Lying to Get a Better Deal at Garage Sales: Ethical Implications and Consequences
Garage sales, also known as yard sales or rummage sales, are a common occurrence in many neighborhoods. They provide an opportunity for people to declutter their homes and make some extra cash by selling their unwanted items. Typically, buyers attend these sales to find unique treasures or snag a great deal on second-hand goods. However, some individuals resort to dishonesty and lying in order to secure a better price at these sales. This article will explore the ethical implications and consequences of lying to get a better deal at garage sales.
Lying to get a better deal at a garage sale involves deceiving the seller by misrepresenting the value of the items and creating false narratives. Some frequent examples include claiming that an item is damaged when it is not or lying about the original price paid. The justification for this behavior often revolves around the belief that garage sale prices are negotiable and that deception is merely a part of the game.
However, lying to receive a lower price goes against the principles of honesty, integrity, and fairness. Engaging in such deceitful practices erodes trust and damages the relationships within our communities. It is essential to recognize that sellers at garage sales are generally individuals seeking to make a fair profit from their items. By lying to them, buyers take advantage of their goodwill and the trust they place in their customers.
Moreover, engaging in deceptive practices at garage sales normalizes unethical behavior in other aspects of life. When individuals believe it is acceptable to lie and deceive for personal gains, they contribute to the erosion of ethical standards within society. This erosion can have far-reaching consequences, as a society built on dishonesty and deceit is likely to suffer from increased mistrust and social fragmentation.
Another aspect to consider is the potential legal consequences of lying at garage sales. While laws surrounding these sales may vary between jurisdictions, misrepresenting facts can potentially be considered fraud in some cases. If caught, individuals may face legal repercussions, monetary fines, or legal disputes, leading to unnecessary stress and strain.
To foster a better understanding and a sense of community, it is more productive to engage in open and honest communication at garage sales. This means negotiating politely, expressing genuine interest in the items, and recognizing the efforts made by the sellers to organize the sale. By treating each other with respect and fairness, both buyers and sellers can build trust and maintain harmonious relationships within the neighborhood.
In conclusion, lying to get a better deal at garage sales raises ethical concerns and has significant consequences. Engaging in dishonest practices erodes trust within communities and sets a dangerous precedent for societal standards. Instead, it is crucial to promote honesty and integrity during these transactions. By doing so, we can enhance the sense of community, foster trust, and contribute to the preservation of ethical behavior in our society.
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I mean, in your shoes, I’d prob have done the same. There’s no easy way to know right then and there if – for example – the Gameboys suffered battery corrosion such that the circuit board is totally fried. I suppose if they tested it there and confirmed it worked that would change things – but in this case, they didn’t – you took the risk, and ultimately lost that bet. All part of the game!
I’ve had someone on eBay tell me their kid was dying and really needed these cleats. I was like nice try.
As a seller THEY should know what THEIR merch is worth. So long as everyone's happy with the agreed upon price, then you're golden. Yard/Garage Sales, Swap Meets, or whatever's LOCAL Always = Lower Prices. For whatever reason it seems as though some people hold higher value to items they buy online than when buying face to face. Whether they want to haggle with the prices like on OfferUp, Mercari, etc. whereas, say Amazon, you can't just ask the seller to lower the price because you "want a good deal". I don't think it's cool to lie to someone especially for personal gain. However, if they're happy with the agreed on price, then that's on them.
As a reseller myself, I found myself in this position early on. At first I would feel guilty, until one day I went to a yard sale. Box full on N64 consoles and 20 plus games. She asked $10, I couldn’t do it. I said mam I’ll give you $100, then her husband came over and wanted $200. That day my mindset changed. It’s a capitalist economy, and because of that I’m scum at sales
I'll try to get half off
I think you do just fine! This is your business. It is the responsibility of the person selling to know what they want for the items they are selling. You are not forcing them to do anything. Side note: why do people have sales and not mark their items? So much time is wasted waiting for them to decide what they are pricing their items. So frustrating!
you are good bro i would have ran that the same way
I recently bought a nativity blow mold set at a yard sale for $20, the guy looked at me almost like please take this outa here, I want my garage back, lol. Most figures don't have lights in them, but I can still make a profit. I helped him, and he helped me out also, no issues, no problems whatsoever.
Well, when people donate things, they do it for free, not expecting anything in return, correct? And if people at yard sales just want to get rid of items because they are just tired of looking at it, or they have no more room for it, and they practically give it to you for a ridiculously low price, that's cool too, correct? When I go to yard sales, I tell them I'm looking for gifts for family around holidays, and birthdays, which for the most part is true, because I already have a part-time gig, because for me it's just a side-hustle/hobby. Besides, once it's out of the buyers possession, who cares what you do with it? I've actually had people at yard sales tell me, if you do sell it, you're gonna get a good price for that, no hard feelings. Remedy? Expand your reselling knowledge, or go outside of your reselling norm, stop staying in one niche, become more savvy. Sounds like you have some jealous viewers there Wick. jealous people never prosper folks.
If you put out a price first you lose. Sometimes rarely I will put one out, as the buyer.
You're right, it goes both ways. I've just recently bought a broken DVD/VCR combo unit at a garage sale. The VCR worked but the DVD did not. You can't test it there and there was nothing saying it was broken. I obviously can't return it and I suspect the person knew they were selling a broken item. I've bought other broken electronics in the past, it's a bit of a gamble. Unless it's like a Goodwill where you can return it, you have no recourse.
If people don't want to research their items and put them up for a fair price, it's not my or your job to tell them the market value. Also, if people DO research their items and want too much money for them, it's also not our job to pay the price. Best of both worlds would be a fair price where we are taking the risk of having to sit on an item but picked it up for a fair price that it is eventually worth it. Or getting a good deal on an item that will flip quickly but we also have to put in our time listing it, testing it, cleaning it, shipping it, etc.
If the seller agreed on the price that you have proposed for their stuff, it is absolutely normal, nobody should get angry about that. You cant control seller in that regard being that they could have gotten more money for it, it is their responsibility to research that stuff. They can agree to the proposed amount or counter your offer. A lot of people get upset that resellers lowball people and should pay more for stuff that they know can sell for good money, but it is not resellers responsibility to educate people at their garage sales, estate sales or wherever resellers look for stuff to resell. Same with thrift stores where there are crazy prices on some stuff and very low prices on some valuable stuff that sometimes they miss to research properly. Anyway great content man. Always watch your videos and mention your channel in my lives as the channel to watch. A lot of resellers get bashed for being too cheap, I am in Cleveland where we have a lot of resellers all over at garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, church sales and so on, it is already very competitive, and even trying to find anything decent to resell for good price and try to buy it at a price to make profit has become more complicated throughout the years so if the seller at the sale agrees on proposed price, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. You dont have to propose the amount that you know that you will not be making any profit on it after all the fees and shipping costs.
I love your channel. What bothers me is when buyers will try to low ball, saying that it's for their kid.
The offensive part was, “I’m not trying to rip off old ladies.” Did you call this lady old? I’ll assume you were talking generally.
And I always shop blind. I've only been in this reselling game since December and literally don't look stuff up until I get home. Like I said, I shop for what I like, not just to resell.
I don't see that what you said was a lie. I collect a lot of different things, especially old kitchenware. I really don't need any more but usually I buy the things I love (in case I'd get stuck with it anyway) and I'll use it for a while and then list it later on if I'm not totally loving it.
If you don't buy it cheap, someone else will. I found 2 gold coins at an estate sale marked 10 dollars. They were worth 400 together. I thought about the morality of it but they have the same oputunity to look up and price things properly. They could have been plated r fake for all I knew at the time. So I took a 10 dollar. gamble.
I love that you're facing your critics like this—Breaking down your mind. Do i agree?—Not 100%. But I do admire your courage in explaining your thought process.
This is your full time job and you’re not ripping anyone off. Don’t listen to the critics who don’t do resell.
Sometimes I say an item is for someone or myself when it's not, but I don't flat out tell anyone an items worth 5 bucks if it's not. If someone asks if I resell I say yes I do. It's never been an issue. My friend told me never to admit to it but honestly most people are fine with it. They have something they want to get rid of. I'm one state over from you in indiana and it's definitely haggle til you drop here. Whenever I get a price I typically try to make a pile and ask for a little off. Sometimes even a single item if it's something that sells for 20 to 30 and they have 10, I'll ask for 5. If they say no ill just put it down. If it's something better I'll obviously still get it. I've seen buyer/sellers haggling over 50 cents/ a dollar items before. That just cracks me up
It’s a dog eat dog world
Do what’s best for your family at all costs
ive been doing this so long that i just give a good average pricer per item offer -i woulda offered 80 but im generouse because i sell my old listings that dont sell within 2 years at my own garage sales almost yearly -so i hook people up there and when i buy , what goes around generally comes around
IMO I have no problems with how you are handling sellers at garage sales. In my experience of going to yard sales in Florida for most of my life, most people hold garage sales because they're trying to get rid of their "junk" and not because they're in dire straits for money, though that does happen. Often whatever they're trying to get rid of, if not sold, will end up sitting curbside for the garbage truck to pick up. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for a lower price, especially if you've found a pile of stuff you want to buy at one yard sale. The person selling can always say no and/or offer a higher price than I'm asking for, but I don't tend to low ball so it usually works out. There have been times where I felt the person quotes a price too low when I know I'll sell it for a lot more, but then I think well if I don't buy it for the $1 they just asked for, someone else will take it for that, or it'll end up being donated to Goodwill who will then price it at 4x's that price or more.
There are times where I won't haggle over a price at a yard sale too. If I can see the person I'm buying from doesn't have a lot of money, like a woman in a small trailer with several small children and no husband or an elderly person that I know doesn't have much income… sorry, but I'm not going to haggle with them when they ask me for $5 for some toys or jewelry box when I know I can get $30 or more for them on eBay.
I think it is up to and responsibility of the person running the sale to put a price on the items they own for example I don't really feel bad about giving someone a $1 for a $100 video game the person selling the game put that price on the game they own the item they can sell it for what ever they want again pricing an item is up to the seller great content Wick watch your videos constantly thanks
Thank you for boldly addressing this issue. I guess if someone asks you what something is worth – you can ask them what they think your time is worth to research, clean, photograph, list, organize, and store items. Not to mention the years to build knowledge on items and how to market them plus building clientele.
I tell people that I am a "fine collector of junk" and I resell to justify collecting more junk! Once the ice is broken on the subject and we share a laugh, negotiating gets easier. You can't possibly tell somebody an accurate value of many items, because you don't have time to find out what works, what is cracked, what parts are missing, etc. So, "in a perfect world, it might be worth $100, but I certainly am not living there!" is one way to go. I have to be honest to sleep at night, but that includes keeping my own best interests in mind as well as other's…
Yes I love it when someone ask me if I'm a reseller, I give them three business cards (to pass out to family & Friends) and on the back of the card is a list items that I'm looking for.. I also do House, Garage, Storage Cleanouts.
everyone buys and sells in the USA at thier own risk, as long as the item and goods used purchased are legitament
im halfway into the video and just wanted to comment, USA is a free market, there is no returns 99.9% of the time at yard sales and almost every coproration lies
Bartering and haggling have been around for thousands of years. It is a part of many cultures. When you are buying to resell you are buying for your business, and getting the best price you can for your business is how you make money. Which is why you are in business. When people have garage sales, they either don't know or don't care about the price of the item. Typically they are just trying to make a few bucks while getting rid of their hoard. There is no reason to identify oneself as a reseller: they have an item to sell, you have money to offer, transaction happens. I've been watching reseller videos for a year now, while developing and increasing my Ebay business. I love your channel, it is the best one in my opinion. NOTE: I was out of town this week and stopped at a random Goodwill. I heard you Wick in my head, and went right to the games and toys. OMG I found 4 games that I can sell for almost $100 and 4 games that I am going to part out the pieces to make good money as well! I picked up a brand new in box vintage Sega controller. While shopping I had a younger guy stop me and ask where I got that from, that hes been looking for one. Whoo-hoo!! As a "Student of Wick" I thank you for all of your videos!!
You don't have to apologize for trying to get a better deal in garage sales. A little lie to get something for a lower price is not a crime. I'm pretty sure some of the ones criticizing you have lied themselves to the teeth. It's called hypocrisy.
I do the same at church sales, round up and give them some extra.
I tend to pay face value asked if its good margin for me. If not, I just pass more sales along the way.
Thanks for the video
I think everything you do is completely fine. I’m not going to straight up lie about what things are worth but I’m not answering that question. Just like you said that’s the seller’s responsibility. This is my job and I’m trying to make the most money I can for my family.
I think you said it best the seller is responsible for knowing what their item is worth. If they don’t know what it’s worth and you offer one dollar for something that’s worth $1000 and they accept, oh well. That’s the name of the game.
Whenever I watch videos like this of deals at garage sales, I always try to guess what I would pay before you and others throw out a number and I was spot in with your 30
You are my favorite reseller to watch . I don't think anyone feels cheated at a sale . They want the stuff gone . Most will just donate what they can't sell .
Also ther learning what stuff is worth
If both people like the deal it’s a good deal
fuck that your right buy low sell high.
U da man Wick!