I think selling baby formula checks/coupons is wrong!

@4cuteboys (4099)
United States
April 11, 2007 10:12am CST
On craigslist and ebay I see tons of people selling those FREE I repeat FREE formula checks and coupons that come in the mail for people that signed up for them. They ask almost full price of the check. If it's a $7 check, they sell it for $6.50 or what not. I think that's wrong. I mean, they come free in the mail! Couldnt they just give them away to someone they know or something?! What do you think? Is it wrong to sell something like that, that comes free?
3 people like this
7 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
11 Apr 07
I too think that this is horrific. I personally know people who sign up for free things such as this with the soul intent of selling them once they arrive! It really speaks to their character if you ask me. If one should receive something like this without signing up (which is doubtful) and it is not needed, then I feel they should pass it on to a needy person or a clinic of some sort.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Apr 07
I have to admit that I am guilty of selling and trading formula checks. First of all, if you post something on Ebay, you are not responsible for how much people pay for it. They are the stupid ones for paying the full value of it. I have also bid on some on eBay but will never pay more that 1/2 of the face value including shipping. This way, I can still save money on the very high cost of formula. I guess I don't feel it is all that wrong because the company still is getting what they want...someone buying their product. Infact, if you get a good deal on them, I feel like everyone can benefit (the seller, the buyer and the company. ) I know I am going to hear it for this one..so let it rip everyone.
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
11 Apr 07
Well I wouldn't sell myself, but I think trading with someone that has ones you need is okay!
2 people like this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
11 Apr 07
I always gave those to my friends who needed them. I think everyone gets them in the mail, I don't know why someone would pay for them.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Jul 09
I feel that you should be able to trade checks. Example: $5 Similac for a $5 Enfamil. I also feel that you should be able to sell checks for a reasonable cost. Example: If someone has a $11 Good Start Check and someone doens't have a check to trade of equal value of the brand you use, you should be able to sell the check but not at a crazy price. A fair amount is $0.25 to the dollar value of the check. Therefore, a $11 Good Start check would sell for $2.75 giving the buyer $8.25 in savings when they cash in on a purchase of formula with their check. Then, the person who couldn't use the $11 check still gets $2.75 our of it to use towards the purchase of a brand they use. The person who paid $2.75 makes out like a bandit saving $8.25 vs. the person who receives the money of saving only $2.75 towards their brand.
• United States
7 Jul 09
I feel if you have brands you don't want, you should be able to trade brand for brand. Example: A $5 Similac Check for a $5 Enfamil Check. Also, I don't think they should be sold at a high price but the goal of selling the checks is to use the money to buy a formual you want while giving someone a check they need. I believe a fair value should be $0.25 per dollar value of the check. So, if you have an $11 Good Start Check and someone wants to buy it, you should sell the check for $2.75 which gives the receiver a savings of $8.25 off of a formula purchase.
@jchu99 (1)
• United States
13 Mar 10
makes me want to scream at these people. i have a bottom line when it comes to buying formula checks on ebay or craigslist, like for 7$ off, i'll pay 2$, afterall, they have to pay ebay and paypal fees. and how else would they get these coupons to the mommies that need them? ebay is a very popular place to look for things you need and hope others dont. BUT the buyers that bid up the coupons to $6 and sometimes even more really really really baffles me. WHY would anyone do that????? my baby has eczema and we're trying to keep him on formula for as long as possible; these 'weird' people are really making my life difficult with their crazy bidding. urgh, i'm really really really mad. i'm down to my last two cans and i have no more checks so now i have to pay 20$ for a can that'll last less than a week. oh i'm so mad at these ebay bidders. they don't make sense! thanks for listening. now i have to go back to ebay and hope most of the crazies are asleep so they won't bid up the checks.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I've never sold any, but I've bought coupons and checks on Ebay. I guess it is kind of questionable to make your money like that on free stuff. But sometimes you get the formula checks, but your baby can't use that kind of formula. One of our friends sold us some formula checks. He said he would give them to us, but we paid him some, because we knew how expensive the formula was that he had to buy for his little one. I guess it really depends on why people are selling the checks. I don't see any problem with selling the checks, so that you can get some other kind of formula for your child. Those checks are there to help feed your child, if you can't use that specific one, you can still use the money to feed your child. And the manufacturers aren't losing anything from it. After all, it doesn't matter who uses them, they are still getting paid the same. It just means that someone else is getting a good deal, too.