Ethics and being an Entrepreneur
Received this great question from a fellow eBayer (thanks Mary!)…what do you think?
Janelle,
I just listened to the stored podcast from Tim’s first interview with you and I was thrilled to learn that he is a Christian too! It brought up a thought when he was discussing buying and reselling Bibles–should there be some sort of discussion on your site or in your newsletter about ethics in Ebay sales? I had someone tell me one time that they thought it was crass to buy and resell Bibles (though bookstores do it every day!!??) It made me think about something else I bought with the intention of selling on Ebay and then didn’t feel right about. It was letterhead from one of Hitler’s top officers (not a name I instantly recognized like Goebbels or Himmler, but I thought it valuable). Like I said, I had a check in my spirit about selling it. Should I have? Is there a forum for such discussion–not just what is legal to sell, but what is ethical to sell?
OK, that’s my two cents for what it’s worth! God bless you and what you’re doing!!
Now, I know that I am opening up a can of worms on what people consider ethics and ethical…but I think it is a very important subject to talk about and I appreciate
Ok, my feathers aren’t as ruffled anymore – lol. What about you? What item crosses the ethics line with you? What wouldn’t you sell because of your ethics? What do you think about eBay’s self-imposed ethics for the site? (certain racial items aren’t allowed, as well as some nazi items, etc) Click the ‘leave a comment’ link and ruffle away.
IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT IS HISTORIC AND WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE TO LEARN OR ENJOY A PIECE OF THAT HISTORY “LIST.”
Profiting from anything associated with serial killers, murderers or other criminals is offensive to me and crosses the ethics line. There are websites and periodicals that sell artifacts from those made “famous/notorious” for their crimes. How can they sleep at night focusing on horror and negative events? I’m also surprised that ebay allows the sale of pornography in the mature adult category. Why do unsavory things sell so well?
World wide the Bible SELLS more copies than any other printed book.
The Bible is the most read book in the world. As a Christian, I believe God would smile upon the idea. I also have been taught that God wants His flock to be wealthy. After all, the poor can’t give to the poor. We can’t outgive God. The more we give, the more we receive. If people would only realize this principle of sowing and reaping, there would be alot less people moaning and groaning about why they never have anything!
Keep those Bibles moving!!!
When I first became a Christian I could not afford a bible and would have loved to have known about ebay in order to purchase one. I completely agree with Janelle “what is crass about getting a Bible into the hands of someone who wants one?” If there is an issue for you personal with making money on the sale put up the listing with a donation to a charity. There are many on ebay to choose from I am sure there is a Christian one and make it a tithe so to speak.
Good luck in all your ebay sales.
When I first became a Christian I could not afford a bible and would have loved to have known about ebay in order to purchase one. I completely agree with Janelle “what is crass about getting a Bible into the hands of someone who wants one?” If there is an issue for you personal with making money on the sale put up the listing with a donation to a charity. There are many on ebay to choose from I am sure there is a Christian one and make it a tithe so to speak.
I completely agree with you Janelle… spread THE WORD any way we can. If folks didn’t crave it the Bible wouldn’t be the #1 best seller it is! I especially like Lisa’s response about donating the proceeds to charity if you find it “crass” to sell a Bible and make a profit. Great idea and you’re helping others too!! God helps those who help themselves and others.
Hi Janelle,
I don’t think it is wrong to sell Bibles. I am a Christian and have sold a couple of my kid’s Bible’s who had outgrown that version. I was glad to see someone, who probably couldn’t afford the prices in the Christian Bookstore, able to buy something for a reasonable price. I don’t know that I would sell the Hitler items, even if they were allowed on EBay.
I also think things like a piece of toast that looks like Jesus or things of that nature are ethically wrong to sell, but I don’t know that they should be banned. I just personally think it ruins your credibility to sell something that is so gimmicky!
Janelle, I’m glad to hear you are a Christian. It worried me to hear you were interested in “The Secret” because it seems like a lot of the wealth sermons or things like the Prayer of Jabez focus on praying to God for wealth. While I don’t think that in and of itself is wrong, because you can give a lot of money away to good causes, I feel it focuses on the wrong thing. We are wealthy even if we have nothing because we have God’s grace and forgiveness. No amount of money can buy that! And I also feel that God blesses me when I do the right thing and that he knows my needs and will provide. So I don’t pray for wealth as much as that he will show me what he wants for my life and hey if that’s wealth, I won’t begrudge him.LOL But I worry that people tend to view him as a genie with these wealth seminars. I mean, Jesus certainly spent a lot of time with people who had absolutely nothing. The parable of the rich man talks about how he couldn’t enter the kingdom of heaven because he couldn’t let go of his material possessions. So wealth can also be a bad thing. So it makes me uncomfortable when pastors preach the wealth sermons. Do you see what I mean? I think it is better to pray for God’s will in your life. For some, it won’t be wealth! I think of the Fiddler on the Roof movie. This is a man who prayed god would smite him with wealth, but it wasn’t God’s will! Then the best part of this is that he still had faith without wealth!!! Now that is true faith–that when things are at their worst you can still see God working in your life.
I think that people are made in the image of God and so we are restless until we find him. So I’m glad you found him Janelle! So I would pray for you that God keeps you successful and that he will bless you. I think you will get just as much wealth praying that way as to pray for wealth and then you can see God’s blessings even when things don’t go right!
I also think there is nothing wrong with using your God given talents to make money. Like you said, you use whatever talents God gives. Some of us are sellers, some marketers, some accountants, some lawyers. But everyone needs to use their talents in a God pleasing way and God will bless you for it. So you certainly are helping people and giving away a lot of it without any reward through this website.
I have a life insurance company–Thrivent, who I buy life insurance and also buy stocks, etc. from. I buy from them because they are always giving back to the community. So I see my checks protecting me as well as doing something. Like I said, we have recently opened a brokerage account with them and they are there to make money and they are Christian. So, again, I don’t think there is anything wrong in making money, I just think that praying for wealth is not a good mindset.
Here is another quandary I’ve been thinking about. Do religion and business go together. Here is my little conversation I have with myself. I know that I treat people in an ethical way which comes from my religious values. But should I talk about my Christianity on my About Me Page and turn people off because they aren’t religious. But on the other hand, Jesus suffered a lot more than loss of sales on EBay! On the other hand, if people get mad at me for whatever, they can say, “See how that Christian woman treated me” which wouldn’t be a good advertisement for God. But then again, aren’t we supposed to spread the word? Also wouldn’t other Christians feel better about doing business with a fellow Christian? Then I wondered about putting in some little Christian tract or just a Bible verse in each package. But then if I got a package from someone with a Buddhist track inside, would I really want to return to that seller since I am not Buddhist? So I haven’t figured all of that out! And you thought you were opening a bucket of worms with the ethics?lol
Janelle, I thought you were busy!! How are you going to have time to read all these ruffled feather letters!!!!LOL
Blessings to you! Marlene
Re Bibles etc - I assume whatever religion one believes in has its own rules regarding sacred texts. If one’s church teaches that it is wrong to sell a Bible, then for members of that church, it is wrong. If not, not.
As I am not a Mormon, for instance, I can - with a perfectly clear conscience - do many things a Mormon could not. Including things as trivial (to me) as drinking caffinated beverages. Or as important (to believers) as disregarding all of the strictures in the Book of Mormon.
The question would seem to boil down to whether you treat the Bible as a book (i.e., a commodity item to be traded and sold) or as a sacred text. What is the Bible to you?
I believe eBay has a policy prohibiting the sale of Third Reich memorabilia. This would, presumably, cover the Hitler henchman letterhead. You might make money selling it somewhere - but that somewhere wouldn’t be eBay. Whether you *should* make money from something like that - now that would make me shiver. I’d have no qualms about calling the profits from that transaction blood money. Give the letter to a museum.
Dany
www.ghostleg.com
I have a similar problem. Among other things, I sell sports jerseys. I had a lot of Michael Vick jerseys listed on eBay before his recent animal abuse problems. Since I am disgusted by his participation in animal abuse, I wasn’t sure what to do about these jerseys. Of course, I have a fair amount of money invested in them. I have decided to go ahead and sell them and give part of the proceeds to PETA and the SPCA. I know others might make a different choice, but I think I can live with this decision.
Bravo Cheryl - I think your decision is by far the smartest one you could make under those circumstances. And the most ethical!
If I happen to come across something historically significant, and can buy it cheaply enough to give away, I do that.
Selling to a collector on eBay is OK, but the goods don’t necessarily get into the hands of a more deserving museum or historical society with limited funds.
Eventually, the collector may pass on artifacts to museums, but I’d rather make sure the institution to whom the artifact is significant received it.
The Bible is printed and sold worldwide. Would someone suggest the only way to distribute is giving them away free? At farm auctions a few years ago, One auctioneer in our area stated that he would not sell a Family Bible - one that had the history/geneology of the family written in it. He felt that was something the family, local church, or historical society should have for the records. It would be given to a family member or community leader. Now a Bible that was just waiting to be read and studied he had no problem with selling. It was just the Family Bible. I don’t believe many families even have these special Bibles anymore.
Nazi stationary could be a part of history. If it is being sold for collectors - not fresh out of the box for someone to write letters on - it can be one more piece of the historical record.
People’s views of ethics can differ greatly, especially when religion is involved. Things that I might not find objectionable or unethical might be viewed differently by those with religious leanings. I would hesitate to condemn anyone for what they sell, since (as I believe is stated in the bible) it’s not our place to judge others. Also, ethics is not strictly the purview of religion. Atheists can be just as moral and ethical as Christians or Jews or Buddhists or Muslims…. you get the picture.
In answer to Marlene, I believe you should keep your religious missives out of your business unless you know the person with whom you’re dealing shares your views. There are many different religions and many non-believers in this big world of ours and you’d be missing out on a lot of them and risk offending many by including religious text with items they’ve purchased. Sadly, many people need very little excuse to take offense. Personally, I believe people’s beliefs (or lack thereof) are their own personal business. I’d rather not know about them and definitely don’t want to be preached to. I think people can do more for the world through their actions rather than their words
There is no such thing as “business ethics”, only ethics. My ethical line is easy.
Would I be uneasy or embarrassed to be found selling the item by the persons whose opinions I most respect — without explanation? If in doubt, throw it out.
We’ve been asked from time to time to sell things for friends that didn’t present an ethical challenge for them, but it did for us. So … we had to tactfully explain to them that we would prefer not to associate that particular item with our name, becaue it presented an ethical challenge for us. No hurt feelings, no change in our friendship.
Ethics are as different to individuals as the individuals themselves are different.
Ditto on Vi and Ditto on Dixie. As we all know business is fueled by 2 things,supply and demand.
If you feel an item is,or may be an issue, it’s up to the individual not to create a demand or offer a supply. Taking charge of the situation through personal responsibility is the only way to control the outcome. I prefer the museum option. It removes the item from the supply and puts it into the hands of professionals that can determine if it has historical value. The income loss can be offset by taking a tax deduction.
While I am always willing to listen to the input and opinions of others,and really make an effort to consider all sides, I make the finally decisions and choices on what works for me. I have to live with me everyday. If that little voice is making me hesitate, I pay attention. (Or take more meds!LOL) I would never judge someone else’s decision. I respect their choice; but I can personally effect the outcome of the sale of an item I find offensive by not purchasing it and therefore lessening the demand. Ebay bans the sale of a particular item that is very central to my life. I accept that; It is a business decision that works for them. I’m sure I’ll be constantly challenged to always “Do the right thing”. I love a good challenge!!
1000 positive feedbacks to all!
i agree with Dixie and Vi….there are only ethics. you must do what u feel is right in your heart. this certainly is a soap box of mine:) it irks me when people refer to the fact that a poor Christian is somehow a badge of honor. it says in the Bible (if your believe in it) that God wants to prosper us. i feel the same way u feel Janelle. thru different circumstances seperatly my husband and i believe our family was chosen for greatness and monetary wealth is part of that. we have to use whatever gift God has blessed us with. if that is selling Bible’s on ebay to make a profit then so be it. just like others have said, that is how u are giving back.
as far as the memorabilia, if it’s banned by ebay theeen maybe not. however, it IS a piece of history pure and simple.
shannon
laboutiquedevogue.com
blog.laboutiquedevogue.com
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