Is It A Good Deal If You Don't Need It?

[myrdale]

While I was checking out at Kroger yesterday, a lady came up behind me and started unloading her buggy onto the conveyor. She had the better part of 50 grill lighters.

The cashier turned to her and said "Wow you must be planning some sort of a cookout" to which the lady responded, "Naw, they are on sale for $0.50".

I've seen this in the past when the super couponer's were popular and get 20 containers of dish soap for $1.50, or something crazy like that.

Whats your thoughts about buying in bulk when you come across a good deal?

Personally I am against it. Will I go through 50 grill lighters? Probably... between today and my 90'th birthday. Do I really want to keep a box in my house for the next 50 years dedicated just to grill lighters? Not really.

And then there is the chance of what if some are broken or break in the next 10 years before I use them?

If you ran a fire work stand this might make sense in this specific case, but outside of that I am not sure about reselling items.

[ua_guy]

Generally, no, not unless it's something we go through quickly. I don't want excess "inventory" sitting around waiting to be resold or used over the next 10 years. I'd assume pay full price for just one item I need.

Sister's mother-in-law is like that. Serial bargain-store and Big Lots shopper. Buys multiples of things because they're a good deal whether she really needs them or not. 50 BBQ lighters being a great example...but they're only $0.50!! She seems to get thrill from the deal and imagining the possibilities (maybe, burning down her house?). And then the crap sits around in bags and boxes for years. It's another kind of hoarding.

[disneysteve]

If you're buying them strictly because it's a good deal and you don't actually need them, then no. But we don't know what's actually happening here. Maybe she is a reseller. There are a few people in my area who do the extreme couponing thing and every couple of months they have a yard sale where they sell everything they've accumulated. Or they could be selling online, like I do. Maybe they work in a big office and will give them out as gifts or use them as stocking stuffers at Christmas. My daughter went into work the other day and the one construction foreman had bought everyone in her department a nice knife because he thought they should all have one.

So yes, she could be hoarding. She could be reselling. She could be stocking up on gifts. Who knows?

[crazyliblady]

While I was checking out at Kroger yesterday, a lady came up behind me and started unloading her buggy onto the conveyor. She had the better part of 50 grill lighters.

The cashier turned to her and said "Wow you must be planning some sort of a cookout" to which the lady responded, "Naw, they are on sale for $0.50".

I've seen this in the past when the super couponer's were popular and get 20 containers of dish soap for $1.50, or something crazy like that.

Whats your thoughts about buying in bulk when you come across a good deal?

Personally I am against it. Will I go through 50 grill lighters? Probably... between today and my 90'th birthday. Do I really want to keep a box in my house for the next 50 years dedicated just to grill lighters? Not really.

And then there is the chance of what if some are broken or break in the next 10 years before I use them?

If you ran a fire work stand this might make sense in this specific case, but outside of that I am not sure about reselling items.

I am not a super hoarder/couponer, but beginning in 2020, I did start to keep a stock up of items we commonly use in my house because of the shortage of all kinds of stuff. This includes everything from dish soap, canned good items, toothpaste, floss, tea bags, ketchup, paper towels, toilet paper, and soap. When I come across a good deal, I may buy more than one, but multiple grill lighters would be ridiculous unless I plan to give them away. I supposed ebay sellers could also use opportunities like this to make money by selling them.

[kork13]

I'm okay with stocking up on stuff, but I've got conditions. (1) I know we use regularly; (2) we have the space to store it; (3) it won't go bad/degrade/fail just sitting around waiting to be used; (4) I like it enough for it to be THE ONE THING of its type that gets used for a long time.

If it doesn't meet all of those criteria, it doesn't pass muster & I'm not getting it, incredible sale or not. but when there's a good sale on something that checks all the boxes? Sure, I'll stock up.

[scfr]

Personally I won't / don't buy in bulk to that extreme, but I will do things like order 7 boxes of King Arthur's muffin mix at one time to maximize my shipping costs.

[disneysteve]

Personally I won't / don't buy in bulk to that extreme, but I will do things like order 7 boxes of King Arthur's muffin mix at one time to maximize my shipping costs.

My wife and daughter will do that sort of thing to qualify for free shipping. Sometimes the shipping charge is so high that it just makes sense to order more product instead of paying the shipping and getting nothing. So DD will get 6 bottles of body wash at once, for example.

[myrdale]

I had an interesting experience that lines directly up with this topic yesterday. I was helping a friend repair a wooden play set. While we were at The HomeDepot for lumber he was showing me how they handle clearance merchandise. There is apparently a good number of things that have been marked down to $0.01 or $0.99. Also for clearance if a price ends with double zeros (eg $149.00) that is as low as the price will go.

He complained several times how broke he was, how tight money was, how he is having to move at the end of the year. But at the same time doesn't mind picking up metal shelving that he has no place for. After seeing his garage and house, it's definitely border line hoarding.

There are really good deals at HD, but only if you need it and can afford it.

[Fishindude77]

About the only thing we'll ever buy in quantity when spotted on sale is something such as meat that we know will get used and we can vac seal for longer term storage.
Caught prime ribs on sale at Meijers for $8.99 per pound a couple months ago and bought several.

I also sometimes buy ammunition by the case if I find an exceptional deal. Ammo won't go bad and I'll eventually use it.

Buying 50 lighters to resell seems a bit silly.

[disneysteve]

Buying 50 lighters to resell seems a bit silly.

Why is that silly? Do you realize that's what resellers everywhere do every day?

She bought 50 lighters for $25. Let's say she sells them for $5 each at her flea market booth. That's $250 gross, $225 profit. Even at $3 each, that's $150 gross, $125 profit.

[Fishindude77]

Why is that silly? Do you realize that's what resellers everywhere do every day?

She bought 50 lighters for $25. Let's say she sells them for $5 each at her flea market booth. That's $250 gross, $225 profit. Even at $3 each, that's $150 gross, $125 profit.

If you say so ......
Considering the time and effort involved, most people would be a lot better served to just go work at a job.

[disneysteve]

If you say so ......
Considering the time and effort involved, most people would be a lot better served to just go work at a job.

Plenty of resellers have "traditional" jobs too. This woman may have a 9-5 M-F and sells at a flea market on the weekends. Or maybe she's retired or on disability and resells to supplement her income. Or she's a stay at home mom caring for the kids while her partner is at work and in her free time she does the reselling thing to bring in extra money.

I've been reselling in one form or another since I was about 12. I'm 60 now. YTD I've grossed about $20,000 in sales which is now reducing the burn rate on our portfolio since I'm retired.

Reselling certainly isn't for everyone but I also know multiple people with 6-figure incomes from their reselling businesses. Reselling is a job. Maybe a non-traditional one but. you can work at that just the same as you work at any other job. I don't get the negative vibes toward resellers.

[bjl584]

We buy in bulk on items that we need that won't go bad.
Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products.
I try to stay away from food and odd ball items just because they are on sale.

[Fishindude77]

I don't get the negative vibes toward resellers.

Here is something I've experienced on more than one occasion.

• I have an item I no longer need so would like someone that really needs it to get a good deal.
• Advertise said item amongst known friends & associates, on social media, etc. at a bargain price, hoping to find it a good home.
• Buyer comes along pretending to have use / need for it and makes purchase.
• Shortly thereafter I hear they turned around and sold item at a profit.

Have had this happen with furniture, an automobile and most recently a window air conditioner.
Try to do something good, and a greedy individual comes along and makes a profit out of it.

[ua_guy]

Here is something I've experienced on more than one occasion.

• I have an item I no longer need so would like someone that really needs it to get a good deal.
• Advertise said item amongst known friends & associates, on social media, etc. at a bargain price, hoping to find it a good home.
• Buyer comes along pretending to have use / need for it and makes purchase.
• Shortly thereafter I hear they turned around and sold item at a profit.

Have had this happen with furniture, an automobile and most recently a window air conditioner.
Try to do something good, and a greedy individual comes along and makes a profit out of it.

I guess that means they can use the money more than the item itself. It's really the same thing, so your good deed isn't lost. Or, maybe it's a little crazy to expect someone to use the item and keep it once you've sold it/relinquished control of it?