I have something I acquired recently that I am considering selling. I didn't pay anything for it because the previous owner no longer wanted it or had a use for it. He listed it up for free on another forum and no one else took it, so I did. When I picked it up I offered my services if he ever needed anything in return.

I thought I may use it but I changed my mind. Is it wrong if I want to sell it rather than just give it away?

I believe in paying it forward and I have done my share and have given away parts to other members who needed things. Additionally I have helped a few local members with service/mods on their bikes and never asked for any payment.

Should I be chastised because I don't give something away?

well...depends on the item and the audience whom might be interested and if you think he might ever take you up on your services offer...maybe just ask for something ridiculously tokenly low so you feel you have covered your time of retrieval and storing it to make both sides of you feel better in this regard and make it justifiable in your mind that way.

Your call I guess. If I obtained it for free and someone "needed" it, I would give it away.

Um-he didn't want it anymore-you provided a service by helping him clean up his house.



I would sell it for all I could get for it. You have to do what's right for you.




I would sell it in the same position, because no one else is, save for the wife, paying the bills around here.

Quote from: kopfjäger on August 25, 2010, 10:44:34 AM
Your call I guess. If I obtained it for free and someone "needed" it, I would give it away.

Thanks guys. 

It's definitely not a "need" part like a starter or something similar. I would consider it a mod or a convenience peice. If it was something that would help someone get their bike back to running condition I would certainly offered it up to someone who may have needed it.

I was asking for slightly over half the value of the part. I was anticipating having to take less for it and I was ok with that. It probably would have sold for about half the retail value and I thought someone would have been thrilled to get a great deal on it.

I think that since you're asking, you have already answered your own question.

Personally I would sell it, if I could, and send some of the profit back to the original owner. (on a good day)





WAIT..... if it was TOB, sell it and keep it all to yourself

Quote from: stopintime on August 25, 2010, 10:54:19 AM
I think that since you're asking, you have already answered your own question.

Personally I would sell it, if I could, and send some of the profit back to the original owner. (on a good day)

WAIT..... if it was TOB, sell it and keep it all to yourself

Lol. It wasn't TOB.

I asked because I was questioning my decision to sell it because another member shit in my for sale thread and basically called me a douch bag for doing it. I find it's sometimes better to get others opinions becasue they can look at it from an unbiased position. Obviously, if I feel one way or the other, thats my view on it. I know I'm not always right so asking for others to weigh in lets me see it from another angle other than my own.

I personally wouldn't feel good about selling something that I'd been given for free. If I did sell such an item, i'd definitely split the proceeds 50/50 with the original owner. Good luck whichever way you go, Tom 

do whatever the make the beast with two backs you want with it dude.

It would be different if a close friend of yours really needed it and you got it for free and you tried to sell it to him. That would be kinda messed up if you could help a friend out and you didnt need to do anything but just pay it foward. Everyone else can suck it unless you just feel like giving it away. which is what that person did to you.

I understand how you feel and feeling that way shows that you're a good person and have good ethics. If you had originally gotten the item for nothing with the full intent to try and sell it for as much as you could get but put on the guise of needing the item then I might question your ethics. If you really wanna know if it's alright to sell it, ask the guy that gave it to you. I doubt he'd say, "I want it back if you're not gonna use it."

But as some have said, once the the original owner parted with the item it became yours and you can do whatever you want with your own stuff.

Quote from: He Man on August 25, 2010, 12:02:13 PM
do whatever the make the beast with two backs you want with it dude.

Pretty much this. But mostly because your question is bullshit. This is not an ethical question. You don't get to lace two posts with "hey I a really nice and decent and fair guy and this one little thing doesn't matter because I'm nice and fair and good" and then pretend that you want anything other than for people to asuage this little pang of guilt you feel while you collect a few bucks. And I'm not saying that you aren't a decent and fair guy. You probably are. I'm saying that stating the question this way is bullshit, leading and does not invite an honest answer.

But that may be because this really isn't an ethics question at all. This is a matter of your conscience. Two different things. You don't want a logical argument as to why your actions are good or bad, you just feel a little guilt and you want to be told its okay. Nothing wrong with that. Do what you want and choose to feel how you want to feel about it.

Without breaking out the Logic 101 lingo I'll give you the Ethicist's answer: The actual question you are asking (and source of your guilt pangs) is, "Am I ripping off the guy that gave me the part?" Had you begged him to give you the part and told him you needed it desperately just so you could turn around and sell it, the answer would be clear: You were deceitful and that is wrong. But that's not the case here. There is no deduction that gives a clear cut "this is right" or "this is wrong." So the only person that can answer the question, "Am I ripping this guy off?" is that guy! Not strangers unconnected to the situation who you've presented the argument to in the best possible. Not strangers on another board who are calling you names. So why not just email the dude that gave you the part and say, "Hey it turns out I don't need that part you gave me so I'm gonna put it up for sale." No asking permission, no offering a cut, just an honest statement about your intent. That is the ethicist's answer.

But you won't do that, will you? I would be fascinated to hear an honest answer as to why not.

sac

Quote from: SacDuc on August 25, 2010, 02:28:25 PM
Pretty much this. But mostly because your question is bullshit. This is not an ethical question. You don't get to lace two posts with "hey I a really nice and decent and fair guy and this one little thing doesn't matter because I'm nice and fair and good" and then pretend that you want anything other than for people to asuage this little pang of guilt you feel while you collect a few bucks. And I'm not saying that you aren't a decent and fair guy. You probably are. I'm saying that stating the question this way is bullshit, leading and does not invite an honest answer.

But that may be because this really isn't an ethics question at all. This is a matter of your conscience. Two different things. You don't want a logical argument as to why your actions are good or bad, you just feel a little guilt and you want to be told its okay. Nothing wrong with that. Do what you want and choose to feel how you want to feel about it.

Without breaking out the Logic 101 lingo I'll give you the Ethicist's answer: The actual question you are asking (and source of your guilt pangs) is, "Am I ripping off the guy that gave me the part?" Had you begged him to give you the part and told him you needed it desperately just so you could turn around and sell it, the answer would be clear: You were deceitful and that is wrong. But that's not the case here. There is no deduction that gives a clear cut "this is right" or "this is wrong." So the only person that can answer the question, "Am I ripping this guy off?" is that guy! Not strangers unconnected to the situation who you've presented the argument to in the best possible. Not strangers on another board who are calling you names. So why not just email the dude that gave you the part and say, "Hey it turns out I don't need that part you gave me so I'm gonna put it up for sale." No asking permission, no offering a cut, just an honest statement about your intent. That is the ethicist's answer.

But you won't do that, will you? I would be fascinated to hear an honest answer as to why not.

sac

Λίγο πολύ αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ. Î'λλά σÏ...νήθωÏ, επειδή η ερώÏ,,ησή σαÏ, είναι bullshit. Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ δεν είναι μια ηθική ερώÏ,,ηση. ΕσείÏ, don' Ï,,ο Ï,, παίρνει να δέσει δύο θέσειÏ, με " hey Ι έναÏ, πραγμαÏ,,ικά σÏ...μπαθηÏ,,ικόÏ, και κόσμιοÏ, και δίκαιοÏ, Ï,,ύποÏ, και αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, λίγο πράγμα doesn' θέμα Ï,, επειδή I' μ σÏ...μπαθηÏ,,ικό και έκθεση και good" και έπειÏ,,α προσποιηθείÏ,,ε ÏŒÏ,,ι θέλεÏ,,ε Ï,,ίποÏ,,α εκÏ,,ÏŒÏ, από για Ï,,οÏ...Ï, ανθρώποÏ...Ï, σÏ,,ο asuage αÏ...Ï,,ή η μικρή πόνοÏ, Ï,,ηÏ, ενοχήÏ, ποÏ... αισθάνεσÏ,,ε ενώ σÏ...λλέγεÏ,,ε μερικά bucks. Και I' μ ποÏ... δεν λέει ÏŒÏ,,ι εσείÏ, aren' Ï,, έναÏ, κόσμιοÏ, και δίκαιοÏ, Ï,,ύποÏ,. ΕίσÏ,,ε πιθανώÏ,. I' μ ποÏ... λέει ÏŒÏ,,ι δηλώνονÏ,,αÏ, Ï,,ην ερώÏ,,ηση αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, ο Ï,,ρόποÏ, είναι bullshit, οδηγώνÏ,,αÏ, και δεν προσκαλεί μια Ï,,ίμια απάνÏ,,ηση. Î'λλά αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, μπορεί να είναι επειδή αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ Ï,,ο πραγμαÏ,,ικά isn' Ï,, μια ερώÏ,,ηση ηθικήÏ, καθόλοÏ.... Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι ένα θέμα σÏ...νείδησήÏ, σαÏ,. Î"ύο διαφορεÏ,,ικά πράγμαÏ,,α. ΕσείÏ, don' Ï,,ο Ï,, θέλει ένα λογικό επιχείρημα ωÏ, προÏ, γιαÏ,,ί οι ενέργειέÏ, σαÏ, είναι καλέÏ, ή κακέÏ,, αισθάνεσÏ,,ε ακριβώÏ, μια λίγη ενοχή και θέλεÏ,,ε να έχεÏ,,ε Ï,,ην Ï...ποχρέωση για ο.κ. Ï,,ηÏ,. ΤίποÏ,,α λανθασμένο με αÏ...Ï,,όν. ΚάνεÏ,,ε Ï,,ι θέλεÏ,,ε και επιλέγεÏ,,ε να αισθανθείÏ,,ε πώÏ, θέλεÏ,,ε να αισθανθείÏ,,ε για Ï,,ο. ΧωρίÏ, Ï,,ην ξεσπώνÏ,,αÏ, λογική 101 lingo I' ll σαÏ, δώσÏ,,ε Ï,,ο Ethicist' απάνÏ,,ηση Ï,,οÏ... s: Η πραγμαÏ,,ική ερώÏ,,ηση εσείÏ, ρωÏ,,ά ÏŒÏ,,ι (και πηγή πόνων ενοχήÏ, σαÏ,) είναι, " Είναι σκίσιμο Ι από Ï,,ον Ï,,ύπο ποÏ... έδωσα Ï,,ο μέροÏ,; " ΣαÏ, ικεÏ,,εύσαÏ,,ε Ï,,ον για να δώσεÏ,,ε Ï,,ο μέροÏ, και Ï,,ον είπαÏ,,ε εσείÏ, Ï,,ο χρειασÏ,,ήκαÏ,,ε απελπισμένα ακριβώÏ, έÏ,,σι θα μπορούσαÏ,,ε να Ï,,ο γÏ...ρίσεÏ,,ε γύρω και να πωλήσεÏ,,ε, η απάνÏ,,ηση θα ήÏ,,αν σαφήÏ,: ΉσασÏ,,ε deceitful και αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, κάνει λάθοÏ,. Î'λλά that' s όχι η περίπÏ,,ωση εδώ. Î"εν Ï...πάρχει καμία αφαίρεση ποÏ... δίνει ένα εÏ...διάκριÏ,,ο " αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι right" ή " αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι wrong." ΈÏ,,σι Ï,,ο μόνο πρόσωπο ποÏ... μπορεί να απανÏ,,ήσει σÏ,,ην ερώÏ,,ηση, " Είναι Ï,,ο Ι ποÏ... σχίζει αÏ...Ï,,όν Ï,,ον Ï,,ύπο μακριά; " είναι εκείνοÏ, ο Ï,,ύποÏ,! Όχι οι ξένοι ηποσύνδεσαν σÏ,,ην καÏ,,άσÏ,,αση ποÏ... you' Ï,,ο VE παροÏ...σίασε Ï,,ο επιχείρημα σÏ,,ον καλύÏ,,ερο δÏ...ναÏ,,ÏŒ. Όχι ξένοι σε έναν άλλο πίνακα ποÏ... σαÏ, καλούν ονόμαÏ,,α. ΈÏ,,σι γιαÏ,,ί όχι μόνο ηλεκÏ,,ρονικό Ï,,αχÏ...δρομείο dude ποÏ... σαÏ, έδωσε Ï,,ο μέροÏ, και λέει, " Το Hey αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ βγάζει Ï,,ο Ι don' η ανάγκη Ï,, ποÏ... χωρίζει εσείÏ, μοÏ... έδωσε έÏ,,σι I' Ï,,ο μ Ï,,ο έβαλε θα επάνω για sale." Καμία άδεια ερώÏ,,ησηÏ,, καμία προσφορά μια περικοπή, ακριβώÏ, μια Ï,,ίμια δήλωση για Ï,,ην πρόθεσή σαÏ,. Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι Ï,,ο ethicist' απάνÏ,,ηση Ï,,οÏ... s. Î'λλά εσείÏ, won' Ï,,ο Ï,, αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ, εσείÏ,; Θα σÏ...ναρπαζόμοÏ...ν για να ακούσω μια Ï,,ίμια απάνÏ,,ηση ωÏ, προÏ, γιαÏ,,ί όχι. σάκοÏ,

Quote from: stopintime on August 25, 2010, 02:55:50 PM
Λίγο πολύ αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ. Î'λλά σÏ...νήθωÏ, επειδή η ερώÏ,,ησή σαÏ, είναι bullshit. Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ δεν είναι μια ηθική ερώÏ,,ηση. ΕσείÏ, don' Ï,,ο Ï,, παίρνει να δέσει δύο θέσειÏ, με " hey Ι έναÏ, πραγμαÏ,,ικά σÏ...μπαθηÏ,,ικόÏ, και κόσμιοÏ, και δίκαιοÏ, Ï,,ύποÏ, και αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, λίγο πράγμα doesn' θέμα Ï,, επειδή I' μ σÏ...μπαθηÏ,,ικό και έκθεση και good" και έπειÏ,,α προσποιηθείÏ,,ε ÏŒÏ,,ι θέλεÏ,,ε Ï,,ίποÏ,,α εκÏ,,ÏŒÏ, από για Ï,,οÏ...Ï, ανθρώποÏ...Ï, σÏ,,ο asuage αÏ...Ï,,ή η μικρή πόνοÏ, Ï,,ηÏ, ενοχήÏ, ποÏ... αισθάνεσÏ,,ε ενώ σÏ...λλέγεÏ,,ε μερικά bucks. Και I' μ ποÏ... δεν λέει ÏŒÏ,,ι εσείÏ, aren' Ï,, έναÏ, κόσμιοÏ, και δίκαιοÏ, Ï,,ύποÏ,. ΕίσÏ,,ε πιθανώÏ,. I' μ ποÏ... λέει ÏŒÏ,,ι δηλώνονÏ,,αÏ, Ï,,ην ερώÏ,,ηση αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, ο Ï,,ρόποÏ, είναι bullshit, οδηγώνÏ,,αÏ, και δεν προσκαλεί μια Ï,,ίμια απάνÏ,,ηση. Î'λλά αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, μπορεί να είναι επειδή αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ Ï,,ο πραγμαÏ,,ικά isn' Ï,, μια ερώÏ,,ηση ηθικήÏ, καθόλοÏ.... Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι ένα θέμα σÏ...νείδησήÏ, σαÏ,. Î"ύο διαφορεÏ,,ικά πράγμαÏ,,α. ΕσείÏ, don' Ï,,ο Ï,, θέλει ένα λογικό επιχείρημα ωÏ, προÏ, γιαÏ,,ί οι ενέργειέÏ, σαÏ, είναι καλέÏ, ή κακέÏ,, αισθάνεσÏ,,ε ακριβώÏ, μια λίγη ενοχή και θέλεÏ,,ε να έχεÏ,,ε Ï,,ην Ï...ποχρέωση για ο.κ. Ï,,ηÏ,. ΤίποÏ,,α λανθασμένο με αÏ...Ï,,όν. ΚάνεÏ,,ε Ï,,ι θέλεÏ,,ε και επιλέγεÏ,,ε να αισθανθείÏ,,ε πώÏ, θέλεÏ,,ε να αισθανθείÏ,,ε για Ï,,ο. ΧωρίÏ, Ï,,ην ξεσπώνÏ,,αÏ, λογική 101 lingo I' ll σαÏ, δώσÏ,,ε Ï,,ο Ethicist' απάνÏ,,ηση Ï,,οÏ... s: Η πραγμαÏ,,ική ερώÏ,,ηση εσείÏ, ρωÏ,,ά ÏŒÏ,,ι (και πηγή πόνων ενοχήÏ, σαÏ,) είναι, " Είναι σκίσιμο Ι από Ï,,ον Ï,,ύπο ποÏ... έδωσα Ï,,ο μέροÏ,; " ΣαÏ, ικεÏ,,εύσαÏ,,ε Ï,,ον για να δώσεÏ,,ε Ï,,ο μέροÏ, και Ï,,ον είπαÏ,,ε εσείÏ, Ï,,ο χρειασÏ,,ήκαÏ,,ε απελπισμένα ακριβώÏ, έÏ,,σι θα μπορούσαÏ,,ε να Ï,,ο γÏ...ρίσεÏ,,ε γύρω και να πωλήσεÏ,,ε, η απάνÏ,,ηση θα ήÏ,,αν σαφήÏ,: ΉσασÏ,,ε deceitful και αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒÏ, κάνει λάθοÏ,. Î'λλά that' s όχι η περίπÏ,,ωση εδώ. Î"εν Ï...πάρχει καμία αφαίρεση ποÏ... δίνει ένα εÏ...διάκριÏ,,ο " αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι right" ή " αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι wrong." ΈÏ,,σι Ï,,ο μόνο πρόσωπο ποÏ... μπορεί να απανÏ,,ήσει σÏ,,ην ερώÏ,,ηση, " Είναι Ï,,ο Ι ποÏ... σχίζει αÏ...Ï,,όν Ï,,ον Ï,,ύπο μακριά; " είναι εκείνοÏ, ο Ï,,ύποÏ,! Όχι οι ξένοι ηποσύνδεσαν σÏ,,ην καÏ,,άσÏ,,αση ποÏ... you' Ï,,ο VE παροÏ...σίασε Ï,,ο επιχείρημα σÏ,,ον καλύÏ,,ερο δÏ...ναÏ,,ÏŒ. Όχι ξένοι σε έναν άλλο πίνακα ποÏ... σαÏ, καλούν ονόμαÏ,,α. ΈÏ,,σι γιαÏ,,ί όχι μόνο ηλεκÏ,,ρονικό Ï,,αχÏ...δρομείο dude ποÏ... σαÏ, έδωσε Ï,,ο μέροÏ, και λέει, " Το Hey αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ βγάζει Ï,,ο Ι don' η ανάγκη Ï,, ποÏ... χωρίζει εσείÏ, μοÏ... έδωσε έÏ,,σι I' Ï,,ο μ Ï,,ο έβαλε θα επάνω για sale." Καμία άδεια ερώÏ,,ησηÏ,, καμία προσφορά μια περικοπή, ακριβώÏ, μια Ï,,ίμια δήλωση για Ï,,ην πρόθεσή σαÏ,. Î'Ï...Ï,,ÏŒ είναι Ï,,ο ethicist' απάνÏ,,ηση Ï,,οÏ... s. Î'λλά εσείÏ, won' Ï,,ο Ï,, αÏ...Ï,,ÏŒ, εσείÏ,; Θα σÏ...ναρπαζόμοÏ...ν για να ακούσω μια Ï,,ίμια απάνÏ,,ηση ωÏ, προÏ, γιαÏ,,ί όχι. σάκοÏ,

you didn't really provide the specifics thus you already know the answer

there are no standards besides what you choose to live by  

Interesting responses. Thanks guys.

In response to Sac's post...

I think you're reading into it a little too much. I don't have any guilt at all. I listed it up for sale and didn't give it a second thought. The problem began when another member here posted in the ad. He said something like "Didn't you just get this for free a little while ago?" and posted a link to the other forum. I was a little miffed so I removed the thread. It is still against the forum rules to shit in a for sale thread right?

As you stated, if I had begged for the part and acted like I really needed it etc. I would feel like a shit bag. But I didn't and I don't.

The truth is this, it was offered for free on another forum. No one else claimed it so I did. I drove an hour to pick it up and when I met with the guy giving it away I asked him why he was giving it away. His answer was simply I don't have a Monster anymore so I can't use it. I offered him some cash and he refused. I offered to buy him and his wife lunch or coffee or whatever they wanted because we met at a location that provided these options. He refused. I then told him if he ever needed anything to please let me know. I know a lot of people in my local area I can get parts/services from on the cheap and offered him my services should he ever need anything.

So do I feel any guilt? Not at all. But as I stated in an earlier post, I look at things from my perspective and because it's MY perspective I don't have another one to go by unless I ask. I don't think you understand what this really is. It's a way to try and better myself. If all of you posted that I was a shitbag for selling something I got for free I would think I needed to re-think how I handle things.

Now please, enlighten me as to why my question is bullshit?