by Michael Richards

Created on: August 22, 2009

Is it impolite to sell a gift? Yes it is. By selling a gift you are making a statement that money means more to you then the friendship or sentimental value of the gift. If a person wants to give you something that is of little or no sentimental value they will give you cash or a gift card.A gift should have nothing to do with money, it should be a symbol of love and friendship. Yes, legally you do have the right to sell that gift because once it is given to you you have full ownership of it. This does not make it morally right to sell the gift.

For those that say it is not wrong to sell a gift, think about this. You go into a food pantry and get a whole bunch of food that could feed a needy family. You decide you don't want the food so you sell it to help put money towards that big screen tv you have always wanted. Technically the food you get from the food pantry is a gift from the people who have donated it. Where selling the food from a food pantry is wrong both legally and morally, all in all it is the same as selling a gift you have gotten from a friend or loved one.

All in all I believe selling a gift is wrong, however there are always exceptions. If you are in dyer need and have to come up with some money for diapers for your kids or to put food on the table it isn't necessarily wrong. Any good friend would see this as simply transferring the gift into something that is truly needed. Another (still wrong) instance where it may be okay to sell a gift is if the friendship or love has gone away and you don't want to have anything in remembrance of it.

I can honestly say I have never been able to bring myself to sell a gift anyone has gotten for me. I have had someone really close to me sell a gift I had gotten them that was very special and it cut through me like a knife. From a personal stand point I believe it is wrong to sell a gift that someone has gotten for you. However, like with everything else there are exceptions where it may be morally acceptable. I cannot speak for everyone these are just my thoughts.

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