Ethical question

Thraxas

Hello, new here but thought I'd ask people's opinion on this.

Yesterday I picked up a saddle from someone off freecycle, I had assumed it would be a be a bog standard generic saddle that Would be of use only as as a stop gap. When I had a look at it though it turned out to be a Brooks Vitesse saddle which actually has some value.

Question of course is whether to keep it, or shove it straight on eBay?

Thanks

fill_uk

I say up to you entirely. I would imagine the person giving it away knew it was worth something but wanted to give it away anyway, taking the attitude they'd had their worth from it. My experience with freecycle leads me to this. Or maybe they came upon it not knowing who knows.

You were after a stopgap saddle though and acknowledge this is better so why not keep it? unless you had something particular in mind and the sale of the brooks would fund it.

Whichever way, you get a saddle you like and the person who gave it away can be assured the saddle is still in use and not in landfill which is one of freecycles main principals.

danlikesbikes

Not sure how its an ethical question as that would be do I keep it or contact the person who gave you the saddle.

As per @fill_uk though would agree that people who use freecycle tend to be more ethically minded than just chucking it away & safe to assume they knew it was of good quality hence them looking to give it a new home.

As for do you keep it, does it fit your current ride if so keep it.

Ben6899

It's your saddle now, gained by honest means. Do with it as you will... if it doesn't fit, then you could maybe sell it on ebay and put the proceeds towards some wine investment.

veronese68

By selling it the saddle will still be in use, which is what the previous owner wanted to do putting it on Freecycle. So the most unethical thing would be to throw it away. If you feel selling it may be wrong you could give some of the money to charity if it makes you feel better.
Personally I'd keep it if it was comfortable and every time I used it I would be reminded of my little win and it would probably make me happier in the long term than the quick gain of selling it.

menthel

You could sell it but selling things for profit from freecycle makes you evil.

andy9964

eBay completed listings for Brooks Vitesse , shows three listings, from £7-£17. None were sold
Question is, how much do you think it's worth, and what would you buy with the money?
If you can buy something better with the money raised, go ahead and sell. If not, keep it

Thraxas

Hello, thanks for replying. Still not sure whether I'll keep the saddle, but now sure I will not sell it.

cornerblock

Yes it's a real quandary, if I was you I'd sit on it for a while before making a decision. :roll:

The Rookie

I feel the Op is sitting on the fence here.....

Seriously, use it as that stopgap, if you like it, keep it, if it doesn't suite you AFTER that use, selling it is totally ethical, not using it and selling would be unethical in my opinion, but that's just me.