Author Topic: Sell the iPad?  (Read 4307 times)

NewJourney

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Sell the iPad?
« on: November 06, 2015, 07:00:08 PM »
Parents bought me a brand new iPad a year ago. I used it 5 times. I want to tell it and pay down my student loan. Problem is: before they gave it to me, they made me promise I wouldn't sell it (because that's what I do to everything I can get my hands on to pay off loans and save).

So...would it be wrong to sell? I am not a person to attach memories to things, I literally own about 100 things. But it was given to me at a time when I just really got my life together after working so hard to get it on track.

What do you guys think? It would be used to pay off part of a $2,000 loan with 6.5% interest

plainjane

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2015, 07:19:13 PM »
The amount you could get for it isn't worth breaking your word to your parents.

NewJourney

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2015, 07:36:44 PM »
I guess I'm questioning selling it because they never even mention it, and I feel like I would better benefit from paying off my loan? Not sure..

BossofMoss

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2015, 08:03:44 PM »
With the limited information on your situation, it is hard to provide a well-informed opinion.  I imagine you won't be able to get more than a few hundred dollars for it. I'm inclined to agree with PlainJane...

okits

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2015, 08:13:27 PM »
Tell your parents you've hardly used it and ask if they'd mind you selling it.  Since you promised not to, you should get the green light from them if you're going to sell it.  If they balk, keep it and find uses for it.

HPstache

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2015, 08:51:06 PM »
The amount you could get for it isn't worth breaking your word to your parents.

This.

renata ricotta

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2015, 09:12:18 PM »
I wouldn't - $2k in the grand scheme of things is really not very much, and since you're so good at saving otherwise, you'll get it paid down in no time. The marginal time you will save is not worth hurting your parents.

If it helps, think of it as not yours to sell. If you hadn't promised you wouldn't sell it, presumably they wouldn't have given it to you, and you'd be just where you are now. Think of it like a work device or a library loan - its yours to use, but it's not really "your" asset because you can't liquidate it. You haven't lost anything from if it had never been given to you.

Frankies Girl

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2015, 09:27:47 PM »
Stop accepting gifts with strings attached in the future. That will solve most of the problem right there. You are an adult and your parents should not be putting you in the position of dictating your actions and allowing them control over you. Not sure why you accepted the gift knowing you didn't really want it and could have used the money.

Any gift given should be given freely and without restrictions - if they can't do that, then tell them thank you, but you can't accept it.

And etiquette rules from waaaaaay back say that once a gift is given, the giver has no say in what happens to the gift. So you should be able politely thank whomever and then use/trash/donate/sell said gift without any repercussions.

As for what to do with now, if you made a solemn promise on your word of honor not to sell (which is pretty weird, but I've dealt with stuff like that from my mom myself), then it probably would be best to tell them that you don't use it at all, and you'd like to sell it. If they say you can't, then I'd tell them that you don't use it, don't need it and it will just take up space in your house until it goes obsolete, so it will be very frustrating, and give it back (since it's not really yours if you can't do what you want with it anyway).

Does your promise mean you can never get rid of it? So like 50 years from now, you have to be buried with it? Or just for a couple of years until they forget about its existence? ;)

Or if breaking the promise won't cause too many problems for you personally, do so and then just don't ever discuss it with them.

No matter what you decide, make sure that they understand all gifts in the future need to be freely given without strings. It will save both of you a whole lot of headaches.

« Last Edit: November 06, 2015, 09:29:38 PM by Frankies Girl »

TheThirstyStag

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2015, 09:21:07 AM »
I agree with the advice to just keep it.  Not worth potential disagreements with your parents over a small amount.

Malum Prohibitum

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2015, 09:25:04 AM »
Sell it.

Dicey

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2015, 08:23:30 PM »
Keep it. Consider this a learning experience, and vow to accept nothing from your parents with strings attached in the future. This is called independence and it feels great.

Adram

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #11 on: November 07, 2015, 09:15:57 PM »
Your word is something that others should be able to rely on.

The suggestion above to ask permission to sell it is a good one.

Kriegsspiel

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Re: Sell the iPad?
« Reply #12 on: November 07, 2015, 09:17:57 PM »
If my read on your family is correct, I'm sure your parents won't have a problem with you selling it due to a virus incurred while watching latex-fetish boot pornography, as opposed to just wanting money. Like a common tramp.