could make use of. I feel much better now, I was starting to see it a bit like stealing I'm too soft!

OP posts:
wannaBe · 11/12/2008 09:57

I think it's wrong.

you are offering to review as many games as possible because essentially you have now started up your own games selling business. And these are games you're not paying for therefore you are making 100% profit.

There is almost certainly a clause in the contract between your ex and the games manufacturers that prohibits re-sale of the games, especially if he is being paid to review the games, so if it comes to their knowledge that you're selling them on ebay, then your ex could be in serious legal trouble and would probably lose the contracts with the games manufacturers and consequentlly the revenue from his website.

Presumably it is this revenue that pays your children's maintenance?

Don't kid yourself you're doing this all for selfless reasons - you've seen a money making opportunity and you've taken it, but it isn't right to do so imo.

bronze · 11/12/2008 09:58

My only worry would be the tax implications but then I'm a worrier and get paranoid I'll get into trouble.

BouncingTinsel · 11/12/2008 09:58

Sounds like a great idea, don't worry yourself about MrsS!

Original poster
MrsSnape · 11/12/2008 10:04

Wannabe, it's not like a business. The ammount of games I get maybe ammount to 1 a week, we're not talking of making £100's...more that £10-£30 a week. Sometimes I'll get no games for months ... just when they do arrive, I sell them on.

There are contracts saying he can't sell them. He sells them himself...only he tends to trade them in at gamestation rather than selling them on ebay but only because he can't be faffed with postage.

The revenue from the site doesn't pay the maintance, he has a full time job. The website is just a hobby and a way for him to make a few extra £'s a month.

OP posts:
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