I think it's only morally wrong if you mislead them. If you explain to them that these are old machines that you've refurbished, and they still want to buy them, then take the money and give it to your church. In my experience with church charities, they can really use and stretch those dollars. $500 can go along way to buying food, clothes, and basic toiletries for needy families. And if they use it back in the schools, those are supplies for teachers and teachers alike. Just don't lie and you'll be fine.
Michael Corrigan Programmer Endora Digital Solutions 1900 Highland Avenue, Suite 200 Lombard, IL 60148 630-627-5055 ext.-136 630/627-5255 Fax ----- Original Message ----- From: Haggerty, Michael A. To: CF-Community Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 10:51 AM Subject: 486 PCs - Moral Question I have been working on a technology refresh at my daughter's school, and have come into possession of a lot of 486 computers. If I did not take them, they were headed for the dumpster. At first, I started putting slackware on the ones I took home, and setting them up to do some basic word processing / telnet. I thought I could donate them to needy families through my church. But then my bedroom became filled up with old monitors, keyboards, etc., and my dog began eating the mice cables. So I started asking around and seeing if anyone wanted the old 486s. I get them in increments, as new technology is brought into the school. One day, Sean, a friend of mine, says he will take one. Mark, the guy who sits next to him, say he'll take one too. This was the last one I had, so, jokingly, I say "Okay, I will give it to the highest bidder". Mark says ten dollars, Sean says twenty, and the price war ends at $30 with Mark waiting one week. Now I am being contacted by friends of friends. I am up to $40 a machine, $60 with monitor, and have already made $500 off the deal. I am donating the money right back to the church (I get the computers from a Catholic school) but I wonder: is it morally wrong to sell obsolete technology, even to those who believe they need it? I am convinced the 'need' is imagined and that these machines are not going to do much for anyone. I tell my 'clients' that, but they respond by asking if they can pick it up themselves. M ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-community@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
