PSA: That side hustle flipping free stuff online got me cash but felt sketchy

I started grabbing free items from curb alerts and reselling them for profit. It helped my budget a ton, but I saw neighbors getting upset when stuff disappeared fast. Now I'm torn between the easy money and how it affects the community. Just a heads up, think about who you might be hurting before diving in.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sam3d ago

You mentioned neighbors getting upset when free stuff disappeared quickly. That's the part that would keep me up at night. It's one thing to make money, but another to harm the trust in your own neighborhood. I get why it feels sketchy because you're basically taking a resource meant for everyone and turning it private for profit. So where do you draw the line between smart business and being a bad neighbor? Have you thought about only picking up items that have been sitting out for a day, so people who need them free get first shot?

piperg103d ago

Implement a waiting period like you said, but also maybe post a note saying you'll check back in 24 hours so neighbors know their stuff isn't just gone forever... It could ease tensions if people see you're being considerate, like when a nice chair disappears minutes after being put out... Giving that day builds trust because everyone gets a fair shot, and you avoid the nasty looks from people who really needed that free item... Plus, it filters out the true junk that no one wants, saving you time and hassle.

faith_torres8310h ago

What about the buy-nothing groups that make you wait 24 hours before claiming stuff? I read a post where someone said doing that cut down on fights big time. People stop seeing you as a scavenger and more as part of the community. If you take stuff too fast, you burn bridges, and that's not worth a few bucks. Plus, letting items sit means you only grab what's truly unwanted, saving your effort.