topic Re: It is not illegal but is immoral? in Community Chat

It is not illegal but is immoral?

Abrowneyegirl — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:28:51 GMT

Good business idea or bad practice?........

I have a very dear friend that I have know for decades, she does not work, but does a lot of volunteer work. They have no children and they are extremely well off. For example, she has never flown commercially "with strangers", private planes only.

Her husband is busy and she decided she wants to earn her "own money" so about 1 1/2 years ago she started buying clothes to sell on eBay, Poshmark, etc.

She goes into TJMaxx, Ross, etc and buys out all the name brand items she think will turn a profit and lists them online. Last time we were out she spent $1200 in one store.

If the item does not sell she returns the unsold items to the store and starts all over again.

She will travel hours to get to a variety of stores to get new 'merchandise' and do her returns.

I will say she is very well organized she knows what needs to be returned when and where. She estimates she inventories 5 to 7 thousand dollars of stuff at a time. She sells clothes, shoes, and purses.

My DH rolls his eyes and reminds me that this type of practice is just one of the things that makes it hard for brick and mortar stores and more costly for everyone else.

I know she is not alone many people do this. Last time I was on Poshmark looking for something there was a seller selling Chico's pants in multiple sizes and colors. She must have bought the entire clearance rack!

So what do you think, clever business idea or bad practice?

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

SharkE — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:31:54 GMT

She needs her rear kicked is what I think.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

esmerelda — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:34:29 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl She has too much time on her hands, IMO. Maybe you can steer her toward volunteerism.

Hopefully the stores where where she buys and returns will catch on and restrict or limit their return policy for her.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

viva923 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:35:21 GMT

I may be in the minority here but this is a free country we can purchase what we want, when we want and do whatever we want to do with it. She returns items to the correct store I assume the items that have not been worn or sold and sent back. Sell it, throw it away, give it away. She can do whatever suits her desire.

It may not be the most ethical or best choice but she can do what she wants with any item she purchases.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

Susan-QVC — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:36:37 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC Off topic

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

happycat — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:37:10 GMT

She must have a better TJ Maxx than I do is what I think. And a way bigger house.

At the end of a month say, how much money does this woman really make?

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:38:45 GMT

All those returns will catch up with her and the stores will stop taking her returns.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

bathina — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:40:36 GMT

Sounds like a lot of gyrations to make her own money. I suspect she cannot ask her husband for spending money, so this is how she earns it. Some wealthy women consign their designer clothes so they have cash.

I'd rather work outside the home than have to ask permission to spend money.

I make no judgement on the morality of her "job" except to say it would be immoral and illegal to not report her earnings on her tax returns.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

millieshops — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:40:52 GMT

And we wonder why companies cut off shoppers who return too much too often!! All the greed is not owned by big business.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

esmerelda — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:41:40 GMT

@viva923 wrote:
I may be in the minority here but this is a free country we can purchase what we want, when we want and do whatever we want to do with it. She returns items to the correct store I assume the items that have not been worn or sold and sent back. Sell it, throw it away, give it away. She can do whatever suits her desire.

It may not be the most ethical or best choice but she can do what she wants with any item she purchases.

@viva923 I would not want to be in customer service at those stores, processing those returns. Would you?

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

I am still oxox — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:41:40 GMT

To me it is a little shady but is she can sleep at night well be it

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

Porcelain — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:47:59 GMT

I think she's going to lose money doing that. I don't think it's illegal or wrong, just kind of dumb.

These stores will start refusing her returns. What will she do when that happens?

ETA: Is she accounting for all the gas and wear and tear on her car this costs? That will eat away any profits. And she's her own shipping and customer service departments. If she doesn't meet the standards for Poshmark, they will ban her. And she has to maintain a near perfect reputation on Ebay or her offerings won't show up. Also storing loads of clothing takes up space and can cause lots of problems as well.

But at least she's not in an MLM! That's a good thing for sure. If she finds it isn't working out, she can just cut her losses and quit on her own terms.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

cherry — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:42:17 GMT

It sounds to me like it is more something to do ,than income..I am not sure about it being immoral..I think it sort of is the way things are run today..Ethics aren't always the best in any business, I am sorry to say

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

wagirl — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:42:45 GMT

Well---sounds like a job to me and alot of work---am wondering what TJ Maxx or any other store will take returns back routinely with no banning her doing that---whatever----if she has thusands of $ of inventory I am wondering how much does she think she needs as her own money--sounds like she has plenty to me---people are just plain weird!!!!

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

bluetail fly — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:43:19 GMT

Good old American capitalism, as long as she's keeping good books, reporting her income, and paying income taxes.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

Bri369 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:44:02 GMT

She must get some sort of rush from buying all that stuff. Why would it be immoral? She can do what she wants with it. If people buy it, that's their business.

Personally, I wouldn't waste my time doing all of that.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

SahmIam — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:44:17 GMT

She's doing the same thing these stores are doing: buying overstock low and selling high enough to make a profit. As long as the items being returned have never been worn and meet the requirement for return, I see nothing wrong with it.

I have a buddy who shops at Goodwill and then sells on ebay. She makes a very nice profit doing this. If the items don't sell, she donates them back to Goodwill. Like your friend, she doesn't need the money but wants to make her "own" money.

Wealthy people are wealthy for a reason; they see opportunity and take it.

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

SharkE — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:47:07 GMT

hahhahha right

@bluetail fly

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

Sooner — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:47:26 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
To me it is a little shady but is she can sleep at night well be it

@I am still oxox Don't you think a lot of thieves sleep better at night than we probably do?

Re: It is not illegal but is immoral?

cherry — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:47:58 GMT

@bathina I have never seen anyone pull up to our food pantry in Cadillacs, either. You can tell who is hungry..We never ask for anything but ID..we keep records ,and people are allowed to come one a month...It seems to me the poor have not much chance to keep their dignity