Do you think it's "right" to sell items you get for free after coupons and deals?

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Just curious. How many of you think it's acceptable to sell items you've received for free after manufacturer's coupons or deals at CVS or what-not? This came about after reading a thread or two, and after countless perusing of eBay storeowners who sell coupons and every Diabetic Meter known to man, and usually Glade candles thrown in there.

[meems]

I work very hard to go running to do my deals, I spend a good 15-20 hours a week on coupons & shopping, not to mention the gas I use..which is a quite a bit since I drive a van. I have no guilt selling those free items, it re-coups some of my time & gas. I don't ebay them, I garage sale my surplus a couple times a year...just started doing that last summer, but I'm buying with that in mind now. (I also donate a lot for the troops, my extended family, my paper lady's family & friends)

This was brought up before, I told my sister about the monitor deals..she told me, "you don't get this stuff for free, you WORK for it!"

[Super_Mom]

That is very true. Many couponers put in as many hours as I put in working at my job. I think it is their right to be able to sell. Think of all the hours you spend clipping and planning. I would love it if I could find somebody selling some of their stockpile around me. I'd be a happy camper!!

[druidessemily]

Would you feel bad if you paid $10 for an item, used it for awhile, then turn around and resell? Or if you find a really expensive brand name item at a thrift store, clean it up, and make a profit? How about buying a 'fixer upper' house, putting in work, and reselling?

Once an item is in your hands, it is yours to do with what you want. Sell, trade, give away, use... the price you paid should not prevent you from doing whatever you want with it.

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Before this turns into a debate or anything, even though I personally don't think I would do this, I'm certainly not going to get on some moral highground and look down on people who do. I'm just curious what people (in general) think.

It was a debate I had with myself, too. I have a ton of Huggies Bath & Body, not just from the recent Target sale, but from collecting this stuff all year. Even though DD gets a bath almost every night, we still only go through a bottle every 1-2 months, and 1 lotion every 1-3 months. Couldn't bring myself to sell any of it on Craig's List, though. :) It just didn't feel right to me. Maybe my opinion will change after reading thoughts here!

If I had 6 kids, I still don't think I could go through the stockpile of this stuff. :D

[darkwing932]

Even though I have yet to sell anything from my stockpile, I look at it the way that druidessemily does. I feel it is the same as getting say, a gift, and selling it at a yardsale. You got it for free and made a profit from it. The big difference is with couponing you really are doing alot of work for the deals. Its not like someone is just handing them over.
As an example, I just spent the last 2 hours working out my lists for Pathmark's triple coupon bargins this week. That is in addition to the time it took me to go and get the coupons, sort the inserts, cut them out, organize them into my binder, drive to the store, and shop for the items. As if that wasn't enough the deal I am after can only be gotten once a day. I would have to drive 20 minutes to Pathmark everyday and hope they have all the items in stock to get multiple items. After all that I honestly feel that I worked for those items and if I want to sell them then ok, I earned them.

[fortunecookie]

If you get something for "free" by paying for it with a coupon, you are not really getting it for "free". No one gave it to you. You paid for it with a coupon. It's the same as paying for something with cash. Therefore, it's yours and you can do whatever you want with it. BUT, even if someone gave it to you --- like when Home Depot gave away light bulbs --- it's yours and you can do whatever you want with it. And if you sell it for dirt cheap, then someone else can benefit too. So, it's a win - win situation all around.

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by fortunecookie If you get something for "free" by paying for it with a coupon, you are not really getting it for "free". No one gave it to you. You paid for it with a coupon. It's the same as paying for something with cash. Therefore, it's yours and you can do whatever you want with it. BUT, even if someone gave it to you --- like when Home Depot gave away light bulbs --- it's yours and you can do whatever you want with it. And if you sell it for dirt cheap, then someone else can benefit too. So, it's a win - win situation all around.

I agree.

[wannabefree]

Count me in....I give a lot of stuff away but when spring comes I will def be selling some of my stockpile. It is a benefit to the buyer also b/c I will be selling so cheap! Everyone wins!!!!!

[XUfan]

I see nothing wrong with it. Those products belong to you, and you can do whatever you want with them.

My husband calls my couponing, rebating and deal-chasing my "full-time job". That said...I totally agree with the theory that I worked for everything I bring home. Money might not have changed hands...but it wasn't just given to me, without some sort of effort on my part.

So far, I have not sold anything from my stockpile. But, New Years Day left me with a broken dishwasher (and nowhere in our budget to fix or replace). So...this spring, when we have our garage sale, I'll be selling Electrasol!