I have been loosing sleep over this lady I met a few weeks back.
I have been searching for this Dora Doll House that has been discontinued. I had been searching for weeks on craigslist and was lucky enough to come across the 60.00 house at the ARC for 1.99! Wow, major score. However; it didn't have any of the accessories so I figure I'll continue looking on craigslist.
It's my lucky day....I see a large lot of the Dora accessories listed on craigslist for 20.00! I was psyched! I set up a time to get the set. Big D drives me to the house. Let me say, the house was HUGE in a well to do neighborhood. The front yard was packed with very expensive little tykes toys. There were so many toys it looked like a daycare. At the door is this very nice woman that says, I have a few people here to buy other toys, it will just be a minute. The other people leave and I ask Kathleen, "do you run a daycare business or something??" She says "no, I'm in the toy business." So me being the "good deal girl" ask "please, tell me more." Kathleen says "I go from thrift store to thrift store buying all the good toys, cleaning them and selling them". She proceeds to say "I'm an financial accountant and my time is worth at least 25 dollars an hour. That's what I take into account when I'm driving around picking up the toys and listing them on craigslist." She asks me "would you like to see the room of toys?" I of course say sure. Let me just say the room was filled with what looked like brand new toys and she brags about all the little tyke/step 2 playgrounds that she also found at thrift stores. I graciously thank her and leave with my small bag of Dora accessories.
As we drive off I say to Big D "that doesn't settle well with me." All night long I replay the conversation, the huge house, the 25 bucks an hour, the massive amounts of toys and the families out there that actually are only able to shop at the local thrift stores. I call my sister the next day and explain what happened. Big Sis put it perfect "so this lady steals from the poor and sells it to the middle class." Yeah, that's basically it!
Okay the story goes on.......I was shopping at the ARC this week and I see all the good toys with SOLD tags on them. I instantly think to myself....that's the stupid toy thief lady. In particular, I see a toy-box with a 8.99 tag on it with the SOLD tag on it. The very next day on craigslist it's listed at 60 bucks. Ugh, the nerve. And all the other toys I saw with SOLD tags were also listed by her on craigslist.
This is exactly my problem. I just can't let it go. Especially people that I feel are immoral. I loose sleep and I let it fester inside of me. So, I can do one of two things......beat her to the thrift stores and buy the good toys OR write the letter and let it go.
So, this is my letter to her........to officially get it off my chest.
Kathleen,
I wanted to let you know I purchased the Dora doll house accessories from you awhile back.
You mentioned to me proudly that you go from thrift store to thrift store buying all the good toys, taking them home and cleaning them up. And that your time is worth at least 25 dollars an hour to clean the toys. I have been thinking a lot about your business. I was reminded when I was shopping at the ARC this week and saw a SOLD tag on a similar toy-box/book shelf. I was interested in buying this and noticed the price tag at 8.99. IF this is the same toy-box I noticed that you have listed it at a 50 dollar mark-up. Quite a lucrative business!!!
Regardless, after thinking about your business and talking with others, I feel your toy business in completely unethical. I feel that you are taking from the economically disadvantaged and selling at a major profit to the middle class. In this economy there are so many families struggling out there and really needing to turn to places like the ARC and Goodwill to buy for their children. And when you clean through their toy departments it makes it very difficult for the less advantaged.
I personally donate my children's old toys to the Goodwill/ARC to help others in need not to help someone like you run a lucrative business.
Either way, this is your personal business, I don't have to agree with it but I'm entitled to voice my opinions and concerns.
Regards,
Frankie
Good for you Frankie! Remember this, God sees everything and what goes around comes around. You never know when Kathleen might need some help in life.....it all catches up to us. Thanks for exposing her. See if you could post an ad against her on craigslist telling people what a crook she is!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I am disgusted! I can't believe someone would actually do that. It makes me wonder if she's in "kahoots" (sp?) with the thrift store people and they give her a call and let her know when they get new toys in? I wonder if she's actually driving around to a bunch of thrift stores every morning? Who knows? BUT it wouldn't hurt to nicely mention it the thrift store people know what she does and your opinion of it. They can't keep her from buying things but if she has someone there, manager or whatever that calls her when they get new things in maybe they'll see your point and stop helping her out?? Who knows if that's what's happening, but we know all about building relationships with customers and giving them an advantage when new things come in. So maybe that's what's happening there, but on a different level obviously. It's too bad that some people operate that way.
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