Deseret Industries, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.

[shlingdawg]

Is it wrong for an affluent person to buy things at Goodwill, etc.? I mean, say "Bob" is a well-to-do, say - I don't know - pilot. No, that isn't any good. Say "Bob" pulls down a handsome salary from a dependable job and lives in a half million dollar house and drives new cars - all with no debt, except the house. He can afford to buy things from normal stores and pay full price, but instead, he goes into the D.I. and buys things second hand.

Is "Bob" doing a disservice to others by buying things from the D.I. that they can't get now because "Bob" bought them first, or is it OK for "Bob" to shop there and save money?

Is it ethically wrong? Or is "Bob" just smart and/or frugal?


Disclaimer here: I'm not "Bob". :haha: And I don't have anything against pilots. I was just searching for a dependable profession to use as an example and well, pilots didn't fit the bill. :ne_nau:

[LOAH]

Bob will stay "well-to-do" with his frugal habits.

There's nothing wrong with buying things, second hand. They're used, so they should be less expensive.

There's no disservice being done. That's what the store is there for.

Bob should teach his neighbor Jim to do the same, that way Jim's new boat, truck, 5th wheel, ATV's don't get repo'd. :2thumbs:

[BruteForce]

I see no harm in it. Any commerce is good commerce. :2thumbs:

[blueeyes]

Sounds to me like that is why Bob's home is paid for and he has no debt. Smart man if you ask me.

And anyone who turns his nose up at Bob's habits I bet has a mortgage they can't pay for and debt up the wazoo.

My Great Aunt and Uncle and owned an extremely succesful spud farm in Idaho. She shopped all the time at their local DI, lived a modest life. You would never know they were millionaires. Nicest people you would ever meet.

[rockgremlin]

Bob probably didn't stumble backwards into financial security. He most likely got there by his frugal habits...good for him! Those actions should be applauded, and taught to the over-indulgent, greedy, financially irresponsible members of our society that expect our gov't to bail them out when their bad choices lead them to bankruptcy. (Not implicating anybody of course!) :haha:

[shlingdawg]

But what is the perception of a well dressed man, getting out of an 2008 Sedan and heading into the thrift store? What is the unemployed father of 4 thinking when he see's "Bob" open the store doors and snag a cart and start picking through the goods?

Is there a social stigma that is being rubbed the wrong way? I'm quite curious tonight......... :ne_nau:

[rockgremlin]

But what is the perception of a well dressed man, getting out of an 2008 Sedan and heading into the thrift store? What is the unemployed father of 4 thinking when he see's "Bob" open the store doors and snag a cart and start picking through the goods?

Is there a social stigma that is being rubbed the wrong way? I'm quite curious tonight......... :ne_nau:


The assumption here is that thrift stores are only for the unemployed and/or the poor, and that's just not true. Since when did you have to be in a certain income bracket to shop at a thrift store?

Here's food for thought: You mentioned the wealthy man was "well dressed," but he shops at a thrift store right? So apparently the merchandise at the thrift store is better than expected. Why not shop there?

[UTJetdog]

But what is the perception of a well dressed man, getting out of an 2008 Sedan and heading into the thrift store? What is the unemployed father of 4 thinking when he see's "Bob" open the store doors and snag a cart and start picking through the goods?

Is the perceived stigma you are referring to the notion that if the affluent man buys the goods he is somehow reducing the opportunity of the less fortunate to do so? Like the people who have made a business of buying up the best values at the thrift store and selling them on Ebay for profit?

[Deathcricket]

My grandfather was a millionaire many times over. He would not buy apples unless they were on sale. In a way I think the people who went through the depression ended up being happier people in life because they learned the true value of things.

I think a person who worries about what others think is shallow. More people should be like your friend BOB and not give a F. Re-using goods is like recycling. Just because a person is wealthy does not mean they should be wasteful. Not only should BOB be applauded for his actions, but the greedy bastard who condemns BOB is what is wrong with our society.

P.S. I love this thread and the ideas presented. Very refreshing topic.

[blueeyes]

We live in a free country. If Bob chooses to shop at the DI for personal needs or to buy goods to sell on Ebay that is his right. The same goes for the poor father of four. This poor Joe could do the same, even if he doesn't have a computer at home, he could use the library computer. Granted he may not have the purchasing power to do so, but it could also be away out of his poverty.

Thrift stores such as the DI and Salvation Army have two purposes (I am sure there are more just going with two). They obtain used goods to sell to those who can't afford new, and sell used goods for a profit to help those who can't afford anything period. So even Bob buying at these stores for personal use or to resale is still helping those that are less fortunate.

[Ih8grvty]

Does it make me evil because i often find good stuff for pennies at the DI or yard sales and then sell it for 50 bucks and up on ebay? I shop auctions too and do the same thing.
Some stuff I find I keep, and others is on Ebay with in hours of purchase.
I went to the store, I paid the same cash anyone else could of paid, what i do with it is my business. My shopping there employs people who otherwise may not have a job.
Bob shopping there does the same. and these days the DI and thrift stores are suddenly more pack than they have been in all the years Iv been playing Fred Sanford, much nicer cars fill the parking lot, cars with new paper tags in the window, cares with no coke stains on the seats, no small child fingerprints on the inside of the windows.
Its open to the public, anyone who cares to can shop there.

[CarpeyBiggs]

Does he in turn donate things back to DI? Probably so. I imagine that the well to do folks are the ones donating the most to charity stores anyways.