Re:I Salvaged $6k of Luxury Items Discarded by Duke Students
by bawolff on Tuesday May 27, 2025 @07:47PM
(#44111613)
> Throwing away things that could be sold could be a matter of (1) frustration/exhaustion with the end of the semester, (2) no place in their car / plane luggage for extra items, (3) indifference of kids who don’t know the value of a dollar (the Ballenciaga slides are literally the most expensive version of a slide you can buy — I usually get mine for less than $10).
Or you know, them being rational actors who know spending an hour to sell something for $5 is not a good use of their time.
The author did find a couple of allegedly more expensive items, but is also e.g. talking about used pyjama bottoms. How much money do you really think you are going to get for used pyjama bottoms? Is it worth it? Almost certainly no.
Re:I Salvaged $6k of Luxury Items Discarded by Duke Students
by disconcision on Tuesday May 27, 2025 @09:08PM
(#44111978)
as a minor clarification balenciaga slides in good condition would probably be more like $100-250 used, though your point still holds
Throwing away things that could be sold could be a matter of (1) frustration/exhaustion with the end of the semester, (2) no place in their car / plane luggage for extra items, (3) indifference of kids who don’t know the value of a dollar (the Ballenciaga slides are literally the most expensive version of a slide you can buy — I usually get mine for less than $10).
On the street might be a better solution, but in the US you can be fined for littering (“dumping”) if you abandon items on someone else’s property. Lots of local laws in the USA are designed to maintain high property values (while subsidizing the very expensive police departments).