You're Selling What?

Becasue I recently moved to Seattle, I spend much of my time trying to live as cheaply as possible while unemployed. Part of that means constantly trolling Craigslist's forsale section to cut down on the enormous expense of moving to a new city. The items folks list to sell run the gamut. Some great items for great prices. Often people seem to be trying to get rid of their stuff as quickly and effortlessly as possible, which makes for some great deals. Then you get the folks that are slightly out of touch with the value of their goods: the outdated tube TV for $50, the 70s couch with saggy cushions and stains for $300. Craigslist has no shortage of overpriced junk. But the other day I found a forsale post that was so outlandish I couldn't help but comment.

So to the post, by "B." "B" is selling his/her "entire" Tupperware collection for only $12. I clicked this link because I am in need of Tupperware and, while $12 felt a little steep for some used plastic, if B had a significantly large collection I could swing it.

There seem to be two main problems with B's post.

                   1. It's a ridiculous product
                   2. It's a complete rip off

Turns out "B" does have a somewhat large collection, but not of what I would call tupperware. Rather, the collection consists of his emptied plastic yogurt and humus containers. I am all for recycling used containers and using them as tupperware. In fact it's what I primarily use. They are super useful. However your old yogurt and humus containers are the type of thing that you give to a friends or finally relegate to the recycling bin when you move or no longer need them. They are not sales worthy products. These great containers were a useful byproduct of the yummy semi solid foods you enjoy, but they were never products in and of themselves. Hence problem number 1: It's a ridiculous product.

Had seller "B" posed his collection on the free list I would have probably chucked and clicked away. Thinking it was nice of him to donate his old yogurt container but that I would be surprised if anyone really took him up on it.

This brings us to problem number 2: It's a complete rip off. "B" claims  "Each peice initially cost between $2-$4, but am asking for $12 for all 7 pieces and assorted lids." What "initially cost between $2-$4" is the product inside the container like you organic yogurt, sour cream or humus not the 10 cent plastic container those products were housed in."B" is actually making money off his trash.

To be fair, "B" offers to drive to meet you somewhere to make sure his tupperware goes to a good home, which suggests he's a well meaning guy that is perhaps a bit out of touch rather than a jerk passing off his recyclables as products.