[myself248]

Oh, all the estate sales I go to are run (and posted) by third parties, who do it as a business, for a percentage of the sales. The heirs are nowhere to be found -- they got a first pass through the house a few days prior to grab anything sentimental, and they'll show up a few days later when the business has been transacted. But the folks running the sale are professionals.

Which means they should know better. And some of them do -- I have a few local favorite companies, where I know they'll keep things together, they're good about finding manuals in file cabinets and putting them with their respective items, etc. I'm usually happy to pay their asking price, because they're interested in seeing the items go to good homes and get reused, and take care accordingly.

But, likewise I have some "un-favorites", one who was notorious for sticking price-tags on screens. I might've finally trained them out of this when I told them I'd only pay their asking price for a particular piece of test equipment if they could remove the sticker without damage. They removed it, the already-degrading plastic screen was obviously fucked by the adhesive, they exchanged awkward glances with each other, and I walked away. Maybe they'll keep that in mind on the next sale they run.

[Theodores]

Meh. Maybe it is a cultural difference, we have different manners outside the USA. Your business is rather vulgar in the UK context, that of a parasite or a greedy gannet. There would be no honour in selling the estate items to your sort, setting light to everything or giving it to sensible charities would be far preferable.

As exemplified by what is going on in the Middle East, the USA has different values to the rest of the world, so don't take this criticism as a slight, just don't come here and expect to be liked for what you are doing.

[ehnto]

I'm not sure I follow, maybe I misunderstand what the original commenter is doing, but it sounds like they are helping their community find and re-use old equipment which doesn't sound like a bad thing. Not many charities would take on that kind of stuff, and it would end up in the tip.

I'm from Aus if that helps, I would rather see that kind of stuff flow on to enthusiasts than get tossed.

I am however not a big fan of scalping or opportunistic/speculative profiteering. That does happen a lot with these kinds of second hand markets. But I am not seeing that being what the original commenter is doing, maybe I missed it though.

[myself248]

How do you view thrift stores, then? Genuinely curious. All the same items, one or two steps further removed from the family.

[marky1991]

I don't get it , he's buying stuff at estate sales. That's literally what they're for. I didn't understand what part of his behavior you consider uncouth.

As he already said, they're almost always run as a very detached thing, run by professionals with no connection to the family, other than the transaction.

[loco5niner]

This is the completely wrong take. Yes, perhaps GP may have gone a bit far in his comments, but so have you. I also don't see the point in bringing up the current US situation when the UK has had similar issues in the past. The pot calling the kettle black.

I have also been frustrated in the past with organizations putting stickers haphazardly over screens etc, and it's worth reminding them.

[ragall]

Well said.