Be careful where you thrift! (This is a very long series of emails)

[ASmartGirlShopper]

One particular "thrift" store owner has given a VERY bad impression to me and others out here. I wanted to share the email interaction that I had with this owner to let everyone know what is out there. She calls her store a thrift store because she collects donations for the food bank, but the profits the store makes goes into her pocket alone. She badmouths the TRUE thrift stores that exist for the sole purpose of providing a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse. I will admit that after a couple emails with this person, I felt it was a type of game, but all this occured over a posting advertising an item in her store labeled as "Highchair $30 OBO No REASONABLE offer will be refused." Her store's name will be removed and some of the less meaningful conversations will be removed due to character limit. please read from the bottom up, starting with my reply to this post. (not enough space)
__________________________________________________________


Iam not a nut, and I could give a rats as what you or any one else thinks. This is not me as a business person speaking to a customer. You got personal along time ago sweetie. Business is no more your a raving lunatic. YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO MY SHOP YOU WACK JOB. BE GONE ALREADY WOULD YOU. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME AS A PERSON SO HAVE FUN SHOW ALL YOUR FRIENDS I THINK YOUR A LONELY PERSON WITH FEW FRIENDS WITH TO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS. NOW GO BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE. BE GONE FLY.........    

From: ME

Good, then you won't be responding to me anymore. I posted the entire email conversation on my personal page so my friends could tell me what I said wrong, and they think you're a nut too. I guess that makes us even.
 
From: SELLER

Your a freaking wack job your blocked ya weirdo

From: ME

Then don't be hypocritical and stop mailing me back.
 
From: SELLER

 put it to rest......Do not email me again.......

From: ME

Slander is a felony. Speaking the truth of what happens is not slander. Slander is telling falsities in the attempt to cause harm to another person or entity. You told me, stating as a fact, that all these other thrift stores take advantage. That is not a fact, therefore that is slander. I'm not intending to tell everyone how horrible you are, I intend to ask who knows you because of how you treated me. I am very curious what other people think of you, if you are as you say.
You do have false advertising because OBO does not require a donation or a trade in. As I said, a simple "sorry, no" would have done the trick.
I think it's wonderful that you were able to support your family by opening your own business but it doesn't take a business degree to treat people with courtesy at all times, regardless of their attitude. After many years of capitalism, people in America have discovered that proper treatment of potential customers and guests is the key to success.
 

From: SELLER
 
What ever makes you feel good. You accuse me of bad mouthing other shops and in the same breath you tell me your going to slander my name all over town. Intelligent. Your are a no win situation. I did not talk bad about Kids Closet I told you of incidents I have experienced my self. I can voice my opinion about Stepping Stones I think they have a good thing and take advantage of it. My opinion.
I am so glad that you have people who think you are extraordinary that's great. I think you are also. You speak very highly of your self. I speak the truth I am not perfect I do not have a business degree and so on. I don't know where you get off saying my false advertising. It reads REASONABLE offer. In my book your offer was not reasonable. FORGIVE me I though I was helping. If you are the kind extraordinary person you speak of you would not be threatening me with slander. I have done all I can to try and make you happy. You continue on this escapade. Do what you need to do. Treat other as you would like them to treat you. And never forget these words what comes around goes around!!! For a person who is having hard times you sure know how to stir the pot. Also for a person with no car my location might not be the best but if you do the math. It's maybe 2 miles at the most from the Kids Closet so maybe you are confused. BFE is not where my shop is. I am honest and straight forward with my buying of items also. Not a single customer walks out of my store un happy that I did not pay them enough for there items. Let me run my shop the way it works for me. There is always that one who just doesn't seem to understand. You seem to know the resale business quite well maybe you should start your own I am sure you would do great. So be the immature person you speak of and tell the world how terrible of a person I am and quit emailing me. Your seriously out of control. My attitude toward you is not my usual. You are completely impossible to please. If I hear of you slandering my name it just so happens to be a felony. Act like an adult not a child.          


From: ME


I visit the store often, but not by car. I try to take my baby out for walks so at least once I week, I put her in the stroller or carrier and walk to the store. I like to talk to one of the employees there. I have heard a lot of people who don't like the store either. But it's not because the staff are rude to people, it's because people don't want 35% credit. Kids Closet is honest and straightforward with their buying and selling policy, which helps protect them from lawsuits. It sometimes takes a week to get the credit because the employees have a shelf full of over 30 garbage bags full of stuff that people want to sell, and a lot of it is absolute junk and not even child related. They have to go through it when they aren't serving customers and it takes a while. They will pay cash on the spot for large items like furniture, and those items that they pay cash for, they only sell for cash. Items that they buy with store credit are able to be sold with credit. It makes sense because if they only have money going out, but none coming in, it's hard to make a living. I agree that 35% store credit is horrible, but they are honest about it. Those who don't want to sell their items for so cheap are not obligated to do so, they can post on Craig's List and hope that someone else will buy them. But if your highchair was in that store at $30, it would have been gone by the end of the day, without any advertising. I've seen people from my birthing class who live in Prescott in that store. Like you said, you can't make everyone happy, but for those who are just wanting to get rid of their stuff, not make money off of it, they seem to be very happy with Kids Closet. People come in with boxes. I choose not to sell most things there, but I'm satisfied with purchasing and mingling there. Since I have my baby 24/7 with no one to pawn her off on, it's about the only socializing that I can get into my day. I'm also happy to tag along to Stepping Stones to take a quick look through items there. I've found some really great deals every once in a while. I've only been to Hope's Attic a couple times on their 50% off days tagging along, again.
 
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with how you run your shop, I'm saying that you have a dangerous attitude for a shop owner. You've heard people complain about Kid's Closet because of policy, but I recommend them as a place to buy items because I've only had good experiences with a professional staff. Customer service is of the highest importance to many people. That includes a staff who know when to bite their tongue. For a store that so many people dislike, they are doing very well. I took in a pack n play to trade so I could buy my baby a crib when she was 2 months old. They immediately looked it up and took it, while giving me cash. Right as it was set up behind the desk, a family wanted to buy it. The crib I wanted to buy, I walked home to borrow a vehicle so I could haul it home and when I'd returned, another woman was already taking it away (my mistake for not placing it on hold). For such a horrible place, they are doing a lot of business and aren't out spending their gas money to get items. Maybe your selling prices and willingness to buy items for cash is more honorable, but the false advertising is like eating the melon rind to get to the sweet stuff. Since I'm not usually selling my stuff, I'd rather not eat the rind.
I think you really aught to be a politician and run for mayor or president. You are really good at attacking your competition in hopes of getting followers. I've seen it on Craig's List.
Craig's list is free advertising, but the repetitive doesn't always catch people's attention in a positive way. One woman complained of how you typed in big letters, I'm sure she was already partially annoyed for always seeing your posts (though I think it's a lot better when you post photos of the items you have available). Made me think that you have little business and I wondered why people wouldn't shop there (aside from the store being out in bfe). I know that the people who post the exact same items every day drive me crazy. On the days that my baby doesn't sleep, I am not looking on this site and to go through a few days worth of ads and to only see the same people posting is aggravating, feels like a waste of time.
Word of mouth is important in the community. Next time I bring my baby to visit the Step One building, which is also in walking distance, I will ask them if they know about you and I will tell them the opinion that you told me about them, yet speak it as though it were fact. I will also ask any of the resale stores I visit if they know about you, and will let them know how much publicity you give them (without naming them of course). I'm curious what experiences other people have had with you and your store, so I will probably be asking around and sharing my experience as well. I'm very fortunate to have good standing with everyone I've met in this little town, so they give me their opinion freely. I'm sure that other people who have spoken to you talk about their experiences, good or bad, as well.
For a business owner, the best way to have responded to my offer was "I'm sorry, I do not want to sell the chair for that low of a price, but here are policies I have in effect that will help you with any future purchases." And just to leave it at that. I find it strange that you were willing to give me the chair out of the goodness of your heart, but decided to call me names when I refused it for free and wanted to pay for it while trying to find a trade to make up the cost difference. I never tried to cheat you, but you immediately attacked me for my response to your misleading advertising. The Phoenix area has hundreds of postings a day so I will look through those after moving since my baby's need for a highchair is not imminent. Her father will be here by then and we won't have the money restraints I currently have.
You may think whatever you want about me, but you are the first person to have a conflict with me like this since middle school. That conflict was resolved when weeks later I was the only one in the locker room willing to give her a quarter to call her parents. The community nurse, Stepping Stones staff, WIC employees, and hospital family resource staff who I see regularly all tell me how extraordinary I am, and it makes me happy to hear. I am very proud of the fondness and respect that people have for me and whatever names you have to call me only serve to make you feel better about yourself and your position. Since this is such a small community, perhaps one of the few people I know here who I will mention this incident to will know you personally and inquire about it.
You previously mentioned how this is wasting your time. Feel free to not respond, but I don't have a business to run, just a very attached baby to care for who occasionally takes naps.
 

From: SELLER


I advertise often not daily by any means. Craigs list is free advertising it's a no brainer. Repetition is what catches peoples attention.
 
How would you know the Kids Closet is cordial with every person that enters that door? Do you spend allot of time there when you are able to borrow a car?  You just so happen to be very wrong. Since I have opened I have heard many negative things about the Kids Closet. I have heard negative things since the original owners sold it to the present owner. I had a lady come to my shop she told me she went to the Kids Closet to get credit for her items. They told her it would take a week. She grabbed her items and brought them to me. I gave her cash on the spot she was happy I was happy and that's the way it works for me and my shop.
 
I am sorry if you feel I was not cordial to you. Your email to me was very direct as you say and it was a bit hostile sounding. I am human not perfect. So forgive me if I did not sound cordial to you after your somewhat hostile email to me.
 
Kids Closet has advertised on craigs list you must have missed it and there is a new resale shop called Kendal's Closet who also advertises on craigs list. AND as I speak there are two adds in the children's section TODAY for a new resale shop in Prescott if you read them 2-3 times a day you would see. The Green Monkey??? and Hopes Attic and Stepping Stones have both advertised on craigs list. That is why I advertise on craigs list because it's free and some people sit home and check it 2-3 times a day. Word of mouth is great but any more this is not so much of a small community.
 
And I hope you have a good Holiday as well. And I will not bother you unless to respond to your further questions thank you. No hard feelings here.        

[ASmartGirlShopper]

From: ME


While I was pregnant I worked 5 hours a day, 4 days a week, at the Step One office on Windsong as a volunteer. I've been to the women's shelter and I have prepared many things to their cause. I have seen the cost of the products that they must buy to maintain the stores and shelter and I don't think that you know much about Stepping Stones. The government does not give them the money that they had agreed, so they make all the money on their own. Processing paper work is expensive. Over half of the staff who work at the main office are family and most of the "employees" at the thrift stores are volunteers. They must by law have hired employees to manage the money, but the people who work in the back are all volunteers, like me. They even have volunteers who do the shopping for the shelter. There are also some employees who work at the shelter, but the educators for the children are volunteers. I know this because I was going to volunteer for that work since I was a teacher. I have donated clothing and my old toys from childhood that go directly to the shelter, they have bins of items that have necessities for living since most of the victims come to the house with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back. Stepping stones buys them shampoo, deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, food and anything else that are required for living. Items that aren't donated must be bought. And for 10-20 adults with children, that can get expensive.
The people who work at stepping stones are not making lots of money off the program. Aside from the cost of employing less than 20 employees, and cost of operation (which is pretty expensive, as I've seen the yearly cost of operating) the profits are spent on those in need and to fulfill the programs purpose. Anyone in need of clothing can stop at the office to get a voucher for free clothing at the thrift stores. The names of those people are kept tracked of but no one in need is turned away.
 
I have seen 8-10 postings about you (I dont count, but there were a couple days when they were being posted all throughout the day), particularly, on craigs list. I'm sure that they get flagged and removed, since they are not related to kids and babies, but I have seen them. And I have also seen the two that you mentioned. Those, I find silly. The others were in regards to the way that you have treated people (similar to the way you have treated me). I have also seen the responses you have made to some people, ending with "Shop at my store".
 
If you are willing to donate the chair to me, I am willing to donate $20, the baby items I mentioned and a pair of maternity jeans and a maternity top I found in my closet, to your store. They are all stain free and I know that at some other children's resale stores, they would sell the jeans alone from $10-12 each, though they would only give $3 in store credit to the person taking them in. Hopefully the items would help you to make up the loss of your generosity. Please let me know if you are willing to take my donation and I will borrow a vehicle to make that long awaited visit to your store.
 
From: SELLER


Well thank you and I do consider (reasonable) offers is what the add says.
Your comment about so many people posting comments. I have had 2 TWO negative comments.  One lady was upset because I did not want clothing stained. My post said I bring life back to unwanted items. I can not remove stains from clothing. I try to buy the best. If my entire store is loaded with items I have bought from my customers and others. Then I must be doing something correct. The other negative remark was about my capitalization of my adds. Believe it or not if you read it. She accused me of shouting buy using all caps and told me it was not proper typing etiquette. I don't have time for that. All caps are a selling attention getter and some people have trouble reading the smaller print. So your comment about all the negative comments I only know of two and they have both been remedied.
Your definition of donation is completely off base.
Let me educate you on non profit organizations donations. Stepping Stones is a perfect example. There entire store is donations. They sell some things reasonable and other items way to high for an item that was donated. Every item they sell is 100% PROFIT it was donated......Non profit means they give a very very small portion of there PROFITS to a charity (the women's shelter). Not all there profits a small PORTION OF PROFITS. They pay all the employees, they are not volunteers (some are at times) they have a staff and they all get paid just like any other operation with employees. So to say a donation is given implies that it won't be sold for profit? how the heck does anyone make any money? Hopes Attic is the same. A non profit organization is by law suppose to post in the store for the community to see. Exactly how much they give to the charity they support. By Law. None of them do this. It is kept a secret. If you ask to see the numbers they will make an excuse not to show you numbers.
So donation to a thrift or resale shop by no means means there will be no profit made on it. It is completely the opposite.
 
I like how you use the word slander I am very much aware of that action....The remarks that have been made about my store by 2 people isn't going to hurt my success. They are the people who are bored and have nothing better to do but cause trouble. I cant make every person happy but I do try. I will work on my advertising wording and maybe get some coaching with it. I am just another person here on earth trying to the best of my ability to make a living. I have no business degree. I have no resale experience. I am just trying. It's all a person can do. As far as the donations I asked from you. It was for something of no value to you (to small maybe don't play with..It would help compensate for my loss in selling the $30.00 item for so cheap. I was trying to work with you and cover my end at the same time.
Any how this is all ridiculous. I wish you the best of luck with your new baby and your fiancé. May things become easier for you and blessing fall upon you. I would love to give you the chair not as a charity case as a gift from me to you. As times are tough for most of us. Please accept the chair as a token of my appreciation for your thoughts, that may help me run a better and successful business in the future. If you would like I can deliver it for you.       
 

From: ME

If I previously wrote to you, I was asking about the hours the store is open. For about 6 months, I've been meaning to make it to your store but it's so far away and I don't have a vehicle so I cannot drive anywhere I like.
I've seen so many people post horrible things about you and your store and all I have thought was "maybe those are the rude people who have nothing better to do than to slander someone who didn't give them what they wanted."
"I am willing to go $20.00 if you have some type of donation. Toys not being played with, clothes to small any thing. " This is what you said. I asked if the donation was to needy families or to your store. I have no problem with TRADING items to lower the price, there is nothing wrong with that. But the concept of a donation usually implies that it won't be sold for anyone to make a profit, and so I asked because I assumed you meant "trade". Then I told you what I have, which isn't much because I have already given everything to others in need.
Your posting said "OBO" which means an offer, not a trade. If $20 was not a good enough offer, you could just say no. Or, if you aren't willing to sell it at a best offer, don't mention that, just make a note that you will give discounts only to trade or donations. I don't think that $30 is a bad price for the highchair, but I just can't afford it. Just like I cannot afford to donate $20 worth of food to get a discount of $5.
My baby is not sitting on her own, but she is sitting assisted just fine. In 3 weeks, I will be moving to live with my Fiancee and will not be able to shop very frequently in the prescott area. And so, I saw your chair and knew that a time would soon come when i would need it (since I took out the one I was loaned 2 days ago to discover how filthy and uncleanable it is), and so I made an offer. The response to that offer made it clear to me that OBO was not really what it was, and the false advertising is what made me upset. I am a poor person, but I am not uneducated. Sometimes my very direct style of writing may sound "hostile" just like your response to that letter sounds just as hostile.
I don't hold grudges, and I'm not going to slander you on craig's list. I will assume that you are somewhat sensitive because of all those people and think nothing of the previous email.
However, it still stands that I would like to buy the chair but can't afford to donate $20 of food for a $5 discount and I can't afford $30. I have 4 receiving blankets, 3 outfits and a jacket that I can trade. I don't have any mailed coupons because I don't have my own residence. I have no intention of taking your chair for free, being poor is not an excuse to take advantage of others, but if you are willing to sell the chair for $20 with my trade in of the baby clothes, please let me know. Otherwise you can just tell me no.
Thanks for taking the time to speak your mind. I suggest avoiding potentially misleading advertisements to cut back on the hostile emails from others on craig's list. Principle is very important to some people.
 
From: SELLER

It sounds to me as if you are a bit hostile. We have had communication via craigs list before. I remember your name Jennifer Bennett.  I was asking $30.00 for the in excellent condition high chair. I believe a reasonable offer would have been $25.00. I am not a thrift store that gets every single item in my store donated to me. Like Stepping Stones and Hopes Attic. I have purchased every item in my shop at this time. I have gone to yard sales to estate sales to auctions to other thrift shops to purchase items. I usually bring them home repair repaint wash scrub and clean every item. Then it goes back to the store to be resold at a very small profit. Considering I BOUGHT the item, I have put my time into driving around to sales and finding my items, the cleaning and repair of the item, sometimes costing a little money. None of my items are on consignment and I have no store credit set up. I BUY EVERYTHING. That is why I am a resale/thrift shop. Not strictly thrift. Items that are donated which isn't much I can sell for very cheap. Items I purchase I have to sell at resale price rather than thrift price.
 You have made me an offer and you have not even seen the chair. I believe that is a little unfair considering you have no idea the quality of what you are asking me to sell at $20.00. I work hard and I have started this shop to make my families ends meet. I am not a charity case. I was asking for help for the food bank not for me personally. I am giving $1.00 of my money for every 4 cans of food for the FOOD BANK that is money straight out of my pocket. And if you are a parent who goes to the food bank you of all people should be a little more considerate. I am trying to keep food in the food bank for people like you and your knocking me down.
If you were to make a donation it would be priced at thrift store pricing and I would be lucky to make cents on the item. You can answer  your own question are you donating to people in need or to the store. What you don't realize is if I didn't start this shop myself I to would be eating from the food banks. My family and friends have all helped me. People like you can be so ungrateful. I do not want your donations, continue to donate to the Health Family Program.. If you are in such need you may come to my shop introduce your self and I will give you the chair for free. I hope you and your family have a blessed holiday.  And out of the kindness in my heart grab a toy while your at the shop for your little one. God Bless you. 
One other thing if your daughter is only 3 months not even sitting on her own I would assume. This chair would be much to large for her. AND I did mention the Super Saver coupon book to you with several coupons in it for the store. One being buy a $25.00 purchase get $5.00 off. Again I am giving from my pocket. My clothing shoes and purses with coupon are buy two get one free. Toy coupon is buy one toy get one 50% off. And the week of Dec 15th car seats, strollers, walkers, jumpers, play yards,bassinets, and cribs are 25%-50% off.  You tell me of another children's resale shop in town that offers those coupons. You can't they don't exist. The other children's resale shop in town (NO NAME GIVEN) gives credit then turns around and puts little signs on larger items that say CAN NOT BE BOUGHT WITH STORE CREDIT? 
         

From: ME

So, my seemingly reasonable offer of $20 is denied unless I donate $20 worth of food so I can get a $5 discount making it $25?
Unfortunately, at the moment, I am one of those people that the food bank sells those packages of food to. I have 4 receiving blankets, 3 summer outfits and a jacket. I have already donated everything else that my baby has outgrown to the hospital's healthy family program, who in return offers me clothing donated from other families or knitted by a church group.
Would my "donation" of clothes be a donation to people in need or a donation to your store? I have no toys that my baby doesn't need because she is only 3 months old.
Please let me know if the clothes and blankets are enough, otherwise I cannot afford to buy your highchair.
 
From: SELLER

I am willing to go $20.00 if you have some type of donation. Toys not being played with, clothes to small any thing. Or I am giving $1.00
credit for every 4 cans of food you bring in to go to the food bank here in town. Up to $5.00. So go through the pantry and bring what you can donate. It will reduce your price. Also the Super Saver coupon book Yellow has great savings coupons for this month. Thanks hope to see you. COH   
 
From: ME

If the highchair is still available, would you take $20 for it? I don't have a lot of money so I was loaned one by my sister in law, but it's so filthy that I don't want my baby sitting in it. If it's still available and you are willing to sell it for $20, I will try to find the store tomorrow to pick it up.
Thanks

[valleythriftshopper]

Honestly I would say you both could have communicated better with one another.  If a seller doesn't want to accept your offer it is best to just move on.  You should see if your area has a freecycle group.  www.freecycle.org.  People are always offering baby stuff on freecycle here.  You can post requests for baby stuff too and it free!

[SplashsMom]

Drama!  As you say, there was no reason for an exchange of emails. An offer, a yes or no reply, even a simple counter offer, and if agreement is not reached, try elsewhere.
If 2 people who disagree on a purchase price continued to bang heads together until ...well until one is knocked out, because I do not see either willing to concede.
The person selling did not accept your offer, the person offering did not like the terms of a counter offer.
Take your business elsewhere.  You don't help yourself by escalating the situation.

[mccoysnina]

Sounds to me as if both sides need to step back.  If the seller did not want to sell for what you offered, all she had to do was say no.  If you did not like the terms of her counter offer, all you had to do was say no.  The seller can buy and sell what ever she chooses, for what ever amount she chooses as long as it is legal.
You can choose to buy or not buy  on her terms as you wish.  Why the drama on both sides? 
It was a business transaction, not a political debate. 
Shop her store or avoid it as you please.  But sounds to me like you both need to cease the emails. Why did you email such an response over a her terms if all you had to do was say no, and why would she feel the need to send such a reply back?  Sounds like you both need to walk away. I shop in thrift shops, retails stores and estate/garage sales all the time.  If I don't want to pay the asking price for something, I leave it behind. I've never engaged in a debate about someone's prices or motives or agenda. Just leave it behind. As someone else has said, just take your business elsewhere.  JMHO.
Jeannie

[ASmartGirlShopper]

After the first few emails, it was no longer about the chair. I wasn't willing to pay her price, I offered. She responded to her false advertising with ways for me to lower the price. I told her that she shouldn't post something she wasn't going to honor and offered what I had available as a "donation", instead of accepting she said I could have it free because I was so needy. I never asked for it for free, so again I said I'd pay for it and found what I could to make up the difference, as she requested. After that, she began to attack the local charity based thrift stores who really do help the community and badmouth the other local resale shops as if to put her store above them. It stopped being about the chair and was about her way of treating others, since many people have posted against her on craigs list. By the end, I was just being antagonistic as a childish response to hers.
Strangely enough, she hasn't posted on craigs list all day and the forum owner emailed me to get her store's information to remove it from the website.

I have a pet peeve against people who harm others in an attempt to benefit themselves, which includes her lying about other stores (or giving her opinion, as she refers to it) in an attempt to get more business for herself. Especially the ones where I know all the staff personally and know what wonderful people they are. Aside from caring for my baby, there isn't too much for me to do and I would gladdy speak against her claims. By the end, I found her attitude entertaining and it's obvious that I made her upset. It's my wish that she will remember this incident for a long time and hope to avoid a similar situation enough that she will stop posting false information to make more money. I'm actually going to contact the food bank and see if they will tell me how much she contributes because I'm quite certain that SHE contributes nothing while all the donations come from shoppers.

Thanks a lot for all the input.

[ASmartGirlShopper]

Honestly I would say you both could have communicated better with one another.  If a seller doesn't want to accept your offer it is best to just move on.  You should see if your area has a freecycle group.  www.freecycle.org.  People are always offering baby stuff on freecycle here.  You can post requests for baby stuff too and it free!

Thank you for the link! Does an area group take donations and just keep them until someone needs them or do they just offer "wanted" ads?

[valleythriftshopper]

If you have things to give away you post an offer, if you are looking for a item you post a wanted request. 

[ISellClothing]

Yeah some people just thrive on drama. She didn't get enough from the seller so she came here to get more. Don't feed it!

I sell clothing for a profit on the Internet. I'm under no obligation to just give things away to people with sob stories who made poor choices in their lives, and continue to do so (the energy and time expended in this exchange could have earned her some cash if applied elsewhere). It's called a job.