Is it OK to sell something someone gave you at a yard sale?

[Macaela25]

A recent thread got me thinking about this. I'm having a yard sale soon and I'm going to be taking a good hard look at everything I'm selling now! What's your opinion?

[ladywaterwind]

To me it would depend on how long ago it was given and how good a friend. If it was something that's been awhile, you've gotten the use out of it you could, and the friend wouldn't be offended by your selling it, I would say go for it.

However if it was fairly recent, and/or the friend would be offended, I'd probably do something like contacting them before the sale and mention you're planning on throwing it in there and would like to take the money that's made from the sale of that particular item and do something nice for the both of you, like a lunch or coffee treat or something.

[collectorofbells]

depends...is the item something that the person is going to ask you about? is this person going to be at the sale and thus see the item being sold?

to me a gift is a gift....what you do with it is up to you....

[shelleyf]

To me it would depend on how long ago it was given and how good a friend. If it was something that's been awhile, you've gotten the use out of it you could, and the friend wouldn't be offended by your selling it, I would say go for it.

However if it was fairly recent, and/or the friend would be offended, I'd probably do something like contacting them before the sale and mention you're planning on throwing it in there and would like to take the money that's made from the sale of that particular item and do something nice for the both of you, like a lunch or coffee treat or something.

I think your advise is great and right on! This is what I would do too under the circumstances.

[greenfrog57]

As long as the person isn't going to the sale -- it's yours to sell....

But, if you are feeling guilty chances are you should offer it back to them LOL

[XUfan]

It must be ok. You have no idea how many books and cookbooks I have in my house, that have personal messages written inside, along with the date that they were given as gifts. I'm fairly sure that Aunt Mary had no idea that I'd eventually be the owner of the copy of Joy of Cooking she gave to her neice on her wedding day. And yesterday I opened up a book that had a lovely poem written from Agnes to Lucille, about what a wonderful neighbor she was.

But here's how I see it. If Aunt Mary's neice doesn't want the cookbook, and I do, then why not sell it to me, and use the money for something that she wants or needs? Same with Lucille. Don't get me wrong...I'm very sentimental. But if it's just collecting dust, or tucked away somewhere and not being used, read or worn...then sell it to someone who can get some good out of it.

[rrpate]

i believe in re-gifting or selling things to others that want them.. i know the gift was intended for me..but if i for some reason can't use , won't use then why not? no offense intended to the gift giver..and i would make sure that person would not see it being sold so no hurt feelings...

[csdx]

As a general rule, no. Personally I see keeping it as the unreasonable thing to do, after all if it has no value to you, then the item's entire existence is meaningless. If you think it will offend the person, well that's a cost you have to weigh against selling it. Will the benefit (money) you get from selling it outweigh the costs of doing so (potentially offended gift givers)?

as to option 3 ( Yes - as long as YOU didn't ask for it - it was freely given.) I assume that if you did ask for it, you must have had some reason for wanting it, so you're unlikely to sell it unless you've already gotten what you wanted from the gift. Of course if what you wanted was 'to resell it' then you might want to consider just asking for money next time, or perhaps being more honest with people.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Junk is junk and if it is not useful to you any more...get rid of it. No matter who gave it to you.

I would however not invite the gift giver to my yard sale. :)

I have been in major clean out mode the past few months...lots of stuff going in my donate pile...regardless of who gave it to me as a gift. I had to have a long talk with my husband about how I did not really care for the Precious Moments figurines he has give me over the years and the ones that really meant a lot to me (my wedding cake topper and a nativity set) were smashed in an earthquake when we lived in CA still. He was a bit hurt but it was no longer my style, and I was tired of dusting them. He got over it and said I could get rid of them....

I say do what you gotta do, clutter is clutter.

[Lucky1307]

I have re-gifted, sold or donated many gifts over the years. Once an item no longer has a use there isn't much point in keeping it. That is not to say I didn't appreciate the gift at the time it was given, but I only have limited space. DS's outgrow clothes, toys and books. As a gift-giver I always try to be thoughtful, but I do miss the mark. I would much rather someone get use out of the item than have it thrown in a box in the basement.