Has anyone else noticed this trend?

I went to our local flea market this past weekend and saw quite a few "vendors" who were selling items that I know personally that could have been gotten for free or nearly free by using coupons. IE - Gillette Razors, Cottonelle toilet paper, shampoo, conditioners, body washes, Johnsons Buddy Soaps, IAMS pet foods... etc.

I can see the reasoning behing people doing it. Especially with how people have been losing their jobs recently. I guess they are what you would call "hard core" couponers in order to have the inventory to actually have enough to sell. I would never have enough to sell.

What do you think about this practice? Is it legal? (I really don't know!) Is it ethical?

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Personally- I get irritated when i go to the grocery store and there isn't just at least one of an item I have a coupon for that is on sale...
But I can see the reasons why someone would do this like you said- losing jobs and the like trying to make ends meet...
I am not sure if it is ethical- normally when I have too much of an onsale/coupon item - I give it away to family or freinds...
It is not up to me I suppose to judge- I really hope if anyone does this it is because they really need the money- cause if they do it just to turn a dollar and leave the shelves empty for the rest of us- then it is crappy....JMHO

oh and BTW yes I have seen this even on Craigslist recently- as well as fleamarkets...

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I am a cooking and couponing loon!



Drive like a Cullen

I don't know about the leagality of it...but I think it stinks. I mean, I agree about making money when you need it. But, I donate a lot of the things I get for Free or close to it so it hurts to see people doing it to make money.

And while I know that the economy is really bad, if they took the time and energy they put into couponing I bet they could make more money at a real job. Ugh, I know I sound harsh now.

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LeAnn, mommy to
Kaylee July '06 and Megan June '08

http://mommysavers.com/boards/mommys...ml#post1060022

I've got a coworker who's really into couponing and getting the Walgreen's deals each week. She saves all the stuff in boxes in her office and then once or twice a year she has a big garage sale. I just bought a bunch of personal care products off her super cheap!! She said she made $500 in sales with this last garage sale she had. She has 2 daughters in college so any extra income helps pay the bills.

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

Most of the stuff I get for free with coupons are toiletries or food. I personally wouldn't sell those items. If I couldn't use them I'd donate them to a food bank.

But.....I have recently been entering a lot of sweepstakes and contests and winning quite a bit of stuff and I might sell some of that on ebay or something. I've gotten several necklaces already and tons of books and one of those God awful cowl things melsb & I joked about around Christmas time. You can only use so many necklaces (or give so many to the Princess) and you can't use ANY cowls as far as I'm concerned!!

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I am really torn about this. On one hand it sounds like a great way to make money. Personally I could really use it right now, but something just keeps me from doing it. Not sure if it's the hassle or the I'm not sure I think it's moral?

I get mad that some people clear the shelves. But I also tell myself well they got there first so if I really wanted the deal I should have gotten there early. I know on another site people were posting how many softsoaps they got rolling the free coupon, until walgreens put a stop to it. Some people got over 40 softsoap. Yes, I was the one who posted this actual deal and the fact that is was rolling. I wanted to share in case someone really needed them. BTW- I didn't get any, not because shelves were cleared but I just didn't feel right getting them.

I guess for me each person has to make the ethical question for themselves. I still am struggling with this.

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

does it seem that some people stock pile to the extreme that the rest of us who are not "store stalkers" get left out? that is what irritates me- when there is NOTHING left- and it give us who coupon to provide for our families.. a bad name when they see us with the coupon holder- I am not there to get 45 boxes of Totino's pizza rolls- if I can buy 3 or 4 I am estatic to have enough for my boys at a cheap price..KWIM?

ugghhh- there is another forum i read and i am getting irritated to the point i dont even post anymore because of their store clearing out behavior-

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I am a cooking and couponing loon!



Drive like a Cullen

I'm ok with it, it's legal. I do get irratated when I go to Walgreens to get a great deal but they are sold out. But you know, other moms are out there couponing and getting great deals also and they got there before me. I haven't sold anything I've gotten yet, b/c I normally buy only what I use. But I have bought stuff on clearance from Target before and resold it on Craigslist for profit, the person buying it still got a great deal. I've actually been told I should do it for a living b/c I'm great at finding deals, but in this ecomony items just are not selling as well as they use to.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

I don't think it is very ethical even though it is legal.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

One or two items here and there, no big deal to me.

BUT (and I don't think these were coupon items but maybe they were) we had a ton of snow at one point. Everyone and their dog was looking for snow shovels. You couldn't find a snow shovel at any regular snow but if you went on Craig's List there were people evidently selling whole lots of them. So people that go in and clear out the store for their profit, even if they are the first one there, that kind of gets to you.