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Original poster

Have you ever bought more than one of something to sell on at a profit later?

39 replies

Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:12

Just wondering what type of person does this and the motives behind it.

Just getting reallt cross with the amount of people who are struggling, again, this year to get hold of tyos and things for their children's Christmas presents. And it isn't just reserved for Wiis and pink DSs this year, but dolls, £10 toys, and the like.

Yet go on ebay and there are plenty of these items, all at highly inflated prices, with people havigng multiple stock of them.

Would you do this?
Do you do this?
Why would you want to? Is it just money grabbing?

And if you do - don't! It isn't fair on those other children.

OP posts:
auntymandy · 04/12/2007 14:14

i have bought stuff in the sale and sold it on before!!! does that make me a bad person?

littleboo · 04/12/2007 14:15

THis really annoys me as well, also I just wonder how people can afford to do it in the first place, especially the Wiis etc, none of them come cheap.

bozza · 04/12/2007 14:19

I am curious about this as well, hula, as I mentioned on misdees' thread. How do people know what is going to sell out? I mean, newish games consoles, yes I can understand, but a boy baby born?

I know people I work with who do this btw. But it is with DVDs. They scour the web for massive bargains then save them and sell them at a later date. This might be certain box sets, or Disney DVDs that go out of circulation after a certain length of time or whatever.

MerryKerryXmas · 04/12/2007 14:23

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MerryKerryXmas · 04/12/2007 14:23

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littleboo · 04/12/2007 14:26

but Merrykerry - if these people are struggling then how do they afford it in the first place. This is happening all the time now, not just Christmas things, but loads of fashion items, top shop shoes selling £65 in shops and sold on ,on ebay for £130!!!!, but I know what you mean about the market, cos people are buying them

MerryKerryXmas · 04/12/2007 14:28

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Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:30

If the people were really struggling then they wouldn't be able to afford the items in the firt place surely? So I don't follow that reasoning at all.

Just makes me cross that there are some little ones out there who don't get the Christmas present they asked for because there are money grabbers around who will capitalise on children, esp at Christmas.

"It sucks but if you want it and you have the money you can probably get it. "

But to me this is exactly what is so wrong about it! What about the people who genuinely can't afford to spend the extra inflated prices but could have afforded the normal shop price if these people hadn't abbed them all in the first place just to make a killing.

OP posts:
littleboo · 04/12/2007 14:30

yes merryk, they could be borrowing I suppose. Its certainly a risk though,.

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:31

I do think this has gotten far worse because of sites like ebay.

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chopchopbusybusy · 04/12/2007 14:31

The fact that ebay exists makes this relatively easy to do. It may not be very moral, but most businesses are quite immoral really when you think about it.

Twiglett · 04/12/2007 14:33

sorry but I think that's the open market for you .. caveat emptor IMO

I say this having bought a bloody star costume on ebay for £12 (inc P&P) finding out later it was £5 in Asda .. doh! .. my fault

TwoIfBySea · 04/12/2007 14:34

The people who do this kind of thing are complete sh*ts, end of.

Bulk buying so stock is low, parents on a tight budget can't afford their inflated prices so the poor kid misses out. It is the very worst of society.

bubblerock · 04/12/2007 14:35

Umm, no .... runs and hides the 5 Wii's under the sofa

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:35

Oh I know that. And I wouldn't buy at the inflated prices, even when I could afford to.

Just makes me cross when I hear of people stuggling to get hold of simple toys for their child's Christmas present - ecause of this happening.

OP posts:
littleboo · 04/12/2007 14:35

I don't really understand the Wii thing anyway, hasn't this been out for quite a long time now anyway, its not new

TheQueenOfQuotes · 04/12/2007 14:36

I haven't bought something and then sold it old at higher price, but I have in the past entered competitions of things I don't want (not on MN - but hundreds of them a week) and most of the things I've won I've sold on.

I can't say I've ever had a problem buying presents for the DS's at Christmas - I usually manage to find something, but then even DS1 (7) may "want" something in particular, but is happy with whatever he gets

fedupwasherwoman · 04/12/2007 14:36

You could put it down to a "life lesson" and give your kids an IOU until the toys become available in say, January.

People make money out of doing it, presumably that's money they need too for funding their lives.

What really isn't fair at this time of year is the rampant commercialism of the holiday season and that some children, with pretty sad home lives to start with, haven't a hope in hell of receiving such an item anyway, shortage or no shortage.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 04/12/2007 14:41

Or you could just hang on for 6-12 months - when they're be available everywhere - and more than likely at least £50 cheaper in the shops than they're being sold at the moment.

I've never really "got" all of this "must have" malarky "hot buys" malarky. I mean why do they HAVE to have it, and why "now" Confused

3missyshohoho · 04/12/2007 14:43

I went to see Take That in London at the weekend which I was lucky enough to get tickets for back in March - the tickets sold out in a matter on minutes - they were at the flat rate of £25 but I get annoyed how much tickets sell for these days because of the demand - these tickets were going on ebay for well over £200 each.... I could have bought 4 or even 6 more tickets probably when I placed my order but I didn't as it is unfair for others to miss out and then be stung if they want to go having to pay stupid prices.....

bozza · 04/12/2007 14:47

An IOU from Father Christmas?

TBH I was extremely surprised that the doll that DD decided she wanted was a hot item. I thought that an expensive boy doll would not be popular. I was wrong. And 12 months is rather a long time when you are 3.

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:50

I agree - I don't think many ittle tots getting the idea of an IOU, and personally not convinced that Christmas is when I want to do the whole life lesson."

It was because of all this sort of stuff that I got our Wii back in September, and DD's pink DS (for Christmas) a few weeks ago.

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Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:51

3missyshohoho - hope you enjoyed TT. Going on 15th Dec, waiting for tickets to arrive! I agree, wouldn't have dreamt of buying more tickets to sell on for loads higher price, even though could afford to. It's just not me to do that.

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3missyshohoho · 04/12/2007 14:54

Take That were great! had a really good time and they walked through the audience during the concert - however we were up with the gods so no such luck for me! hope you enjoy it - sure you will!

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/12/2007 14:56

Up in the gods here too, on front row - but still high up. That is despite having gotten hold of my tickets slightly before the clocks actually turned 9 o'clock when they went on sale.

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